SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Chapter 4

The following day at the Mhlongo family everyone is eating breakfast when Sisi Thandi come with two boxes labelled 'Siviwe', the other labelled 'Sash'. 'What are those?' ask Lizy. 'These are boxes for Siviwe and Sash' says Sisi Thandi. 'For us? where are they coming from?' ask Siviwe surprised. 'I don't know, I found them outside the door' says Sisi Thandi. 'You mean to tell me that someone get in this house, and no one saw her or him dropping those things?' ask Gladys. No one answers her, 'There is a card, let me read it, from Lizwe' says Siviwe. Sthandiwe drop her spoon shocked, 'Sisi Thandi please take those boxes away' says Sthandiwe. 'Why? who is Lizwe do you know him?' ask Sash. 'I said Sisi Thandi take those things away and throw them' says Sthandiwe. 'Mom come on, who is Lizwe?' ask Siviwe. 'Keep quiet your mother has spoken these boxes will be thrown away and no one will ever talk about them again in my house do your me?' says Gladys looking at Siviwe and Sash. They keep quiet, Gladys stands up and go upstairs. At Gladys's room the elders are talking. 'Is this bastard out of jail?' ask Sthandiwe angry. 'That is the only explanation to this' says Lizy. 'I have a friend in Westville, I will ask to check if he has been released' says Mike. Gladys gets up 'You see what I was talking about, this man will use these boys to torture us' says Gladys angry. Sthandiwe is shocked by her mother's words, 'what do you mean by that Mah? are you saying I should just tell them who their father is and let him take them' ask Sthandiwe with tears in her eyes. Gladys looks at Sthandiwe, 'that would be better for everyone' says Gladys calm. Sthandiwe just cry louder. 'Mah, no, you can't expect her to let her son go to that psycho, he will ruin him' says Mike trying to convince his mother. 'Mike is right, maybe you can let Sash go' says Lizy looking at Sthandiwe. Sthandiwe continue crying. 'You will have to make your decision girly, either both of them go or one of them' says Gladys getting up and start walking away. 'Mah, please think about this, dad would not be happy about this' says Mike following his mother. 'Do not drag your father in to this nonsense, my decision is final' says Gladys walking away.

Later that night, at Lite tavern, the tavern has closed, Krishi is cleaning the tables and Tonia is upstairs. Tonia runs downstairs and grab Krishi by the arm while closing her mouth by her other hand. Krishi is confused but follow her. 'shhh, someone is coming' whispering and walking silently. They get upstairs by the window. They can hear someone opening the door. 'What is happening? who is that?' whispering Krishi in fear. 'Take what you will need, we have to go' says Tonia, opening a safe, take all the money, put it in the bag,take out a gun, take her wallet and car keys. 'Let go' says Tonia. They jump from the window and run to the car. While running to the car, the man who came to the house, shoot them from the window they jumped from. 'Shit, shit' says Tonia driving away. The man shoots at the car, but they manage to escape. 'What is happening? why is he shooting at us?' ask Krishi scared. 'I don't know, someone is trying to kill me' looking at the road. 'Why would anyone want to kill you?' ask Krishi confused. 'Shut up, I am trying to think' shouts Tonia. Krishi feel the pain on her back, she touches it and feel her hand wet, she turns on the light and see blood, 'Oh God, where is this blood coming from?' says Krishi scared. 'What blood?' ask Tonia looking at her. She sees a lot of blood on Krishi's seat and on her hand. 'Shit, do you have a jersey?' ask Tonia. 'No' says Krishi breathing heavily. She is starting to see everything around her becoming blurry. 'Hey, hey, do not close your eyes, put your hand on your back, we are almost there' says Tonia driving fast. On the street, the man gets a call from Lizy and Mike, 'Is it done?' ask Mike. 'They escaped, but I shot at them so sooner or later they will turn up dead' says the man. 'What do you mean they? we said one lady, you have her picture right? so, what are you talking about?' ask Lizy angry. 'I found her with a young girl, what was I supposed to do?' ask the man angry. 'What young girl? the information we got says she stays alone' says Mike. 'I don't know but I shot at both of them' says the man. 'Alright, find her and make sure she is dead' says Lizy. 'What about the little girl?' ask the man. 'Kill her as well if she stands in your way' says Mike.