A Fight for Survival

Chapter 4

The temperature inside the petrol station plummeted as the power outage continued, turning the small room into a cold, lifeless shell. Ntsiki could see her breath in front of her as she huddled close to the counter, trying to keep warm. Outside, the wind howled louder than ever, and the storm showed no sign of letting up. The snow piled high against the windows, threatening to block their view completely.

Thabiso paced near the window, his hands balled into fists, his breath heavy with frustration. He kept glancing at Sello, who sat at one of the small tables, a shadowy figure under the dim light of a

battery-powered lantern the attendant had finally found. Sello’s calm was unnerving. He acted like the freezing conditions didn’t bother him at all.

“Any luck with your phone?” Ntsiki asked Thabiso quietly, though she already knew the answer.

He shook his head. “No signal. We’re cut off.”

Ntsiki exhaled slowly. The reality of their situation was settling in: they were trapped, with no way to call for help, and stuck with a man whose intentions were becoming more unclear and unsettling by the minute. The tension was thick enough to cut through, and they all knew it. Sello’s voice broke the heavy silence. “You two look worried. Don’t be. We’ll make it through the night.” Ntsiki glanced over at him. His tone was light, but there was something about the way he said it that made her uneasy. Like he enjoyed their discomfort. Like he was toying with them. “We’ll make it through if the power comes back soon,” Ntsiki said, trying to maintain a neutral tone, “or if the storm breaks.” Sello chuckled softly. “You’re very optimistic, Ntsiki. But optimism doesn’t change the facts.” He leaned forward slightly, his face partially illuminated by the lantern, casting eerie shadows over his sharp features.

“We’re stuck here, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. You know that, don’t you?”

Thabiso stopped pacing, his body tensing at Sello’s words. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he snapped, his voice louder than intended.

Sello shrugged, unfazed by Thabiso’s anger.

“Just stating the obvious. People tend to get desperate when they’re cold, hungry, and scared. That’s when things get unpredictable.” Ntsiki stood up moving between Thabiso and Sello, sensing the tension building. “We’re not desperate, and we’re not going to let this situation get the best of us,” she said firmly. “We just need to stay calm.” Sello smiled that same unsettling smile. “You think you’re in control, don’t you? But the truth is, we’re all at the mercy of the storm. Or maybe it’s something else entirely that’s going to decide how this ends.”

Thabiso took a step forward, his eyes blazing. “What are you trying to say, Sello? Enough with your games.” Sello stood slowly, rising to his full height. He wasn’t much taller than Thabiso, but there was a quiet menace in his stance that made the room feel smaller, the walls closer.

“I’m not playing games, Thabiso. I’m just saying that when people get desperate, they start to show their true selves. They start making decisions they wouldn’t normally make.”

Ntsiki felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold. “What are you talking about?” Sello’s eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time, she saw the mask slip. Behind the cool, controlled exterior was something darker, something dangerous.

“I’ve seen it before,” he said quietly.

“People trapped, isolated. You think you know what you’re capable of, but when it comes down to survival, people change.” Thabiso clenched his fists, taking another step forward. “I don’t know what your problem is, but you’re not scaring us.”

Sello didn’t back down. Instead, he stepped closer to Thabiso, their faces inches apart. “I’m not trying to scare you. I’m just wondering which one of us is going to crack first.” The words hung in the air like a threat. Ntsiki could see Thabiso’s muscles tensing, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. She quickly placed a hand on his arm, trying to pull him back before things escalated. “Thabiso, don’t,” she whispered urgently. “He’s trying to provoke you.”

But Thabiso was beyond reason. “Do you think you’re tough?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You think you can come in here and act like you’re in charge? We don’t even know who you are.” Sello’s smile widened, a predator’s smile. “Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe you should be asking more questions.”

Ntsiki’s heart raced as she tried to diffuse the situation. “This isn’t helping,” she said, stepping between them again, her voice pleading.

“We’re all stuck here together. Let’s not make it worse by turning on each other.” Sello’s gaze lingered on Thabiso for a moment longer before he finally stepped back, the tension easing slightly. “You’re right,” he said softly, though the malice in his eyes remained. “No need to rush things. We’ve got all night.”

Thabiso glared at him, but he didn’t move. Ntsiki could feel his anger radiating off him, but for now, the conflict had been avoided. Still, the storm outside wasn’t the only thing brewing. The rising tension between them felt like a ticking time bomb.

The hours dragged on, with Sello retreating to his corner and Thabiso standing guard by the window. Ntsiki tried to stay focused, but her mind kept drifting back to Sello’s words. What had he meant by “people show their true selves?” And why did he seem so calm, so in control, when the rest of them were on edge?

“Thabiso,” she said quietly, pulling him aside.

“We need to be smart about this. I don’t trust him, but we can’t let him push us into doing something reckless.” Thabiso’s jaw was tight, his hands still clenched. “He’s playing games with us, Ntsiki. He’s trying to make us scared.”

“I know,” she whispered. “But we have to stay ahead of him. We need to figure out what he wants. Why he’s really here.” Thabiso nodded reluctantly, though his anger hadn’t fully subsided. “Fine. But if he tries anything…”

“I’ll be right there with you,” Ntsiki assured him.

“But for now, we need to keep calm.”

They turned to see Sello watching them from his seat, his expression unreadable. It was clear he was not finished with them. The storm outside was nothing compared to the one brewing between the three of them.

The darkness outside thickened, and the cold gnawed at their bones. Thabiso’s patience was wearing thin, and Ntsiki could sense his frustration growing. The wind howled, shaking the windows, and the lantern flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the room. Sello suddenly stood, his movement drawing both their attention.

“I’m going to take a look outside,” he said casually, as if the situation wasn’t dire. “Are you crazy?” Thabiso barked. “You’ll freeze to death out there.”

Sello shrugged. “I just need some air.” Before they could stop him, he headed toward the door, pulling it open slightly. The icy wind blasted in, causing Ntsiki to shiver, but Sello didn’t flinch. He stepped outside, disappearing into the swirling snow.

Ntsiki and Thabiso exchanged a look, the rising conflict between them and Sello now reaching a dangerous peak. What was he doing? Was he planning something? “We can’t just let him walk out there,” Ntsiki said, grabbing her coat.

“Let him freeze,” Thabiso muttered, though his eyes betrayed his own uncertainty. But Ntsiki couldn’t shake the feeling that Sello was up to something. Something that might push them all over the edge.