A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 19

Thelani

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Everything was happening so fast.

"Lucas, I..."

"Shhh..."

His voice was calm, but there was an urgency in his movements that made my heart race. My instincts told me something was wrong, but my mind was struggling to catch up. I tried to focus, to understand what was happening, but the way he moved-it was as if he was someone else entirely. A stranger.

"Lucas, wait..."

I wanted to believe he would stop, that he would listen, but he didn't. My heart sank as he separated my thighs, positioning himself between them. Panic surged through me.

"Lucas!" My voice trembled, my hands pressed against his chest, trying to push him away. But he was stronger, and I was too scared, too confused to fight harder.

Then, pain. A sharp, searing pain that tore through me, and I screamed, my voice echoing in the room, but it was as if he couldn't hear me. Or maybe he didn't want to.

Tears welled up in my eyes as he continued, his movements rough and unyielding. I felt like I was drifting away, detached from my own body, unable to process what was happening. My mind was a fog of confusion, hurt, and disbelief. How did it come to this? I'd thought I could trust him, but now...

Finally, he stopped, shuddering as he released inside me. The pain subsided, but the ache in my chest only grew. I lay there, numb and trembling, trying to understand what had just happened. Had he forced himself on me? Or was I just too weak, too scared to make him stop?

"Baby, are you okay? You're bleeding... Why didn't you tell me you were a virgin?" His voice was gentle now, almost concerned, but it only made the knot in my stomach tighten.

What? I wanted to tell him. I tried to tell you! But you didn't listen. The words screamed in my head, but my lips couldn't form them. I felt sick, violated, and utterly alone.

His phone rang, a harsh sound in the quiet room.

"Yes... okay, I'm on my way," he said, his tone shifting back to business. He looked down at me, his expression softening. "Baby, I have to leave now. I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for trusting me with your body." He kissed my forehead, and before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me there in the dark.

As the door closed behind him, I curled up on the bed, my body shaking. I couldn't stop the tears that finally broke free. What had just happened? How did it all go so wrong?

I felt so small, so broken. The warmth of his kiss on my forehead only added to the cold emptiness inside me. I was left with nothing but the silence and the haunting question that wouldn't let me go: Did I lose control, or did he take it from me?

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Nkosikhona

A few days later, the time came for the meetup. The prison air was thick with tension as I was escorted to the visitor's room. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. I had no idea who I was about to meet, but Thabo had assured me this guy was the real deal. Someone who could get things done, no questions asked.

As I stepped into the room, I noticed a man sitting at the far end of the table. He was in his late forties, with a hard face that showed he'd seen and done things most men couldn't even imagine. His eyes were sharp, and they tracked my every move as I sat down across from him. The guard left us alone, giving us a thin veil of privacy.

"You must be Nkosikhona," the man said, his voice gravelly. He didn't offer a hand, just a cold stare that seemed to pierce right through me.

"Yeah, that's me," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "You know why I'm here."

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Thabo says you need some cash-100k to be exact. That's not pocket change. What's it for?"

I hesitated for a moment, considering how much I should reveal. But this man wasn't here for my life story. He was here for business. "I need to pay someone to get information on a case. Someone close to me died, and I need to know the truth."

He nodded slowly, as if he'd heard similar stories before. "And you're willing to do whatever it takes to get that money?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "Yes."

The man's lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Good. I can get you the money, but it won't come free. Once you're out, you'll work for me. There'll be jobs-dangerous jobs-and you'll do them without asking questions. You understand?"

I felt a chill run down my spine. This was the price Thabo had warned me about. But I had no other options. If I backed out now, I'd never get the answers I needed. "I understand," I said, my voice firm.

"Good," he repeated, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a small, worn notebook. He scribbled something down and then tore out the page, sliding it across the table to me. "This is the account where the money will be transferred. You'll get it within the week. But remember, once you're out, you belong to me."

I took the paper, my fingers trembling slightly as I read the details. "And if I don't pay up?"

The man's eyes turned cold, his smile vanishing. "You don't want to find out."

With that, he stood up, signaling the end of our meeting. He gave me one last look before turning and walking out of the room, leaving me alone with the piece of paper and the realization that I'd just made a deal with the devil.

As the guard escorted me back to my cell, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a mistake. But there was no turning back now. I had to see this through, no matter the cost.

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