The school bus stood at the center of the compound, a freshly painted symbol of hope. The dents were hammered out, the windows replaced with sturdy metal grating, and the engine purred with a reliability that felt like a miracle. It was ready to carry its precious cargo: the thirty souls they had pledged to evacuate to Al Noor Island.
Inside the hideout Shihab stood over a map, his finger tracing the route to the port.
“The agreement is set,” he announced to the gathered team. Ayham, Karam, Jalal, and Jawad. “Captain Nasser will have his boat fueled and waiting. We pay him the remaining fuel and supplies upon delivery. The bus is the heart of this operation. No matter what happens, the bus mustn't stop, we'll do everything to make sure it reaches the port."
Jawad, leaning against the wa
