The hospital's lights hummed overhead as Hasan and Jude moved through another exhausting shift. The usual rhythm of complaints, sarcastic remarks, and exaggerated sighs was absent—at least from Hasan's side. Jude kept glancing at him, waiting for the familiar outbursts, but they never came.
When Dr. Mahmoud poked his head into the nurses' station for the tenth time that hour, asking, "Where are the needles? Has anyone seen the needles?" Jude braced himself for Hasan's usual dramatic groan or a muttered "Maybe check your own hands, Doc." But instead, Hasan simply pointed to the supply cabinet without a word. That was the final straw.
As they stepped into the break room, Jude crossed his arms. "Alright, what's going on with you?"
Hasan blinked, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"
"You haven't complained once today," Jude said. "Not about the shifts, not about Dr. Mahmoud's needle obsession, not even about the cafeteria's poisonous food Who are you? and what have you done with Hasan?"
Hasan hesitated, then let out a slow breath. "I just… don't feel like it today."
Jude studied him. That's it? You don't feel like it'? You always feel like it. It's your thing."
Hasan rubbed his temple, avoiding Jude's gaze. "Maybe I'm tired of my own voice."
Jude's teasing smirk faded. Something was off. "Hey," he said, lowering his voice. "Seriously. What's wrong?"
For a moment, Hasan looked like he might brush it off again. Then his shoulders slumped. "It's about my friend, he's really ill, and he's stubborn, but yesterday he surprised me and showed that he's willing to accept help"
Jude's stomach dropped. "And it's that deep? ."
"Yeah, well." Hasan gave a weak shrug. "It's the first time I see him like this, I've known him for years, and we're very close."
Jude didn't know what to say. So instead, he grabbed two coffees from the counter and handed one to Hasan. "Then you should get a grip and be your usual self, so you could show that silly grin of yours when you meet him."
Hasan smirked, just a little. "Wow. You're terrible at pep talks."
"And you're terrible at being quiet," Jude shot back. "So hurry up and get back to annoying me before I start worrying for real."
Hasan took a sip of coffee, and for the first time that day, Jude saw a flicker of the usual mischief in his eyes. "Fine. But only because Dr. Mahmoud's about to ask for those needles again, and someone has to say something."
Jude grinned. "There he is."
And just like that, the weight in the room lifted—if only a little.
__
The dim glow of lanterns flickered against the damp earthen walls of the underground tunnel. The air was thick with the scent of soil and sweat, a testament to the years of labor that had gone into carving out this hidden refuge. Abo Bilal and Abo Othman stood in a narrow chamber, their voices low but urgent as they plotted their next move.
Abo Othman crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "The government turned the country upside down looking for us," he muttered. "Ten years, twenty they'll never find us. Not here."
Abo Bilal nodded, his gaze steady. "They won't. But we can't stay buried forever. We need to act."
Abo Othman exhaled sharply. "If we announce negotiations over the hostages, they'll label us terrorists before the words leave our mouths. They'll drag in the international forces, turn this place into a warzone—just to see us dead."
"I know," Abo Bilal replied, his voice edged with resolve. "But we won't give them the chance to spin this their way. We'll speak to the president himself first."
Abo Othman raised an eyebrow. "And say what?"
Abo Bilal's lips curled into a cold smile. "We'll tell him that if he doesn't cooperate, he'll never see his son again."
A heavy silence settled between them. The weight of the threat hung in the air, a dangerous gamble. But in the shadows of the tunnels they had dug with their own hands—where men had suffered, where some had died—there was no room for hesitation.
Abo Othman finally nodded. "We'll have a meeting with the other leaders and make a decision together."
The lantern light flickered once more as the two men stepped deeper into the tunnel, their path set, their defiance unbroken.