“Some years back, I was with my mom and Zorro, making our way back from Kruger National Park. My dad called Zorro and told him about a job that he was supposed to do but couldn’t, because he was far and it needed to be done that very day. So Zorro agreed.

“My dad and Zorro were best friends then. But the problem with that was the heist was at Belfast which is just on the way from Kruger. So my dad and Zorro decided that we were going to drop Zorro off at the place where he was going to meet up with the other guys who were going to do the heist with him. We got to an old wooden house in the middle of nowhere and stopped there. We found about four men waiting.

“Zorro got out the car and went to talk to them but they were hostile. Zorro came back and told us to leave, he will catch up with us at home but my mom refused to leave him there. He told us that he was going to be fine. He said it was just a misunderstanding between them as the guys were expecting my dad and not him. My mom and I left, but on the way my mother had a premonition, but she never told me what it was. We turned and returned to the place but they had already left for the job.

“As we were waiting for them to return, my mom was trying to get hold of my dad, to tell him that something was not right but his phone went to voice mail. Hours later they returned and my mom got out the car to check if Zorro was okay and he was. But he was not happy about the fact that we didn’t leave, he told my mom to leave but she didn’t want to. The guys suggested that she come in the house with Zorro so they share the money and they can leave together.

“They went in the house and I stayed behind in the car. Minutes later shots were fired from inside the house. Zorro came out running from the house and he was shot before he could reach the car. He shouted to me to get out the car and run, I did. I started running into the forest and when I was safe I looked back.

“Zorro was on the ground and a guy came to him and shot him in the eye. I panicked and started running faster and they chased me but couldn’t find me. I had hidden in the bushes. They returned to the house and dragged my mom and put her in the car and put Zorro in as well. They poured petrol all over the car and set it on fire. I ran as I couldn’t watch anymore. I got to a road and a lady helped me and took me to the police station.

“My dad fetched me there. I couldn’t tell the police what had happened; I was terrified. Later that day the police came over to inform my dad that the body that they found in the car was of my mother. I told them that Zorro was also in the car but they said it was the only body that they found. They said there was blood that led into the forest but it just stopped in the middle of nowhere. Somebody must have helped him, they said.

“Zorro came back after a few weeks. He was angry; said my dad sold him out to those guys as they wanted to kill him. My dad on the other hand felt that Zorro was responsible for my mother’s passing; he should have made sure that we left that place. And why did he even go in with her in the house? Ever since then they have been great enemies.

“Zorro left for Hendrina and my dad just stayed here and has since been on the search for those guys. In order for him to find them, he just killed their family members. And now they are responding and that’s why I have been shot at… am sorry, I meant we have been shoot at.”

“Wow, yho now I understand what is going on outside. Your dad found the guys that were shooting at us. One of them happened to be the guy who shot Zorro in the eye. When I left he was about to take the guy’s eye out.”

Lwazi got up and stood at the window looking outside. “An eye for an eye,” she said.

“Yeah, an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind,” I said as I got up and stood behind her.

“I lost my father few weeks back; he was shot at Hughley’s sheeben along with Hughley. I watched him die,”

“That was your dad? I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. I saw it on the newspapers. Sorry,”

“Have to move on, wish it was easy but it’s not. Especially for my sister,” I said.

“I can understand her feeling that way. But Chris, I have to ask,” she said.

“Yes?”

“I appreciate everything that you have done for me; you saved my life, twice. But I want to know why you did that? Risking your life for a stranger like that?”

I looked down turning my back on her. Why did I do that? I asked myself. She was right, she was a stranger, at least the first time we met.

“Honestly, I really don’t know. I just saw a girl in trouble and decided to help, I guess,”

She walked closer to me and held my hand. She looked at me said, “Are sure that’s the real reason?”

“I don’t know,” I said shyly looking away.

“Oh well, when you find out, please let me know,”

“Okay!” I said relieved. “I have to get home, will see you around, ne?”

I headed for the door, ready to get out of there before things got more awkward.

“See you around, Chris,” she said with a weird look in her eyes.

I went home feeling tired. From the gate I could see that something was not right. The door was wide open; knowing my mother she never did that even in broad day light. I got inside and everything was just a mess.

“Mama! Mama!” I started calling out and there was no response. “Ayanda! Aya!”

The house was dead still. I looked all over, calling out my mother and Ayanda but there was no response. And then my phone rang.

“Hello,” I answered.

“CHRIS! CHRIS!” my mother and Ayanda shouted from the background.

“Lalela la wena sani, your dad has something that belongs to me. I want it back before lishona elanamuhla! Siyazwana, angisho?” a rusty voice said.

“Angazi mina ukhuluma ngani? Yini lento leyo? Please don’t hurt my family, angazi ukuthi yini lento oyifunayo!” I said nervously.

BANG! BANG! Gun shots sounded.

“Ayandaaa! NO, NO, NO!” My mother cried out from the background.

“I don’t care if you know or not. Find it! Your mother is next!” the voice said and they hung up the phone.

Tell us what you think: What should Chris do now?