Londisizwe



Londisizwe was thrown in a cell full of young boys like him, it smelt of nothing but sweat and urine. He had heard of a cell on the castle where boys who were thieves and kilkers were taken, some made it home alive after many years and others didn’t.

He had never believed any of the stories he had heard but now he was here. Everyone turned and looked at him and soon they carried on with their chats.

He walked deeper and found a small space where he sat down and hugged his legs, he wanted to cry but he didn’t dare.

He had tried to explain that he didn’t do anything that he was just sent to place the sword in the Kings chambers but the guards didn’t bother listening to him.

He thought of his parents and how they were expecting him home, his heart broke as he thought that he will no longer be making it home or even taste his mothers food again.

“Hi.” He looked up at the sound of the voice “I’m Langelihle.” He said sitting besides him.

“I am Londisizwe.”

“Why are you in here? You don’t look like mischievous person.”

He shrugged “I was framed for something I didn’t even do.”

“You are the one who killed the King?”

Londisizwe looked at him surprised “How..?”

Langelihle shrugged “I heard the guards talking about it.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“I believe you,” Langelihle nodded “But they don’t, you see how many of us in here when we return there won’t be much left.”

“Why?”

Langelihle had the distant look as he talked as if he was afraid of what he was about to say “It all differs from time to time but in here you survive, it’s either you think for yourself or you die.” He kept quiet and never said a word again.