Entwined

by Cheryl S. Ntumy

  I hold Rose at arm’s length. “Roll up your sleeve.”

  She blinks. “What?”

  “Your sleeve!” I grab her arm and do it myself, fear making me impatient. Sure enough, there are four long, deep gashes across her forearm. They weren’t there on Friday – she was wearing a short-sleeved shirt. They must have been made over the weekend, and yet they look as if they’ve almost healed.

  She looks down at the gashes in surprise. “Oh! I forgot about that.”

  “Forgot?” I stare at her, incredulous. “Doesn’t it hurt?”

  “No, not really. Stings a little if I get wet, but that’s all.”

  I check her other arm. It seems fine, but I’m not convinced. I undo her top button and jerk the shirt down over her shoulder, and there it is – a small round burn, probably made by a cigarette, and a large bruise. Like the cuts, the burn and bruise look old.

  “This doesn’t hurt either?” I ask.

  Rose lowers her gaze. “Oh. I didn’t know there was anything there. I wonder where they came from?”

  Wow. I fix her shirt and sit back, watching her. If my body had undergone that kind of assault, I would be whining like a puppy. This must be what my premonition meant – one step further. The Puppetmaster has graduated from manipulating the girls’ minds to manipulating their bodies, as well.

  “The necklace hasn’t just made you stronger and faster,” I muse. “It’s made you heal faster, too. Your pain threshold must have increased and that’s why you don’t even notice when you’re hurt.” I shudder. “He’s testing you. He wants to know how much you can handle.”

  Rose sighs and leans back against the bench. “Why would he do that?”

  “Maybe he’s planning to use you for something and he wants to make sure you’re up to it.” I take her hand and look into her eyes. “Rose, I have to see Emily. When can I see her?”

  She runs her tongue over her parched lips. “Tomorrow, maybe. If she’s better.”

  “She will be. You heal fast. You’re probably much better than yesterday, right?”

  She nods.

  “Rose?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Go home. You need to rest.”

  “I’m fine.” She manages a weak smile. “Really. I’m not as fragile as you think.”

  No, she’s even more fragile – the necklace is the only reason she’s still standing. “Well, just take it easy,OK? I have to take care of something, but I want to see you later.” I was hoping I’d have time to practise planting, but now that I know the Puppetmaster is torturing the girls, I have to get them out from under his thumb. Rose’s condition has made his barrier a little weaker, and maybe this is my best opportunity to get the necklace. For all I know it might be my last chance. “Can you stay after school?”

  She shrugs. “Maybe. But not for long. My mother is really worried – she won’t want me spending all day here.”

  “An hour?”

  “OK.”

  I’m just about to sigh in relief when I sense trouble. I turn my head in the direction of the school gate. “I thought you said Amantle was sicker than the rest of you!”

  “She is,” says Rose, turning around. “Why? Oh. Oh!” Her head swivels back in my direction. “You have to get away from me before she sees you!”

  I’m already on my feet and backing away from the bench. “Don’t forget. After school today. Please be there.” I hang around just long enough to see her nod, then I turn away towards the library.

  Sick or not, Amantle is her usual humble self. Her head is held high and she stares straight ahead as if letting her gaze wander might taint her. Like Rose she looks thinner, but she still exudes power.

  She doesn’t slow down. As I pass her she turns her head in my direction. Her cold dark eyes flicker with recognition and then narrow. She slows her pace. She stops altogether. She stares at me, then turns her head towards where Rose is sitting. If I were in a movie I would let out a melodramatic “No!” and tackle her to the ground with some kung-fu move before her gaze reaches Rose, but this is not a movie, and I’m not Jet Li.

  Amantle sees Rose. It might have been all right if Rose had her nose buried in a book or something, but the poor girl is watching us. Dear Rose is a sweet girl, and the problem with sweet girls is that they’re not very good at hiding their emotions. Fear and panic is scrawled across her face. I can see it, and so can Amantle. Oh, crap. My heart skids to a halt. Amantle’s eyes turn back to me, and the suspicion has been replaced with certainty. She knows I’ve been talking to Rose.

  I smile. “Hi.”

  Then the strangest thing happens. Right before my eyes, Amantle’s entire demeanour changes. Gone is the haughty schoolgirl, and in her place is someone much more dangerous. She takes a few steps towards me until she’s standing right in my face. She’s shorter than me, but it makes no difference. She cocks her head to one side, all traces of her weariness gone. A grey film has slipped over her irises. The Puppetmaster is awake and operating. I don’t know what triggered it – maybe he and Amantle have a special connection.

  “Stay away from my friends,” she says. Her voice is cold and lifeless, but it sends a chill down my back.

  “Sure,” I mumble. “No problem.”

  She looks at me for a moment, studying me like an ant under a microscope. “Conyza,” she says finally, after her data processor has finished computing. “Bennett.”

  I raise my eyebrows at her, my fear slowly dissipating. “That’s me. I didn’t realise I was cool enough to register with you. I’m flattered.”

  “This is your last warning,” she tells me in that terrible flat voice. It’s actually my first warning, but whatever. She walks away towards the stone bench.

  I’m shaken. Amantle is scary enough on her own, but with the Puppetmaster in her head she’s a monster. What’s going to happen now that she knows Rose has been talking to me? Will she punish her?

  I start to walk away, then I stop and risk a backwards glance. My whole body turns cold. Rose has changed, too. Her body is a little straighter, her expression bored. It’s hard to tell from this distance, but I’m almost sure that a grey film has slipped over her eyes. I turn around and carry on walking.

  “She’s not coming,” says Lebz, flipping through the pages of the latest GC Chronicle. She’s developed a nasty addiction to that scandalous rag.

  “So it would seem.” I sigh and pick up my bag. “Let’s go.”

  “Sorry, tsala,” says Lebz, glancing up from the tabloid to give me a sympathetic look. “But don’t worry. You have the whole week to get the necklace from her.”

  “Ja. I need to practise planting, anyway.” I look at her out of the corner of my eye.

  “No,” she snaps. “I’m not going to be your guinea pig!”

  “I don’t really need your permission,” I remind her with a devious grin. “You won’t even know I’m doing it.”

  She closes the paper and glares at me. “I offered to wait with you to give you moral support because I’m your best friend. And you want to thank me by putting ideas in my head without my knowledge? Not cool, Connie. Where’s your bodyguard? Why don’t you use him?”

  “It’s hard to use Rakwena – I can’t read his thoughts,” I remind her.

  “Hmm. How convenient. He could be a serial killer and you’d never know.” She opens the paper again.

  I focus on her face and close my eyes. Rakwena is a wonderful guy. You like Rakwena. You’re a huge fan. In fact, you’re his biggest fan. Every time you see him –

  “Hey!” Lebz leaps off the bench. “Stop it!”

  I open my eyes and laugh. “I couldn’t resist. Come on, let’s go. I have a lot of homework.”

  She clicks her tongue in annoyance and follows me towards the gate. “Wow, Connie, you have to read this article. The minister of –”

  “Lebz, please! You know how I feel about tabloids.”

  “But this is real news!” she protests, shaking the paper in my face.

  I
roll my eyes. I avoid newspapers unless I really need to know something. The last time I watched the news on TV I had to sit through a murder, a car crash and a corruption case, and by the end of it I had a headache.

  As we walk towards the corner where we’ll part ways, my thoughts drift back to Rose. I’m worried. I’m sure Amantle is going to keep a tight leash on her now. We’re so close! I can’t give up yet. I know if I can get Rose out it will be easier to get to the others. I just need one more chance to talk to her.

  Rose isn’t in school on Tuesday. On Wednesday she comes back, but Amantle is glued to her side and I can’t get near her. By the time Thursday rolls around I’m desperate. Every time I’ve seen Rose this week her eyes have been grey. The Puppetmaster is no longer taking any chances.

  I remember the way Amantle said my name on Monday, as if she was storing it for future reference. He knows who I am now, and he can come after me if he thinks I’m a threat. Well, I am a threat. I’m his biggest threat, and when I get my hands on Rose’s necklace he’ll know it.

  I have to get Rose alone, but how? First I need to get close enough to plant, because in her current condition she won’t even look in my direction.

  “Oh, my God!” gasps Lebz, plopping onto the bench beside me with the GC Chronicle in her hand.

  “I thought that thing was a weekly,” I remark. I notice the hot dog on my lap and pick it up.

  “It is a weekly. I gave my copy to some guy on the combi, so I had to buy another one,” she explains around a mouthful of hot dog. “But aren’t you shocked about Rose?”

  “What?” I turn to her so fast I spill mustard all over my shirt. “What about Rose? Have you seen her?” I pick up the serviette that came with the hotdog and start mopping up the yellow stain.

  “No, and I won’t be seeing her for a while,” Lebz quips. “I can’t believe it! Amantle, sure, but Rose is a good girl. I didn’t think they’d go as far as suspending her.”

  “Suspending her?” I shriek. “What? When? Why?”

  Lebz and Wiki exchange worried glances, and Wiki takes over. “Apparently they came to school with those grey contact lenses on Monday. They were asked to remove them and they refused. Then their teacher found out they had the necklaces on as well, and they wouldn’t remove those either. They were sent to the Principal with a warning, but they did it again, and yesterday they were officially suspended. That’s why they’re not in school today.”

  “They’re not contact lenses,” I hiss, horrified by the news. “They can’t take them off, and they can’t take off the necklaces either.”

  “Well, the teachers don’t know that,” Wiki points out.

  I slump back against the bench. Wow. I was so lost in my thoughts today that I didn’t pay attention to anyone else’s. Rose suspended!

  “It’s just temporary,” says Lebz. “It’s a shame for Rose, because she’s such a good student. But hopefully it’ll all blow over soon.”

  “Ja –as soon as I get my hands on that damn necklace!” I put aside the hotdog, too rattled to eat. Something resembling a plan starts to form in my head. It’s a desperate plan, but it’s all I’ve got and I’m running out of time. “Where’s Rakwena?”

  “Getting food, I think,” says Lebz. “Why?”

  I don’t answer. The wheels are turning. It could work. It’ll have to work, because I have nothing else up my sleeve. After what seems like forever, Rakwena approaches with a huge bag of food in his hand.

  “Hurry up!” I shout.

  He raises his eyebrows, but picks up the pace and is at the bench in seconds. “What’s wrong?”

  “The Puppetmaster is planning something,” I begin. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m pretty sure he needs all five girls to do it. We have to get Rose’s necklace before Saturday. I have an idea, but I’m going to need everyone’s help. Are you in or out?”

  Lebz shifts nervously on the bench. I know I’m asking a lot. I’m usually happy to avoid drama, but now I’m dragging them into a dangerous, magical mess.

  “I’m sorry to have to ask you to do this,” I tell them. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to be involved. Rakwena and I can handle it if we need to.”

  “No way.” Lebz shakes her head. “You’re not leaving us out of the action.”

  Wiki sighs. “Besides, I’m the brains of the outfit.”

  I’m so relieved I can’t help grinning. “Thanks, guys.”

  “So what’s the plan?” asks Lebz.

  I take a deep breath. “We’re going to follow the girls on Friday night. I’m going to separate Rose from the rest of the group, and Rakwena and I are going to take her to a secluded place while you two keep an eye on the others. And then I’m going to get that necklace off her neck if I have to rip it off myself.”

  There’s a long silence. Rakwena’s the first to speak. “You’re going to plant in Rose’s head while she’s under the Puppetmaster’s control?”

  Well, when he says it like that… I swallow the fear rising in my throat. “Yes.”

  “You’ve never been near Rose when she’s taken over.”

  “I know.”

  “She’s not your sweet friend any more, she’s a machine. She won’t hesitate to hurt or even kill you, and neither will the others.”

  Geez! My heart is hammering against my ribs already, thank you. “I know.”

  “And you still want to do this?” Lebz and Wiki ask in unison.

  Those three words keep ringing in my head. One step further. I’m certain that getting Rose’s necklace will foil the Puppetmaster’s plans. By the time he makes an alternative plan Ntatemogolo would have used the necklace to neutralise him.

  “I have to do this.” I look each of my friends in the eye. “But you don’t. Forget I asked – just leave it to me.”

  “You’re crazy,” snaps Lebz. “How am I supposed to explain to your father that I let you go on some insane mission and didn’t even come along to cover your butt? I’m in. We both are, right?” She turns to Wiki, who gives a determined nod.

  They’re terrified. They’re afraid of what will happen to them but – bless them – they’re more afraid of what will happen to me.

  “OK.” My train of thought is interrupted by a loud, angry growl coming from the direction of Rakwena’s stomach.

  I look up at him. Lebz stifles a giggle and Wiki looks away and adjusts his glasses, but there’s the beginning of a smile on his lips.

  I grin. “Rakwena, sit down and eat your lunch while we go over the details.”

  “Thank God,” he mumbles, positioning himself between me and Wiki. “I’m starving.”

  “As usual,” quips Lebz.

  “Come on kids, back to work,” I say firmly. “Wiki, take notes. We have to get this exactly right. Lives are at stake, remember? This is serious.”

  Rakwena’s stomach lets out another growl and we all start laughing.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I have a bad feeling about this,” says Wiki, glancing around him at the random shoppers and revellers.

  We’re sitting at a café in Riverwalk, the favourite haunt of our favourite girls, waiting for them to turn up. Wiki’s cappuccino is getting cold, but he’s too anxious to notice. I don’t blame him – I’m anxious too.

  I sip my hot chocolate. “Why don’t you leave the bad feelings to me?”

  “Easier said than done.” Lebz picks at her chocolate cake. The fact that she hasn’t wolfed it down and ordered another slice is a sign of how tense she is.

  Only Rakwena seems calm. He sits beside me, downing his third Fanta. “I need something sweeter,” he murmurs.

  I glance at him. He’s obviously expecting this to be a tough night. “There’s cake.”

  He shakes his head and reaches for the small packets of sugar in the centre of the table. He picks one, rips it open and pours the sugar into his mouth.

  “Oh, crap,” Lebz whimpers. “They’re here.”

  My heart starts to race as I search for five dist
inctive faces. There they are, coming from the parking lot, looking too cool to be believed.

  “Dressed to kill as always,” says Lebz, but her words have a dark undertone.

  The girls glide past the coffee shop, blank eyes focused on their destination. I get to my feet. My wrist tingles and I glance down to see Rakwena’s fingers grazing my skin.

  “Be careful.”

  “I’ll be fine.” But as I slip into the crowd and follow the girls, I’m all too aware of the danger I’m in.

  They’re not expecting to be followed, and they pay no attention to the other shoppers. They shop decisively, heading straight to the relevant aisles. Energy drinks, batteries and huge steaks. Are they planning a braai? And what’s with the batteries? They take about five minutes to get everything. Once they’re in line at the till I target Rose.

  I need some air. She hesitates at the till, but only for a fraction of a second. Then all five of them are done, and they move out of the shop as one body. I keep my distance, my eyes on the back of Rose’s head. I need to get away. I need to be alone.

  And then, in a stroke of luck, the girls stop. Amantle issues instructions and they split into two groups. Amantle, Emily and Laone head to the toilets and Refilwe and Rose head upstairs. What’s upstairs? Cinema, restaurants, arcade… ATMs. They’re going to get money.

  I follow, keeping up the pressure on Rose. I stay out of sight, waiting for her to break, but it’s not happening. They take out the money and come back downstairs. They meet the other girls outside the toilets, stop to talk and then take the escalators upstairs again. Rose doesn’t seem to be affected by me at all.

  I follow them up the escalator, hanging back behind a group of chattering kids. Then, finally, Rose pauses. She says something to the other girls. Amantle replies, and then Rose turns around and comes back towards the escalators. I try to bolt downstairs before she spots me, but when I glance over my shoulder our eyes meet.

  Well, no point in hiding now. She’s seen me, and so has the Puppetmaster. But then I remember that it was Rose’s desperation to get out of the group that led her to me in the first place. She still wants out, and she knows I’m her ticket. If that’s the only card I can play right now, I have no choice but to use it. I hold her gaze, only breaking contact for a second when I reach the bottom of the escalator and step off. Rose, this is your last chance. If you really want to be free, you have to follow me. It’s now or never. I turn away and start walking quickly towards the parking lot.