CHAPTER 13

The following day arrived like a relentless surge of time, the searing morning sun casting a sweltering blanket over the land, making every step a test of endurance. The distant clucking of hens provided an ironic backdrop to the grim circumstances. Zara, perched on her bedroll, occupied a space noticeably distinct from the other women and girls. Her confusion swirled as to why they had segregated her from the rest of the captives, but one thing was certain: it had something to do with her brother, Hamza. Her heart brimmed with concern, and in the silence, she uttered fervent prayers for his safety.

....

Meanwhile, Hamza stood before Sani, an oppressive atmosphere weighing heavily upon him. Sani, the malevolent overseer, shattered the stillness with a taunting inquiry, "Do you find solace in your newfound 'freedom' here?" Hamza, his body rigid with fear, replied with trembling composure, "I am grateful for your benevolence, sir." Beneath Sani's veneer of civility, Hamza sensed the lurking malevolence like a coiled serpent.

As tension coiled around them, an unanticipated interjection rents the moment. A messenger burst into the room, whispering urgent tidings into Sani's ear. Sani's abrupt departure left Hamza suspended in anxious anticipation, awaiting the revelation of the cryptic message.

In the absence of Sani, Hamza seized the opportunity to slip outside, where Nurudeen awaited at their prearranged meeting point. Nurudeen's demeanor was a testament to his anxiety, his face etched with concern. Hamza's arrival appeared to alleviate the tension, but the urgency of their situation hung in the air like a palpable weight.

Nurudeen confronted Hamza with an impatient tone, "Where in the hell have you been? You're late!" Hamza met Nurudeen's gaze, his own eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and urgency. He stammered, "Something came up... Why

are you looking so tense?"

Nurudeen's response hung heavy with gravity, "The plan is already in motion."

Hamza's mind whirled with disbelief, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "What? Is it already started? How?"

Their conversation crackled with a fusion of determination and trepidation as they stood on the precipice of their audacious escape plan.

Nurudeen's gaze bore into Hamza's as he attempted to quell the rising tide of panic. "Calm down," he implored, his voice tinged with the strain of their predicament. "I tried calling my commander, but as expected, the call was blocked. What I didn't anticipate was their ability to track my exact location when I made the call. I had underestimated their technology."

Hamza absorbed this information, his mind racing as he grasped the gravity of their situation. He couldn't help but inquire, "So, what's our next course of action?" His eyes remained fixed on Nurudeen, who hesitated for a moment.

"As long as my sister can make it to safety, I'll accept any risk," Hamza declared, his determination unwavering.

Nurudeen regarded him with a mixture of admiration and concern before responding. "It's an incredibly dangerous plan," he admitted, "but it might be our only chance. I've diverted their attention away from the IT base, and the only way a call can reach the military is through that building. My clearance won't allow me in, but in your case, it's different."

Hamza pondered the risky proposition for a moment before finally nodding. "What are the chances of me getting into the IT building? I have no legitimate reason to be there," he noted, a hint of anxiety creeping into his voice.

Nurudeen met his gaze and offered a glimmer of hope, saying, "You're under the Sheaku's protection. If they ask, you can tell them it's on Sheaku's orders." Determination etched on his face, Hamza nodded once more and replied firmly, "Okay."