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got any lesser, but she had become numb to it. She rubbed the small bar of soap over her arms and flinched when she passed over a bruise she had acquired the previous night. It was not uncommon for the men to beat them, sometimes with their hands, and sometimes other instruments. Sophia and Lacie had become close friends since her first night, she had connected with many of the other girls too, but she was much closer to Lacie. She had become accustomed the cold corridors of the hostel, though there were no windows in her room, she could still hear the sounds of the city. Mogadishu was always full of activity, she could sometimes hear gunfire or an explosion, Lacie had told her that the city was some kind of battlefield for pirates and other violent thugs. The girls were never allowed during the day, only at night and only to the club, Sophia didn't mind this much, as the idea of wondering such a violen’t place scared her. She finished off her shower and dried herself slowly When she had dressed into her tattered pyjamas, she made her way back to her room. Lacie was still awake when she arrived, and was sitting on her bed rubbing moisturizer into her body.

'I was starting to think you'd slipped and drown,' she teased.

Sophia smiled. 'Would be a nice escape from here.'

'You really think death is better?' asked Lacie.

'Is there a difference?' asked Sophia.

Lacie laughed and lay back on her bed. 'I don't know, I have never been dead.'

Sophia had a troubled sleep, as she did every night, she had dreams of home. Dreams of home seemed more like nightmarish reminders of where she should be. Her sleep problems only helped worsen her heroin addiction. The candy helped make it all better, the exhaustion, the pain and the fear, all dissolved in a sea of euphoria. Sophia had fought hard against it during her first few days, but had quickly realized that life here was far enjoyable with it than without. When she woke up she found Lacie already awake, she was sitting on her bed eating breakfast. Breakfast was the same every day; small plastic bowl of porridge and three apples per girl. Sophia sat up and checked under her pillow for Scratchy. In order to preserve Scratchy she had gotten a client to laminate him with the promise of a free session next they met.

'You were thrashing,' said Lacie. 'In your sleep, again.'

Sophia slipped Scratchy back under pillow and propped herself up against the wall.

'More dreams of home,' she replied.

'One would think dreaming about home would make you happy,' she smiled. 'Why does it not?'

'I won’t get home by dreaming,' sighed Sophia grabbing an apple and taking a small bite.

‘Alex we need to do something!’ snapped Sarah. ‘We can’t just give up on her!’

‘Sarah,’ said Alex gently although her patients were quickly leaving here. ‘The Detective said it himself, its been over forty-eight hours, there is nothing we can do!’

‘HOW CAN YOU BE SO HEARTLESS?’ screamed Sarah. ‘SHES OUR DAUGHTER!’

Alex slapped Sarah across the face so hard she stumbled backwards shocked into silence.

‘Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only who cares about Sophia!’ she snapped.

Sarah felt something under hand, she closed her fingers around it and felt the grip of a knife. As Alex stepped forward to speak again Sarah bought the knife forward and pushed it into Alex’s chest. There was a moment of stunned silence as both women stared at the knife protruding from Alexs chest.

‘What have you done?’ gasped Alex.

‘I am so sorry,’ said Sarah shocked. ‘I didn’t mean to.’

Alex fell onto the floor gasping for hair. Sarah stared at her for a moment before grabbing the knife and ripping it out of Alex’s body before sticking back into her again and again and again, until the lights in Alex’s eyes faded out.

‘What have I done?’ she gasped.

Two Months Later

Sarah Hartley made her way up the stairs to her apartment. It had been two months since Sophia had been taken. The police had done everything they could, but they had told her that if they didn't find her in forty-eight hours, than she beyond their help. Forty-eight hours had come and gone all to quickly for Sarah’s liking. She had begged, pleaded and threatened the police to continue, but they had closed her file and told her to consult a therapist to help her deal with her loss. Sarah slammed the door shut behind and threw her bag on the floor. The apartment was messy and smelt damp but worse than that there was this very strong rotting flesh smell that over powered the little apartment. Sarah dropped onto the couch next to Alex. Alex didn’t move much these days, so Sarah wasn't surprised when she lay still staring at the TV. She also was surprised when Alex didn't reply to her greeting, as she never spoke anymore. In actual fact Alex hadn't done much at all after Sarah had stuck the carving knife in’to her chest. It had happened just the previous week, Sarah had come to Alex and about trying to find Sophia themselves; but Alex had shushed her and told her to stop being ridiculous and to just accept that she was gone, when Sarah had pushed the point, Alex had slapped her and told her to just get over it. Sarah had grabbed the knife out the sink and thrust into Alex’s chest again and again and again, until she just lay on the kitchen floor unmoving. Sarah pulled Alex towards her and stroked her hair affectionately.

'I forgive you baby,' she cooed. 'You can stop sulking now.'

Seven Years Later.

Lacie sat at the bar alone. Sophia had been picked up already and disappeared with what Lacie considered to be a rather good looking man, well as good looking as they get in that part of town. It was very rare that anybody that they would consider good looking ever came in, every now and then there might be a few students coming to fore fill some erotic fantasy, but on every other occasion the bar was filled with drunk, old and very violent men who should between little and no restraint when it came to hitting the girls. Lacie was just draining the last of her fourth drink when she felt somebody tap her shoulder. She turned around and was face to face with a very small man. He was very thin and wore thick glasses that seemed exceedingly big for the size of his head.

‘Umm,’ he muttered. ‘How am I-I supposed to do this?’

‘Well you can start with telling me what you want,’ smiled Lacie she liked shy guys, made her feel powerful.

'My name is Bryce,' he mumbled pushing his glasses up his nose.

'I don't need you name darling,' smiled Lacie. 'I just need to know what you want.'

'I-I wish to use your...umm..services,' he stammered.

'Well wishes come at a price,' said Lacie gently caressing his chest over his shirt.

Bryce stood in front of bed staring down at Lacies nakedness. He had never solicited sex before and he was nervous. Lacie lay on her back with hand behind her head.

'Are you just going to stare?' asked Lacie. 'Or are we going to do this?'

Bryce gulped and fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. When he got to the last button he stopped and just sat on the bed.

'Maybe if we just talk a little first,' he said. 'I just need a few minutes.'

Lacie rolled her eyes and sat up with her arms now crossed.

'This isn't a buy-a-friend deal,' she said crossly. 'If you not paying then I’m going.'

'I'll still pay!' said Bryce quickly. 'Full price, just to talk.'

‘You don’t understand,’ pleaded Lacie. ‘If we don’t do this I can get into a lot of trouble, if my boss finds out that we even spoke this long I will be severely punished.

‘I won’t tell him if you don’t,’ replied Bryce.

Lacie studied for any sign of a lie. She found none and eventually leaned against the wall and gestured for him to sit down next to her. 'What do you want to talk about?'

'I don't know,' frowned Bryce. 'Anything. What's your name?'

'Lacie,' said Lacie. 'Next question?'

'Have you been...doing this long?' he asked nervously.

'You mean have I been sold to men like you all my life?' she asked raising her eye brows

'Men like me?' asked Bryce.

'Yes,' laughed Lacie. 'Men like you, men who have wives and kids but risk it all for a little sex. I have been with many men, all the married want me to pretend to be their wives, even had some force me to play their daughters. It is men like you who create my world, a world where I will never remember my own moms name, not the colour of hair, the gentleness of her eyes or the warmth of her embrace. I owe all of this to men just like you.'

Bryce stared at Lacie with true pity. He could only imagine the horrors she had lived through.

'I am not like the other guys,' he whispered.

Lacie looked at him and smiled. 'Words uttered through prison bars have little meaning.'

‘This is my first time,’ sighed Bryce. ‘And I’m not even utilising it properly.’

Lacie giggled. ‘Well, you are the first man who hasn’t asked me to be somebody else.’

‘If I wanted to be with my wife right now I would be,’ replied Bryce leaning his back against the wall and doing his shirt buttons up again.

‘So you are married?’ asked Lacie. ‘Not so different after all.’

‘It’s complicated,’ said Bryce.

‘There’s a woman at your house right now who loves you and agreed to the spend rest of her life with you, how complicated is that?’ asked Lacie.

‘Things are never that simple!’ snapped Bryce.

‘Well if I had a life that I would make it simple,’ replied Bryce.

‘Yeah well you don’t,’ snapped Bryce standing up. ‘You have no idea what its like.’

‘If there is nothing else,’ said Lacie. ‘I need to get going.’

Lacie told Sophia about Bryce later that evening when they were back at the hostel.

‘Isn’t it dangerous?’ asked Sophia. ‘If Alik found out you were talking to clients the punishment would be unimaginable.’

‘I know,’ sighed Lacie. ‘But he promised not to tell.’

‘The man cheats on his wife,’ replied Sophia. ‘The one woman in his life that he is really meant to be honest with, what makes you think he’s telling you the truth?’

‘It’s risky,’ admitted Lacie. ‘But if he is being genuine he could help us.’

‘Help us do what Lacie?’ asked Sophia angrily. ‘Help us escape? You know better than anyone that will never happen!’

‘If we can’t escape we can at least make life more comfortable while we’re here,’ said Lacie keeping herself calm.

‘How?’ asked Sophia now curious.

‘Food,’ replied Lacie. ‘How long has been since you tasted chocolate? Can you even remember what chocolate smells like?’

Sophia shook her head. ‘You think he can do that for us?’

‘He definitely can,’ smiled Lacie. ‘The question is; will he do it?’

‘He will if we give him reason to,’ said Sophia. ‘But what reason could he possibly have for wanting to help us?’

‘We’ll think of something,’ assured Lacie. ‘Lets take a walk through the garden.’

Sophia agreed and removed her shoes, she spent so much of time in uncomfortable high heels or boots that she just loved the freedom of being barefoot. She followed Lacie outside and they made their way to the garden. The garden was not very big, it had in it eight benches and a large fountain in the middle, there were no bushes or high growing flowers either. Sophia and Lacie found an empty bench and sat down. Sophia spread out her toes and enjoyed the feeling of the grass tickling her feet. They sat in silence for a while just enjoying what little warmth the sun had decided to share with them that day. A tall skinny girl named Miranda came and sat next to them on the bench.

‘Hey Mira,’ greeted Lacie. ‘How was the doctor?’

‘Horrible,’ whispered Miranda. ‘Another abortion.’

‘Is that what they do if you fall pregnant?’ gasped Sophia.

‘Of course,’ said Lacie before Miranda could answer. ‘They would never allow you to keep it. Alik says it would spoil the merchandise.’

‘As if anybody would want to raise a child in this hole,’ spat Miranda. ‘I feel a lot better knowing my child is in heaven instead of suffering here with me.’

‘You really believe in heaven and God?’ asked Sophia. ‘After everything we’ve all been through?’

‘Yes,’ replied Miranda. ‘It brings me comfort to believe in him, God is the only being not trying to hurt me.’

‘But he is hurting us!’ snapped Sophia. ‘If he is as powerful as you say then why doesn’t he save us? If he truly loves us how can he watch us suffer day after day and stand idly by?’

‘We must prove to God that our faith us pure,’ replied Miranda. ‘Life is just a test, and heaven is our reward.’

The next night Lacie and sat together at the bar sipping their drinks. Lacie kept looking around for Bryce but there had been no sign of him.

‘Stop looking,’ warned Sophia nodding towards the door.

Lacie turned around and saw Alik coming towards them. Sophia and Lacie smiled and waved at him but he just scowled at them and went to sit with some of his friends on the other side of the bar.

‘Do you think Bryce is coming?’ asked Sophia rolling her eyes.

‘No,’ said Lacie. ‘I think he’s arrived.’ She gestured to the bathroom. Coming out of the bathroom was Bryce, he was dressed in a blue shirt tonight and still had his thick lensed glasses on, he made a beeline for Lacie and Sophia.

‘Hi,’ he greeted them. ‘You must be Sophia.’

Sophia nodded and studied him closely. ‘And you’re Bryce.’

‘Well now that we all know each other,’ said Lacie. ‘We still got a deal right?’

‘Of course,’ said Bryce. ‘You can trust me.’

‘Is that what you told your wife shortly before you came here?’ asked Sophia.

Lacie frowned and gave a Sophia a look that clearly told her to watch her tone. ‘She’s a bit drunk, ignore her for now.’

‘Yes,’ said Bryce clearing his throat. ‘Maybe it should be us again Lacie.’

‘I think so too,’ smiled Lacie and got up. ‘See you later Soph.’

Lacie and Bryce left the bar leaving Sophia behind, she wanted to kick herself for taking a dig at Bryce’s marriage, she had to remind herself that they really needed this guy to like them. She sipped on the rest on her drink and hoped nobody would come to her, no such luck, shortly she finished her drink she was approached and after a brief discussion she left hand in hand with a burly looking Somali man.

Lacie and Bryce were sitting on the bed talking. Bryce had been telling Lacie about his family. Lacie listened with envy as he described how his wife would prepare breakfast on the porch for the whole family every Sunday.

‘Sounds like the perfect life,’ sighed Lacie. ‘I find it hard to even dream about anything outside of mine.’

Bryce took her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly. ‘You have to believe that things will get better.’

‘Hope is wasted in the land of hopeless,’ replied Lacie.

‘There is always hope as long as there are people to believe in it,’ said Bryce.

‘I know I have no right to ask this from you,’ said Lacie looking down at their hands.

Bryce placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her head until he could see into her eyes. ‘Ask.’

‘We don’t have much at the hostel,’ she said. ‘The food is very little.’

 ‘I will do whatever I can,’ replied Bryce. ‘But won’t your boss be suspicious of us meeting all the time? I would hate to get you into trouble.’