Chapter 126: A Creative Offering
1179words
"We have to get out of here," Dapo whispered, his voice filled with urgency.
"Eki nodded, her heart pounding. They must hurry before Thorne's men find them."
They search with difficulty for their phones, the dim light offering a small glimmer of hope in the night. They need to call for help, but the phone signal is not strong enough.
When hope started to disappear, a small light came closer. It was the shine of a torch moving in their direction. They felt relief because they knew that someone was coming to rescue them.
The dark figure came into focus - it was a man wearing a mask and holding a gun. Eki and Dapo stopped moving, feeling very sad as they realized another tricky trap had caught them again.
The man lifts his gun, finger set to pull the trigger. Eki and Dapo glance at each other with eyes filled with fear. They need to fight for freedom.
Eki, filled with adrenaline and desperation, jumped towards the man. Dapo also leapt in. Their combined action made the intruder lose his equilibrium.
They start to fight, creating much noise in the dark. The man is very strong, but Eki and Dapo are fighting with all their might for survival. Finally, they can defeat him by taking his weapon away after the er last fight.
After they became calm, they understood that leaving was necessary. Staying in the same place is very dangerous for them. They grabbed hold of anything possible and made their way into the night.
The city is very quiet, with only the distant noise of cars. They ran on empty streets; their bodies exhausted and aching. They felt a very strong need to find a safe hiding place, somewhere they could meet again and make plans for what came next.
They found a small empty warehouse close to the city. It was a somewhat risky choice but they had no other option. The storehouse, although dim and chilly, offered some safety because it was secluded.
When they felt comfortable, they started discussing what to do next. They knew it was important to expose Thorne and his group so that people would look at them more closely. Nevertheless, there was equally an understanding of a new plan as well.
Eki said while thinking deeply, "We cannot just use fire to fight fire. We need another solution."
Dapo moves head up and down. "We need to show the world another way, full of hope and healing."
They decided to focus on the world of art, looking closely at artists who faced bad treatment from Thorne and his team. The aim was to give these people a chance—a place where they could tell their own stories and also take back their artistic legacy.
They can arrange exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events. This will provide a space for artists to develop and their artworks to be seen by others.
It had big dreams with lots of good hopes. They thought that if artists got the power, they could make a world where everyone was treated fair and equally.
When they begin the project, they find out it is not just them. Others have the same vision and hope for change as well. These people, including artists, activists and cultural leaders join together in a group to fight against the evil forces.
The movement gets stronger day by day. Many people are inspired by their dream of a happier world, and they work hard to create a legacy full of hope and strong willpower.
Eki and Dapo find themselves in the middle of a storm. Their idea to expose Thorne changed into a big movement that wanted to bring life back to the art world.
"Now not only about taking Thorne down," Eki thought, looking into the distance. "It also matters of making and creating good things from this chaos."
Dapo gave a firm nod, his face showing much determination. He said, "We don't just fight against bad things; we also make something good."
The apartment looks like a busy control room, with maps all over tables and photos and articles pinned to every wall. One big map of Nigeria was hand-drawn, showing possible spots for their art installations across the country.
"Imagine it," Dapo said, very excited in his tone. "All over the country, an art revolution is happening - a new respect for our traditions and history."
Eki smiled. "It is a dream," she confessed, "but a dream we can do."
Their phones kept buzzing repeatedly, with messages, emails, and calls from artists, activists, and journalists eager to join their mission. It made them feel very overwhelmed but also thrilled.
"It's not only us," Eki said with hopefulness. "Other people also believe in what we do."
Dapo moves his head up and down to show he agrees. "We are making a community," he says, "a group of artists, activists, and people who dream."
The project's progress faced new difficulties. The main issue was getting funds to support the artists, make installations, and inform people about it.
"We must find a way to get money for this," Eki said, with a very serious face. "Only depending on donations is not enough."
Dapo gave the idea of crowdfunding, but he realized this was not enough. They needed another solution—something bigger and more lasting.
"What if this turns into a community business?" Eki proposed. "We could produce items, trade artwork, and use the earnings to fund the project."
Dapo's eyes were shining with excitement. "This is an excellent suggestion," he said. "We could create a brand, a game changer."
Later, they spent the following days working on their business plan. The main aim was not only to earn money but also to bring a feeling of meaning into their work.
It looked like they were so close to reaching it, almost making their dream come true. This will be what they leave behind as a legacy, something full of hope and motivation for others.
Eki and Dapo sensed they were close to creating something very important. The atmosphere was full of excitement, like a big shift was about to start; a wave that would spread not only in their local area but also influence many different places linked to the art world and other fields too.
Right then, as they prepared to enjoy their victory, both of their phones started ringing. The calls came from numbers that were unfamiliar to them. They felt cold shivers go down their backs. They knew some problem might arise, but this one seemed more evil, like someone planning against them.
Eki, taking in both fear and determination, gave her response. "Hello?" she said with a firm voice.
There was a short quiet moment, then a scary and menacing voice answered: "You believe you are secure, hmm?"
Eki and Dapo exchanged a terrified glance. They knew that voice. It was Thorne.
