Chapter Thirty-Five: Arrival in Greece

After leaving the mysterious man's body lying on the ground, Aboud's mind was clouded, but his heart was full of determination. Everything around him seemed to move slowly, while his mind replayed the situation. There was no time to stand and reflect on what had happened; he had achieved what he needed – survival.

Aboud knew well that escaping the beach before anyone else arrived was his top priority now. He quickly scanned the area, confirming that the beach was still relatively quiet. The boat that was to take him to Greece was getting ready to depart. Time was running out, and if he delayed any longer, he might miss his chance.

Aboud (talking to himself): "There's no turning back now. If I miss this boat, I might never find another way."

He took a deep breath, then quickly made his way towards the boat. The atmosphere was tense, but Aboud knew he had to stay calm and focused. The cold sand beneath his feet and the humidity in the air added to his anxiety, but he knew that this moment could be the start of something new, or a fate he did not want.

As the boat was preparing to leave, Aboud observed the smugglers inspecting the passengers and preparing for the journey. None of them seemed to notice what had happened with the mysterious man. And since the smugglers were busy organizing the group, Aboud saw a small opening he could take advantage of.

He cautiously approached the boat, passing by one of the smugglers, who barely noticed him. Aboud slightly turned his face and avoided direct eye contact, trying to blend in with the other passengers.

Aboud (to himself): "Stay calm. Don’t draw attention to yourself."

When Aboud finally boarded the boat, he felt a mixture of relief and tension. It didn't seem like anyone had noticed his unusual presence, but he knew that escaping to Greece wouldn't be so simple. He sat in the back corner of the boat, trying to keep his distance from the other passengers.

As the boat sped across the waves, the water splashed on the passengers' faces. Some spoke in low voices, while others sat in silence, dealing with the fear and tension surrounding them. Aboud occasionally glanced at the guards and smugglers on board, making sure no one had realized what had happened with the mysterious man.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen. The sea was calm, but his inner turmoil was not. He knew there was an organization behind the mysterious man, and if they were looking for him with such determination, they wouldn’t stop chasing him easily.

With time passing, the Greek shoreline finally appeared on the horizon. Hope began to creep into Aboud’s heart, but he knew this was just the beginning. Reaching Greece meant a new beginning, but it also meant facing new challenges.

Aboud (in a low voice): "Greece... this is only the first step."

At that moment, one of the passengers sitting next to him, a fellow Syrian refugee he had met at the camp, noticed the tension on Aboud’s face.

The Syrian man (in a low voice): "Are you okay? You seem worried."

Aboud (calmly): "Yeah, just... I want to get to Greece as quickly as possible."

When the boat finally reached the shores of Greece, everyone felt a sense of relief. The passengers quickly disembarked, heading towards the land, but Aboud remained on edge. He knew that escaping a chase like this wouldn’t be easy and that the organization that had been hunting him could appear at any moment.

Aboud (to himself): "Now, the real fight begins. If that mysterious man found me, there’s likely more of them."

But Aboud was ready. He was no longer the weak young man who feared confrontation. Now, he was prepared to handle any threat that came his way.