<□>Despite the m□unt□ng □vi□ence an□ □□eories, t□e□□□□rch□fo□ th□ m□s□ing nine conti□ued without any concrete leads□ The is□and remained a bleak and□□esolate pl□ce, echoi□□ with□the□unansw□re□ questions and□haunting me□or□□s□□f t□e□group's sudden□disapp□a□ance. □s days turned int□ weeks, hope for□their safe re□urn sta□□ed to dwi□dle,□leavin□ be□□□□ a shr□□d□o□ uncerta□nty and sadnes□.□/p□