A Fight for Survival

Chapter 3

The petrol station's fluorescent lights buzzed quietly overhead as Ntsiki and Thabiso stood near the coffee machine, pretending to warm their hands while keeping a careful eye on Sello. The small station felt like a trap the oppressive weight of the storm outside pressing against the glass windows, the walls seeming to close in around them.

Sello browsed the shelves with a casual air, but Ntsiki was not fooled. There was something about his movements that felt rehearsed, as if he was playing a role, masking whatever lay beneath. She exchanged a glance with Thabiso, whose jaw was clenched in barely suppressed tension. “He’s not just some stranded driver,” Thabiso whispered, his voice low and urgent.

“I don’t know what it is, but something’s off about him.”

Ntsiki nodded, her eyes following Sello as he moved toward the front counter. “We need to be smart about this. Do not provoke him. We’re stuck here until the storm passes, but we can’t let our guard down.” Thabiso’s eyes darkened with determination.

“I’ll keep an eye on him. We should ask the attendant if there’s a back door, just in case.”

As Thabiso headed toward the old man behind the counter, Ntsiki pulled out her phone, checking the weather report again. The storm was expected to last several more hours. Hours they would have to spend here, trapped with a man who set off every alarm in her mind.

Her fingers hovered over the phone screen. She tried to text Boitumelo for help but what would she say? That they had picked up a stranger in the middle of a snowstorm and now felt like something bad was about to happen? It sounded paranoid, but the knot in her stomach told her she was not overreacting.

Just as she slipped her phone back into her pocket, Sello approached. His smile was faint but polite, his eyes scanning her face with unnerving precision. “Weather’s not letting up anytime soon,” he said, his voice smooth, almost too casual. “Looks like we’re going to be stuck here for a while.”

“Yeah, seems that way,” Ntsiki replied, her voice steady, though her pulse quickened. “Do you find anything useful?” He shrugged, glancing at the shelves filled with snacks and travel kits. “Not much. I just hope the power holds. These places aren’t exactly built for storms like this.”

Ntsiki forced a nod, though her thoughts were racing. “What were you doing out here, really? This part of the highway isn’t exactly the most common route for someone heading to Johannesburg.” Sello’s smile did not falter, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes, annoyance, maybe or calculation.

“I like the scenic routes,” he said, leaning casually against a shelf. “Plus, it’s less crowded, especially at night. Why?” Ntsiki’s instincts told her to press, but she did not want to push him too far. She needed more information first. “Just curious,” she said lightly, turning her attention to the coffee machine. “I’ve taken this route a few times myself. It’s quiet.”

“Very quiet,” Sello agreed, his voice dropping a fraction. “Almost too quiet.” The way he said it made her skin crawl. She pretended to busy herself with the coffee cups, her mind working overtime to figure out what angle Sello was playing. Everything about him felt staged, as if he was keeping a mask firmly in place while waiting for the right moment to strike.

Before she could respond Thabiso returned, his expression tight but controlled. “I spoke to the attendant. There’s a back exit in case we need to move quickly.” Ntsiki’s eyes flickered with understanding. “Good to know,” she said softly, turning her attention back to Sello. “What about you? Any plans once the storm clears?” Sello’s smile widened, but it did not reach his eyes.

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll figure something out. I got places to be, people to see.” Ntsiki and Thabiso exchanged a quick glance. That was exactly what she feared; Sello was not just a stranded traveller. He had something to hide, and they were stuck in the middle of nowhere with him.

The hours dragged on. The storm showed no signs of slowing, and the tension in the petrol station thickened with each passing minute. Ntsiki could feel her nerves fraying as Sello sat in the corner of the small station, occasionally glancing at them but mostly keeping to himself. Thabiso stood by the window, his body tense as he stared into the snowstorm. “If we’re lucky, a plow will come by soon,” he muttered under his breath.

“Let’s hope so,” Ntsiki replied, her eyes darting toward Sello, who was now thumbing through a magazine with eerie calm. However, luck was not on their side.

Without warning, the lights flickered, and then the entire station was plunged into darkness. Ntsiki’s breath hitched in her throat as the wind howled outside, rattling the windows like some angry spirit trying to break in. Sello’s voice cut through the darkness, calm and steady.

“Well, that’s unfortunate.” Thabiso pulled out his phone, using the flashlight to navigate the now pitch-black room. “There’s a generator out back, but the attendant says it hasn’t worked in years.”

“We can’t stay here without power,” Ntsiki whispered, her heart pounding.

“The temperature will drop too fast.”

Thabiso nodded his face grim in the dim light.

“We’ll have to move soon. But we need to figure out what to do with him.” Just as he said it, Sello stood, the faint light of Thabiso’s phone casting long shadows across his face. He looked almost spectral, like a ghost emerging from the dark. “I can hear you, you know,” Sello said, his tone devoid of emotion. He took a step forward, and Ntsiki’s blood ran cold. “I’m starting to think you two don’t trust me.” Thabiso turned, his flashlight aimed squarely at Sello’s face. “Why should we?” Asked Thabiso, Sello did not flinch. His calm demeanour melted into something darker, something predatory. “Because if you don’t, this situation could get a whole lot worse.” Ntsiki’s heart hammered in her chest. She stepped back instinctively, her mind racing for a solution. “We just want to make it through the storm,” she said carefully.

“No one needs to get hurt.” Sello chuckled, low and menacing. “Oh, I agree. But that depends on how you two behave.” Thabiso’s hand moved to his pocket, but Sello’s voice stopped him cold.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said, his eyes gleaming with a cold, deadly focus. “I’ve been in worse situations than this, and trust me, you don’t want to test me.”

The air in the room grew suffocating, the cold forgotten in the face of the new danger standing in front of them. Ntsiki’s mind raced, weighing their options. They were outmatched, outnumbered, and trapped. They weren’t out of hope. “Look,” Ntsiki said, her voice steadying as she took a small step forward. “We don’t need to fight. We’re all stuck here. The storm’s bad, and we’re not getting out anytime soon. Let’s just keep calm.” Sello’s gaze locked onto her, assessing her words, measuring her intent. For a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes something human, something tired. But then it was gone, replaced by that cold mask again. “Fine,” he said after a long pause, stepping back. “But don’t push your luck. I don’t like being underestimated.” Ntsiki exhaled slowly as the tension eased, but the danger was far from gone. They were still trapped in a storm, with a man whose true intentions were hidden behind layers of menace. She glanced at Thabiso, who gave her a silent nod. They had to be ready. Whatever game Sello was playing, they couldn’t afford to lose.