UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 21: WHEN HOPE BEGIN TO DIE

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwV16djH1x

Chapter 21: When Hope Begins to Die

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPY4eAVWof

"A man can survive hunger for days and thirst for hours, but when hope dies, the soul begins to starve."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBLZ1mt1zh

The discovery that Emeka was alive should have filled Tunde and Musa with joy.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz5Si0AOOx

Instead, it filled them with fear.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa5LrGs1Jb

For three weeks they had searched endlessly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIvKoovoQp

Prayed endlessly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7bVMIMQb2

Cried endlessly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH7i43mqaY

And now they finally knew the truth.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jvmfibeXw

Emeka was alive.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wRtzBO9iA

But he was trapped.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oZb9VEKiy

Held by dangerous men.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kV1A6wdP3

Men willing to silence anyone who threatened their secrets.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfQV2sSdKA

As darkness covered the city that night, Tunde and Musa sat inside their room.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe7sInJ6jl

Neither spoke.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbXGXsqU6R

The weight of what they had witnessed at the abandoned factory hung heavily between them.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEYYnVFd7p

Finally, Tunde broke the silence.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdctgyQ3Wy0

"We have to save him."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C3mjicCG1

Musa nodded.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wVUTFnUTl

"Yes."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWVFogxHY9

"But how?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNtRrtI528

The question remained unanswered.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMCWfMtvdO

Because neither of them knew.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m9rdtBn2V

The men guarding Emeka were dangerous.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVCf2ybARt

Powerful.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw7cJMtYgX

Organized.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dYjhHk5pB

One mistake could cost lives.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HgU9LcY8y

And yet doing nothing was impossible.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9tastF2Pv

A Yoruba proverb says:

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqxxwA3DLv

"The person whose brother is drowning cannot stand on the shore and discuss the depth of the river."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kH9U2gJbD

Emeka was their brother.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz8P9rN5UO

Not by blood.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfL13qHKIf

But by life.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTjKUWDHDs

By struggle.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfuERWB8Jz

By sacrifice.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0H8f4HrC8

They could not abandon him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouFqIpXR3e

The following morning, they went to the police.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoDTc20Qk7

At first, they believed help would come quickly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUurQWWFjL

Surely the authorities would act.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAgTHmwQ1l

Surely someone would listen.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu5AxpfOEa

Surely someone would care.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv1xAeJKft

But reality was cruel.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadljdV6jBd

The officer behind the desk listened patiently.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEgeXpmY9d

Then shook his head.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhHmwkDO8Z

"Do you have proof?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA1Zdw63Lx

Tunde's heart sank.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4P0REdE0C

"We saw him."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40wpl7VYWK

The officer sighed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKsr7FazEu

"That is not enough."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HNyreREFd

Musa stepped forward.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3wwcPPVh4

"We found his notebook."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8Rzkmz2O6

Again, the officer shook his head.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxQtkOEr3h

"We need stronger evidence."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosyjuvzR9e

The conversation ended there.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosWth4tBeS

The two friends walked away feeling defeated.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1swUxNrslZ

The city seemed colder than ever.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6fLKkqIR5

For the first time since finding Emeka, doubt entered their hearts.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XkMFsQjMQ

What if they could not save him?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqTreJbnIY

What if time was running out?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5gz0QIuvF

What if they were already too late?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkGu1CnZHj

Days passed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ236mAqcjgh

They continued watching the factory from a distance.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3R6TfmlQC

Every evening they took turns observing the area.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUs6R0hw7w

Every evening they hoped for an opportunity.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7clmcoEeI

Every evening they returned disappointed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h8vE1Iakk

The guards remained alert.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrNFvbxwAq

The trucks continued moving.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuYg8Bme6t

And Emeka remained trapped.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLFWuGRn9s

Meanwhile, inside the factory, Emeka was fighting a different battle.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dajOdHPAs

The battle against hopelessness.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEM4kHzfrc

The small room where they kept him had no windows.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXvZu3iQTn

No sunlight.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiYNUIRkbQ

No clock.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtITFBpFr2g

No way to know whether it was morning or night.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rb79HbmoC

Only darkness.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LWkR2ezvk

Only silence.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnfq5aTufr

Only fear.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9w4NtfCAiM

At first, he remained strong.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBIPZCQvUW

He believed rescue would come.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6Thw8Nqv3

He believed his friends would find him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQAYBMK613

He believed God had not abandoned him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjNODCr6oa

But as days became weeks, those beliefs became harder to hold.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGUhJi3SNz

Harder to trust.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CgTyUD13J

Harder to feel.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoChp58ygw

The human spirit can endure many things.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahBenlGit7

But uncertainty is one of its greatest enemies.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnARjoBRN3

A Yoruba proverb says:

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15sd1CTKgm

"Even the strongest rope weakens when soaked in water for too long."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9hwlA56fR

Emeka felt himself weakening.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aKP1KOKCE

Not physically.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfwnTTwqzC

Spiritually.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzikwibbhnj

Emotionally.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Df3Fl0KE

The darkness was winning.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3urpaYfevg

One evening, one of the guards brought him food.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjWCsBspNB

The man looked younger than the others.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsuC45NBbh

Less cruel.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8FdehN7Rr

Less hardened.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk83qOgOEu

As he placed the food on the floor, he spoke quietly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdy2J9TQzP

"You should stop hoping."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS7IYxQRWh

Emeka looked up.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDy7Dvg8lE

The words pierced his heart.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpL9Ptp7pM

"What?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYdCb5YxjL

The guard avoided his eyes.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgFRk1kcfC

"No one is coming."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga6y885RTW

Then he walked away.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNNo63BN6s

The door closed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT4GiCOSbM

The lock clicked.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyweBsrgX5

And silence returned.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRd5oFoc7H

For the first time since his disappearance, tears filled Emeka's eyes.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfeLdnEzJm

Not because of pain.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdVMcIhUSA

Not because of fear.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejTxLzheHg

But because he almost believed the guard.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdcVfRlN39

Almost.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9biWSd3Px

Across the city, Tunde and Musa were fighting their own battle.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpbrrMM79m

Money was running low again.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwK17snYiX

Work performance was suffering.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin1gtLZIFV

Sleep had become a stranger.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPpAKUbQ7u

Every moment was consumed by worry.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmjZgeNCIK

One afternoon, the warehouse manager called them into his office.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVhCfIsmMj

"You've both changed."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHdixeLPm2

Neither replied.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzfsVfrZ73

The manager sighed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO6xvQ4zJ5

"I know you're worried about your friend."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwq2IPycq9

The mention of Emeka reopened the wound.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1q26FRkxc

"But if this continues, you'll lose your jobs."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrSi2wePHT

The warning was serious.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoU8bDwGYE

Yet neither man cared.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCPonPdNH7

What was a job compared to a friend's life?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFTCH4dMOB

That evening, after another unsuccessful day, Musa finally snapped.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaz41n3nJb

His frustration exploded.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOb4Jblw7R

His anger exploded.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3rG32tqCX

His fear exploded.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKS6lmhHmU

"We can't save him!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7ylXs6x39

The words echoed through the room.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2jrL279up

Tunde stared at him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjgCJ3NBIT

Shocked.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf79g6kzJL

"We don't know what we're doing."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypD15ytxnp

Musa's voice trembled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2jmTzPYaf

"We are fighting people stronger than us."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxcDqlgYap

Silence followed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKpSqUjHtt

Tears filled his eyes.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWHcKnhy2k

"What if he's already gone?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOVvBNiV4t

The room felt suffocating.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Kj8YKIQf

Painful.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnZgYoPcuF

Heavy.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gJSdzPIYw

For several moments, nobody spoke.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htwMbiGIi

Then Tunde stood.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPouk23oKOA

Slowly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXWstUG94k

Quietly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBewAtM4iX

He walked toward the window.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSTLrMKIMg

The city lights stretched endlessly before him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzruhImGNeL

Then he spoke.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7sXqh3eQv

His voice was calm.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeoDZetTaS

But powerful.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcJdOAuzwT

"When we left Ajanaku, people said we would fail."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz6B7SorVG

Musa remained silent.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2qPRXbQne

"When we were robbed, people thought we were finished."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SMJ0nU4xK

Still silence.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEUQpxxzP3

"When we got lost in the wilderness, hope nearly died."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x4uo8bJit

Tunde turned.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIAK66pdX7

Looking directly at his friend.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52GNXd0CIz

"But every time we fell, we stood up again."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mtVGpx3to

Musa lowered his head.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaXpcCgX6X

A tear rolled down his cheek.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKtX2E5y6Q

Tunde continued.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhqmiY2t45

"Hope is not believing everything will be easy."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D0t9CpX5Y

His voice grew stronger.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYciGcfrS2W

"Hope is refusing to surrender when everything becomes difficult."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheDkUcimGO

The room became silent once more.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHC3QuxjG1

But this silence felt different.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XVgh349z2

Lighter.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDYb7UVdZk

Stronger.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNoqXlXXkH

Healing.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg3EstCBBY

A Yoruba proverb says:

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFYcl7Bjnh

"No matter how long the night lasts, dawn will eventually arrive."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnhVEVC5pD

The words settled deep into their hearts.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV3bihGX7X

For the first time in days, a small spark returned.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fd6HVFrEF

Not certainty.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p9WVFdGP6

Not confidence.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXtAdml4mY

Just hope.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVXPT1TW6h

And sometimes hope is enough.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxqeViLbsA

Later that night, far away inside the dark factory, Emeka sat alone.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaDjqH6hXd

Exhausted.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehpjcE2ssa

Broken.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6rFiozwZC

Defeated.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPxTJLMEsm

Then he remembered something his father once told him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr19DM9my7

"As long as you can still breathe, God is not finished writing your story."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK22NXpQ9KJ

The memory brought tears to his eyes.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjePWtrPtLY

Slowly, he wiped them away.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeQzYNPQGJ

Then he whispered a prayer.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OSrTjJlsW

A simple prayer.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpGs4mJVIP

A desperate prayer.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7uXJwVULA

A prayer for strength.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPfU190ZHl

And somewhere beyond the walls of the factory, beyond the darkness, beyond the fear, destiny was already moving.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfPOAqIj7k

Because while hope may bend.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmL5scSkrC

While hope may weaken.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlcb6M15xS

While hope may tremble.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnskUqJDqjE

True hope never dies.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx8SIzqpBX

And the dawn was closer than any of them realized.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HgDrbSfoT

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZogf06AwU
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwuwPIoXih

ns216.73.216.66da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically