When Love Sprouts

Chapter 9: Power

Screaming and kicking at the backseat of the tinted grey hatchback car, Azania wrestled and wrestled trying to break free from the strong grip of the rope. The car stopped.

"We're home, I mean, Honey, we're home," said Ludo cheerfully.

"Let go of me," huffed Azania as Ludo placed her on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Uh-uh-uh, play nice. Who knows, I might let you marry my son, Kwezi, and have a happy life. You know the saying happy wife, happy life. My son is such a gentleman, he's an accountant you know," said Ludo.

While, he was placing her on his shoulder, she bit his ear, trying to run away from him. Yet, before she could run into the dusty streets to seek help, Ludo's long feet treaded behind her causing him to snatch her away from the hands of Freedom.

She began crying as he carried her into the abandoned four-roomed house.

The worn-out chipped paint and dusty stoep exposed the house's age. There weren't any children running in the streets, or nosy neighbors peeping through their fences. Everyone seemed to be indoors, hiding away from the sneaky mosquitoes.

One of the men from IluDo came just as Ludo was chaining Azania up to a wall. "There, now be a good girl. Daddy will be back soon," he said patting her head. She pulled away from him.

"This is Viper. I call him that for a reason, you dare cause any trouble, he'll show you why his name is Viper. Do you hear me," Ludo threatened.

The strange baldheaded man Ludo spoke about had his knuckles covered by a flame skull tattoo and silver rings with the burgundy triangle on all five fingers of his one head. He probably never missed a day at the gym, because his body was quite well-built. He had muscles the size of her head. Running away was the last thing she thought of, after seeing him.

"Make sure she stays put," commanded Ludo sternly.

"Yes, boss," Viper responded in his deep voice.

Ludo left the pair together. Viper sat near Azania with a piece of magazine that was tossed on the dirty floor. "Oh." He said.

Azania's eyes travelled all around the room searching for a way to escape. She couldn't tell the time because Ludo kept her in a cold dark room. No light could break into the windows. He sprayed black paint onto the windows then sticked a plastic bag onto the in window. A day or two passed, she couldn't tell. Dim light made by the candle had become the only light she grew to know. Ludo never came back ever since he chained her. She had learned that Viper secretly loved bright colours. She learned that she was quite the smarty pants.

The magazine Viper held read:
'Spring wear: orange is the new drip'

"Are you into fashion as well," she asked.

"I am a man of many traits, Miss Buvoir," stated Viper.

"Vee, I told you not to call me that, call me Zee, or Aza. Something cool like I call you," she said.

"I can't," he stated.

Azania bit her lips. "Uhm, Vee, could you let me go to the bathroom," she asked.

Viper went out of the room and came back a short while later with a scratchy bucket. "Here, I'll let you be for a while," he ordered.

She stared at him with her mouth wide open. "Come on, I'm a lady you know," she yelled.

"So are the girls from Hillbrow, now go ahead and do your thing," he yelled back.

Azania took the moment to inspect the window. She scraped the tape off, sunlight from the mellow hot sun of Pretoria slid in. A glimmer of hope came as she scraped the next tape off, only to find out that the windows had burglar bars. "Dammit," exclaimed Azania.