The alarm woke me up. I jumped up holding a wooden spoon, thinking Mark had managed to come to me. Simba looked at me as if I was crazy.

“You look like a weak chicken ready for the slaughter,” he chuckled.

“I am scared,” I said folding the duvet. Simba was already dressed.

“Sorry, go and shower. We need to be ready,” he said pushing me away.

I took a towel from Simba’s hands and closed the door after entering. I removed all of my clothes and felt the grinding wind as it blew the curtains. Why did Simba open this window so early in the morning? I was scared when I heard any noise. I got inside the shower, rubbed the soap on the towel and spread it all over my body, except my head and face. Then I saw a figure entering through the window.

Before I could rush to get out, Mark was trespassing in Simba’s home. A shining knife he held in his hands. I was naked, I grabbed a towel to wrap my waist.

“Don’t even think about making noise,” he hissed.

I lifted my hands up while he locked the bathroom door. Simba won’t even see that I am trapped, I thought. But he wouldn’t leave me, he would wait for me.

“Kneel down,” he ordered, pointing with the sharp knife.

I knelt down looking at the sharp blade. Is this how he killed Miss Mokoena? I guessed. He stood at the door and I knelt facing him. He walked closer and put the knife on my throat.

“Tell your friend not to call the police,” he ordered me.

“I don’t know if he will hear me,” I said trembling.

“Shut up, do as I say,” he pressed the knife closer my throat.

Then the handle of the door moved twice. Simba was calling my name. Mark whispered for me to be quiet. I had hoped to live but I was just worried if help came too late. I wished Simba called the police.

“Chris, what are you still doing? We going to be late,” he said loudly.

“If you call the police, he will die,” Mark shouted.

There was a silent moment. Maybe Simba had noticed it was Mark’s voice. He stood by the door, maybe trying to hear if Mark hadn’t killed me.

“Mark, please listen to me…” he said loudly.

“No, you listen to me. Call the police and he will die,” he said.

Simba was quiet but I could hear his breath. Mark looked at me and smiled. He kept pressing the knife in my skin. It became sore.

“Please… I will do anything,” I begged with tears on my face.

“You will do anything?” asked Mark. I nodded my head. “Take the police off my back.”

I could see he was furious. He punched me with his fist on my stomach and I fell down. Why can’t just kill me? My stomach was in pain. I lay on the ground, holding and feeling the pain. Simba was screaming by the door.

“Please don’t kill him. He didn’t do anything.”

“I saw him with the police,” he shouted.

“They wanted to ask him questions,” Simba said loudly.

I could feel his fear of seeing me murdered by Mark in his own home. Mark pulled me by my neck and pressed his hands on my neck. I couldn’t breathe but he kept pressing harder. I looked through the window, someone was there but Mark didn’t see. He pushed me on the floor and started to kick me on my stomach. I tried to cover my face but I couldn’t bear the pain. Why can’t whoever is by window help me? Simba was screaming on the other side.

Mark dragged me then I felt the piercing of knife on my arm. Blood was everywhere, then a loud bang came from nowhere. I looked around the window and saw Detective Ronald holding a pistol. I looked at Mark who had been shot on his back fall on top on me. I had no strength in me. Two uniformed policemen dragged Mark’s body off my body. Simba couldn’t stop screaming. A police opened the door. Simba opened his mouth shocked, he hugged me but I put my hand on the other side. It was painful.

“Are you OK?” Detective Ronald asked.

“Why couldn’t you save me earlier?” I shouted.

“Chris are you OK?” he said.

“I will be,” I answered, trying to stand up.

I pressed the towel on my arm. I checked if there weren’t any women in the room but I guess everyone thought I was crazy. I tried to put on my trousers but the blood made me vomit and I felt traumatised. The paramedics came in after an hour and they treated my wound. Mark was not dead. He was shot on the right shoulder. Simba went to work to notify them that we couldn’t be in because of the incident. The police were busy in the bathroom. Even after they cleaned it, I didn’t want to go back in the bathroom again.

***

Tell us: Why do you think Mark killed the lady?