Nothing was visible through the window; the noise of banging was audible. Nothing could be kept a secret for a long time but my neighbors succeeded at doing it.

I was sure they were doing something illegal and I would find it out, come what may. The bang resounded from the dusty old shack that they never open since the moved in three months ago.

Our neighborhood had always been a playground for mutilators. Being the only community patroller made me want to step up and prevent any further incidents.

To cover my suspicion, I had a tiffin box filled with the cookies my mother had baked. Out I went to my neighbors’ white four-roomed house for an investigation.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

My eyes surveyed the shack that had a lock protecting their illegal secret. The banging got louder and louder and louder. What was it they were trying to hide that they bought a big lock?

“Dumela, how can I help you?” The lady flung the door open and greeted with the whitest smile. She wore black clothes not helping my nerves.

“Hi, I live next door. I wanted to welcome you to the neighbourhood. You can call me Oratilwe.” I handed the tiffin to her. What could the noise be?

“Thank you, I’m Scarlett, but you can call me Scar. Do you want to come inside, you are the first neighbour to welcome us with such a wonderful gesture.”

What kind of name was Scar? It horrified me.

“Erh… No! I mean, next time. See you.” I waved awkwardly and ran back to my house.

A week later, my nerves were still but my neighbours’ tongues were not – as they spoke of how our new neighbour might be a witch.

I remember Mma Mthembu stated, “The lady and her husband keep children inside their shack and poison them so they can use their souls to get rich.”

I stood up, having heard enough. The overdue excuse of having tea “next time” had come to good use. The heavy responsibility of a community patrol weighed heavy on my shoulders.

Scarlett’s shack was open, it was my chance to sneak in and see whether the children are indeed there. I picked up my pace and got closer to the door. This was my chance, finally!

“Oh, dumela Oratilwe! You finally came.” Scarlett happily came out closing the door of the shack and locking it before I could catch a flash of anything.

“Hi Scarlett, yes I came. How could I not have my neighbors tea,” I responded annoyed that I didn’t see anything. Not one.

“You are so sweet. Come inside.” She invited but paused after at look at her hands that had a white substance. “Eish, let me wash my hands we don’t want any of this to get inside our food or we might die.”

Mma Mthembu was right, she poisoned the children and I’m next. My heartbeat pumped quickly, feeling like I was going to have a heart attack.

“Erh… Scarlett, I don’t want to disturb you. I’ll come back next time.” I quickly ran home. Scarlett was a killer.

Another week passed and curiosity was tickling the cat, aka me. I needed evidence to prove that Scarlett had kept the children in there.

Once again, another afternoon, hoping to use the excuse of tea I casually walked inside Scarlett’s yard when I saw a frightening scene. Blood was coming out from the door.

My mind couldn’t think straight as I ran away back home.

“Oratilwe!” I heard Scarlett’s call out to me and laughter come out from her. She was vicious.

She’s going to kill me next. Once safe inside my house and minutes trying to compose myself, I decided that the right thing would be to call the police.

“So ma’am, you are saying you saw blood of the children coming out of your neighbour’s shack?”

“Yes, sir,” I confirmed.

Two police car vans rushed towards Scarlett’s house and the sirens alarmed every one not to miss the gossip.

“Are you Oratilwe?” The policemann asked on guard, cautiously holding his gun.

“Yes.”

“Come show us where you saw the blood.”

We both walked inside Scarlett’s yard. The tension rose and my heart accelerated as if I was on a treadmill.

“Look Mr. Policeman.” I pointed at the now dried-up blood.

“Police! Police open the door.” The policeman held his gun whilst I hid behind the wall of my new neighbour’s house.

“Police? What happened?” She asked inside the house. Her double oak door opened and Scarlett looked scared to her wits end.

“Mme, we received a call of suspicious activity inside your yard. I need you to open your shack for me.”

“Did Oratilwe call you?” Scarlett’s voice scared me and I cowered in fear.

“Mme, come open the door for us.” The stern policeman responded.

Scarlett walked passed me with a playful smile. Didn’t she care of the consequences?

I didn’t care what she thought of me, the truth couldn’t be hidden for a long time and eventually skeletons would come out of the closet.

With every second that passed, my anticipation rose up and my doubts would be confirmed.

She inserted the key into the black lock and it snapped open. She unbolted the security lock and pushed the door open.

A bowl filled with blood in the middle and blood on the feet of…

“Chickens?” I uttered in shock.

Scarlett laughed. “I knew you came here to investigate. At first I thought to keep you guessing, and you got scared after seeing the residue of chicken food, I was amused. Today I realised I took it too far and was about to tell you but you ran away.”

The neighbours threw a big tea party to celebrate the arrival of a potential friend and new community patrol.