Beckoned Through The Dark

25 // Lesego // Mutilated

Time went so fast, it was frustrating not knowing what was happening out there, and it was even more frustrating knowing that you are in prison for something you did not do; moreover, that there was someone out there who looked identical to you.

It was past midnight. It has been three months since I last saw Detective Daniels. It was difficult not to count the days when I’m stuck in this hell hole while he chased after ghosts. I was starting to go insane with worry; what if he never found her? What if I was stuck here for the rest of my life? It drove me mad, not knowing anything. The crosses on the wall kept me sane, they kept me in the present; they helped keep me in check with reality.

I’ve had three different cellmates in the last three months, and none of them lasted for more than a week before they were released. They brought in the fourth one yesterday, and I would be lying if I said she did not freak me out; she was just so different from the others. While all the other girls had innocent faces like me, she looked anything but; she was lean and muscular and had tattoos and piercings all over her body. She had this strange habit of watching me.

I got up from the bed and walked to the bars, I looked around for any guards; and sighed in frustration when I didn’t spot anyone. I pulled on my hair and blew out some air. I felt like crying, but honestly, I had no more tears to shed; even when the detective told me that Clay was dead, I didn’t cry; I didn’t cry either when he last told me that he couldn’t find the girl in the video and that Sihle was refusing to give information about her.

"Do you need help?" I stilled when a voice asked from the top bed. I’d never heard her voice before; because this was the first time she spoke since she got here.

"I doubt there’s anything you can do for me at this time of the night.” I said with a shaky voice and lied down on my bed.

"There’s no better time than this, sweetheart. The guards are less vigilant at this time, they think everyone is asleep." She said cockily. “Besides, this is not a maximum-security prison.”

“For a holding place, it sure feels like it. I’ve been here long enough for everyone to forget that I exist.” I said quietly. “I thought I was going to get out of here, but the detective working on my case just disappeared.”

“I can help, you know?” She prompted.

“No, thanks.” The sound of footsteps and jangling keys resounded from the hallway. I sat up and watched as two female guards entered the cell opposite ours. A few seconds passed before they emerged with a body of a dead prisoner.

“I insist.” Just as my inmate said that another guard opened our cell.

I stood up and stepped further away from the gates. “What’s going on here?” I asked breathlessly as the two guards brought the body into our cell and dumped her on the floor before leaving. “Why are you leaving her here? Hey!” I shouted after them as the last guard locked the cell. “Hey, you can’t leave her here! Come back!”

“Calm down, Lesego.” My cellmate said in a bored tone.

“How can I calm down? There’s a dead body in our-” I trailed off as I met her eyes. “How do you know my name?” I asked cautiously. “Who are you?” I stepped further against the wall, and she took calculative steps towards me.

“I said, calm down.” She warned. I swallowed hard and looked over her shoulder, and before I could open my mouth to scream; she pulled me and pushed me hard against the wall, and then she covered my mouth with her palm. I struggled and tried to shake myself out of her hold, but she was too strong. “I told you to calm down, because I don’t like repeating myself. Don’t force me to put an end to you, little girl.” She threatened. My eyes widened and I shook my head furiously, and for the first time in months; tears welled in my eyes and rolled down my face.

I didn’t want to end up like that girl on the floor; I didn’t want to die in a jail cell. I still had so much to live for, my family, my boyfriend, my career. I just couldn’t die today. The woman removed her arm from my mouth as the guards returned. “Is everything ready?” She asked.

“Yes.” One of the guards answered as she unlocked the cell.

“Please don’t hurt me, please.” I begged.

The guards walked in and placed a bag on the floor. One of them kneeled and opened the bag, and then she retrieved a body bag. They laid it on the floor and unzipped it while the third guard took out a black bottle from her pocket.

She held up the bottle and analysed it. “Are you sure this is going to work?” She asked.

“Yes, Amanda. I researched that acid myself; it decomposes the skin immediately upon contact. Now stop asking me stupid questions and get to work.” My captor said.

“Sorry, Funeka.” Amanda apologised and placed the away. “Guys, put the girl on the lower bed.” She instructed the other guards. They did as she said and placed the dead girl on my bed.

“Are you sure she’s clean?” Funeka asked, referring to the dead girl.

“No tattoos, no piercings. She has dark brown, afro hair and caramel skin.” Amanda clarified.

“Good. Get on with it.” Funeka ordered.

Amanda gave a firm nod and retrieved the bottle from her pocket. She opened the bottle and leaned above the dead girl’s body before she poured the substance on the girl’s face. I watched in horror as the girl’s face burned and decomposed until she was unrecognisable.

Amanda stepped away from the body with her hand over her mouth and nose. “It’s done.” She said to Funeka.

Funeka nodded and turned her attention to me. “I’m gonna need you to do something for me.” She said and let go of me. She stepped away from me, walked to where the backpack was, and retrieved brown clothes like the ones the guards wore. She started to undress in the middle of the room. “Amara, did you make sure the CCTV cameras are off?” She asked.

“Yes.” The Indian guard answered.

“And Phumza? Is the other body in the morgue?”

“Yes, Funeka.” The third guard answered.

Funeka finished changing into the uniform and put her jumpsuit in the backpack. “And the girl?” She asked once more.

“Taken care of. She will come with us when we return in the morning.” Phumza said.

“Nothing can go wrong, ladies.” Amanda said. “Let’s wrap this up.”

Funeka turned towards me and nodded her head towards the body bag. “W-what?” I stuttered.

“Get inside the bad.” She said blankly. I shook my head and cowered against the wall. “I don’t like repeating myself, and if you keep pushing me; I’m gonna have to do this the hard way.” She threatened, but I remained still.

“Listen, Miss; we were ordered to bring you unscratched, but if you keep resisting...” Amanda said. “We are only trying to help. Help us to help you.”

I eyed the bag with dread. “I don’t want to die.” I cried.

“No one is going to die.” Amara said.

“I don’t know why we are still standing here and negotiating with this girl.” Phumza said and pulled me away from the wall.

“NO!” I screamed and pulled away from her, and then I ran for the opened gate; but Funeka grabbed me roughly from behind and covered my mouth and nose with a white cloth. I struggled against her body, but I became weaker by the second. My eyes blurred and I passed out.