Pheli Love

Four

Mohau

I've never been a fearful person.
Sure I got scared here and there but fear? It was a rare thing for me.
Here I was in what seemed to be a warehouse from my frantic observations.
I looked down to see me tied to a chair and heart leaped into my throat.

Where was I ?
How did I get here?
Why am I here?

I never understood the concept of fear till I realised who had done this.
Seeing Xolani Nkosi appear in-front of me made my want to roll my eyes back and die.

There was no way he was going to let me live.

My hands started shaking as my mind raced at the possibility of me making it out of here.

Aj.
Aj needed me.
I couldn't allow myself to die, not when Aj still needed me.

I began to try and free my hands from the rope. My frantic movements caused the chair to shake and move.
Tears slid down my face as I failed to escape.
I could hear my heart pounding.

The tension in the room was suffocating. It was enough to kill a dead person.
X- anyone with a death wish called him by his first name - made his way over to me. With every step, my stomach churned with acid; I tried to calm my down but I failed miserably.

He looked at me with his intense gaze which made me look down.
My tears were uncontrollable at this point.
My mind was no where and everywhere at once.

This was the closet I had been to death.
I was face to face with the devil and I couldn't control myself.
I couldn't help but feel fear.
I couldn't help but think of death.

He walked behind me; my body stilled as his fingers came into contact with the back of my upper neck.
He untied the cloth that was wrapped to cover my mouth.

I let out a sharp and shaky breath.
One would take simple things like fresh air for granted.
I winced at the throbbing pain on the back of my head. The pain was unbearable but I could handle it.

I felt weak, as if I was going to pass out.
Sweat tricked down my face and everything in me wished I could wipe it off.

X stood in front of me again,

"Bullet! Bring her food and a first aid kit." His voice echoed

"But Gener-" the man whom I assumed to be Bullet seemed to retaliate

"NOW!!" My lungs felt as if they were going to bursts.
This cannot be life. How did I get here?
Why did it have to be me?

Bullet makes his way back with a tray full of food and what I assumed was the first aid kit.
X forcefully took the stuff from bullet and walked back to me.

My breath hitched at his close proximity. I couldn't do this.
I needed to breathe.
Everyone knew who X and his brothers were moPheli. (in Pheli)
Everyone knew that they were heartless, trigger happy demons who destroyed more than they built.
X, the eldest was the most feared. It was said that he didn't have patience and he killed more than he spoke.
'X marked the spot' would often come into conversations meaning that he killed someone.

Everything knew what they did yet no one reported them.
They seemed to be above the law.
With everything they did for Pheli; the schools, clinics, malls, etc. No one wanted to arrest the same people that contributed so much.
They had everyone in their pockets, the police, the councillors and general people.
Fighting them was useless.

You would loose the battle and the war.

My head hung low, there was a combination of fear and the throbbing pain.
I could feel his presence.
It was dominating.
His cologne filled my nostrils; it was a dark, musky and woody fragrance with a smokey take on rosemary and cedar-wood.

X placed the food on the ground and dragged a stool to sit face to face with me.
My head was still faced down; I couldn't build up the courage to look at him.
I was tired of crying but the tears kept flowing.

My skin tingled as I felt his index finger lift my chin up.
My breath was harsh and shaky.
My eyes widened as I saw how close he was to me. I had never seen him this up close before in my life.
I could see him analysing my face; I felt scrutinised under his gaze.

"Here you go." My face contoured at the confusion of what he was speaking of.

He realises and lifts up the plate of bread. Knowing that I was allergic to gluten, I shook my head.

He seemed unimpressed by my reaction,
"You need to eat. You're probably feeling weak." I was shocked by the concern in his voice.
Why would we be concerned if he was going to kill me.

I continued to shake my head,
"I-I'm a..llergic...t-to... g-gluten." I stuttered, I couldn't help it.

His face was stoic as ever but his eyes softened.
He was definitely going to kill me.

"Bullet! Get her fruits-" he looks back at me, "You're not allergic to any are you?" I shook my head, "-Yes, get her fruits to eat!"
Bullet disappears to God knows where.

He places the tray to the side and returns his full attention to me.

"What your name?" his voice is gentle which sends a shiver down my spine.

"M-Mohau." My voice shakes.
This was going to be a long a painful conversation.

*******
Xolani

The woman looked scared to death.
I couldn't help but stare at her.
I knew my gaze freaked her out but I couldn't help it.

Mohau

"Do you know why you're here?" I asked her.
She profusely shakes her head in response.

Her response confused me.
How could she not know why she was here?
I look behind me at Mpilo and saw him scoffing at her response.
He better not have made a mistake.

"My sources tell me that you were informed about the repayment of your mother's debt. Am I right?"

Her face went from fear to pure confusion.
"Debt? W-What debt a-are you talking about?" He voice was hoarse from crying.
Was this an act or was she genuinely confused?

"Are you telling me that you have no recollection about any debt that is owed?" My voice was firm and even.
"Is your mother's name Kamogelo Matlou?"
I heard her gasp for her as mouth opened wide; it was as if she didn't expect me to know that.

What game was she playing at?

"H-How do you know that?" Her question was laced in vulnerability.

I ignore her question, "Are you are aware that your mother owes me R500k-"
Her eyes went wide open and her gasp left her breathless.
"- With her death, the debt immediately falls onto you."

Her body froze as if she had died. The give away was her trembling lip.
It looked as if her whole world crumbled before her.
My heart clenched at the sight before me.
I suddenly felt the desire to want to protect from all of this.

Her body was already weak from the lack of food and constant crying.
She didn't seem to know anything.
I knew she wasn't lying; even if she did, her eyes would tell me the truth.

Just as Bullet finally made it back from running my errand.
Mohau's head hung low and I assumed she felt shame but as I lifted her chin up.
Mohau had passed out from all the trauma.

I was going to kill Mpilo.

**********