Beckoned Through The Dark

86 // Lesego // Into The Future

"Morning, Lesego." I woke up to find Karabelo sitting on my bed. I still couldn't believe that mom let her into the house.

She was looking at me as if there was something on my face.

I got up and looked at my clock beside my bed.

"Karabelo, it is 5a.m.," I said, perplexed.

I tried to get back to sleep but struggled to get that comfortable position I was in before she woke me up.

Even worse, Karabelo remained seated in that very same position, her eyes throwing daggers at me.

She was really creeping me out, the only thing keeping me together was the ring on my finger.

"Okay, out with it now!" I finally snapped.

She climbed out of bed and walked out of the room without another word.

I looked at my hand to check if my ring was still there and sighed in relief when I saw it.

I thought of all the events that took place last night.

I knew I was right not to trust Karabelo, but my mother and Claudia?

I thought mom was as much a victim as I was. She manipulated me into helping out Karabelo, under the pretence that she was also a victim who was possessed.

I thought at some point she would realise that we were sisters and changed her ways, but it turned out I was wrong again, mom and Karabelo were accomplices.

And to think I almost felt sorry for Claudia, I can't believe she is involved in this too.

As for Ryan, I thought he was a nice guy and that he cared about his wife, and wanted to change his ways so that he could be with her again, but I guess I was wrong.

I had no words for Mrs Martins’ betrayal. She just wanted to get closer to me so that I could trust her and disclose all my secrets to her. But then I don't get it! What are they hoping to achieve from this? And you know, if they all worked together, then it meant that mom and Ryan knew where Dineo was.

Since I couldn't go back to sleep, I decided to wake up and face the day as it came.

"When was the last time you ate?" Nthabiseng asked in laughter, but I shrugged. "Oh God, Vincent, come and see your niece!" She shouted out from the kitchen where we are both seated.

I had already eaten three packs of noodles, they were the only thing that went down my throat; besides, I wasn't eating out of hunger, I was stress-eating.

My uncle came rushing into the kitchen, followed by mom and Karabelo.

Those two were paranoid since last night.

"What happened?" He asked, bewildered.

Nthabiseng pointed at my bowl. "She's having her fourth pack now."

My uncle gaped at me, and I rolled my eyes in response.

"Wow!" He gasped, "If there's one thing I know– you did not inherit that eating habit from me," he blurted out, and I saw my mother tense. "Maybe Nthabiseng over here."

Nthabiseng punched him on the shoulder.

"Neither of you," Mom finally spoke in a cold voice. We all turned to look at her, she was standing with her arms folded. "She couldn't have inherited it from any of you, need I remind you that you don't have any children, and your wife here can't have children either?"

That comment caused Nthabiseng to storm out of the house.

My uncle had his hand over his face, and I knew he was trying to calm himself down.

I looked up, and my mother looked remorseless while Karabelo smirked deviously.

I shook my head at them, I seriously couldn't be more disappointed.

I got up and followed Nthabiseng. She was running down the street in the same direction to the mansion.

"Nthabiseng!" I shouted after her. She continued running and sped up whenever I tried to catch up. "Nthabiseng!" I tried my best to stop her, but I wasn't the fittest person to compete with.

She took a turn and ran into the woods, and I knew that she was going to the mansion.

I chased after her until we got to the mansion.

She entered the password into the keypad inside the mailbox and the gates opened.

I followed her inside after locking the gates so that no one else could come in.

By the time I turned around, Nthabiseng was already inside the mansion.

I found her sitting on one of the dusty couches in the sitting room.

"She just had to say that." I sat beside her and comforted her. "You know... I've never been Elizabeth's favourite. She has always made my life a living hell. Vincent can't even stand up to her. He can't even defend himself," she said angrily.

"I'm so sorry, Nthabiseng. I know this isn't the right time, but I discovered something last night." She wiped out her tears and turned to face me.

"I know."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know. I know a lot of things, Lesego. I knew about the alliance before it even began. I happen to know things happening around me before they even happen. BUT, again, there's something about your mother and sister that I can't put my hands on, I keep trying, but fail every time."

"So… you knew they were going to take Dineo?" I asked, and she nodded.

"They have something planned for this evening, so can we just stay here till late?"

I nodded in apprehension.

"I just hope things don't go wrong."

She shook her head. "I wish I could tell you something, but I can't see anything. I wish I'd stopped her before she even started."

"Poor Helen." I sighed. "I knew she was greedy, but I never imagined it would lead to her demise. Money sure is the root of all evil."

"I agree with you on that one. I just hope they don't hurt Dineo." I could sense that she was worried, and she wanted to cry, but she hid it well.

"They won't. My mother may be many things, but she's proven that she loves Dineo and Duncan," I promised.

She sighed tiredly and massaged her neck.

"You know, I can't see what the future holds for us. It's as if someone is blocking my visions. Whenever I try to see the future, I only see darkness and sometimes blankness."

The frustration in her voice was alarming.

"Everything is going to be okay, Nthabiseng." I leaned back against the couch and faced the ceiling. "When did my life get so messed up? Just yesterday I was happy, but now..."

"Come here." Nthabiseng opened her arms for me. I moved forward and hugged her. "It will be okay." She held me tight, and I wished things could stay like this for a long time.

But darkness was lurking in our midst, and it had to be stopped.