The trek next to the jungle was relaxing and Lukhanyiso saw multiple creatures which were already extinct on Actual-Earth. He saw dinosaurs that roamed around harmoniously. “Why me though? I mean, I’m just a regular man who can see dead people and help them cross over,” Lukhanyiso asked as he recalled Mandlenkosi telling him the chosen hero is the only one who can destroy evil…the Scourge.

They entered the fortress, which was a gigantic castle, walked towards the hearth and sat at the table in front of the fireplace.

Ntiorce, who led, sat at the far end of the table and looked at Lukhanyiso so that their eyes connected. “You are an angel… so was your mother. You are one of the very few angels that exist in Africa. I chose you because you’re the only one that has the ability to destroy the Scourge; your great grandmother was a pure angel. She spent most of the time developing her powers into attacks. You see, angels aren’t made for battle, but she felt that she needed to develop that for the future… so that Actual-Earth can be protected. She then passed down her grace and powers from generation to generation.” Ntiorce revealed as he smiled at him.

Lukhanyiso squinted his eyes as he looked at the purple entity who had just told him that he was an angel. He released a brief mocking laugh. “That’s very good. You should do stand-up comedy to the dinosaurs.” He scratched his afro and thought about this as he looked around the gigantic room. “And if I was an angel, I’d have wings…but I don’t have wings, and suffer from kyphosis,” he said as he positioned his back so that his hunchback wouldn’t be obvious to see.

“That isn’t really a hunchback… that is your wing socket. You can’t be walking around Actual-Earth with your wings visible to everyone.” He walked behind Lukhanyiso and placed his hand on the hump. Khanya closed his eyes and tilted his head to his right, as he felt uncomfortable knowing that someone was touching his deformity. “It isn’t a deformity… you don’t need to feel uncomfortable, Aghd Therill. Your great grandmother created the angel socket while the foetus was still developing. This became a gene that is carried by your family,” he said as he fixed both hands on the hump and closed his purple eyes. “People who have hunchbacks might be angels.”

The material of the clothes he wore on his upper body burned, creating an opening around the hump. Unlike regular kyphosis, Lukhanyiso’s deformity was strangely shaped as it stretched from his shoulders to his backbone. “Relax… this can only be done if you relax your body,” Ntiorce said, as his hands released a purple mist from its pores. The mist then seeped inside Lukhanyiso’s skin, searing into his ebony skin.

Lukhanyiso clenched his teeth as he wrapped his arms around Mandlenkosi, who placed his hands on his side not wanting to interrupt the surgery. Then, Arafci Ntiorce clawed his nails into his skin and scraped the skin out with one swipe. Lukhanyiso released an agonizing cry and began trembling, while tears rolled down his ebony skin. He felt the pain, but no emotion accompanied it.

He opened his eyes and exhaled a few breaths, before slipping into a deep slumber. A smiling Lukhanyiso was the last sight he saw.

*****

“Hey. I’m Lukhanyiso, can I play with you guys?” he asked with a smile as he looked at two other boys around the same age he was, seven years old.

The two boys looked at each other before walking away from the kid who wore a lavender shirt and khaki shorts. Lukhanyiso looked around the park and noticed that everyone was repelling away from him. A tear fell from his eye as he dropped a purple kite he held and turned around to look at his father who picked his son up, placed him on his shoulders and walked away from the park.

“Don’t worry Lukha. One day you’ll find a friend who won’t look at your exterior, but will look at your heart and mind, and will want to be your friend,” the father said, as he held his son’s legs tightly so that he wouldn’t fall.

Lukhanyiso looked at the sky and didn’t reply.

“I knew a girl a long time ago, and she had the same problem as you,” the father said, as he placed his son on a bench and sat next to him. “No-one wanted to approach her. I was scared to approach her too because she was having fun all by herself… her happiness and smile attracted me to her and I finally walked up to her and gave her an iris which grew in my garden.”

Lukhanyiso wiped his tears and looked at his father eagerly, with a smile.

“I didn’t know what to say: but thank God I had plucked that flower. She took the flower from my hand and smiled as she motioned me to sit down.” The father looked into the distance and a tear slipped down his cheek as he smiled. “We played for hours, not saying a word… until the street lights illuminated the area and we had to part ways. But we met the following day… went to school together, high school and university. Then I married her and then we had you…”

Seven-year-old Lukhanyiso released air from his mouth as he smiled.

“Nyana, don’t worry about people, whether they like you or not. The most important thing should be your heart. If it foretells a promising future, then take whatever makes you happy. Always know that I will stand by your side no matter what you may choose in life,” he advised as he looked deep into his son’s eyes. “Okay?”

“I will always remember that, Tata,” Lukhanyiso said as he gave his father a big hug, disappearing into his arms and chest.

“Xolo, Tata, your son dropped this,” a boy wearing a yellow t-shirt and brown pants said, as he handed over the kite Lukhanyiso had dropped.

Both wiped their tears at the same time when they heard the boy. “Enkosi kakhulu,” the father said as he took the kite and handed it to his son.

Lukhanyiso looked at the other child. “Do you want to help me fly it?” Lukhanyiso asked, as he jumped down from the bench.

“Ewe, I’d love to,” the boy answered with a smile.

“Great! My name is Lukhanyiso, and this is my father.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lukhanyiso, Igama lam nguLuvuyo,” the boy said, before the two ran into the park and the father trailed behind them.