I shot her dead. That’s when I awoke. I was in the lab. This had all been a simulation. From behind the glass I could see Diminga smiling at me. The doctor unstrapped me and gave me something to drink.

“Its over,” The doctor smiled. Shasha awoke. She was lying on the bed next to mine. She looked wearied. Diminga asked me to meet her in her office.

“You did very well Salifya.” Diminga said. “Most of your classmates broke in the first sim, a few lasted till the second but you, you lasted through six simulations. I told the doctor to keep you in there for longer I wanted to see you break but you didn’t. Congratulations.”

“Thank you Madam.”

“You may go.”

I exited her office. My classmates had been paired with Shasha’s classmates. They made sure to pair friends together, to truly challenge them. Shasha had done exceptionally well in her test. Most of her classmates could not even get past the first sim, a few managed three but none went as far as she did. I pressed my palm to the wall beside my door, the smart wall scanned my palm then opened the door. On my bed was someone lying on their belly with their legs crossed into an X. She rolled over to face me, it was Shasha.

“I did not know it was a sim either. They made me think Diminga was framing me through the usb.” She said. “You are pretty tough Fya.”

I took off my uniform’s jacket and placed it in my wardrobe. “You are a sociopath.”

“And so are you Salifya,” she smiled.

“You say that like it’s a compliment.”

She smirked at me. “In this place, it is.”

“And she took me out drinking. At the end of the night she asked me how I could get through the sims.” I reclined on my bed.

“How did you get through them?” Xo asked. He was sitting in his living room.

“When I stayed with Aunty Twapo and Uncle Thoko they beat me up everyday for little things. They would spray monoseptic on my bruises to hide the abuse. That’s the only explanation I have for it.” I told him. “Going through those sims is easier than trying to reconcile with my sister. Ipy is right. I was trying to hasten her process.”

“You backed off in the end. So don’t beat yourself too much.”

“I want her forgiveness but I don’t know if I deserve it.”

“Of course you do. We all make mistakes.”

“She said I broke her heart.”

“Heart can be mended Sali, by God.”

“Yeah. I will just continue to pray for her.”

“Good.”

“Yeah. Goodnight,” I vibed out. “See you tomorrow.”

“You are here.” Xo smiled, as soon as he saw me and Ipyana walk into his living room. He led us to to Dingani’s room.

“How are you Ipyana?” Xo asked.

“I’m okay.” She replied. “You?”

“I’m good.”

Me and Ipy placed our bags in Dingani’s room. Then I went to join Xo in his study. Ipyana went to the toilet. She had such a small bladder.

“I missed you.” Xo said to me, his eyes smiling with his lips.

I chuckled.

“I miss our hikes.”Ama said. “It’s not the same without you.”

I missed our hikes too. But I was a full agent now. I had so many secrets. I could not tell her about my work. So I stopped taking the weekly hikes with my mom and sisters.

“Work Ama. It’s been very busy.” I fibbed starring down at my plate full of rice and chambiko .

“I’m tired.” Ipyana complained taking off her simulator helmet.

I took off mine. “Take a break and return after five.”

“How many more do we have to go?”

“Thirty.”

“Thirty? We’ve done 20 already.”

“We need to do fifty.”

“Why?”

“You are a novice that’s why.”

“Can we at least start after lunch?”

I conceded.

I walked out of Dingani’s room to the kitchen. Ipyana stayed in the room.

“Fifty sims?” Xo said, sprinkling different spices into a simmering pot of chicken gizzards. “Isn’t that excessive?”

“It’s the amount she needs.”

He turned away from his cooker and faced me. “Is there a possibility you are being a little overprotective here?”

“I want her to be safe. I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

“You don’t want her overworked and tired. That won’t keep her safe.”

He was right.

I starred at the buildings below us.

“I’ve never been to Mchinji.” Ipyana said from seat behind mine and Xo’s. Xo and I had sat in front. Xo had insisted we take his pod for this mission citing that it had an anti-bomb shield. What did he need that for? I wondered.

“What a pity to go there at night.” Xo retorted. “You nervous?”

Ipyana breathed in. “Yes.”

Xo cast his glance at her.“You will be fine.”

I turned and faced her. “The battle plan is for the drawing room. Out there things rarely go according to plan the important thing is to adjust okay?”

“Okay.” She nodded. I pressed the descend button after putting the pod in invisibility mode.

We made it to the computer room. Ipyana started hacking. While Xo made us invisible to the system. “Go.” Ipy said. “I will be okay.”

I made my way to Chimwemwe’s cell. Xo unlocked it. “I am here to rescue you Chimwemwe. Let’s go.” We rushed out into the main corridor with Xo guiding me on which path had the least guards.

“Sali, Ipyana is being attacked.” Xo said through the earbud. He led us to the fastest way to the server room. “They are many guards in the corridor.”

“Number. Be specific.”

“Five.”

I gave Chimwemwe a blaster. “Wait behind this door, I will call you. Shoot if anyone but me comes through this door.” I closed the door to what appeared to be a dysfunctional cell. The blade thrower and my solar blaster did all the work. One blaster beam missed my torso and scraped my shoulder.

I opened the door. “Let’s go.”

The guard had his blaster pointed at Ipyana’shead. I pulled my blaster and he fell to the ground.

“Salifya.” Ipyana exclaimed. Her face was covered in blood.

“Let’s go.” I helped her up.

“No. I am almost through with the download.” Her teeth were stained with blood. She pulled herself and limbed to the computer.

“You are wounded. We should get out of here.”

“I just need one more minute really.”

“Ipyana, I have tried to stall the alarm reset best I can. In five minutes it will reset.” Xo said. “And you will be trapped in there.”

“All I need is one.”

“How is the exit looking?” I asked.

“I see ten guards.” Xo retorted.

After a long wait, Ipyana announced she was done. I took out the back up blaster I had strapped at my knee and the one strapped to my belt.

“We all shooting our way out of here.” I said.

Ipyana picked up the dead guard’s blaster. Chimwemwe held her blaster with both arms.

“That was a close one.” Xo said as he helped Ipyana into the pod. “Hurry the alarm is set off.”

In five seconds we were in the air.

“Ouch!” Ipyana screamed when I inspected her ribs.

“One of them is broken.” I said.

“They are following us,” Chimwemwe exclaimed. Two pods were pursuing us.

Xo activated the invisibility mode. Xo hid us in a cloud until they went past us.

Discussion:

Now this image looks like Salifya. Isnt she pretty? Thsi iamge belongs to Peter Pharoah a south african Painter.

Okay so at this point what are you itching to know?

which subplot/character/ theme do you relate to the most?

Which character would you be friends with and which can't you stand?

Please comment, I really wanna hear from you guys.

How do you think Ipyana did in this mission?

Should Salifya take her again?

What do you think of Salifya's relationship with Xolani?

What's your take on Salifya's past?