Chapter 127: A Museum's Reckoning
1138words
"We need to move," Dapo said, his voice filled with urgency. "Now."
Eki made a gesture showing she agreed, her mind moving fast. They must find a place that is safe for everyone to meet and make plans for what to do next.
They collect all the things they need, their hands trembling with both fear and excitement. When they leave the apartment, they take one last look back at it. They understood that coming back may not be possible.
In the next few days, they moved to different safe places and stayed away from Thorne's men. Life became very hard because they always had to be on the move, feeling scared and unsure about what would happen in future.
At the same time, Ayo's actions got attention in the art community. Her questions about "Moonlight Lease" showed a wide network of corruption. She had revealed what the curator did in this scandal, and now more tension was growing at the museum where he worked.
They began doing lawsuits against the museum, telling it knew about showing things that were stolen. The good reputation of the museum was damaged, and its future was no longer certain.
Eki and Dapo, they watched the news every time. Inside their hearts were feelings of hope but also mixed with worry. They knew saying the truth was very important, but they also realized this way would be hard and not fast.
"We must find a way to help Ayo," Dapo said with a strong voice. "She is doing great things, but she needs our support very much."
Eki said, "Yes, we have our influence. We can gather support for her goal."
They make plans to have public gatherings, like rallies, to support Ayo's work and to let more people know about the problem of stolen objects. They send invitations to artists, activists, and normal community folks who wish to join this event.
The event was a very big success, with people from many different backgrounds joining together. It became a very important moment, giving hope during hard times.
As the movement advanced, the museum also felt more pressure. The public began asking for explanations but the museum could not respond well.
Finally, the board of directors at the museum made a decision. They said there will be an investigation that is independent of what items are in the collection of the museum. Also, they promised to give back all stolen objects to their real owners.
It was a very big win for Eki, Dapo, and Ayo. They did well in making the museum look at its past and say it is responsible.
But the truth is clear -the fight is not over yet. Thorne, he is still there and won't give up so easily. They needed to be on constant watchfulness, not lowering their guard.
When they celebrate their win, suddenly a message comes. It was a mysterious hint with no name written. The hint was about a place they had not known before, but it felt important.
"We need to look with our own eyes," Dapo says, voice strong and certain. "This may be the change we wait for a long time."
Eki moved her head up and down. "Yet, we must stay cautious," she cautioned. "Thorne is not yet found and he carries a threat."
They kept searching for information about the location for many more hours. It seemed like a remote area, an open piece of land with just a few people residing there. It felt like this place was located in the middle of nowhere.
In the end, even when danger came close, they decided to go. Ready for anything that may occur, they gathered all essential items. Their hearts were beating quickly with a mix of excitement and worry as they entered a new place.
"What if we find Thorne there?" Dapo asked, his voice filled with doubt.
Eki's hand held tighter. "This danger is in our lives often," she said with a calm voice, trying to stay strong. "Yet, we cannot allow dread to stop us."
They arrived at the place during nighttime. The area was very dark, and only stars were giving a little light. They left their car quite a distance away and walked to the site.
The place looked very scary, with one empty building standing all alone in the middle of nowhere. The old structure seemed almost forgotten by time itself.
When they come closer, strange marks appear on the walls. These marks seem similar to symbols found on a mysterious device that they discovered earlier.
"This place is creepy," Dapo whispered, his voice filled with unease.
Eki nodded and said, "We need to be careful because this place feels a bit strange."
They went inside, using flashlights to make light in the dark. The room felt more scary than outside. The dust had settled on every surface and the air reeked with a rotting scent.
During their exploration, they discover a hidden room. Inside this secret place, many computers with glowing screens shine in the dark around them. These machines seemed like they came from a science fiction film.
Eki and Dapo looked at each other with surprise. This building was not usual; it had high-tech features inside and many secrets hidden in its structure.
At this moment, just as they were about to continue with their investigation, a noise from the outside grabbed their attention. They could hear footsteps coming nearer to the building.
Eki and Dapo froze, their hearts pounding in their chests. They had been found.
They prepared to confront those who were pursuing them. Hearts beating with excitement, they moved in the direction of the noise. They turn the corner and see many men with weapons blocking the path.
The men wear black clothes and cover their faces with masks. They look like a nightmare coming to life, and Eki and Dapo understand they have no choice but to fight; avoiding it is impossible now.
When the men raised their weapons, a bright light suddenly appeared that made everyone in the room unable to see. For one moment everything became quiet, and then there was a very loud explosion shaking the building and sending parts of it flying around everywhere. Eki and Dapo were knocked down, with their ears filled by a ringing sound.
After everything calmed down, they looked around with surprise. The building is destroyed, smoke rising from the damaged areas. And in the middle of this disorderly scene stood a form concealed by darkness.
