LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Chapter Three: In the Grip of Darkness

The companions went out near the cave to gather firewood, moving among the scattered branches on the ground. While everyone was working hard, Jack carefully selected the small branches that easily ignite, gathering them with dry herbs. When he had collected many branches, he carried them away to the cave and placed them there, then formed a circle of rocks ready to be lit. At that time, Alex came with a straight branch, placed it on a piece of wood, then removed his shoelace and put it on a curved branch. He began to move it slowly to rotate the straight branch and create sparks from the friction with the piece of wood, on which he had placed dry herbs. Although the process took a long time to ignite, he continued with effort until he succeeded in starting the fire. Afterward, they gathered around the burning fire to dry their clothes from the annoying moisture and to warm themselves with the heat that lit their tired faces.

After they dried their clothes, the storm outside calmed down and disappeared suddenly as if it had never existed, and the warm rays of the sun appeared. The companions were surprised by the quick disappearance of the storm. While they were sitting, Jack suddenly left the cave and quickly moved away from them. Alex tried to ask about his destination, but he did not look back and moved far away.

Lena asked worriedly, “Why did he go away so quickly? What’s happening with him?”

Alex replied anxiously, “I don’t know what’s happening here, it’s strange. He didn’t even tell us where he’s going.”

Noor nodded thoughtfully, “Maybe he saw something strange and wants to check it out.”

Lena said in surprise, “Something strange? What did he see, Noor?”

Noor replied hesitantly, “I don’t know.”

After a short while, Jack returned to the cave carrying something, and joyfully said to his friends, “Look what I brought for you! I saw this thing earlier near the beach when we were exploring the forest. And after the storm calmed down, I decided to bring it to you.” The friends were surprised and showed their happiness when they saw what Jack had brought with him, a pleasant surprise after the hardship of the journey and the fatigue they had endured. The gift was some fruits he found in the palm trees, and of course, after all they had been through, that moment delighted them greatly.

After they enjoyed eating the fruits, the strangeness of the atmosphere on the island aroused their curiosity and amazement. They wondered about the rapid change in weather and the quick disappearance of the storm, and it was not easy to explain how it disappeared so quickly, so they wanted to embark on exploring the island. But first, they needed to find a source of water and gather more fruits. They headed towards the green and lush forest that stretched behind the cave. There, among the forest trees and diverse plants, they enthusiastically searched for sources of food and water. At one point, they heard the sudden sound of a flowing river nearby, not too far from where they were staying.

Alex said, “Look, there’s a river. It might be clean and fresh water. Let’s go to it and drink from it.”

Jack replied, “Yes, it looks clean and beautiful. But we have to be careful, there might be dangerous snakes in the water.”

Lena said worriedly, “Really, don’t joke, Jack. I’m very afraid of snakes.”

Jack laughed and tried to tease her, “Look, there’s a snake behind you, beware of it.”

Lena screamed and jumped, “Where is it? Where’s the snake?”

Noor said, “Don’t be afraid, he’s just joking with you, there’s no snake here.”

Lena said angrily, “Jack, stop it, I don’t like this kind of joke.”

Jack said while laughing, “You’re a coward, Lena, you get scared too easily.”

Alex replied, “Stop it, Jack, please don’t scare her like that.”

Noor said, “Look over there, there are more fruits on those trees.”

Alex replied, “That’s great, let’s gather them and take them to the cave.”

After they ate the fruit and drank the water, the friends returned to their cave. The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant and beautiful colors. The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of the sea and flowers. They felt comfort and tranquility after a long and exhausting day. Alex added some firewood and dry leaves to the fire, making it burn brighter, while Jack sat next to the fire, extending his hands to feel the warmth.

Then Jack expressed his gratitude: “Thank you, Alex. You are always skilled and inventive. I am grateful for your presence with us.”

As they contemplated the shining stars in the sky, the splendor and beauty of the night took them into deep wonder. The sky was adorned with hundreds of sparkling stars, leaving behind luminous trails twinkling in the darkness. Amid this enchanting scene and the quiet of the night that enveloped the place, with a gentle breeze caressing the skin softly, an atmosphere of serenity and calm prevailed. In a special moment, as they huddled around the gentle fire, they felt an inner stillness filling their hearts, as if they were living in their own world, enveloped in peace, destined for unforgettable moments. It was a moment indescribable in words, only those who live it realize its beauty.

Afterward, Alex spoke seriously: “Well, now let’s discuss our next steps in our exploratory journey. Do you have any ideas?”

Jack thought for a moment and then said: “I think it would be best to search for the source of the black cloud we saw rising from the depths of the island; we might find some exciting secrets there.”

Lena expressed enthusiastically: “It would be amazing if we found discoveries that no one has ever discovered before!”

Noor asked: “Have you decided, Alex, where we will head tomorrow?”

Alex replied to her: “Let’s rest now, and in the morning we will decide where to go.”

Jack said: “I am very excited to start the exploration journey!”

Noor said: “I am very tired today and feel sleepy.”

Lena replied: “Me too, I feel extremely tired.”

After their conversation, they lay down on the ground and were enveloped by a deep sleep. In the middle of the night, while everyone was surrendered to sleep, Noor felt an urgent need to relieve herself. She got up and headed outside the cave, which woke up Lena, who was lying next to her, and she joined her heading to the forest. Outside the cave, they walked together towards the river, and on their way, they picked wide tree leaves, intending to use them as containers to carry water from the river. At the riverbank, where wildlife was active in the darkness of the night, they noticed dragonflies fluttering around them and listened to the croaking of frogs.

While they were filling the leaves with water, Lena sighed and said, “In the wilderness, to relieve ourselves, we walk long distances through the dark forest. I miss the comfort of the city.”

Noor replied, “It’s true that the city provides luxury and facilitates daily life, but it’s also harsh and full of competition and complexities. Don’t you think life in the wilderness could be simpler?”

Lena asked inquisitively, “Do you think life here is simple? What do you mean by that?”

Noor said, “To live in the wilderness, you only need to search for sources of food and water and find shelter.”

Lena countered, “But these things are more easily and better provided in the city.”

Noor replied, “In the city, to provide these three resources, you must find a good job that provides a large salary, and that’s very difficult. It puts you under constant pressure as you think about how to keep your savings until the end of the month while saving some money.”

Lena responded in surprise, “You say this even though you don’t face this problem, as you have a famous gym that provides you with a large income.”

Noor paused for a moment in thought, then said, “Let’s put that aside for now, can you help me carry the water?”

Lena looked at her perplexedly and said, “I don’t understand what you’re thinking, but of course, I’ll help.”

After they completed what they came for, they headed towards their cave. As they walked, Noor was deep in thought, recalling the conversation they had and remembering her past days, the days following her graduation when she stood at the podium and delivered her speech, receiving warm applause from the audience. Her mother came to hug her with overwhelming joy, and her father stood by her side, brimming with pride. Then she returned home where her parents held a small celebration, one of the happiest moments of her life.

After a period of graduation, Noor went out carrying her academic certificates and resume, contemplating a promising professional future. Despite her academic excellence and proficiency in several languages, she faced rejection in several job interviews. Each rejection only increased her determination, aware that the search for the right job might be long.

On a significant day, she conducted a job interview with high confidence, showcasing her skills and abilities. However, despite her efforts, someone else was chosen for the job, which stirred feelings of injustice within her, especially since she felt she was more competent. She left the interview affected, wandering the city streets for hours under the weight of frustration and despair, wondering about the reason for the repeated rejections and the mistake she might have made.

During her wanderings, a conversation between two people about a mysterious island and adventurers seeking to explore it caught her attention. The idea sparkled in her mind, and she began to imagine herself on an exploratory journey to that island.

Noor returned to her parents’ home, where her mother greeted her with evident concern. But Noor, weighed down by disappointment, quickly retreated to her room and closed the door behind her. She spent the night in isolation, re-evaluating the interview she had gone through, analyzing every detail, and searching for the reason for the rejection. Nevertheless, she did not lose hope and was determined to continue searching for a job opportunity. She picked up her phone and began browsing job advertisements, and amidst her search, the idea of the island she had heard about came back to her mind, so she started looking for information related to it, spending the entire night following news about that island.

After several days, Noor learned of a company looking for new employees. She grabbed her bag and headed there optimistically. She entered the company building where she was received and taken to the waiting room, where many were waiting their turn. After the interview, Noor emerged with sadness etched on her face and headed outside where she got lost in the city streets. She was rejected again, and this time, she couldn’t contain her emotions, her tears flowed profusely as she sat on the street curb, engulfed in feelings of sorrow and injustice.

In her moment of sadness, Noor noticed a girl dancing happily in the street, recording a video with her phone, using a famous app that allows users to gain fame and earn money. Noor wondered to herself, “I have studied hard all my life and excelled, yet I haven’t gotten a job, while others achieve success in simple ways.”

Noor grabbed her phone, downloaded the app, and started a live broadcast. Hesitant and affected, her tears flowed as she recounted her story and experiences with rejection, despite her academic excellence and high qualifications. After she finished the broadcast, she resumed her walk with heavy steps and returned home, carrying disappointment in her heart.

That night, as Noor relaxed in her room, her phone rang. It was Alex on the other end, asking about her well-being. “I’m fine,” Noor answered.

She was surprised when Alex told her about the video she broadcasted and how it became the talk of the town. This call was a turning point in her life.

Noor began using the app to connect with people, talking about various topics. One day, she decided to film herself exercising in the gym, and soon people loved what she offered, and the views increased. She specialized in sharing and teaching fitness exercises to the audience.

Over time, Noor saved enough money to rent a small place and open her own gym, which became very popular and achieved great success in its field, leading to a considerable financial income. Thanks to this success, she was able to buy a huge two-story gym and became a prominent name in the fitness world. However, Noor felt that something was missing to feel complete.

At the present time, as Noor and Lena walked towards the cave, Noor initiated, “Did you hear the sound of the frogs croaking at the river?”

Lena replied, “Yes, their sound was very annoying.”

Noor said, “The sound of the frogs is much quieter than the noise of the city.”

Lena fell silent, puzzled, as she couldn’t understand Noor’s thoughts, but she noticed expressions of happiness on her face and wondered to herself, “Is it just my imagination, or does Noor actually seem happy?” Lena continued walking beside her friend without uttering a word, while Noor was lost in her thoughts. Silence prevailed between them as they continued walking under the stillness of the night, and suddenly, a bright light emerged from afar, piercing the darkness of the forest. They stopped, astonished, gazing at the mysterious light with eyes wide in amazement.

Lena asked in wonder, “What is this light that shines on the horizon?”

With a voice filled with confusion, Noor said, “I really don’t know, it’s far away, but it seems to emanate from the depths of the forest.”