Episode 8: Undetected Dawn

At Zanele's house, in the laundry room, whose blue walls ran with several artworks of her mother's most iconic designs, the bedspread's patterns reflected on the curtains which were widely open to brighten up the room just like Zanele liked... Whilst she laid by the edge, of that same bed which had played sole witness to her deviously fanstastic deed with Anathii. The same butler who was now softly karate-chopping her back, also remembering the chaotic sounds he had heard in that very room, which he himself now regarded as a crime scene - a laundry room with very dirty secret deeds. Although it wasn't long until Zanele began hearing faintly-rising heard some footsteps. 

"Zanele Mandalay!" He called out without dropping the sophistication within his lofty pitch. His footsteps getting louder and closer within the passage. 

"I'm here... Right here," she dragged her voice in a calm manner, her voice jumpy due to the buttler's massage, fully detecting his imminent entrance.  

"All this calling out and you're busy ignoring me," her father said upon opening the door and shooting a look towards her. His Mandalay Crown invisibly placed on his head.

"Drop the act dad, I'm not the wrong one here..." She looked up to the middle aged fashion icon in a green suit. 

"Are we really about to go there again? You must really love this blame-shifting game of yours," Her father's expression hardened as he glanced around the room before finally gazing at her, "If it's not about your mother, it's about the wedding, if not that then it's about my bisexuality - aside from your entitlement feelings towards the company. Mandla Mandalay bit the bitterness between his teeth. 

"Dad, you inconsiderably tossed mom's feelings aside and chose to marry another man, my complaints didn't matter then right," Zanele sat up straight and gestured for the buttler to be excused. "I'm not sure you've noticed but I'm no longer 23, I'm 30 now and I would very much like to make my own decisions...," she then buttoned her top, careless to her father's eyes, "both regarding my wedding tomorrow as well my mother's legacy. 

"Decisions such as sleeping with interns? You need to get it together Zanele - I might have promised your mother that I would sign the company over to you...," he smiled upon catching humor within his words, "but now that you're 30 you're even more uncontrollable than ever." 

"I've been caged to both mom's and your expectations my whole life - I'm a free woman now... And as for Dumisanii Gumede I truly want nothing to do with him." As her words came out she felt herself becoming stronger - just as her mother would've wanted. "He's the son of my mother's sworn enemy!" 

"You will marry Dumisanii Gumede whether you like it or now," Mandla Mandalay blocked the doorway for her, as she was already making way towards it, and also placed his hand on her shoulder, even stopping her slithery rhythm. "Let me not remind you that AMANDA MANDALAY"S is my baby too, and I can deprive you of it," He then shook his hands and adjusted his waterfall inspired suit, before checking his sparking watch and walking away, his bald head shining exquisitively as she looked up to it. 

"Anathii - that intern you caught me with is only 23 but talented - I don't need a Gumede dad," She yelled at him, but as he walked down the house's long passge his lifted his hand to show that he weren't interested, in whatever his daughter had to say. "Like why must I always come last in this family?" She laughed and leaned against the wall before sliding her back down against it, before seeing her beautiful brown face reflected upon its shiny tiles, just before seeing her reflection invaded by another - that of her P.A - whose facial expression was hindered in a pile of news.

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Meanwhile at Caith's, as she and Anathii shared a large bowl of chicken flavored noodles whilst she sat on the bed and watched him walking up and down in an attempt to explain the things he had seen in the peak of the night... 

"Girl I'm telling you, a dark figure which was like a 3-Dimensional shadow was like moving on these walls," he paused and dug his fork into the bowl, inhaling the aroma in the process, "I know I was feeling dizzy but I definitely know what I saw Caithi." He then expressed a small burning sensation as soon as he's driven the fork into his mouth. 

"It was probably just a nightmare," she laughed and massaged her throat whilst looking at him whilst wondering if Neliswa had been behind it.

"As it roamed around the room's walls it was even laughing, like a witch..., are you sure you're even safe sleeping in this haunted house." Bending forward, he threw his gaze into Caith's as though to shower her mind with his recent memories of the night. 

"Babes, it's this wild imagination of yours that gives birth to your creative Ideas - no wonder you are a good designer," She held up one hand and gestured for him to sit and eat with her, her other hand with a fork twirled in noodles - ready to feed him. "Which is the perfect reason why I would like us to move to another province Anathii, I've been having bad dreams, vormitting in the middle of the night, and even hearing voices too." 

"I think we should, we definitely should," he blurbed out with wide open eyes that watched her rubbing her tummy, "I would like to play with my baby in peace - but by the way; whose car picked you up from hospital?" He assessed her, ready to study her next reaction. 

Rubbing her nose she responded; "long story but I'll definitely tell you in the shower." She poked him and he tickled her back, before taking her hand, as she grabbed big, pink towel which was coiled around a shaving cream. The pair then jogged out the door, headed for the bathroom, already half dressed... Until his ears tangled with the sound of his ringing phone, and he bid her a short goodbye with a wink before running back towards it. 

Before he quickly dashed back to the room, running his fingers on the passage's walls, before walking in with a big smile on his face. His eyes scanning around for his phone, his hand tapping on his boxer shorts in a melodic rhythm. Until he felt the door behind him closing, before turning around in a heartbeat and seeing Neliswa, who was slightly taller than his shoulders, in slightly oversized blue t-shirt which only covered her upper thigh. 

Her long fingernails grabbing attention as she gestured him to keep quiet. Her body begging him to carry her, seeing that she were slightly thicker than Caith, but not as cute. Her yellowbone skin and brown eyes carrying a lightweight burden as she looked sideways before pulling him to the bed where she sat on the edge - which pressed her thighs expansively. 

"Ignore the phone, this is more important," Her long nails pressed against his cheek and detered him from looking to where his phone was, before her very eyes dragged his towards her fairly massive breasts, before her voice pulled her away, her fresh breath flying out her succulent lips and sinking onto his lips, softly. "There's something you have to know Anathii, but firstly I have to ask." 

"Can't it wait, until Caith and I hit the shower? It's too early for sneaking around and gossiping," He looked to his phone grabbed it and saw 2 recently missed call from Yonella, before sighing in relief - figuring that he'd missed something he had no interest in hearing. 

"Why are you doing this, with your own cousin Anathii? Has the world run out of other women or what," The concern in her eyes dove straight to the heart of his widened pupils, due to her bright smile, skin and words. "Like did we not bond when we went to the ball together? did our ties not bind? tongues not meet? And yet you were busy running around with Caith, your own cousin." 

"Meaning what exactly? That it's now a crime to love my cousin in an unusual manner. I never chose to love her, but you chose to reject me that night..." The harshness and haste of his voice grew before he leapt of the bed and pointed her out. 

"It was all Caith, she had warned me against accepting you to date me, telling me there was someone else, Genna Gumede." She nodded with crossed fingers, her shaky voice caged within a sadly convincing tone. "I swear, I can't keep crying for your attention like this; I sacrificed my feelings once, but now that you know... I can finally move on." She grabbed his hand and closed it, reveelling the tattoo at the back of her hand in the process. 

"My hands are tied," he stepped back, "I have a wedding tomorrow and this little game you're playing isn't working - but well played," He kept his hands tightly concealing his middle-legged bulge and looked straight at her. Picturing a cloud of desperation raining above her. Just as a message from Genna flashed into his phone, and he walked Neliswa out before returning into the room and seeing Genna's voice message. 

*Let's meet at 3, I want to show you pictures of the decor, dresses and suits of the bridesmaids and groomsmen... And then grace one of my favorite restaurants with our presence. And please put on that favorite cologne I bought you! Ciao! My chauffer will come around."

"No need to sound so demanding, just know that I'll be there... And as for you, dress in my favorite colour, and book us a table upstairs, near the balcony... I love it when your hair dances in the wind whilst we are talking; and you are constantly carrying it driving it back behind your ears..." 

"Also tell her that you love piping your..." Neliswa rolled her eyes and cupped her chuckle.

"Neliswa nooo!" You can't just barge in, now my voice message is ruined..." He sighed and pulled his cheeks backwards, clearly disgruntled, again.

"You know what, I've just finally grasped the concept and reason why Caith never wanted me close to you, but it's fine 'cause I forgive you both." Stepping closer, she gave him a reassuring smile and a slight nod, before pressing her chest against his belly.

"Oh please, you two are best friends, you just chose to ignore the signs, and misread between the lines." Yet before he could even finish the his statement, Neliswa had brought her hand to her face, acting as though about to cry, before squirming into a bucket of laughter. 

A laugh that was hard and loud enough to remind Anathii of then when he had visited Malum Innocent and Aunt Emma's other family in Umtata, Eastern Cape. Neliswa's laugh and smile, especially the look of her seemingly cute fangs - which seemed beautifully sharp and viciously blood-thirsty at the same time. Just enough to fuel suspicion and take him down a nostalgic path... 

Down to his 6th year on Earth, when he'd woken up in the early hours of dawn, his ears filled with angry chants and protests, from an angry crowd which he soon saw upon dawdling out that round hut. Dust at his feet as looked both left and right and saw men and women with sticks and bricks in their hand walking down the gravel road with passed through the sea of hut and small houses which made up the village. 

Violence and rage written all over their faces as they marched towards the centre of attention, himself marching in between their dust-rising feet - shouting slogans up until they reached the green pastures of the river which bordered all the villages - just before Anathii squeezed towards the forefront - unnoticed - and witnessed the 3 wildly laughing women. All their mouth's bleeding as their sharp fangs which hung near the corners of their mouths seemed a bit smudged in blood. 

All this whilst those 3 naked women, whose bodies were covered in green and red lurid paint of some sort, stretching their longs arms in the air yet failing to retain the darkness of the morning. Their bodies lusciously moving to the sides in performance of some sort; ludicrous words and sounds jumping out of their bloody tongues as their long toenails clutched unto the grounds near the very edge of the riverbank - clearly unmoved by the presence of the crocodiles lurking in the waters just behnd where they stood. Chanters and protesters throwing bricks as some of them began fainting and vormitting uncontrolably and unnaturally - so far as to even turn against their comrades - much to the 3 witches' amusement. 

Soon before a young and naive Anathii felt a shoulder grab before being pulled away from the forefront by his aunt's friendly neighbor whose hand-held bible made made Anathii realize the danger in which the three witches imposed. Until he began feeling safer upon hearing the lady uttering a loud prayer as she walked him back home, only to see some of the protesters running back from the river - screaming in speculation of witnessing the witches turning into crocodiles themselves and going into the dam, shortly before dissapearing under water. 

Destracting speculations which had stayed with him, influentially enough to stop him from recognising Aunt Emma as she greeted that lady and asked about the young boy wearing a blue hat next to her - Anathii himself. Only for Aunt Emma to recognize him and take take him back to the hut, home, whilst breathing questions and assumptions; about the dire consequenses of walking with strangers; into his mind and lungs. 

Presently: "Anathii, are you listening? Hellooo!" Sang Neliswa loud enough to eject him out of thought. 

"What?" Responded Anathii who quickly realized that Neliswa had him in the midst of her caresses, as he was not sitted back on the bed, her eyes just inches from his, confusingly. 

"You had a small panic attack," she pressed her palm against his banging heartbeat, "and Caith is almost finished so I'll have to let you know quickly - she's planning something sinister... But first, you'll have to give an invitation if you want to know what she's planning." 

"Forget it," I can already see you ruining my wedding by telling everyone of my secret with Caith," he sucked in a deep breath and exhaled, before moving towards the edge of the bed. 

"Having a little faith won't hurt, but if you don't give me the invite then I'll pay your mother a little visit." She raised her eyebrows and wiped the smug off her face, before informing Anathii of a little secret - whilst walking around him like a possessed nun... 

"I don't know how to tell you this but, according to Caith's hidden plans...," she moved towards the curtains before slowly turning around and looking on the floor, "if you don't choose to go with her to another province she will..." 

"Will what, leave me? I know, she already warned me." He nodded, disgruntled. 

"That she will do, but she will also find a way to ruin your wedding, after which she will remorselessly abort the baby." Her softened eyes were enough to convince him to believe her, as he felt his muscles tense up, flashback of their night trying to remind him that Caith was too much of an Angel to do such. "I've said my piece, watch out Anathii - she's played us both twice before - don't let it happen again."

She then walked out of her room and left his anger suppressing his eyes' admiration from running up her legs, despite her walk which was exactly that of Caith's - making him wonder about who was copying who.

Until Caith, who was suddenly standing in the passage, stepped closer into sight, half of her faces shadowed by her braids, with closed eyes - shortly before she had opened them, revealing the blood-shot red rage within them - shortly before lifting her face and squirting a very silent laugh through her lips.

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Whereas back home, Nomsa's eyes were still teary as she sat with Aunt Emma and Malum' Innocent; Detective Divvy Jaars' cops searching around the house for clues whilst he himself sat before them and filled them in on the progress of the report, his beige coat and beige tie both carrying a small badge of honour that was shiny and silver in colour. As the waves in his head remained eye-catching 

"We looked everywhere, from nightlights and robots' surveillances, but in terms of the survaillances we haven't gotten a response yet." He was playing with the phone in his hand with great anticipation. "Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to harm her?" 

"She had a couple of friends, and a boyfriend whom I knew nothing about, but that's all I know," Nomsa uttered softly whilst adjusting herself in the couch, failing to find comfort in any position she sat. She was ready to say Zandile Mandalay's name, but a small voice inside her warned her not to. "Here are the pictures of her latest posts, with some friends too." 

"And how exactly did you manage to bypass its password?" 

"Her bestfriend was the last one to speak to her before she was taken, they had a voice call," Aunt Emma said, noticing how answering the questions led Nomsa into an emotional trauma.

"She, her bestie, is in the bathroom, she'll be out shortly."

"Oh, and whom did you say this might be..., this young man over here?" He handed the phone back to Nomsa, the picture of Vulisanii Mukwevho cuddling with Aneni-Anesu, on the screen.

 "Because if this is her boyfriend then we're most certainly in for a rollercoaster ride."

"Will you stop speaking in riddles and just speak some sense and hope into the situation please," Nomsa seemed flooded by a wave of emotions, consumed by both anger and a curious calmness. Her expression shouting disappointment at the detective who seemed to be failing his job - a job which was now overshadowed under the reign of his shiny fade and its wavy waves - a style which has resurfaced into a perculiar trend, once again.

"This is Vulisanii Mukwevho, he attends the same college with your daughter, and his family is currently being investigated for money-laundering and excessive money squandering, but no matter how deep the investigation drills in to the matter - the evidence, witnesses and minor suspects always seem to sink into disappearance." He punched his palm with determination, and caught up with his breath, before raking his fingers through his fade in restoration of mental composure. 

"So what we'll we do next?" Malum Innocent finally barged in and gave the detective a look of doubtful relief, before nodding sideways at the Detective who held several badges to his name amongst accolades - only things he didn't seem to have in that moment were his enthusiasm and his other half - Detective Dee Monique. 

It was then when Yonella walked into the lounge and parted her mouth to murmur her united ideas... She was wearing tight shorts and puffy puce blouse that seemed slightly creased. The brown color of her skin tone compromised around her cheeks, and eye bags - clearly washed away by her moaning tears - per the slightest say.