Melokuhle

I sat in the damp, musty basement, surrounded by the deafening silence. As tears streamed down my face, I wondered how long I have been locked up in here. How many hours have gone by since then? It felt like I have been here since forever.

My mind drifted to my father, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was searching for me. I hoped that he would burst through that door, sweep me into his arms, and rescue me from this place. But the door remained stubbornly shut.

 The only sound I could hear beside my rapid heartbeat was the faint creak of the pipes and the distant hum of some sort. It was a lonely, desolate sound, it only made me feel more alone and scared knowing that I was completely at Melusi's mercy.

I looked around the room, feeling dread wash over me. The basement was a dingy, cramped space, with concrete walls and low ceiling. The air was thick with the smell of mold and decay. 

My hands were growing numb from being tied up, the ropes were cutting off the circulation, leaving my fingers tingling. I had stopped trying to break free, realising that Melusi had done a thorough job at securing me. The ropes were ironclad, holding me firmly in place with no chance of escape.

The door creaked open, and for a split second, I dared to hope it was my father, coming to get me but my heart sank like a stone when I saw Melusi walking in with a plate of food in his hand.

He didn't look in my direction when he walked in, he just set the plate down with a clatter and untied my hands with a quick and precise motion. His movements were so precise, like a robot performing a task. He didn't seem to notice me at all and didn't seem to care that I was sitting here, watching him with hate coloured in my eyes.

Then, without a word, he turned and walked out. The door locked behind him with a loud click. The sound echoed throughout the room, making me jump. 

I was left alone once again, with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. I was mad, how could he just walk out like that, without acknowledging my presence? Without apologising for hitting me, for kidnapping me and for tearing me away from my family? 

I sat in silence, my eyes  fixed on the covered plate in front of me. My feet were pulled tightly against my chest. At first, I was determined to resist the food, to deny Melusi the satisfaction of seeing me eat. I wanted to defy him, to show him that I wouldn't be broken by hunger or fear.

But my stomach had other plans. It growled and churned as it protested the emptiness. The delicious smell coming from the plate was too tempting for me to resist. I barely ate anything all day, the small chips I had before going to class didn’t count as actual food.

I tried to hold on to my resistance, but it was no use. My hunger eventually won, I lifted the lid to reveal a feast. Steak, mashed potatoes, and salad lay before me. It was the last thing I had expected from a kidnapper, and for a second, I forgot about my little protest of not eating and simply devoured the food like I hadn't eaten in days. The food was gone in just a few seconds, when I looked at the empty plate I was embarrassed at how clean it looked.

I collapsed on the bed, wrapping my arms tightly around my legs as the reality of my situation crashed down on me. 

I’m really kidnapped. The words echoed in my mind, refusing to be ignored. It was a harsh truth that I couldn't escape, no matter how hard I tried.

Tears poured down my face like a heavy rain, when I thought about my parents. What were they doing right now? Were they frantically searching for me, roaming the streets and calling out my name? Or were they trying to negotiate with Melusi in secret, hoping to pay off the debt without involving the police?

Fear gripped me, making my heart race. The food I just ate churned in my stomach, threatening to come rushing back up. I felt like I was going to be sick. My body grew tense and my muscles coiled with anxiety.

 I was mad at my father. I wondered why he had put me in this situation? Why did he have to borrow money from a man like Melusi? A man who was ruthless and emotionless. 

I thought about all the times my father had promised to take care of me, to protect me from harm. But now, it seemed like he had thrown me to the wolves. I felt like I was just a pawn in this whole thing.

It was as if my father had sacrificed me so that he could settle his debt. Would he even care if he found out I was kidnapped? Or would he be relieved that his debt was being paid off? The thought made me feel sick to my stomach.

Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off to sleep.