BLOOD THIRST

HUNGRY SOUL; BLOOD THIRST I am everywhere!
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He’s out there with them. They want to be greater, to be loved a lot but not him. He would just say “love is the English word people use to get something, I love no one and I expect no one to love me either”. No one was able to stand against him; he was good in supporting his points, which he regards as facts, but still after convincing them, no one understood why he hated love so much. He’s still young, deserve to be loved but pushing everyone away. Maybe it’s because he’s new in this town, but it has been a year now. For the whole year he didn’t even want a friend, convincing himself that other friends come to your life as negative signs and, of course others are good, however they cannot be identified.

No one is even allowed to call him by his name. If someone calls him, silence power gets to its presence. “Luthando Zulu”, her teacher’s calling him, it his turn to deliver his prepared speech. Miss Nxumalo repeated again but he kept his heard down. Miss Nxumalo began to snarl him. He then stood up at her third call and walk slowly towards her. He’s hell rude; he’s filled with anger inside him. “Miss Nxumalo I am not Luthando” “But it’s written on my register. Ok what do you want me to call you then?” “Just call me Zulu, just Zulu” “Ok tell us your speech, I hope you’re prepared Mr Zulu” her teacher with irritated face.

As he was about to start, the bell rang, it’s another period. ‘Thanks God’ (thought to himself), going back to his sit. He wasn’t prepared, maybe that the reason he refused to be called by his name. She then dismissed everyone but asked Him to stay behind. actually that is the first time asking some of her learners to stay behind. definately, she wasn’t happy about what he did; she couldn’t even fake a smile. Anyway, that was her first time being affronted that way. On their way out, he joined them, pretending to be deaf.
Everyone was shocked, and from then no one called his name ever again, even me, the writer since I was his class mate. Miss Nxumalo didn’t even bother reporting him to the principal. She told herself that a boy is caught within a thin line between love and hate. On their way out, he followed other children, staring at his phone, of which he is not even allouwed to carry within the school premises.

The following day he came prepared, he knew with no dougt that he’ll be the first one to deliver his speech and didn’t want to irritate his teacher again. “Mr Zulu! You’ll be the first one to deliver your speech. Sabelo Shabalala, you will be next”. Without wasting any time, he went in front of the class and started, “ladies and gentlemen, our lovely teacher I greet you all. My speech will be quite different because it’s based on the true story. The title is ‘I am everywhere; for love’.

Before he starting, the wind started to blow fast, with soft drops of rain. “I was young, full of hope. I enjoyed being with my parents. We were a happy family until one day when my mother died. Even though it was painful, I knew my father will take care of me, since he loved her. My imaginations were wrong. He didn’t love her as I thought. In a few months after her death, my father introduced me to another woman, forcing me to accept her as my mother. That was of course a cumbersome decision for me, “Dad, I thought you loved mom? and if so, why is it too hard to wait at least for a year before letting her into my mom’s bedroom?” “Yes I loved her but she’s dead now and i am not, anyway Romeo and Juliet love doesn’t exist in this world”.

Of course, that wasn’t true but he was my father, and I was bound to believe and accept his decisions. “Is that the end of your speech Luthando?” “I am not Luthando, and I hate love so no one near me should be in love!” tears flowing down his face; he went to take his bag and went home. His story went through each heart of us as an arrow, leaving many unanswered questions. Then the following week, on the assemble; the principal announced that they’ve lost two learners at the same time.

Their death shocked everyone and he was surely a suspect. Even if he were to defend himself, no one would believe him because of a written letter that was found near their corpse, ‘I’m everywhere; for love’ and everyone knew these kids were in love.However, no one confronted him except Cindy, beautiful girl in class. She always liked him and this time she has a chance of getting closer to him. By that time no one was willing to sit next to him, “Hi! Do you mind if I join you?” Cindy taking a sit, with a smile. It can be seen that she is faking it, but brave enough”. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, tomorrow you’ll be dead and I’ll be a suspect again”. He said these words staring outside the window. “What are you staring at, I don’t see anything special that could win your attention”, Cindy giggling.

He didn’t alter any word and in a few minutes the bell rang and they went to another period. Again, their teacher is absent, thus they have to stay for the whole period doing anything off-record. “I don’t think there’s a need to ask for joining you this time. Anyway, can I call you by your name?” “My name is Zulu and if that what you mean? yeah, but it won’t be necessary for you to call me!” “don’t be so sure’ I know you didn’t kill them and I know you don’t hate us”. Slowly, he turned his heard to her and after an uncountable pause, he asked “what do you want from me?” “Nothing you don’t have” “please I don’t want to hurt you, so just do me a favour and stop what you’re doing!” he took his bag and went outside.

She followed her without anyone noticing, she knew they’ll also follow. “Wait! I know you’re not that bad, you’re just lonely so I can feel that gap”. They went to the soccer field, where no one would see them during class sessions. She was right about him; he’s not that bad; he just needed someone to be with. Cindy was then the only person he enjoyed being with, but still she wasn’t allowed to call him by his name.
Weeks past, followed by months and they were getting much closer each and every day. “Cindy! I know you think you know me, but you don’t. I guess it’s time for us to be apart from each other now because you’re not safe with me anymore” “what do you mean am not safe?” “I’m not what you think I am and you should be scared of me” “Scared of you? No way. Try me” “I am sort of a demon creature, I’m bred to each and every relationship that seems to be real and worst of all I’m not the only one.So, if we keep on getting closer they will come for you and I won’t be able to protect you”. Cindy didn’t seem to be interested in what he was saying.

By the midnight of that day she came back from her soundly dreams and saw tall man standing by her feats. She couldn’t see his face clear, only two long-white tusks and a normal person beside him. This was his chance to yelp for help, but she didn’t; not after seeing that this guy beside tall-man is her friend, Mr Zulu. He was staring at her, with tears flowing over his face. “I hope you know why we are here”, this man raising his hands with long red nails and slowly red, long, small pipes came out from his wrists and went through her neck.

She tried to scream, but failed. She then thought of running away, but limbs failed to move, only her blood running through these pipes from this man. She closed her eyes trying to ignore the pain of these pipes injected in her neck. In a few minutes she felt her head going dizzy as she loses blood, her eyes feeling tired and her heart changing its beating pace, with no blood to pump. By that time Mr Zulu is on his knees, begging this man to stop doing what he’s doing. “Zulu this is who you are, a love breaker. You shouldn’t be sorry, there’s nothing called love, thus anyone in love should suffer to death. You should be writing our phrase by now, alerting everyone that we are coming.

Without wasting anytime, he pulled out the pen and wrote, ‘I am everywhere; for love’. After seeing what they did to Cindy I knew I had to run away. Unfortunately, i failed to hide my presence, thus he saw me. I then ran way, knowing very well it just the matter of time before they catch me for supper. I ran all the way till I arrived home. In the morning I found a sticky-note paper on my mirror written the same sentence they wrote after sucking Cindy’s blood. By that time I knew I am still safe, but not out of danger zone. Only if I stay away from love, since they kill only those who are in love.

THE END