“Well, well, well… look who it is,” Zali said smiling, as he entered the now well-lit room. “So glad you could make it.”

I stood with my fists clenched in front of the window. “Where is she?” I said, my voice echoing in the empty room.

Zali walked across the room and poured himself a glass of wine that was standing on the table in the corner of the room.

“Would you care for a glass?” Zali asked me, without looking up.

I don’t respond.

“Would you care for a glass?” he asked again.

“No thanks,” I said through gritted teeth. “I didn’t come here to party with you.”

Zali looked disappointed. “Oh, come on. You are, after all, my guest of honour.”

“Go to hell!! Where is she?!” I said.

Zali slowly walked over to me, sipping his wine. “Don’t worry, Bongiboy, she’s safe.” He said sticking his nose in the glass.

I stood back. “For your sake, I hope she is… because if you hurt her in any way, I’ll…”

Zali interrupted me, saying, “You’ll what…?”

“I will kill you,” I said, gritting my teeth.

Zali started to laugh. I looked at him, confused.

“You wanna know what it is like in there?” Zali asked.

“I don’t wanna know,” I said.

He took a few more sips of his wine. “I’m gonna tell you any way…” he paused. “It was hell!!! Four years is a long time when you’re in prison, Bongiboy.” Zali said walking back.

I noticed Zali clenched his free right hand into a fist. Without turning to look at me he said, drinking his last drop of wine: “So, you say you’re going to kill me.” He looked over his shoulder back at me.

“Yes, I will…”

In a split second Zali had quickly turned around and slapped me with the back of his hand, sending me flying to the floor. I heard someone laughing. Zali walked back to the table, putting the glass down.

“I’m not planning on going back, Bongiboy,” Zali said laughing.

I struggled up, rubbing my face.

“That hurt,” I said, standing up.

“That’s only the beginning…” Zali said laughing at me.

SIX DAYS EARLIER…

Helping the police really made Sam, Thandi and I famous in the Parkview community those years back. It felt like yesterday when the three of us went and told the police that the people who had murdered that guy by the river were going to drop another body at the deserted farmhouse outside of Parkview.

It was a struggle to get through to the police officer at first, but eventually he said that they’d check it out. It’s understandable why they didn’t immediately believe us: it’s not every day that someone tells you about something that is going to happen. I knew that he thought that we were just crazy.

“BONGANI!!!” Confused I looked at Mr Khate, our English teacher. I heard giggling sounds.

Not again, I said to myself.

“Yes, sir?” I said in an innocent voice but it looked like it didn’t work. This was the second time that Mr Khate had caught me day-dreaming in class. I didn’t think that he was going to let it slide this time. What are you doing?” Mr Khate, looked at me over his glasses.

I looked around. Everyone was looking at me.

“What do you mean, Sir?”

Mr Khate put his chalk on the table and walked in front of my desk.

“Your attention wasn’t focused on me.”

It was very quiet in the room – that kind of silence where you can hear a needle drop. For some reason, everyone in the school was very afraid of Mr Khate. He didn’t take nonsense from anyone since he had arrived last year.

“But I was listening, Sir.” I said.

I knew I had to lie to get out of this one. It looked like Mr Khate didn’t believe me. He just stared at me long and hard. Then the bell rang to signal the end of the school day. I felt so relieved.

“Oh, class, before I forget,” Mr Khate said above the noise of the chairs and tables, “We will have a new learner coming in tomorrow. So please do make her feel welcome. Bongani… as for your punishment, I am appointing you to help her and show her where and how everything works.”

Mr Khate looked at me and smiled.

“But, Sir…”

He was already gone.