Chapter 9
Author: Brian Makara
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-25 11:06:40

The cabin was a battlefield, echoes of chaos resonating through the walls as Sello fought against the invaders. Ntsiki struggled to keep Thabiso on his feet, feeling the weight of his body pressing against her. With each step they took, the world felt heavy, but she couldn’t give up. Not now.

“Keep moving!” Sello shouted, his voice filled with urgency. He blocked another attacker’s blow, using the fireplace poker like a sword. The man staggered back, and Sello seized the moment to push forward. “Get to the back door! I’ll hold them off!”

“Are you crazy?!” Ntsiki yelled, her heart racing. She couldn’t leave him behind, but she also couldn’t let Thabiso suffer any longer.

“Just go!” Sello snapped, glancing back for just a moment. “I’ll be right behind you!” Ntsiki hesitated, torn between the man she loved and her best friend. But there was no time. With a deep breath, she steered Thabiso toward the back of the cabin.

“Come on, Thabiso,” she urged, adrenaline pumping through her veins.
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    Ntsiki’s hands clenched the steering wheel, her breath held as the figure approached through the swirling snow. The storm was unforgiving, the gusts of wind howling like unseen beasts, whipping through the night to an unusual extent. The car windows fogged up as she tried to peer into the darkness, catching only faint glimpses of the man moving toward them.Thabiso leaned forward, tension crackling between them as they exchanged worried glances. His voice was low, barely audible over the storm. “This feels wrong, Ntsiki. Something’s off.”“I know,” she murmured, her throat tight. Her gut twisted with an instinctual warning, but there was nowhere to go. The road was barely passable, and the snow was coming down too fast. Turning back was not an option.The man stopped just outside the driver’s window, knocking with a gloved hand. A hood obscured his face and a thick scarf wrapped around his lower face. All Ntsiki could make out were his piercing eyes cold, hard, and watching them with

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