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15
15THAT EVENING
THE MOHLALA HOUSEHOLD
Lesego wakes up to a figure hovering over her after spending the past couple of hours crying that sleep eluded her. The throbbing headache she has makes it hard to open her eyes, but she can see that there’s something or something standing over her. She tries to speak but her voice is hoarse, her throat is dry, nothing comes out. As she’s about to fall back to sleep, the person runs their cold hands on her arm, brushing her lightly but with no affection hence bringing her back to sanity.
The Master: I cannot say it has been a pleasure but thanks, I guess.
The frightening and very unfriendly words make her heartbeat faster closing up her chest. After crying for so long and begging, no one has come to her rescue, maybe, just maybe if she prayed with her heart things would’ve turned out okay- but what’s the point when things have gone as far as this, she thinks to herself as all she can see is a shadow of the creature in the dim basement. She feels something entering her down below, excruciating pain attacks her abdominal area, and she feels warmth filling her up, blood oozing from all holes she has in her body, even the eyes. She takes her last breath and loses herself in the pain and prays for herself as she feels her should detaching from her body.
THE MALEKA HOUSEHOLD
After a long day of trivial work and arranging files at the dusty storage Reitu plops herself on the bed and scrolls through her phone. She clicks on the contact of the person who’s been on her mind all day. She calls the number, and the call is answered on the first try.
[on call]
Kwanele: I was just about to call you, something weird is going on…
Reitu: you think?
Kwanele: can you come by tomorrow?
Reitu: I don’t know. I don’t think so…
Kwanele: why?
Reitu: I have work remember; I work at that place now!
Kwanele: oh, about that. Totally forgot. How did things go? Found anything?
Reitu: not sure, but I called about something else but before I say anything. What did you want to call me for? What is that weird something that happened today?
Kwanele: today, two cases with a common factor were reported and if you can guess… yes, it is that church!
Reitu: what?!
Kwanele: yes, I was just as shocked. I always knew that place was up to no good.
Reitu: wait…what?!
Kwanele: hard to process I know. Apparently there two cases are about two young ladies who were regulars there, they’ve gone missing, and it’s been a couple of days now. Something doesn’t feel right.
Reitu: come to think of it, no one mentioned to me where the last co-ordinator/secretary had gone when I visited that church. They talked as if they hadn’t had anyone work as their secretary since my sister. I bet one of the missing people worked at their office. Did you get their names?
Kwanele: I’m not on their cases but I heard from a colleague. One is Cindy Mahlangu and the other is Lesego something… I forgot her last name.
Reitu: oh God!?
Reitu’s phone slides off her ear and falls onto the bed at the mention of a name she is kind of familiar with. She takes a moment to breathe in disbelief and then gets back to the call after calming herself down.
Kwanele: hello?! Hello? Are you still there?
Reitu: I’m sorry, I was a little shocked. I think I know one of the missing people. Her names id Lesego right? Last name probably Semenya if I’m right. She is my sister’s… well …was my sister’s best friend until she was not. She didn’t even attend her funeral.
Kwanele: this just got more complicated.
Reitu: I know… listen, I must go. I’ll call you back.
Kwanele: I will get back to you, since you called first. What did you want to tell me again?
Reitu: yeah, about that… we’ll talk later. There’s something I have to check really quick before I forget.
Kwanele: well then, talk later.
[call ends]
She looks up and meets eyes with Seipati who’s standing by the door with her hands on her waist, legs crossed.
Reitu: how long have you been standing there?
Seipati: not long…why?
Reitu: just asking… did you perhaps overhear me on the phone?
Seipati: I didn’t. would it be a problem if I did?
Reitu: no… just asking.
Seipati: okkaayyy… but I feel that’s not all. Why do you have so many secrets?
Reitu: what do you mean secrets? I don’t have any secrets.
Seipati: but you told me not to tell aunt about our visit to the police station? Why? Is that guy your boyfriend? Are you in trouble with the police?
Reitu: no… I already told you I’m nothing with him! Stop asking and please excuse me if you can!
Seipati: alrighty! But remember, whatever you’re hiding will always catch up to you. I’m off to start preparing supper. Come out and help me if you want to.
Seipati turns to leave and closes the door behind her, Reitu gets off the bed and rummages through the drawers in the room looking for the diary looking book she saw a few days ago. She finds it and places it on the bed and stares at it for a while. She gathers all courage in her and opens it slowly saying a little prayer and starts flipping through pages.
Reitu: sis… please forgive me.
It looks old and looks like it hasn’t been used in a minute. The entries are all over the place, only occurring a few times in a year. It dates back to at least 3 years ago. The difference between the most recent entry and the old entry is at least about 10 months. The last entry was 2 months ago. Reitu reads through the last and final entry but finds nothing suspicious, there’s not that much information about the incident and the perpetrator but only expression of emotions. No names, only emotions. She closes the diary and puts it on her chest a little sad that she had no idea all along that her sister who was always smiling was going through such things.
SOME TIME LATER
DURING SUPPER
Boipelo: so, how did it go at church?
Reitu: nothing fancy… I got to start today.
Boipelo: that’s good, at least you’re doing something now, because I don’t want you---
Reitu: can we not go there again Ma? please.
Boipelo: okay, okay, you don’t have to fight me.
Reitu: I wasn’t fighting. I’m just… you know what, its fine. Yeah... all good.
Boipelo: your face says otherwise though, why are you so sour?
Seipati: maybe it’s because of the visit we took to the police station.
Reitu: cuz?!
Seipati: what?! I’m sorry but I can’t keep this---
Boipelo: you girls… what’s happening? What about the police station? Reitumetse? Seipati?
Reitu stands up and leaves the table a little annoyed at her cousin who continues to sit and eat like nothing happened.
Boipelo: Seipati?
Seipati: nothing aunty.
Boipelo continues to eat and drops the conversation that everyone is clearly avoiding. Seipati smirks and scoffs to the side and continues to eat delightfully with her aunt.
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