BURN for Better or Worse (COMPLETED)

Chapter 41 part 1

NQABA

Catching up with Thandiwe, I snatch her from behind wrapping my arms around her waist. She screams fighting me off, it's not like her to act like this.

"Let me go."

"Thandiwe it's me, it's me, Tshabalala." My alert doesn't seem to register to her, more screams erupt as she kicks and flails her hands violently. Burying my face on the nape of her neck, I clip my arms around her waist pressing her build to mine. A hope that she will stop, however hope laughs in my face when she continues fighting me off. The screams discharging from her are horrific, and heart wrenching. I would mistake her for a crazy woman.

"Thandiwe calm down, please calm down." I tighten my hands on her hips to turn her around to meet the blank look in her eyes, no- not again.

"Tshabalala, I'm not losing you again, not again." My head tilts to the side when she flounders her hand and scratches my cheek.

"Get away from me." A growl bleeds past the seams of her lips, shock washes over me when she attacks me. My mind is blank for a second so I let her jump on me, the attack is enough to throw me to the floor. And it hits me immediately that she's not herself, she's possessed.

Pain mashes my heart, draining me of the little hope I had. I grip her waist and flip us over so I'm straddling her. She doesn't stop fighting me when I pin her on the grass. I know this is not her, so I limit my might instead. My eyes lock with her wild crazed eyes, the grudge... it's the grudge. It gives the evil man access into her life.

"Thandiwe," I try for a murmur, one hand pinning her down so she doesn't move and the other caressing her cheek.

Her head shakes back and forth violently, she's doing everything she can to avoid my eyes. "Tshabalala look at me."

"Mapula, my name is Mapula." With words she fights me back, her voice sounding unusual. I am not going to let that demon win. I don't expect Thandiwe to grab a fist full of sand and blind me with it, her hands slam on my chest to push me off but I press my legs on her sides to keep her down. Once I've rubbed the sand from my eyes, I grip her cheeks forcing her to look into my eyes.

"You will die Nqabayomzi, I'm going to kill you." Her grip on my hand is hot and menacing, her eyes darting all across my face and her body desperate to be set free. I'm comforted that this is not my Thandiwe, she's somewhere in there and I have to reach her.

"I'm not afraid of you, demon." I pause, remembering MamSonto's words. 'Don't entertain demons, you're a child of God.' How do I command it out of Thandiwe? I don't want to hurt her, but the actions the demon is taking are forcing me to do so, a sleeper choke will take her out. It's a good thing the coast is clear, moving to lie on the side, my arm snakes around her neck from behind.

She squirms in front of me, struggling to gain liberation. My heart poorly stapled shut at the pain of the woman I love is thudding hard without purpose.

"I'm sorry I have to do this Thandiwe. I love you, I love you Tshabalala wam and I will make it go away." I pour my heart out, slowly whispering in her ear while depriving her of air until she passes out. My lips kiss hers before I take her in my arms, holding her closer than I ever had.

BARBRA

"Sgwili, you're a genius. I didn't think the voodoo doll will work," Nqaba is untouchable and that leaves Thandiwe, she's unprotected. Sgwili came up with the idea of a voodoo doll, the easiest way to control Thandiwe. I hold it up, admiring my perfect work, the devil would have made a great creator. Imagine creating a human and having control over it. It's genius. God gave us free will which I find boring. Look at the power I have in my hands.