UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 22: THE DARKEST NIGHT

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0Rr0bHjXS

Chapter 22: The Darkest Night

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvCpHfZv09

"The darkest night is not the one without stars; it is the one where a person begins to lose faith in the coming dawn."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DKU9xULvZ

The rain fell heavily across the city.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNJ0VxFUIg

Thunder rolled through the sky like distant drums of war.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c0FNYhyX2

The streets glistened beneath the pale glow of streetlights.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMFGpMtey2

But inside the abandoned factory, darkness ruled.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE4EGH0gZh

Not just around Emeka.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUo8q2OI8z

Inside him.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8h3L6lsl8

For weeks, he had held onto hope.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlJbBxEecb

For weeks, he had believed rescue would come.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeGnbrNqAG

For weeks, he had repeated the same prayer every night.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2zW8eq2e2

"Lord, do not forget me."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRSxBlXc58

Yet as the days passed, hope became harder to hold.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNxr8gC8Zm

Harder to believe.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpEYmDrDdH

Harder to feel.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCKRVOmabH

The walls of his small room seemed to grow closer every day.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkO39mLyUP

The silence became louder.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImpeaX1QKO

The loneliness became heavier.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhcgPe3jIm

The uncertainty became unbearable.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4nwv9SY3v

A Yoruba proverb says:

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj048p2fSxl

"When the road is long and the traveler sees no village ahead, even strong legs begin to tremble."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW4rxSvr3h

Emeka's spirit was trembling.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusyXpfQcaE

Meanwhile, across the city, Tunde and Musa continued their desperate search.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFYeoO7CIJ

Every lead ended in disappointment.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kc2mSGKwv

Every clue seemed to vanish before they could follow it.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9vfgYD9ez

The notebook had given them hope.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqVt3DWtsU

But hope alone was not enough.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwibJU3kV6P

They needed answers.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt5HokyT7A

And answers remained hidden.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt0zSFjaEH

One evening, after another failed day, Musa sat alone on the rooftop of their building.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWevYsFykFh

The city stretched endlessly before him.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UyFQJvbTJ

Bright lights.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FJTIYhFU4

Moving cars.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KgPqfUl6y

Thousands of lives.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ46es0XFD

Yet he felt completely alone.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX0NNWzDWq

The guilt inside him refused to leave.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG69MFOEv8X

He remembered betraying Emeka.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoqs33YLcs

He remembered the jealousy.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFwsApHEWN

The lies.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K29HpZtYZ

The pain he had caused.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSH39uKMBa

And now Emeka was missing.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XgVscHOYH

Every day that passed made the guilt worse.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50KHjMUY1e

"What if I never see him again?" he whispered.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOvj2JSvTm

The question haunted him.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlMeYrPsQO

Downstairs, Tunde sat with Emeka's notebook.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZoRNURveE

The pages had become worn from constant reading.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8HbJTwWhZ

Again and again, he searched for clues.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHvnvqIFnX

Again and again, he found nothing.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZhq5VvHas

His eyes stopped on one sentence Emeka had written months earlier:

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1CfFyr4do

"The strongest trees survive storms because their roots refuse to let go of the earth."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPWBeh0uCa

Tunde stared at the words.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeQ0AffMhT

Then slowly closed the notebook.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI8Y2I96N1

"No."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQWU2E5nuz

His voice was firm.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zdbW8enV8

"I won't give up."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMG4GgZgIn

Across town, Emeka was fighting his own battle.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndsVP21eVA

That night, Raymond entered the room.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyZzxQHwNW

For the first time since the kidnapping, he came alone.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAINjcvSBs2

The older man looked tired.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG9Iu3lEzk

Restless.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC9ancjuol

Afraid.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvCjoaypJo

Something had changed.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCDLnaBCtf

"You should have minded your business," Raymond said.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F9BvxjRf0

Emeka looked at him silently.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqEtdQZARO

"I saw the documents."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU7BxeLEUx

Raymond laughed bitterly.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6dy4UxQ8B

"Yes."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5ANwlFodz

The truth finally emerged.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ0jXJPhMa

Months earlier, Emeka had accidentally discovered evidence of a smuggling operation connected to several powerful people.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfax3qnNhjN

Illegal goods.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfTEBmkVcH

Corrupt deals.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNvHzM4qsa

Millions of dollars.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYopfxPD7D

Information worth killing for.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSDKrz4CwP

When Raymond realized what Emeka knew, panic followed.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2RDs1YJQ3

The kidnapping was meant to buy time.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnXoHQtLuP

Nothing more.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK338vGgxr

Nothing less.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ilN2MPOM5

"You ruined everything," Raymond muttered.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFOOr0OkoP

Emeka shook his head.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6XiOC2SzN

"No."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7LfuI8EzU

His voice remained calm.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUQq0JySF9

"You ruined it yourself."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj8QBPwtkn

The words struck harder than a slap.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeTr66aw7p

For a moment, Raymond looked away.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqzoUYuTeO

Because deep down, he knew they were true.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwGhyliHCR

A Yoruba proverb says:

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66f2gGF60x

"The person who throws dirt into the air should not complain when it falls back onto his face."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7g6D4iJ8B

Every lie eventually returns to its owner.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhTN1msKqN

Every wrongdoing eventually demands payment.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOiDePjXLt

Raymond understood that now.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U9gkL1QSP

As he left the room, he paused.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm0HVHiwRJ

For several seconds he remained silent.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qIkXUzQzU

Then he spoke softly.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsLPJ03AP3

"Pray for yourself."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx5jHYVoKG

The door closed.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XA2XCH6Nq

The lock clicked.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh900OZvzyE

And darkness returned.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvJwtjkouN

Those words frightened Emeka more than anything else.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZVlks4Jwq

Because they sounded like a warning.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9E02ApeR7

A final warning.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs234cNpE0l

That same night, Tunde and Musa received unexpected news.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYJb6oKCbb

A former warehouse employee approached them.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB1maz3Mrn

The man looked nervous.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeOQRDf4jw

Terrified.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa9xkFy4ZF

As if he feared being watched.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtIYn6zLVL

"I know something about your friend."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamLfurehEr

Their hearts immediately raced.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIkMHhHbkI

"What do you know?"

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfBvy4r4cc

The man glanced around carefully.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoPibLxr3m

Then lowered his voice.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAhBMpSmta

"I heard Raymond talking."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYoLMRGvRA

Tunde stepped closer.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ykHvA9X4R

"Talking about what?"

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWvWjrPGqd

The man's answer froze their blood.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l7bf03v0f

"They are moving him tomorrow."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLtKfKEB35

Silence.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRuWEUkrQM

The city noise seemed to disappear.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAQx6H3KiZ

Everything disappeared.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tRLoZCvSV

Only those words remained.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H2MABAi6m

Moving him tomorrow.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQBtKl2LbQ

If that happened, finding Emeka again could become impossible.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJJ6sw0vbt

The lead could vanish forever.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfzFYVe1kt

The trail could go cold.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW0PGR4NLx

Hope could disappear.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXfJedVLj4

Musa felt panic rising.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay3BDbrvNq

"When?"

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYmrQrUnKC

"Tomorrow night."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZH4Nc1sjI

"Where?"

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkBiAA4Mw4

The man shook his head.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaAVmUwhUn

"I don't know."

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiadywnHEyI

Fear gripped them both.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAqS09BvfG

The clock was ticking.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY7ZVvbrVZ

Time was running out.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0a8kIx3UE

Destiny had placed them at a crossroads.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE5XtZda9G

Act now.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3KPb8eAr3

Or risk losing their friend forever.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrTkYA1pLv

That evening, the two friends sat together in silence.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2DthiSd3N

Neither knew exactly what to do.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDd6XZ6zSk

Neither knew how they would succeed.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWZ5AV6ayT

But both understood one thing.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtWMRTzoyK

Tomorrow would change everything.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZzPyqdIhW

Win or lose.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRF8iCAF0v

Life or death.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBhUuhpeE6

Success or failure.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mo0fFl1E2

The moment had arrived.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJONNS7C7Qy

Outside, the storm grew stronger.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53xZTUNvir

Lightning flashed across the sky.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18zkcqOreN

Thunder shook the city.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf81OJPTDMO

And somewhere in the darkness, three young men stood on the edge of a fate none of them could yet see.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAvoaPbqhr

Emeka sat alone in captivity.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfGwytEdC0

Tunde stared out a rain-covered window.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAciUxoKIi

Musa prayed quietly into the night.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgCWXL9hIF

All three were separated by distance.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxEIi5JKhh

Yet united by hope.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vVFD2J292

A hope that was wounded.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSRQBS6ONZ

Exhausted.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSOCvWl8d5

Fragile.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R7a27VBbi

But still alive.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAAn4xSRV0

Because even in the darkest night, dawn is preparing to rise.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgVNjXq7Px

And sometimes, just before the sunrise, darkness fights its hardest battle.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDleH2Y5VVF
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlu5nzjH2h

ns216.73.217.114da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically