LUXOLO

The mood is too depressing in this garden right now as we are gathered around it, each lost in their own thoughts even the flowers don’t even look beautiful right now, eyes bloodshot red from all the crying we’ve been doing for the past hour. It’s so unbelievable, it all feels surreal. I wish someone can pinch us and tell us that it’s a dream, or we are being pranked, but no. No, no, it’s reality, a bitter taste of reality that one never wants to go through, yet it had to happen, Talon didn’t make it. He exempted his remaining of his soul on our way to the hospital, he died in Tsakani’s hands. Watching him taking his last breath was one painful thing to witness, he gasped so painfully and blood seeped from his mouth, and that was it, he stopped moving. Tsakani tried waking him up, but he was gone. Tsakani bawled out inside the tank. Guess the bullet really find Talon’s heart. I couldn’t continue with the journey I asked them to drop me off out of nowhere, I needed to process all that happened. It’s so fucked up, really messed up. Khalasi will never know his father or get to experience his craziness. He was such a lively person, he will be daily missed. Things won’t be the same without him, sighs. Batista on the other side, it’s not promising honestly. He has deep wounds in his body, lost a lot of blood. I pray that he wakes up, he has a baby on the way.

“Hi. Can you talk?” Tsebo says. I don’t even know what he was doing at that scene and who called him because I don’t remember anyone calling him, or maybe Tsakani did since he’s their family Dr. When we left the hospital he decided to tag along with us and I don’t know for what.

“No, not now. I’m mourning,” he nods. Well, he does have my nose, eyes & ears and as for the rest I take after my mother.

Him: “Understandable. We will talk when you’re free then.”

Me: Sighs. “What do you want to talk about?”

Him: “Why did you kill my men?”

Me: “Your men? What men?” I look at him, confusion covering my face.

Him: “Those you killed that fateful day by bursting their tyres, they were just following you. They were not going to harm you in any way.” I laugh, this man is surely not normal. Was I supposed to prophesy that those men were just following me and had no intention of hurting me? What rubbish is this?

Me: “Was I supposed to prophesy that those men were only following me and not trying to harm me? Do I look like a sangoma or a prophet to you?”

Him: “Neither of the two.”

Me: “Anyway, who follows someone without finding information about them? I mean, if they did their research and tried finding out who I was I don’t think you would’ve asked them to follow me. You killed them, their blood is in your hands.”

Him: “Fine. I’ll take that, I didn’t research about you the first time I only did when you, no, when I killed them, but we are not there. Why are you refusing to meet up with me?”

Me: “Because I don’t want to meet up with you, we have nothing to talk about.”

Him: “We actually do. We have a lot to talk about, and we will once everything is settled, and your friend buried.” It wouldn’t take away anything from me to hear his side of the story right? I’m sure he didn’t even know that Nomalanga is pregnant with his child, shrugs.

Me: “Okay. We will talk.”

Him: “This is my card. Call me when you get time,” he hands me his business card and I nod.

Me: “I will. Anyway, is Batista going to pull through?” He sighs and looks up at the sky, shaking his head. He puffs out some air, and looks at me. “Will he?” I can’t read his expression right now.

Him: “I don’t want to lie to you, he won’t. His wounds are extreme, they stabbed him 10x times and of which was shocking because he still managed to hold on, and for what I don’t know. But, if he has something to live for he will try to hold, to fight, but it will still be meaningless because he lost too much blood at some point.” I close my eyes, I inhale & exhale, I didn’t realize that his stabbing wounds were that horrible.

I don’t know what will become of Maxine if Batista doesn’t make it, yoh, she will go on a total psycho mode. Gzus, Batista better pull through he has a baby on the way, and I’m sure he wouldn’t want his child to grow up without a father. Phewww.

Him: “Prayer is the only option, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. Be ready to receive any news, this is bad.” He clasps my shoulder. “Be strong, let me go back to the hospital and see how he’s holding up. I’ll be in touch,” I nod, and he walks away leaving me with my thoughts. Ek’se, losing one member is enough, heartbreaking as it is it’s enough we can’t afford to lose another member, that will shatter us greatly, I don’t think we can take losing another person. My phone rings in my hand, I look at the screen and its biggie.

Me: “Biggie.”

Her: “How are you holding up?”

Me: “I don’t know,” looking up the sky. “I really don’t know, and there’s a high possibility that we will lose Batista too. Tsebo says he’s not looking good, he might kick the bucket anytime soon, it’s only a matter of time before we receive a call from the hospital.”

Her: “Shit. That’s fucked up, be strong little one. So, we have Mr. Wheelchair here, his right-hand man, and few of their men. Want to join the party?”

Me: “Warehouse?”

Her: “Yeah.”

Me: “I’ll be there in a few, keep them alive.”

Her: “Sure, we’ve put a mini show for them, and I don’t know how many times they’ve peed on themselves, it’s so entertaining,” she laughs. I can heed some roaring in the background. She hangs up. I put my phone back in my pocket and head to the kitchen.

I open the fridge and grab a bottle of water, I’m thirsty. I gulp them all at once and crush the bottle with my hand, and throw it in the trash can. Fuck, fuck it. I get my car keys, and head to the garage.

“Bubbles,” Tsakani calls out to me, I stop in my tracks and turn to look at him. His eyes are still red, I don’t want to imagine how much more red will they be if Batista decides to let go, that fucker but pull through if he knows what’s good for him.

“Hey, my love.”

Him: “Where are you rushing off to?”

Me: “The grillers warehouse, she has Mr. Big & his right-hand man with them.”

Him: “Give me the car keys, get in the passenger seat,” I throw him the keys and do as he instructs me. He roars the engine to life and drives us out. “You know where the place is?”

Me: “I do.” He nods. Right now he’s really driving like Lindiwe, a maniac in the making I doubt he will even stop at the traffic lights, shesh.

★»★«

NOMALANGA

It’s sad learning about Talon’s passing, now it makes sense as to why Khalasi was so restless & fussy a few hours ago, he sensed that his father is no more because right now he has calm down and is falling asleep. I wonder how Nono, everyone actually is holding up. Life is too short, that’s why one must live it to the fullest, and enjoy every single one of it. Thembeka is yet to be notified no one has mastered the courage to inform her, except me of course, but then we have a very bad history, so I can’t actually pass the news to her. Learning who Thembeka really was shocked me, I couldn’t believe it until she showed me the mark that I gave once upon a time, damn.

“I’m going over to Tsakani’s to see how they are holding up because everyone is there,” Hlulani informs us already heading to the door.

“Please update us,” I call out after her.

Him: “I will,” and just like that he’s out of the door.

Mmathabo: “It’s still unbelievable. Talon? Out of all the people he had to die?”

Okuhle: “And who exactly was supposed to die if not him?”

Her: “Anyone but him. Talon was such a good boy, he was full of jokes and full of life.”

Okuhle: “Just because he was a clown he was not supposed to die? Hhey, even celebrities die. What’s so special about him?” She tilts her head reminding me of Nono, sighs.

Her: “Oh, almost forgot. His son is barely a year old, he’s still young. He will never get the chance to meet his father. Life’s so unfair.”

Okuhle: “It never is, Mmathabo. Nothing new there. Talon is gone, and he’s never coming back, the sooner we all accept that the better for us all.”

Mmnangwane: “Isn’t there anything else we can talk about besides Talon’s passing? It’s draining.”

Mmathabo: “There’s nothing to talk about. We are mourning.”

Bulelwa: “Or we can always talk about Nomalanga’s not so pleasant past, maybe she can teach us more about how to become a professional man snatcher, she’s a pro in that depart,” she sneers.

Me: “Or we can always talk about a way forward on finding the fathers of your sons, now that’s useful. So, where do we start?” She gawks at me, fuming. “Exactly my point. Let’s just mind our own businesses and keep it moving. Excuse me, I need to lay Khalasi down.” I stride out of the lounge and head straight to my room. Bulelwa is such an arse, but I don’t care, not even one bit. My preceding is not pleasant, yes, but I’m a changed person now and grown too. I now know better than all those many moons ago.

I plop Khalasi on the bed, and look at him. Oh, sweet child, at least her mother is still alive. I hope Nono realizes how short life is, she better fix things with her father because one never plans their deaths, it comes the least you expect it. Sighs. I step out of my bedroom and walk back to the lounge…

★»★«

TSAKANI

I’m shattered, broken, hurt, sad, disappointed enhlek I’m an all-in-one right now, my mind is too occupied. How could Talon do us like this? How could he leave us so sudden? He should’ve just held on a little bitter longer, why did he give in? What about Khalalasi? Talon mfethu how could you do us like this? How are we going to live without you? Tell us how! Who will crack jokes for us even in serious matters? We have no other person who speaks taal like you, njayami. My mind replays all the memories we’ve shared, his humorous joke fills up my head, the many times he saved my ass… Tears blur my vision, I know they say men don’t cry but this? This hurts. It cuts so deep

it’s like someone has lodged a knife deep in my heart and let it linger there for a long time, then twisted it again making sure that it gets deeper & deeper, I’m weak, too weak to do anything. 

I clench both my hands on the steering wheel and increase the speed. Bubbles is looking at me attentively I can see her from the corner of my eye. She wants to say something but don’t know what to say, she’s strong on my behalf.

“Let me take over,” she tells me. I shoot her a stare, and she just looks at me. “You are too emotional to drive you will cause an accident, let me just drive and don’t fight it, don’t make me drag you out of that seat,” she continues to say. I nod and pull over, we exchange seats. “Buckle up, it’s going to be a ride.”

Moments later we are parked outside this warehouse, we are waiting for one of the guards to come and do a security check. I’ve never seen a warehouse this vast, erh. While waiting for the guard my phone rings, and it’s Lee, flip we didn’t tell them that we are leaving we just left abruptly.

“Lee.”

“TK.” His voice comes out as a whisper.

Me: “What’s up man?”

Him: “Where are you?”

Me: “Somewhere, I needed to be out of there the mood was just too depressing,” he sucks in some breathe then release. “Yini? What is it, Lee?”

Him: “Hade ntwana yami, hade skhokho, Batista didn’t make…,” the phone slips out from my shaky hand. “Tsakani? TK ndoda, are you still there?” His voice sounds like he’s underground now, I shake my head vigorously.

“No! Batista ndoda, why mara?” Tears roll down my cheeks, I’m shaking, I’m a mess. Mara amajita why ayenza so? Why are they doing us like that? Why are they so selfish? Banjani kanti? Don’t they care about us? Why would they give in too soon? Why? Batista has a baby on the way, he has a flipping baby on the way. Or maybe they planned it, he & Talon planned this whole thing. I don’t know how, but they did. How could they be so selfish? I lie my head back on my seat, defeated is me right now.

★»★«

LUXOLO

Batista is so selfish, fucking bloody selfish if you ask me. I drive the car in and bring it to an abrupt halt once, inside the premises, Tsakani is too weak. And as for me? I’m fine, I’m okay, but I’m simmering inside, my heart is beating abnormal. I need to slaughter someone, someone must die in this very warehouse tonight.

“Are you coming?” He gives me a slight nod. I step out of the car, and he follows suit. I place my hand on the sensor and the door unlocks, we step inside and I find the gang chatting & laughing.

“Greetings.”

“Hello.” I walk straight to the room where Mr. Big & Armor are. I chuckle as I watch them, they are out of it, guess they’ve been pumping the drugs.

“Need anything?” Luxolo implores leaning against the door frame.

Me: “Bring me a wired wheel grinder,” she shoots her eyes open.

Her: “What?”

Me: “Just bring me the fucking wheel grinder and stop questioning me!”

Her: “Geez, chill out. I’ll bring it,” she steps out of the room. I need a close upon them, and take two steps closer to them, I kick Mr. Big on his chest, and he falls over facing up, I chuckle.

Me: “Get up you bitch! Get the fuck up!” He half opens his eyes, trying to familiarize himself with his surroundings. “Oh, wait. Almost forgot that you can’t stand up on your own, you will need some help. Okay, let me help you up,” I yank him up and level him with me, I need to look at him in the eyes. “So, tell me here, what must I do with you? You’ve killed two of my friends, two fucking of them! Tell me what is that I must do to you?” He shakes his head pissing me off even further.

Me: “Don’t you dare shake your head on me, tell me what do with you?” Since we are standing near the wall I pin him there, my hand finds his way to his neck, I squeeze it slowly, well, I’m not going to kill him this easy I need to hear him scream, see blood seeping out from him, him begging for forgiveness. I want to watch him take his last breath just like Tsakani watched Talon taking his, he messed with the wrong one.

Luxolo: “Here’s the grinder you’ve asked for,” she hands it to me. I plunge Mr. Big on the ground.

Me: “Thanks.” I look up the ceiling and there’s a hook there. “Do you have cuffs?”

Her: “Sure. Here they are,” she hurls them at me.

Me: “Let’s get him up and tie him in one of the hooks,” she nods. We yank him up, and I cuff his hand on the hook, set. No, wait. I take off my belt and tie his legs. “Perfect. Now, let’s get down to business. I plug in the grinder and I watch him writhing, fear very much visible in his face, eyes open wide in shock. “Spew,” I inform him, and he just shakes his head. “Strip him naked for me please biggie.”

Her: “Sure case,” she does as instructed.

Me: “You are well hung, well, but all that hungness is going to waste, what a shame.” I squat and look at his feet, I’m going to chop him half by half, from the feet going up, I doubt he will still be standing once I’m halfway through.

Him: “Pl- please let me explain,” he chokes on his word.

Me: “Too late,” the grinder is already on his right foot. “Too flipping late,” and with one quick swap his blood sprays the room as he screams in again, I do the same with his other foot, hearing him screaming excites me, it gives me adrenaline. Fuck, this is good. “Stop screaming like a woman, shut the fuck up!” The blood is starting to cover the ground, bloody room it is.

Biggie: “Should I quiet him?”

Me: “Not yet. Next stop, legs. You have fit legs, awesome,” I put the grinder in his knee and look at him, a grin plastered on my face. In one swap again, his knee is chopped off, blood sprays off… The thighs, that include your dick. Waist, and one swap chopped off, he screams, but his scream is lower now accompanied by crying, I chuckle. His eyes are shutting close, drenched in sweat, shame. “Rest in pieces. See you in hell,” I take out my gun from my waist holster and shoot him straight in his heart, he gasps once and hangs his head low, dead is he.

By the time I’m done with him, I turn to look at Armor, watching the whole scenario in horror. Drenched in sweat, and I think he peed on himself from what just happened.

Me: “Horrible, I know. Anyway, enjoyed the show?” He’s even scared to nod or shake his head. “Thought I asked you a question or didn’t you hear me?” He nods. “Okay, I will ask again; did you enjoy the show?” He quickly nods and I laugh. “I’m glad, do you have a family?” He just stares at me. “Of course you do, I think they will be happy to receive your body in a body bag on their doorstep.”

Biggie: “Wow.”

Me: “My reaction too,” I look at her and smile. “He’s yours, deal with him and see if that his family gets his body, I’m out.” I hug her, and step out of the room that’s full of blood.

I get to Tsakani, and he pulls me into a tight hug. He seems much better now.

Him: “Thank you.”

Me: “For what?”

Him: “Taking care of this mess for me, I don’t think I would’ve handled it the way I did. I was probably going to shoot them,” I chuckle. “I’m serious. You really got my back.”

Me: “Anytime. See my love; when you love someone, their grief becomes

your grief. Their strife becomes your strife. Love means you are one half of a

whole. Everything you go through, you go through together. You celebrate not

only the wins together, you suffer the losses too. And in this case, it’s we are in this together, me killing that man means that you killed him too.”

Him: Chuckling. “I love you.”

Me: “I love you even better,” he kisses my head. “Let’s go,” I turn to everyone. “See you soon.”

Anthea: “Thanks for the show,” I nod,and we walk out of the building hand in hand.

Tsakani: “I feel better now.”

Me: “I’m glad.” My phone beeps in my pocket, and it’s a message from Milan, I view it, read it, and my stomach clenches instantly. Fuck, fuck it. It’s not true.

Tsakani: “Bubbles, what’s wrong?” I hand him my phone. “God, no. Not another death, it’s too soon. Too fucking soon!” I zone out… Three deaths in one day, great.