Novels by Miriam Mavuzi

ArjunThe hairs on my arms shot up, it was either the cold air slapping against my skin or Steve’s blabber.“She was in her nightgown. I – I didn't think she was actually going anywhere.” He continued. “I even asked if I could drive her and she told me to act like I didn’t see her.”“And you didn’t think to tell me?”He shook his head slightly, fidgeting with his hands as if they were itchy.I couldn’t believe the adults in this house.I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Steve.” The word carried everything I wasn’t saying.“I am so sorry, sir.” He tried. “Nex

Artha“Dad… you’re making her nervous.”Nervous? No, no, how about scaring me to death?That’s when Raymond’s face lit up like the lamp next to him. God, who would have thought? His green eyes narrowed and the lines on his face creased up more as he smiled from ear to ear. He took my hand and shook it with so much vigor.“Did I scare you?” He laughed.I blinked. What? I looked to Dean, he had a small smile. I could breathe again.Phew! I placed a hand over my heart.“Sorry.” Raymond grinned and then got up. He placed a heavy arm around me and walked me back to his son. “So you’re

Artha“Now that we know Preetah is going to cover for me, I am gonna switch my phone off.” I smiled. “Cool?”He moved his head side to side. Although looking unsure, he nodded. “Sure...”After turning it off, I gave Dean my cutest smile but he didn’t smile back. Instead, he looked distracted, deep in thought. His fingers tapped restlessly on his knee. Was he like this because we almost got caught, or was it something else? Perhaps the reason he was acting strange today?Whatever it was, this was my first time sneaking out – we had to make the most of it.“Stop!” I nudged him, trying to steal him away from his thoughts. “Give me a big smile. Please?”He looked at me, clicked his tongue and then pressed his lips in a hard line. Ahg. ★★★PreetahArjun shook his head impatiently. “She’s not answering!”I stayed put. “Call her and talk to her.” He came up to me. “Act like everything is fine. Find out where she is and who she’s with at this time.”My heart stopped. That was literally setti

Artha“Shit. Preetah saw me.”“Should we go back?”That would suck. Tonight was supposed to be special. Besides, I was sure Preetah wouldn’t rat me out. Right?“Preetah is cool. She wouldn’t tell Arjun.” I tried to sound confident even with the ping of doubt creeping in. I shrugged, texting back. “I am just gonna ask her to cover for me.”“Wait.” Dean placed his hand on my forearm. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? What if she tells Arjun?”I shook my head. I trusted Preetah enough to have my back. She was the type to put others before herself. Right? Shit…

DeanNo. No, not her. Not Bianca. I had already ended it with her. The universe had to be really twisted to make this true. Not after I had finally managed to break up with her and things were going so well with Artha.“Aren’t you gonna say anything?” She was looking at me like she was judging me on the inside.I shook my head at the possibility that what she was telling me could be true. “Bianca, if this is a joke… I am not in the mood to play games with you.”“Dean –”“I was busy when you called. But I decided to drop everything and come here. So if this was your plan…”“I wish it was a joke.”

12.45pmPreetahI watched Tommy walk out of the house and then rushed back into the room. I grabbed my phone and went to stand at the balcony. Tommy was talking to Steve in the driveway instead of leaving. I felt like yelling from here for him to leave. Was he not thinking?I went to my contacts to find his number that I apparently have ‘since day one’. Under ‘T’ in all caps, I found his name. Tommy. I called it.He turned and stopped at his bike and then pulled his phone from his leather jacket.“Hello?” He hesitated.“Tommy.”He turned and looked straight at me. He smiled.“You need to go.” I told him.He nodded, slowly taking the phone away from his ear.I hung up.He held up a hand, bidding goodbye, I reciprocated.He then climbed onto his bike and the gates slid open slowly. I watched him wear his helmet and gloves and then make a U-turn.The motorbike was loud and left clouds of smoke as he drove out. I sighed a heavy sigh of relief. I was about to turn away but got a mini hear

"We have nothing left because of him." Dad said, staring at the ground. "I can't believe I trusted him that much.""Who is it, dad?" I asked."None other than your very own half brother, slash cousin, slash no relation at all, Francis.""What?" I asked. "What is he looking for? He wants to make money out of Toko Village meanwhile he is stealing from us and still gets a basic salary on top of that. How can someone love money this much? So much that you'd steal from your own..."Alice and Yoké joined us, they had heard the news too."I knew that that sneaky guy was dodgy." Alice said as she stopped behind the couch Delilah was sitting on and leaned on it.

Uma was awake, and as soon as we entered his ward and he saw us, he smiled, looked away and began sobbing. He covered his hand over his eyes and sobbed. "Aww." We chorused in unison, as if we had planned to. "Don't cry babe." He's girlfriend, Esther said, quickly walk-runned to him. She sat on the side of his bed and hugged him. She hugged him for a while as he continued crying. "We are here..." She told him, she looked sad too. "We love you and we'll always be here for you." Yoké stood behind next to his bed, the opposit side to where Esther was and placed his hands on the cotside. I came over to her side and she stood up to let

I stopped at the door way before entering the living room. He was in a navy blue suit, standing next to the couch, instead of sitting. Rosalie had just brought him his drink. He briefly pointed towards the table where she was supposed to place his drink. I went to sit on the couch opposite the one dad was standing next to. Yoké stayed at the room door post and leaned against it.Dad paced to and fro and stopped where he had started."So we've lost more than half of our clients..." Dad said, voice still powerful although the sad message.I kept quiet and watched him."We've lost most of our projects we were busy with, the clients asked to cancel their contracts or else they'd take us to court. Most of our employees, has resigned because they see the downfall. They know that we won't be able to pay them. Only the loyal ones remain."He then shrugged. "Maybe they're not even loyal. Maybe they are just

We stopped a block away from the motel just incase there were people put in place by Nathan to watch Yoké. But we could see the motel from here. It was a cheap old building. So cheap that the light of the ‘M’ in ‘Motel was flickering so bad that you’d think it would just die any moment. “So what will happen is you’ll give me Nathan’s phone so that when I get in, I can ask him which room number he is at.” The woman half turned to talk to me.“But I’m going in with you.” I told her.She shook her head. “I may not have been entirely loyal to your father but I’m not bad enough of a worker to put your life in potential danger.”“What do you mean danger? I’m—”“I have a gun. Although I’m going in there alone, I know how to defend myself up to a certain point. We don’t know whether Nathan’s men are in there, or around here, in some building, possibly watching us right now. What happens if they fire at us?”“They’ll never fire at me—”“You d

"Yoké...""Gen— Genesis is that— oh my, are you okay?”“I’m fine Yoké. I’m fine.”“What— how did you— Did Nathan put you on the phone with me?”“No Yoké. You don’t ever have to worry about Nathan ever again. He’s in custody…”“Nathan is in custody?”“He’s gone. He’ll never stand between us again. It’s all good now.”“No, no, no Geny. You don’t know Nathan, he’ll never be ‘gone’. You have to hang up right now and never call this number again.”“I’m telling you, my love. It’s over for him. The police have him and my dad knows about him—”“Look Nathan can’t be in custody. We have a— Look, I’m sorry Geny but you and I can’t ever be together. It will never work. Just p

I slammed the car door and fell back on the back seat. The woman, who was supposed to shut the already shut door for me gave me an unbelievable look and then got into the driver's seat."So what happened to your twin? Isn't he going to come with us?" I asked, bitterly."I understand you're upset that your father won't help you with your boyfriend but you don't have to take it out on me, or the car door." She told me looking back at me.We maintained eye contact for a while until she turned back and fastened her seat belt. She started the car and we were on the road again after a few minutes.I was too angry to care about how much this woman was looking at me in the rear view mirror."What?" I suddenly asked after a while of more rear view eye contact.She suddenly stopped the car causing me to fall forward and hit against her seat."Hey!" I shouted as I sat back in my seat. "Are you crazy?""Look, I'm not sure whether or not Mr

Brian looked back at me sadly. “Ma’am I’m really sorry.” He replied. “I can’t do that. We’ve received strict orders from your father to return with you. The whole country is awaiting your return.” “Please.” I begged him. “I’m sorry ma’am.” I turned to Malcomore. “I’m begging you.” “The boss is in front; I have no right to do anything I’m not ordered.” “I need him, I’m carrying his child.” “I’m sorry ma’am.” He told me. “If it were up to me I would let you stay since you are pregnant and maybe keep supplying you with proper food, water and clothes every week but it’s not up to me-“ “Malcomore do you want to walk all the way back to Duran?” Nathan asked him. “No sir.” “Then shut the hell up.” Nathan said. “She’s my fiancée. Not some village girlfriend.” “Forgive me sir.” Malcomore responded. “She’s still my fiancée.” Nathan replied. “We’ll fix it when we get home. She’ll remember everything soon again when she sees a doctor.” “How do you fix pregnancy?” Brian

“You have to go with them. I'll go to Kuja village. Gamu is right.” “No. What are you saying, Yoké?" I shook my head at him” “We will both run to Kuja village then.” “Please stay safe. I’m leaving now.” Gamu said quickly. “Bye Rena…” She turned to leave hastily. “Gamu.” Yoké called her. She turned back again. “Thank you.” He told her. “Just forgive me for what I’ve done and take care of this baby. Although I still can’t believe you two.” “We will.” Yoké said turning to me. “Bye Rena.” Gamu said. “Bye, friend.” I replied. She gave me a small smile, turned, and left us. “We will take care of this child. You'll leave with the Durans.” Yoké told me. “If you go to Kuja village you won’t be able to hide your pregnancy for too long. Soon they will start noticing and might suspect us. I don’t want to put our baby in danger.” “Baby?” Francis asked me. “Genesis, are you pregnant?” I looked up at him and he was holding a camera towards us with one hand and the other ha

“How could you do this to us, Gamu?” I asked slapping my hands over my mouth as soon as I saw the people she was with. “I’m so sorry Rena..." Gamu told me. She was trembling with fear and shaking her head. Her hair and clothes were damp, and her feet were covered in mud. “You’re sorry?” Yoké asked her angrily stepping out of the hut leaving me at the door. “I’m so sorry but I really had to do this.” Gamu told Yoké. I looked over at the Durans. They were standing with umbrellas and watching me. They were four. It was the same three people that had come the last time plus one more. The new man was a tall brunette and was wearing a black suit. He looked so superior compared to the others. For a second, I thought it was my father, but he was too young to be my father. He looked in his late 20's. When he saw me, his eyes popped. “Genesis?” The man said taking a step forward towards me. “Genesis Leticia Roseburg…” I looked back at Gamu. “Why did you bring them here, Gamu?" “Becaus

I shook my head and more tears fell that he couldn’t catch in time. “We’ll both stay out of it.” “Without you everyone will back out, I will do everything in my power to keep the group together. And they won’t even know that you are not with us because I will lead them to the cliff, and I will speak in your place.” “Our baby will need her father too.” Yoké hugged me and began running his fingers through my hair. “Yes, she does but she needs her mother more.” He tried to comfort me as I cried in his arms. “Don’t do this to me Yoké.” “If the uprising fails, just promise me that our child will always be safe and happy, that you will give her so much love to make up for mine.” “Stop saying things like this.” He loosened his hug but I did not want to let him go. I couldn’t even imagine my life without Yoké. How miserable would I be? What happiness would I reflect on to my child if my own source of happiness was to be taken away from me forever? He tried to loosen my arms gently and

Despite the grave trouble I knew I could get into if I was caught sneaking out again, I left the hut and walked to Yoké’s hut. I was trembling, not because of the cold but because of fear. The fear of telling Yoké about my pregnancy and the decision that I have made. When I got to his hut I entered without clapping. He was seated on his bed and painting with the little light from the oil lamp. When he saw me enter he looked up at me with a frown. “Genesis?” I nodded. I was still shaking in fear. He abandoned his wooden board on the bed and came towards me. “What’s wrong?” He asked me taking me into his arms. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him. Even hearing myself say it suddenly scared me. “What?” Yoké asked stepping away from me and looked at me. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him again. “How?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean how?” “How do you even know?” “The witch doctor.” Yoké placed his hands on his head and just looked at me, he looked blown away, like he had

At night the lightning and thunder continued but the rain had stopped. Despite the grave trouble I knew I could get into if I was caught sneaking out again, I left the hut and walked to Yoké’s hut. I was trembling, not because of the cold but because of fear. The fear of telling Yoké about my pregnancy and the decision that I have made. When I got to his hut I entered without clapping. He was seated on his bed and painting with the small light from the oil lamp. When he saw me enter, he looked up at me with a frown. “Genesis?” I nodded. I was still shaking in fear. He abandoned his wooden board on the bed and came towards me. “What’s wrong?” He asked me, taking me into his arms. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him. Even hearing myself say it suddenly scared me. “What?” Yoké asked stepping away from me and looked at me. “I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him again. “How?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean how?” “How do you even know?” “The witch doctor.” Yoké placed his

"Rebecca?" Elizabeth asked. "Are you okay?" Hunter asked her. She looked mortified but managed to nodd her head. Sylvester took a few steps back and then was caught before he fell backwards. "Sir, are you okay?" One of his men asked him. Sylvester grunted. "I... am shot." He dropped the gun to the floor. The wound was on his left upper arm and was bleeding profusely. Rebecca's palms flung to cover her mouth as she watched the guards rush to provide Sylvester with medical attention. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Rebecca was shaking. Hunter came to hug her. "It's okay, you didn't pull the trigger, he did." "But still—" "Let's get out of here." Hunter placed an arm around her and they quickely made for the gate. "Rebecca!" Elizabeth was crying behind them. "Get in, get in." Hunter opened the car door for her and then shut it. He could see cars approaching in high speed. "Shit..." There was only one way out of here, and it was the same way the cars were coming, the othe

Sylvester took out his phone and phoned Angelo. It rang and rang. Sylvester thought it would go to voicemail but then he picked up."Hello?" It was a female."Who is this?""You called me, who are you?""I got this number from the card at the reception. Is this not Angelo's gym?""This is Better Life Gym." She responded."Exactly." Sylvester said. "Can you get Angelo on the phone.""I don't know who that is, sir.""Cut the crap lady. I was there yesterday with Rob Holland, the billionaire. Remember me? And then we went down to basement to Angelo. Can you just pass him the phone.""Would you like to know about our membership packages?""Tell Angelo it's about Hunter King."The lady stayed quiet for a while and then sighed. "Hold on."Music started playing on the other side of the line."Shit..." Sylvester said in annoyance. He watched the guards dragging Hunter to the side building."Hello?" At last it was Angelo."It's Sylvester, head of security for Rob Holland and—""Get to the poin

"I guess there's no talking you out of this?" Joe asked. "Like she said, you're so damn stubborn. Really. Gosh!"They were sitting on the edge of bonnet of Fred's car.Hunter looked off into the pitch dark forest. "I don't have a choice, Joe." He whispered. "Look how we're living. Doing this gets all of you immunity.""Maybe there's another way." He placed a hand on Hunter's shoulder."What way?"Joe stared back at him desperately, the desperation was reflected back. "Uh... I don't know."Hunter's face fell and he looked the other way."But we can work something out together. Let's just tell your dad and I am sure he will work something out.""If he had a sollution, we wouldn't have spent almost a week in this cabin. The guy's been in hiding himself for how many years? From the very same person. It's hopeless Joe.""No—""This is the only way.""Getting yourself killed, really? That's the best you could come up with?" Joe scracthed his head roughly. "Maybe we can get money. Like milli

Hunter laid topless on their bed, facing the ceiling. He and Rebecca had just made love and she was now sleeping on top of his chest. "What are you thinking about?" She asked him. He smiled. "Nothing." "You sure?" She looked up at him. "Not thinking about 'sending me back to the palace'?" He frowned and then looked at her. "You were eavesdropping?" "I didn't intent to, but the walls of this cabin aren't that thick. I can hear George snoring right now." "Sorry if it sounded rough." He responded. "Sorry if it looks like I'm getting tired of always being locked up." Hunter scoffed. "Are you being sarcastic?" "Do you remember what you told me while we were still at the warehouse?" "What?" "You said that when everything was over, we'd live a normal life. That you'd stop that work and we'd be together like normal people." "Yeah..." "Well, you left your work, but I just want to know when we will be able to live like normal people again." Hunter sighed. "As soon as your dad pay

"We're not stabbing that man in the back." Rob said as he entered the passenger side of his all black SUV."You know, I don't get it, sir." Sylvester responded. "You're gonna keep choosing Hunter, even if it's over your daughter?" "I am not choosing him over Rebecca, I am trying to protect them both." Rob stood his ground. "Protecting him is not gonna get us far, sir."Rob thought for a few seconds and then responded. "I am not leaving him out to dry. He doesn't deserve it.""He's the reason we're in this mess in the first place. He kidnapped miss Rebecca." Sylvester started the car. "With all due respect, I think you're forgetting that.""You know, you keep saying 'with all due respect' but don't seem to be giving me any. I said we are not turning on Hunter and you should respect that.""My job is to protect your family. I wake up every morning and devote my life to you and your family, sir."Rob sighed and then pinched the space between his eyes and lowered his head. "I know, I kn

"Don't ever look for me because you will never find me. Take care of yours and I will take care of mine. Bye forever." That was the note that had come with the baby.Although George didn't understand the second sentence, he placed the note on their coffee table and took the wailing baby out of Stella's hands. It was his first time carrying a baby, and he feared holding him too tight or not holding him firm enough and drop him. As he tried to craddle the baby, his heart pounded. The baby had light brown skin and not much head hair. His mouth was pink and his wails were woarse."Shh shhh..." George tried walking around the room trying to sooth it. "Is it a boy or a girl?" He asked his mother."It's a boy." George looked at the baby's face and fell in love. "But how could she just leave you like that, little guy?" He asked."Because she's crazy that's why." Stella responded. "She knows you're studying full time and I am working full time. How are we gonna take care