Chapter 5: The Hold
Ama and Nala returned to the hold, where the other captives eyed them warily. Whispers spread like wildfire: "They're favored by the captain."
Ama tried to ignore the resentment, focusing on her plan to escape. She and Nala began to subtly gather information, asking questions and listening for clues.
One night, as the ship creaked and groaned, Ama approached an older man named Kwame. He had been quiet until now, but Ama sensed a deep wisdom in his eyes.
"Kwame, we need your help," Ama whispered. "We want to escape. Can you tell us more about the ship's layout?"
Kwame glanced around cautiously before nodding. "I've been on many ships. I know their secrets."
He sketched a rough map of the ship's hold, pointing out hidden passages and weak points in the structure. Ama's heart raced as she memorized the details.
But their conversation was cut short by the sound of footsteps. James, the captain, stood at the entrance of the hold, his eyes narrowed.
"What's going on here?" he demanded.
Ama and Nala exchanged nervous glances. Had they been discovered?