The container ship sailed through the choppy waters, carrying its cargo of human trafficking victims to their destination in Greenwood Country, Europe. Bella was huddled in a corner of the container, her eyes fixed on the small bag that Elizabeth had given her.
As she looked around, she saw that she was not alone. There were other girls in the container, all from different parts of East and West Africa.
One of the girls noticed Bella sitting alone and approached her. "Hello, my name is Amira," she said, smiling. "I'm from Tanzania."
Bella hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm Bella, from Uganda," she said finally.
Amira nodded. "I was promised a job as a maid in a rich family's house."
Bella's eyes widened in surprise. "I was promised a job too," she said. "But I don't know what kind of job it is."
Amira's expression turned sympathetic. "Don't worry, we'll find out soon enough. My friend, Fatima, is from Ghana. She was promised a job as a nanny."
Fatima smiled and waved at Bella. "Hello, I'm so glad to meet you. I have two children back home, and I'm hoping to earn enough money to send them to school."
As the girls continued to chat, Bella learned that they all had similar stories. There was Nala from Kenya, who had been promised a job as a housekeeper. She had a sick mother back home and was hoping to earn enough money to pay for her treatment.
There was also Aisha from Nigeria, who had been promised a job as a seamstress. She had a young daughter back home and was hoping to earn enough money to provide for her.
As the days passed, the girls grew closer, bonding over their shared experiences. They talked about their hopes and dreams, and they supported each other through the tough times.
But despite their newfound friendships, Bella couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She had a nagging sense of unease, a feeling that they were all in grave danger.
As the container ship sailed on, Bella and the other girls were unaware of the horrors that lay ahead. They were headed for Greenwood Country, a land of wealth and luxury, but also a land of darkness and despair.
The girls continued to talk and share their stories, trying to lift each other's spirits. But as the days turned into weeks, the reality of their situation began to sink in.
They were trapped, with no way to escape. They were at the mercy of the traffickers, who had promised them a better life but had instead sold them into slavery.
As the container ship approached the shores of Greenwood Country, Bella and the other girls steeled themselves for what lay ahead. They knew that they would have to be strong, to survive the horrors that awaited them.
But for now, they just huddled together, trying to find comfort in each other's presence. They were in this together, and they would face whatever came next as a team.