Gimba looked down, checking what it was. In that split second Mpho leapt forward and kicked him so hard in the stomach that he buckled. Before he could stand straight again Mpho followed with another blow that left him sprawled on the floor.

Boom! The gun went off, exploding Mpho’s expensive leather sofa, but now Mpho was on top of Gimba, pinning him down.

“Mbali come here – take the gun, quickly! Take it!” he shouted.

“I am scared Mpho!”

“Come on man, take the gun!”

Mbali was blinded by tears.

“Come this side and grab it,” Mpho ordered.

“Okay! Okay.” Mbali managed to snatch the gun from Gimba’s hand as Mpho pinned him down, and she threw it on the sofa.

Then Mpho let go, took Gimba’s gun and aimed it at him. It was game over for Gimba.

“Come on Mpho, let’s talk like friends. I was not going to shoot you.” Now it was Mpho’s turn to crack an evil laugh.

“I am not your friend and I am going to shoot you – with your own gun.”

Before Gimba or Mbali could say anything Mpho had pulled the trigger two times, hitting the man in the head. He collapsed on the floor, face down, blood splattering everywhere.

Mbali rushed to the bathroom screaming. Mpho’s sharp voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Hey! Hey Mbali. Come back here.”

“I am scared,” she cried.

“No, listen now. You will do as I tell you, okay?”

“He is bleeding a lot Mpho. He is going to die. Please I want to go home. I am scared.”

“No, my love you are not going anywhere. We are in this together. Thank you for helping me sort this bastard,” said Mpho, wiping Gimba’s gun and handing it to Mbali.

“Here, take this.”

“No Mpho!” Mbali screamed.

“Take it! Take it now,” he shouted.

“What do you want me to do with it? Are you going to call an ambulance?” she said, as she took the gun, her hand trembling.

She couldn’t believe how he had changed from the charming, sweet man who had treated her like a princess, into this cold, heartless killer.

***

Tell us what you think: Is it true that Mbali is now ‘in this together’ with Mpho? What can she do?