UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 21: WHEN HOPE BEGIN TO DIE

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOUGZdOV4f

Chapter 21: When Hope Begins to Die

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCoovS1fgp

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJumdqXmrvD

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDzMGBbCfq

Instead, it filled them with fear.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqQOr2901M

For three weeks they had searched endlessly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPs2ynkaOm

Prayed endlessly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1SpnAP3Pj

Cried endlessly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5096afnIk

And now they finally knew the truth.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AQBpoG9iY

Emeka was alive.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleNNbvgmjf

But he was trapped.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBJNtWEPVi

Held by dangerous men.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjCF43BUr1

Men willing to silence anyone who threatened their secrets.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzMhudlPib

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPiIVFkiSj

Neither spoke.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTOk8bOdjL

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nU3N1ZKoL

Finally, Tunde broke the silence.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60WKiqXIdQ

"We have to save him."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtgZBOXatx

Musa nodded.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqiut9bwmH

"Yes."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IRLymWmHE

"But how?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkuzAtKVb3

The question remained unanswered.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g3pC2VHMT

Because neither of them knew.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwG7whhpu3

The men guarding Emeka were dangerous.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO9eiNrkm6

Powerful.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1OnmZkq7m

Organized.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5EZ7SNSeK

One mistake could cost lives.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpnLoUD2rW

And yet doing nothing was impossible.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBmC31HuMK

A Yoruba proverb says:

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S8eNkDcq7

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqBi8pU7A9

Emeka was their brother.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2EeF7PqOH

Not by blood.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM1pjWqvLl

But by life.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacXlUWCmcG

By struggle.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC8EhqUAja

By sacrifice.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxONBbyXtV0

They could not abandon him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8niKxq5Ujb

The following morning, they went to the police.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ0GrJ6xTZ

At first, they believed help would come quickly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnPeX2bPoe

Surely the authorities would act.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkgMJhwcFn

Surely someone would listen.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAszscucuVs

Surely someone would care.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrJKhMwqjY

But reality was cruel.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOwr8HoLG3

The officer behind the desk listened patiently.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUdNxgHMQ4

Then shook his head.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJA4JfXyKS

"Do you have proof?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTkKlUMIVk

Tunde's heart sank.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlNLMjzVHQ

"We saw him."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk95zcxdu0R

The officer sighed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQoYft7Hrt

"That is not enough."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstgNPVTLxU

Musa stepped forward.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkLeXjIBtd

"We found his notebook."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU341z9IZ1a

Again, the officer shook his head.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQWGqmAHep

"We need stronger evidence."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJsj2AvYRo

The conversation ended there.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbUIJFXO7N

The two friends walked away feeling defeated.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hWOvi5Ncp

The city seemed colder than ever.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7pHriVkvm

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFQUujs6Dq

What if they could not save him?

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1L3qqr92u

What if time was running out?

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrNbzeWNRp

What if they were already too late?

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucT0bj3cKH

Days passed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0JQfP5dLD

They continued watching the factory from a distance.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn42bJ4mpu0

Every evening they took turns observing the area.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIdRNnJ5ob

Every evening they hoped for an opportunity.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHZ29OJiUi

Every evening they returned disappointed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJmGyvTrvg

The guards remained alert.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhoPYxcY6D

The trucks continued moving.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0ZfBQueWk

And Emeka remained trapped.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO1acqjdb8

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcF8IacFXw

The battle against hopelessness.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneOPdMf03K

The small room where they kept him had no windows.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKbDKylRFq

No sunlight.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9ZDTxShV9

No clock.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FJIw3UboV

No way to know whether it was morning or night.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpDMW7fxOY

Only darkness.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOGXcMSWMS

Only silence.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCsNRI9UL9

Only fear.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IBzqwmtZL

At first, he remained strong.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6xfKXOyQG

He believed rescue would come.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstDWJxDP5l

He believed his friends would find him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEjOWSdlln

He believed God had not abandoned him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfah5CbNir

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy39tK994hE

Harder to trust.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSqs5FIGyE

Harder to feel.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmU6EZ0pJw

The human spirit can endure many things.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBVZyAYbeq

But uncertainty is one of its greatest enemies.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFB5VfaOsD

A Yoruba proverb says:

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s58HU2uWO

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgeZubS6of

Emeka felt himself weakening.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NcITavNqi

Not physically.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGqfSMEWw1

Spiritually.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq90VbI3Skv

Emotionally.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhKpqvOOzy

The darkness was winning.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqAB6R1B6P

One evening, one of the guards brought him food.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyZA20dgQl

The man looked younger than the others.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOS00ox60n

Less cruel.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEO3oLOoTS

Less hardened.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHryt1GpTa

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuwDiC8C49

"You should stop hoping."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlekR93upPs

Emeka looked up.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoBXYarhYW

The words pierced his heart.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLxoqcvttT

"What?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFrWxX77fv

The guard avoided his eyes.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKWh2Mp4Xy

"No one is coming."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjPDDMPJsR

Then he walked away.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgTMgYa4Yu

The door closed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmzZrP2suy

The lock clicked.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Wo7KuUokT

And silence returned.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaAl8aSdUi

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcGZGVYwiG

Not because of pain.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3dfNm9OGw

Not because of fear.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrLBQ9jtQ2

But because he almost believed the guard.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNy6goQcfN

Almost.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqyZ1wXKLx

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWOxX0vFX6

Money was running low again.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyxF8J6dKv

Work performance was suffering.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5MoXNSr7U

Sleep had become a stranger.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJGBvKqbeC

Every moment was consumed by worry.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DP0mn1N21

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmChzIVbrb

"You've both changed."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdFENfPNxj

Neither replied.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB96pN9NbF

The manager sighed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lRX1BiPAE

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i1MGzCWNp

The mention of Emeka reopened the wound.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsADeJHMe4J

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAmg5eQ5w9

The warning was serious.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCJ2PA0iPB

Yet neither man cared.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2WPjvaQ58

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY90JnaElGj

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg3DkFIwJq

His frustration exploded.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabRsyd5aPJ

His anger exploded.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECSC18r7tx

His fear exploded.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRsDeEE84W

"We can't save him!"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx6zB2zJhZ

The words echoed through the room.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vUvy8cOwC

Tunde stared at him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc1hQqYeHf

Shocked.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjb0sw68LM

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2RK9VDwct

Musa's voice trembled.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFoetu4HSp

"We are fighting people stronger than us."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PCvXcvNXE

Silence followed.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZ3I17ZtH

Tears filled his eyes.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6t0eOfHhn

"What if he's already gone?"

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjldLDpDdQn

The room felt suffocating.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT95QUN5kO

Painful.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SH1u0dVMw

Heavy.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJalMvD9TU

For several moments, nobody spoke.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtsQAlXnxr

Then Tunde stood.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpvxvH5qDa

Slowly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oX0YKqaYB

Quietly.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZfxivqETT

He walked toward the window.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnVOqhPJpW

The city lights stretched endlessly before him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsw1VQrzA5

Then he spoke.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpclLErNpVJ

His voice was calm.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabOZsB51Zk

But powerful.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIf5J3bEDr

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN5uZqyahL

Musa remained silent.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNl02dqS7j

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFo2YD7JF3

Still silence.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1zexRZIH1

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HU80yhABq

Tunde turned.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHU7uWbfYK

Looking directly at his friend.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU90EVkNNP

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqq4ba1obF

Musa lowered his head.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06DFYizZk1

A tear rolled down his cheek.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9q4imWMyo

Tunde continued.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3656RMndT

"Hope is not believing everything will be easy."

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZfBdtEreT

His voice grew stronger.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsWiTkbeSi

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VM6x3qzbr

The room became silent once more.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5gHbznT9u

But this silence felt different.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH2aGPvbKn

Lighter.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K1t3QmYD5

Stronger.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn5vyIwqUy

Healing.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOZxqqDdJo

A Yoruba proverb says:

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBinNWNgFds

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi2rq3nCjS

The words settled deep into their hearts.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDWx5fZoyU

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJcHlTU2SO

Not certainty.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr4DgyxuMK

Not confidence.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyL2Mf8sdn

Just hope.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiErMUTzh5i

And sometimes hope is enough.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJiNiJFJ62

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsCF7KTcIS

Exhausted.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPBar3vgYx

Broken.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4GqWvhV55

Defeated.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmXpFhlwsf

Then he remembered something his father once told him.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0JU28VeUY

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5KH6nxSG9

The memory brought tears to his eyes.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyhs3EFf5Q

Slowly, he wiped them away.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CzxeH7QgU

Then he whispered a prayer.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBaAkPMBEL

A simple prayer.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqbiXH0Ki5

A desperate prayer.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkZcXvQcGQ

A prayer for strength.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxuOCnmBNO

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

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeNoKWCT3h

Because while hope may bend.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbS7zHidVD

While hope may weaken.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlH7U3aXSD

While hope may tremble.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2SmsHAVSZ

True hope never dies.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLTpFezzdw

And the dawn was closer than any of them realized.

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbcE5NSrex

46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmChdPg2mrc
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoMXHrGQGc

ns216.73.217.114da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically