A Fight for Survival

Chapter 5

The wind howled like a beast outside, clawing at the walls of the petrol station as though it wanted to tear the place apart. Inside, the tension was thick enough to taste. Ntsiki stood by the door, staring at the spot where Sello had disappeared into the snowstorm. He’d been gone for over fifteen minutes, and her nerves were fraying.

Thabiso was pacing again, his steps heavy with barely-contained anger. “He’s playing us, Ntsiki. What kind of man walks out into a storm like that and just vanishes? I’m telling you, something is seriously wrong with him.” Ntsiki’s heart was pounding. She didn’t want to admit it, but Thabiso was right. Sello’s behaviour didn’t make any sense. And the longer he stayed outside, the more it felt like they were walking into a trap. “I know,” she murmured, her breath visible in the cold air of the powerless petrol station. “But we can’t just leave him out there. If he freezes, we’ll be the ones responsible.”

Thabiso shot her a look, his frustration boiling over. “He’s responsible for himself. If he wants to pull some kind of stunt out there, fine. But I’m not letting him drag us down with him.” Before Ntsiki could respond, the door to the petrol station slammed open, banging hard against the wall. The force of it sent a gust of icy wind rushing into the room. Sello stood in the doorway, his face partially obscured by the hood of his jacket, snow covering his shoulders and hair like a ghostly shroud. “Miss me?” Sello asked, his voice too calm for the situation. He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a slow, deliberate motion, the lock clicking into place with a sound that sent chills down Ntsiki’s spine.

Thabiso’s eyes blazed with fury. “What the hell were you doing out there?” Sello shrugged off his jacket, a smirk playing on his lips. “Just needed a moment. The storm’s quite beautiful if you know how to appreciate it. Too bad it’s about to get a whole lot worse.”

Ntsiki felt a sense of dread wash over her. There was something different about him now. The calm, calculating demeanor had shifted into something more dangerous, more unpredictable.

“What do you mean?” she asked, keeping her voice steady, though her instincts screamed at her to run.

Sello’s eyes flicked to hers, cold and predatory. “The storm’s not letting up anytime soon. We’re not going anywhere for the night and I think it’s time we stop pretending.”

“Pretending what?” Thabiso asked, his voice taut with tension. He stepped forward, fists clenched at his sides. Sello leaned against the counter, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.

“Pretending that we’re all just a bunch of strangers waiting out a storm. You’ve been suspicious of me from the start, and I’ve been watching you two try to figure me out.” Thabiso took another step forward, his patience snapping. “Because you’re hiding something. Who are you, really? Why are you here?” Sello’s smile widened, but it was devoid of warmth. “I was wondering when you’d finally ask that.” He stood up straight, the air around him shifting as though he was finally dropping whatever act he’d been playing. “You want the truth?”

Ntsiki’s pulse quickened. This was it, the moment they had both feared. “I wasn’t just some random driver stranded on the N3,” Sello began, his voice low and dangerous. “I was running, yes, but not from the storm.” Thabiso’s eyes narrowed. “Running from what?”

Sello paused, then fixed them with a chilling stare. “From people who want me dead.” The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode. Ntsiki felt her blood run cold. This was worse than she had imagined. Sello wasn’t just some drifter caught in the storm. He was on the run from something or someone far more dangerous. “You’re lying,” Thabiso spat, though his voice wavered with doubt.

Sello’s smile turned feral. “Think what you want. But I’ve been involved in things that would make your skin crawl. Now, I’m trying to disappear. Thought this storm might buy me some time, but it seems I’ve run out of luck.” Ntsiki’s mind raced as she tried to process what Sello was saying. They were trapped with a man who had brought danger to their doorstep. If he was telling the truth, they were in more trouble than they’d realized. Whoever was after him could show up at any moment.

“So what now?” Ntsiki asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “You expect us to help you?”

Sello’s expression darkened. “I expect you to survive. But survival means making choices. Right now, the only choice you need to make is whether you’re with me or against me.” Thabiso exploded. “What the hell does that mean? We’re not getting involved in whatever mess you’ve dragged in here!”

In a flash, Sello reached into his jacket, pulling out a knife. The blade gleamed in the flickering lantern light, sharp and menacing. Ntsiki gasped, instinctively stepping back as Thabiso’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re already involved,” Sello growled, his voice low and lethal. “This isn’t just about me anymore. If they find me here, they’ll find you too. So here’s the deal: you help me, and maybe we all get out of here alive. But if you decide to make this difficult…” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. The threat hung in the air like a noose around their necks.

Thabiso’s entire body tensed, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Ntsiki saw the fury in his eyes, the way his muscles coiled like he was about to charge at Sello, knife or not. But before Thabiso could react, Ntsiki grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “Don’t,” she whispered urgently.

“He’ll kill us.” For a tense moment, the room was silent except for the howling wind outside. Thabiso’s chest heaved with suppressed rage, but he didn’t move. Sello smirked, clearly enjoying the power shift. “Smart choice, Ntsiki.” But Ntsiki wasn’t backing down. She knew they couldn’t just give in to Sello’s demands. They had to find a way out. “What’s your plan, Sello?” she asked, keeping her voice calm even though her heart was racing. “You said you’re running. But from who?” Sello’s expression darkened, the playful smirk replaced with something far more sinister. “That’s not your concern. What you need to worry about is how you’re going to survive the night.”

The night stretched on, the storm outside growing fiercer, battering the walls of the petrol station. Inside, the real storm was brewing. Ntsiki and Thabiso kept their distance from Sello, but the tension between them was palpable. Every moment felt like it could explode into violence. As the wind rattled the windows, Ntsiki’s mind raced. They couldn’t wait this out forever. Sooner or later, something would snap either Sello would make a move, or whoever he was running from would find them.

A sound cut through the storm. A distant rumble, barely audible over the wind. Thabiso froze.

“Did you hear that?” Ntsiki’s eyes widened.

“What was it?” Sello tensed, his eyes narrowing. “They’re here.” Ntsiki’s blood ran cold. “Who?”

Sello moved to the window, peering out into the swirling snow. “The people I was running from. They’ve found us.” For a moment, the three of them stood frozen, the weight of the realization crashing down on them. They weren’t safe. The storm had only delayed the inevitable. “We need to hide,” Ntsiki whispered, her voice trembling. “We can’t let them find us.” Sello turned, his knife still in hand, his face set in grim determination. “No one’s hiding. If they want me, they’ll have to fight for it.”

Thabiso’s eyes blazed. “And what about us? You’re going to get us killed!” Sello smiled darkly.

“Not if you fight with me.” Ntsiki’s heart pounded in her chest. This was it. The breaking point. They were no longer just battling the storm, they were battling for their lives.

The rumble grew louder, closer. Whoever was out there, they were coming. Sello’s voice cut through the tension. “Decide now. Are you with me or against me?” Ntsiki and Thabiso exchanged a glance, the weight of the decision heavy in the air. There was no easy answer. But one thing was clear: no matter what they chose, the storm outside wasn’t the deadliest thing they’d face tonight.