NOTHING FOREVER

Chapter4: Beyond the horizon

The ship had just docked and the crew began to unload us from the cramped and unsanitary ship. The creaking of the its wooden planks filled the air as we were led down the gangway(A removable bridge or ladder allowing people to board or disembark safely). The cool night air enveloped us, a welcome respite from the stifling heat of the ship's hold. As I stepped onto dry land, my legs wobbled beneath me, unsteady from months at sea. I gazed around, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of this new land.

“Move boy!” Bruce spat, his hands shoving me forward. I stumbled, regaining my balance as I heard him jeer, “Ye got the rest o' ya life ya admire England!” Royce chuckled alongside him, their mocking laughter penetrating the depths of my soul. We were led through a narrow crooked path, our captors lanterns being the only source of luminance as it cast its flickering shadows on the ground. As we walked, I took in my surroundings. I couldn’t help but marvel at the difference it had from my homelands. I could see houses from a distance whose structures amazed me, the trees, the sounds. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and coal, a far cry from the sweet scent of my homeland. I definitely felt like a stranger in a strange land surrounded with everything unfamiliar.

The other survivors of the journey walked silently behind me. Their shoulders slumped down and their eyes cast down on the ground. The few that had their heads raised looked with stares so blank. Their eyes that once held emotions of laughter and expressions of joy with evidence of laugh lines forming at the end of their eyes had now lost their sparkle. All that could be seen was blank stares, coldness, emptiness with no emotions or expressions.

We continued on the seemingly endless path, the silence was broken only by the sounds of our footsteps and the distant hum of activities from the town ahead. Roughly an hour later as I presume, we reached an open field. The air was thick with the pungent smell of manure and accompanied with the noise of oinking pigs. The rustic surroundings, however, offered some comfort from all the dreaded journey we’ve had.

I had lost count of the days since I was taken captive, torn from my home and family, and forced to endure the brutal journey that had brought me to this place. The memories of my loved ones, of the life I once knew, seemed to fade with each passing day, replaced by the stark reality of my new existence.

As I gazed out at the fields, I noticed the vast expanse of land.

Our captors, Royce and Bruce, gestured for us to follow them, leading us toward a large, dusty room. The building loomed before us, its wooden walls weathered to a soft gray, and its roof a patchwork of corrugated iron and thatch. The door creaked as it swung open, revealing a dimly lit interior that seemed to swallow us whole.

Now, we filed inside, the door clanged shut behind us, and the sound of locks clicking into place sealed our fate. The only source of light in the room came from a small, lantern, casting eerie shadows on the walls. I blinked in the dim light, my eyes adjusting slowly to the gloom.

I took in the sight of my surroundings, I noticed that the room was surrounded by stacks of hay, the dry, earthy scent wafting up to mingle with the stench of manure. The floor, covered in a thin layer of dust, seemed to stretch out endlessly, a barren expanse that offered little comfort. We all took our positions on the floor, our eyes fixed on the door, waiting for whatever would come next.

Moments later, Royce and Bruce returned, bearing bread and fresh milk for each of us. We waited in silence, our eyes fixed on the food, as they handed out the meager rations. I took my portion, my stomach growling with anticipation, and began to eat.

The bread, however, was quite the opposite from the warm, soft loaves I had grown accustomed to in my former life. This bread was hard, dense, and seemingly impenetrable. I chewed slowly, my jaws working tirelessly to break down the tough crust, but it seemed to resist my every effort. Despite my hunger, I found myself struggling to swallow the dry, tasteless bread.

As I washed down the bread with a gulp of milk, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of gratitude. The milk, at least, was fresh and creamy, offering a fleeting relief from the hardships that had become my reality. I savored the taste, letting it linger on my palate, before finally swallowing.

Moments after I finished my meal, exhaustion began to creep in, my body weary from the journey that had brought me to this place. I curled up in my corner, using the extra hay to create a makeshift bed, in a vain attempt to find some semblance of comfort and warmth. The cold seeped into my bones, a chilling reminder of the unfamiliar climate of this new land.

I lay there, surrounded by the soft rustling of hay and the distant sounds of the farm, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would I be trapped in this desolate place forever, forced to endure the hardships and cruelties of my captors? Or would I find a way to escape, to reclaim my freedom and forge a new path in this unfamiliar world?

Darkness closed in around me, I shut my eyes, a few tears flowing freely in the position I laid my head, my mind racing with questions and fears, but my body succumbing to the exhaustion that had taken hold. Sleep, fitful and fleeting, eventually claimed me.

Flashback

I found myself standing on the deck of the ship, the salty sea air whipping my face as I gazed out at the endless expanse of water. I was surrounded by my friends, fellow captives, our wrists and ankles bound by tough ropes. The ship's crew, rough and uncaring, herded us toward the hold, a dark and foreboding pit that seemed to swallow us whole.

As I descended into the hold, the air grew thick with the stench of mold, mildew, and human waste. The darkness was absolute, punctuated only by the faint glow of lanterns hung from the ceiling. I stumbled, my ropes tugging against a protruded surface, as I struggled to find my footing.

The days blended together in a haze of hunger, thirst, and despair. We were given meager rations, barely enough to sustain us. Many of my friends fell ill, their bodies weakened by starvation and disease. I remember the sound of their labored breathing, the stench of their sweat and vomit, and the feel of their cold, clammy skin as they lay dying beside me.

I saw Eze, my youthful friend, lying on the floor, his eyes sunken, his skin pale. I knelt beside him, holding his hand, as he whispered his final words to me “Ezigbo enyim, jisie ike. Elozokwana'm mana lozokwa ihe nile megoronu. Struggle to live for yourself. Oyi'm, Kodi” (My good friend, be strong, keep it up. Don’t forget me but forget everything that has happened. Struggle to live for yourself. My friend, till we meet again). With that, his eyes snapped shut. I felt a surge of grief and helplessness as I watched him slip away, his body succumbing to the cruel fate that had been imposed upon us. I held his limp body and bawled my eyes out uncontrollably. “Why did it have to be this way?” I questioned. “Just what sins did we commit to make our chi take their eyes and hands off us?”

I relived the night of terror, the storm that had blown in, causing the ship to pitch and roll violently. The hold was thrown into chaos, with bodies crashing into each other, and the sound of screams and wailing filling the air. I was convinced that the ship would break apart, sending us all to a watery grave.

I felt the fear and panic rising up within me, as I stumbled through the darkness, desperate to find my friends. The storm raged on, its fury unrelenting, and I was consumed by a sense of terror and despair. I cried out for my friends, for my family, for anyone who might hear me, but my voice was lost in the howling wind.

Flashback over

I felt myself being pulled back to the present, my mind recoiling from the horrors that I had witnessed. I lay on the floor with cold penetrating my skin. The hays which I earlier spread served as little or no protection against the biting cold. with my heart racing, my body drenched with sweat, and my mind reeling with the memories of that terrible night.

But even as I lay there, I knew that I had to hold on to hope. I had to find a way to survive. The dream had been a vivid reminder of the trauma I had endured, but it had also shown me the strength and resilience that lay within me.

As I drifted off to sleep once more, I knew that I would carry the scars of that experience with me for the rest of my life. But I also knew that I would not let those scars define me. I had the determination to survive, to thrive, and perhaps, just perhaps, one day find my way back home.