In the depths of the mine… Ahmed woke up slowly. He opened his eyes to a thick darkness, in which nothing could be seen except a faint thread of light escaping from his flashlight. He breathed deeply... The air was strangely cold, the humidity of the place clung to his skin, and the sound of his breathing was clear... as if it were the only sound in this void. And around him... drops of water falling slowly... drip... drip... drip... and their echo resonating in the distant tunnels.
Ahmed sat up, wiped his face, then said to himself quietly:
"No... this way I won't find her."
He closed his eyes for a moment... then began to organize his thoughts:
First... I must not move randomly. I need to get organized.
Second... search for a clue... any trace.
Third... I have only three hours left.
He opened his eyes and looked into the depth of the tunnel.
"This is a challenge... and I will save my old friend."
Ahmed stood up, took his bag, turned the flashlight on brighter, and began to walk. The mine was larger than he had thought... long passages, many branches, and a darkness that grew thicker the deeper he went. He was walking slowly, focusing on the ground, watching every detail. The sound of his footsteps mixed with the echo of the water, and his heart was beating calmly... yet cautiously.
After some time of searching, he stopped suddenly. He looked at the ground and drew closer... Footprints. Clear sneaker prints on the damp soil. He froze in place for seconds, then said to himself:
"I hope... it's not a trap."
But he did not hesitate. He began to follow the tracks step by step. The further he advanced, the branches decreased, as if the path were leading him to a single place.
Time passed... an hour... then two hours. Fatigue began to show on him, but he didn't stop. Until he reached a different place where there was a small stream of water passing quietly. Ahmed sat beside it, washed his face, and drank from the cold water. He breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"I wish... I could live here. The place... despite its harshness... is beautiful."
He pulled out some biscuits and ate a little, drank some milk, and while sitting, he noticed something. A strand of hair... lying on the ground near one of the branches. He looked at it closely, then said to himself:
"This is not a coincidence..."
Then he fell silent for a moment and placed his hand on his chest.
"It is not my heart that will guide me... but my Lord."
He stood up and performed ablution (Wudu) from the water as best as he could, then prayed two units (Rak'ahs) in that quiet place. His voice was faint, but sincere. After he finished, he felt a strange comfort spreading within him. He gathered his things—even putting the trash in his bag—then stood before the branch. He looked at it steadily and entered.
After some distance, he stopped suddenly. Before him was an old staircase, its iron corroded and its features bearing the marks of time. Beside it was a sign that read: "85 meters underground". He raised the flashlight slightly and saw another sign: "Deepest point – 100 meters".
Ahmed looked down; the darkness was swallowing the staircase. He swallowed hard and said:
"It seems I am close."
He began to descend slowly. Every step making a slight sound, and the echo of his movement resonating in the void. With every descent, the sound of the water began to fade, the silence grew, and the air became heavier. Finally, he arrived. There was one last sign: "100 meters underground".
Ahmed stood and looked ahead. There were two branches. Right... and left... He fell silent for a moment, his heart beating calmly, but feeling that what was coming... was like nothing he had experienced before.