LUXOLO

We get to the kitchen, and fall in line after the others some are already eating. Jaguar is standing right next to the food warmers guess she wants to make sure that we get our food as per instructed.

“Look at how creepy her smile is,” Xia says sneering.

“She looks like something disgusting. Looking at her right now makes me nausea, she’s disgusting me.” Milan hisses.

Lian: “I hate her. I really do.” All this while I’m looking at her, and she’s looking at me too with eyes full of hatred, and a very evil grin is plastered on her face. “She’s annoying. Bloody bitch.” I giggle. Our turn comes to dish up, I’m behind Milan.

“Hey, big 7. You can come, and dish up this side we decided to make you a separate meal. Big boss’s orders.” Jaguar yells. “Special girls of this place,” she says immediately as we pass her. Vele our plates are lined up.

Xia: “That’s the cook I saw Jaguar talking too,” she whispers in my ear. The cook is the one dishing up our food, ‘special food’ as they call it.

Jaguar: “I hope you will enjoy your meal,” she gives us her best fake smile. The lady pushes our plate towards us.

Me: “This food looks good, I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”

Cooker: “You will even lick your fingers afterwards,” she gives me a warm smile. If only she knew that this will be her last smile this very now.

Me: “Good. Taste the food,” she widens her eyes.

Her: “Pardon?”

Me: “I said taste this damn food. Don’t make me go crazy and kill half of these people here. I can shoot the gas stove, and you will all die here, and all these peoples blood will be in your hands. Taste the fucking food!” She shakes her head, tears already blurring her vision.

Jaguar: “What the fuck? Cookers are not allowed to taste the food that’s not how things are done here, diamond.”

Me: “Would you rather taste the food on her behalf?”

Her: “I would if I ate chicken, but I don’t eat it, so I can’t taste it.”

Me: “You’re lying and you know it, but don’t worry this cooker will taste this fucking food that she cooked.” Everyone has stopped eating they’re now focusing on us. “Ek’se taste this food right the fuck about now, don’t piss me off.”

Cooker: I- I can’t…” her voice is trailing.

Me: “Then I will help you.” I get on top of the counter my boots making heavy noise. “Awuuuuu!” I squat before her. My hand makes their way to her cheeks, and I squeeze them for dear life. “Listen here you bloody fool; you’re going to taste this fucking food right the fuck about now with everyone here watching, and as I said; I will help you eat it.” I remove my hand from her cheeks, and lay my fingers at the base of her scalp, then trail all the way down to her neck. She winces in pain, with no warning I push her face in one of the plates, she attempts lifting her head but my grip be so tight in this motherfucker. Jaguar can’t do anything but to watch, the girls are surrounding her.

“I- I will taste the food. Please let her go,” Jaguar pleads. I laugh.

Me: “A whole you pleading? Outchea acting as if like you haven’t been trying to kill me these past couple of days? But worry not because I will deal with you, for now I’m busy with this cooker that you gave poison to use it on us, and unfortunately for you, she will die by that very poison you gave her to kill us. Her blood will be in your hands,” I push the cooks’s neck down further making some of the food to spread on the sides of the plate. I yank her face up, and it’s full of food. Chicken. I take a piece of chicken, and force her mouth open then throw it in. “Chew.”

Jaguar: “That’s enough!” She pushes the 6 girls, and attempts coming toward me, but someone trips her, she loses balance and fall of the ground. The girls erupt in laughter, I let go of the cooker’s neck, and she stumbles backwards and bubbles surge out of her mouth, she trembles and I watch her as she falls down still trembling… And she stops moving, dead she is. The other cookers gasp, and some start screaming. I get on my feet, and kick one of the plate, and it flies to one of the girls and it lands on her forehead. Xia whistles, Milan & Lian get on top of the other tables, and start kicking the pots, before I know it, the kitchen turns into a royal rumble.

I scan my eyes around the kitchen, and the girls are at it fighting each other, royal rumble type of shit. From the corner of my eye I see Jaguar exiting the kitchen I will not bother running after her because I will find her the least she expects it, and that’s tonight. I walk on top of the counter singing, whistling, and kicking anything in my path. I find all of this exciting, it’s so thrilling. The warning siren ring, fuck this. But the girls ain’t stopping attacking each other there’s too much bad blood amongst them, and this is the right time to cleanse it. I get off the table, and make my way out, a kick lands on my back almost making me to fall, that was unexpected. I quickly turn to see who it is, and it’s that very same girl who once spat on me few weeks ago.

“Hey diamond.” She smiles tilting her head, and punch me in the nose without warning. Dammit, she’s fast this one. She attempts throwing in another punch, but I step aside and her punch meets the air before she can turn around a kick on her back from my boot sends her to the ground scraping her elbow in the process, she attempts getting up, but I push her back down with the boot, and squash harder.

Me: “Hey. Your name again?”

Her: “Fuck you diamond. Fuck you!” I laugh.

Me: “I’d real love to fuck myself, but my boyfriend is a fucking sex God in that department. So, no. I will not fuck myself. Now, what the hell is your problem with me? Like bitch, what did I ever do to you? Not that I care about you hating me, I just want to know what I did to you.”

Her: “Nothing. You did nothing. Let’s just say; I hate you for no apparent reason. I mean, we all have people we hate for the sake of hating them, and in this case I hate you, diamond.”

Me: “Well, unfortunately for you, I don’t hate people for no apparent reason, I hate them with a reason, a valid one for that matter,” shrugging. I retract my foot from her back, I want her to fight me. “Get up. Let’s end this shit once, and for all.”

Her: “And it will end with me killing you,” she jumps off the ground, and gets on her feet. I stretch my neck, and it snaps. Someone whistles, and we both turn to look and it’s one of her friend, she throws her something looking at it flying in the air I have no doubt that it’s a dagger, the very same dagger Milan lost a couple of days ago. A smile creeps out of my face… She’s about to catch the dagger when I kick her on her stomach, and she goes flying. The dagger lands on my hand, and I run toward her. She gets up, but her dagger is already lodged in her neck, she bulges her eyes open as I lower the dagger slicing her neck, collarbone, chest and circles it around her breast, underneath it, and push it upwards and kick her on the stomach, and she goes down hand covering her chest. Her dress bloody, I laugh, and walk away like nothing happened.

The guards coming running my way, but pass me, and head straight to the kitchen as multiple gunshots ring muffling the screaming of some girls. I wonder where is Nikolai in all of this, he needs to be killed. Anyway, Sol must fly us out tonight I can’t be here any longer, I need to go on a killing spree. Sol better get me all the weapons I will need, I don’t even know if amongst my crew there’s someone who knows how to launch explosives from the sky, but I’m sure they know phela they’ve been here for a long time, it’s obvious that they were taught a lot…

★»★«

NOMALANGA

My head is spinning, everyone is up on their feels, stressed about the blood shedding war going on in South Africa, we are praying day in day out for our kids to be safe. My heart goes out to all those little innocent souls who know nothing about this, the pregnant women, the ones in hospitals, workers in fact everyone back in my homeland. According to the journalist there are more than 100 000 people dead so far, and more than 500 000 injured, and the hospitals are full it’s clearly evident that they will not be able to help more people, and of which that means more people will die while waiting for help. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do from here than to keep ourselves updated with the news  and keep on praying.

Bulelwa have even lost weight from all this, and let me not get started about Mmangwane. Mmthabo is still in the hospital she gave birth to twins, and the second one has breathing difficulties, but she will be discharged today if not tomorrow, and that’s such a huge relief for all of us. The boys are not taking this lightly, they are too scared about all of this. I wonder how Luxolo is in all of this, I have hope that she’s still alive. Yazi she should’ve just come with me here, she would’ve been safe here with me, but instead she’s caught up in that blood shedding war.

“Do you think the guys are still alive? Thembeka asks with a shaky voice. “I mean, TK, Lee & everyone?”

“Of course they are still alive they will not die Thembeka. Please, stop stressing it’s not good for the baby.”

Her: “I can’t help it, the father of my baby is back in South Africa amidst of all this war I don’t want to raise this baby alone Nomalanga, I really don’t want that.” She fights back the tears threatening her eyes.

Me: “If he knows that you’re pregnant I’m sure he will fight to stay alive. He will fight to meet his unborn baby. Stop stressing Thembeka, the baby doesn’t need you stressing right now or else you will lose him/her,” she nods not sounding convinced. I’m not about to worry myself about a grown woman like her, I need to worry about my daughter.

Her: “I will try not too, but it’s hard.” I nod.

Me: “Join me in the ‘stop watching news’ movement until further notice because I’m definitely not strong enough to watch any further. My heart can’t take it anymore, seeing all those dead people lying there ain’t doing any justice to my fragile heart.” She nods. “This is just not on honestly I’m not ready to see my daughter’s body amongst those bodies that keep piling up daily

in fact let me switch off the TV.” I pick up the remote from the coffee table, and switch off the TV. Peace of mind, finally. Well, or not. 

★»★«

TSAKANI

People are running in different directions screaming, I don’t even know where they are going because the shooting is spreading like wildfire there’s nowhere to run too. The bus that we are cruising with is really strong and bullet proofed. These people know the true meaning of war they have all the necessary equipments needed. But Talon, still doesn’t trust them. In fact, he doesn’t want to associate himself with “witches” as he calls them hence he’s sitting a few meters away from all of us.

“Gear up ladies & gents. I just got off the phone with diamond, and they are waiting for us,” Anthea tells us wearing her bulletproof. Diamond? Could they be talking ab…? argh, nah, highly impossible. Bubbles is not around she’s still stuck in Italy, and even if she was here I doubt that she would know who these people are, but then again anything is possible in this life.

“Now that’s one impatient motherfucker,” Lorna responds sliding in her bulletproof. “Sometimes I wish that I can kill her, but then I always remember that she once came through for me, well, not entirely for me, but he did my twin a favor because she owed him, so yeah,” she continues to say. The bus comes into an abrupt halt, we have our M14s & O.4 mm in our hands ready to shoot at anything and anyone standing on our way. We do a chain with our hands, and pray we’re praying for God to guide us & be with us through it all.

Batista: “We all better come out of this war alive or else I will hunt all of you even in death,” they laugh except for Talon.

Me: “Talon.” He lifts his head, and looks at me his right hand placed in his chin. “U grand?”

Him: “Yeah. Ngim’jojo ntwana mara kune kgutes eyi one,” (I’m good, but there’s only one problem) here we go again.

Me: “Wagan?”

Him: “Kungenzeka thina s’bhode bese lemithakathi le iyaphila, phela ba snax labantu futhi ke bagcwele ubumyama fo sho izizukulu zaka Satan,” (it might happen that we will not make it out alive, but these witches will be the only ones surviving. I mean, these people are full of darkness I’m sure they are Satan’s great-grandchildren) Lee laughs.

Lorna: “You’re right. We’re Satan’s children, we don’t fear death because death is us. And besides one way or the other you will eventually die whether you like it or not. Now, it’s either you get up from that seat and join us in saving our country or remain seated like a bird that you are, I was going to say like a chicken but then I remembered that a chicken protects her chicks, and maybe birds do too but I ain’t sure. Are you going to be man enough, and go out there and fight to save our country, or must I bring you a nail technician to come and do your nails?” The others laugh, but Talon is breathing fire, he is angry never did someone tell him where to get off like this woman did right now, and worst of it all called him a weakling? I’m impressed!

Batista: “So, what’s going to be Sis Talon?”

Him: “Voetsek wena Batista voetsek maarn jou shit!” He gets up from his seat clicking his tongue, and throwing in his bulletproof then he takes his gun that was next to him, and pushes past us heading straight to the door and yank it open.

Anthea: “Now you are being useful,” we all step out of the bus. Guess we’re going to use the bushes, and kill whoever is lurking in these shadows.

Lorna: “Where’s diamond now?” She looks around.

“I’m here you bitch. Let’s go, the others have already left,” speaks someone coming behind us, she has a balaclava covering her face as soon as she takes it off my heart almost freezes. She’s a replica of bubbles, but much older than bubbles. Lee nudges me, shocked too by this woman standing before us looking like bubbles. Could she be bubbles sister?

Lindiwe: “Damn diamond you resemble some girl I know, she looks exactly like you if I didn’t know any better I would say that you guys are sisters she is a younger version of you. Niyafana maarn.”

Her: “And you are?”

Lindiwe: “I’m Lindiwe, and what’s your name?”

Her: “Luxolo.” Lee gasps.

Lindiwe: “What a coincidence, her name is Luxolo too.”

Talon: “Yah, masimba straight lawa ayenzeka la fo sho saphupha or mhlambe sidakiwe ngoba kuyanyiwa, kuyi mess!”

Her: “I don’t know what the fuck you are talking about because I don’t have any siblings, and my mother passed on years ago, I don’t even remember how she looks like. Let’s get going we have no time to waste people are dying out there.”

Lindiwe: “Trust me. That’s your fucking sister deny it all you want, ok’salayo she’s your sister and you will meet her soon… I’m sure your mother was replacing her with you hence she gave her the same name as yours, this life thing is a bitch ishhuu. In fact, ke Sister Bettina Hibiri.

Her: “Shut the…,” she doesn’t even finish her sentence when 2 bullets fly past our heads, we all get down and start shooting randomly as we move with our stomachs to get inside the bushes. From a distance we can hear some rambling sound clearly it’s explosives being dropped here in this very same bush.

Lorna: “Simanye! Clear the path for us!” A deep growl comes out of Ludo’s mouth upon hearing his wife’s voice, since he’s next to me another shiver sending growl follows, before I can even comprehend what’s happening he has evolved into something scary. He leaps off from the ground, and disappear in the bushes. I’m stuck, I can’t even move but my eyes are hurting, they’re stinging like never before blurring my vision. Amongst all of this shit a surge of new strength emerges from deep within me.

Talon: “Hhayi! Ek’se!” I get from the ground feeling stronger than before.

Me: “All of you follow behind me, I will shield you until we get to our destination,” I look at my friends, and they look shocked as they get on their feet, mouth agape.

★»★«

LUXOLO

My legs are stretched out in Jaguar’s coffee table, she’s taking a bath if only she knew that this is her last bath, but I’m sure they do bath pha kwa hell once it gets hot. Her room is not that wow, it’s so dull more like our dome but at least her wall is filled with naked men, I’m she masturbates with the pictures seeing that there’s no TV here. I whistle playing with the short sword in my hand, I was going to torture her, but I unfortunately for her, I don’t have the luxury of time in my hands, I have some serious damage control to do, once done with that I will come back for Nikolai. So, I will kill her fast masinyane without torturing her because that will only hinder us from flying out of here 15 minutes from now. The “Dark Angel’s” are making sure that we have everything we will need, yeah that’s our gang name. Xia came up with it, and well, we all liked it, I’m yet to give them nicknames.

Jaguar stops on her tracks, and widens her eyes as she sees me sitting on her couch with a conniving smile plastered on my face. “What are you doing here & how did you get in?” She asks so calmly drying her head with the towel.

“I’m here to kill you, and I got in through the window. You need to learn how to close windows,” I tell her this already on my feet. She laughs.

Her: “You? Kill me? What kind of sick joke is that?” She snorts.

Me: “This ain’t no joke. I actually feel very disrespected right now Jaguar. So, what’s your problem with me?”

Her: “I don’t have any problem with you, I’m just following the orders given to me nothing hectic.”

Me: “And those orders include you sending your girls to kill me in my sleep?” She gasps.

Her: “What?”

Me: “Oh, please Jaguar. Don’t act surprised you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Her: “Even if I do, what difference will it make because they are all dead now, and I guess you have something to do with that.”

Me: “Yeah. I killed Nikita & framed Aisha, and she got killed too by Nikolai. Your girls were armatures next time learn to do things yourself, and stop being a coward. As it stands now I’ve brought myself on a silver platter for you to kill me.”

Her: “Nah, you ain’t worth it. Now fuck off my room before I kill you for real,” she holds a gaze and I return it, and shake my head.

Me: “Yeah, sure.” I turn giving her my back as if wanting to leave, and that’s when she cocks her gun. A side smile forms on my lips as she calls my name, I slowly turn loosening the tight grip on the short sword that I have in my hand. I come face to face with her, she tilts her head with a satisfied smile in her face. I watch as her 4th finger settles on the trigger I’ve been calculating her moves, and what she does before firing a shot I’ve been watching her from a distance.

Her: “Any last words?”

Me: “RIP to you,” her hand twitch, and she pulls the trigger she’s aiming straight for my forehead, I sommar tilt my head and the bullet passes me by hitting the wall. I let go of the sword, and direct it straight to her neck, it lands, and she bulges her eyes open. I walk toward her, and take the gun from her hand, and shoot her twice she stumbles backwards, I laugh as blood start gushing down from her neck. The window, she is just right where the window is plus there are no butlers here. “R the fucking IP. See you in hell,” I kick her on the chest, and she falls out the window the glass shatters and down she goes. Bitch is finally resting.

“You guys do realize that there’s no guarantee whether we will come back alive or what. You’re agreeing to come with means that you’ve accepted loosing your lives in this battle.” I tell this to everyone present here 5 minutes later after killing Jaguar, the other girls decided to join us in this war while some will be deported to South Africa. Well, at least we’re 110 now, and they are determined and reading to go into war with me.

“We don’t mind laying our lives, whether we die or not its still the same, and besides we have nothing to live for other, we have no families. So, why not use all the skills we learned here into something tangible? This is like a dream come through for us, we are made of steel, and we were taught to ignore pain.” Says one of the girls. I nod.

Me: “Everyone sharing the same sentiments?” They all nod in unison. “Great, let’s get on with it then.” They all leave going into different transships, Sol made sure that we have everything we will need like shelter, and food, he even gave us phone numbers of some of his contacts back in Chicago who will help us, and he gave us all the hotspots of these black chain gang members, apparently they consist of six tribes. Sol actually made things easier for us, and well, I’ve signed the contract of me becoming the owner of Sol’s club once everything goes back to normal, I need to do this for him, but most importantly for my country, and my man of course.

Milan: “Let’s go captain,” I chuckle as she clasps my shoulder.

Me: “You are such a bore.”

Her: “That’s why I’m your second in command,” we both laugh as we walk toward our transship. This will be my first time riding in such, and my nerves are shooting right up the fucking sky. Nikolai is watching us from his bedroom window, I will come back just for him.