Complicated didn't cover it.

My friendship with Zake was one built on chemistry, love, hurt, betrayal and cheating. Yet he had been very dear to me but I hadn't returned any of it.

We had dated but it didn't last more than two weeks. That was more than two years ago. During these two years there were moments when something would rekindle but it would never go further. Mostly though, Zake's role in my life shrunk. I guess that was my fault as I had replaced him with other boyfriends and friends.

It only took him disappearing for me to realize how dear he was to my heart.

I couldn't hold the tears back as we drove, cramped in the backseat. Life, my friends, had already moved on, determined to find and see things for themselves while I sobbed silently.

My body followed them out as we stood infront of his house. So far everything looked exactly the same.

Connor pulled the gate open, the motor apparently dead.

"Holy shit." Kete exclaimed. There are no words to explain what met my eyes but they definitely widened.

Everything was gone. Everything. I do not think you understand when I say everything.

Before, as the gate opened, you'd see a driveway and the villa style house. Low and long with a backdrop of massive trees planted somewhere in the back. In front, a beautiful garden with a pool and a braai. I've never been in the back but I've caught glimpes of the dogs that were there, four huskies.

Now...nothing. The house was simply not there, just the concrete foundation. It wasn't knocked down as there wasn't even rubble. It simply wasn't there.

Everything was dried up and dead, a shade of grey, black with a splash of brown. The pool was simply not there, just a massive hole. The braai was gone.

Where we stood we could see the entire property, up until the wall behind the veranda of, now, dead trees. I literate, everything was gone or dead.

"What the hell?" Caleb and I asked at the same time. I could barely take my eyes off it and yet I spared a glance at my friends.

All of their faces were ashen, eyes wide, mouths gaping. Even the colour seemed to be absent within the walls of the compound.

"I don't want to go in." Toni suddenly said, holding herself together as well as me. I agreed.

"I-I just want to go in a little. Have a small prayer." Unathi muttered before taking a step into the property.

A mild wind picked up, capturing our hair (short, curly, braided). If the sight of the missing house gave me chills then actually stepping inside gave me frostbite.

Unathi, shivering, knelt down and pressed her hand against the bricked driveway.

"I didn't like that kid," Toni's mom suddenly spoke. ", I really didn't like him but no one deserves this."

We were so out of it that we didn't even notice that a car had parked infront of ours. Only when someone cleared their throat did we jump.

The bald man was definitely a priest, having one of those white thingies in his shirt collar. He wrung his hands, clearly uncomfortable.

"Good afternoon," He greeted kindly. ", I'm Revd Siphiwo."

No one responded and instead just stared at the man. Revd Siphiwo seemed to forget about us as he took in the property for himself.

"The Mayer family attends my service by St Martin's." He further explained his presence.

I don't know why but my eyes caught Toni's, who frowned.

"But I thought-" Toni began but Kete quickly flung her arms up. I frowned as well but then remembered that we couldn't touch each other. This was probably the new way of elbowing a person or something. Toni seemed troubled but she kept quiet.

"We were just about to have a prayer, Revd." Unathi stepped in. "If you'd like to lead then please."

We gathered once again in a lose circle, Revd standing next to Toni's mother.

"Dear G-" He tried but paused momentarily. After a moment, he shook his head. "G-...L-"

It seemed his body or his mouth was incapable of saying those two words. As he struggled and persisted, the wind sped up. It was almost as if ever the word left the Revd's mouth, the wind would take it before it was heard.

"Father!" He finally managed, his voice barely audible over the wind. "We ask that wherever the Mayers are you protect them, keep them safe and  guide them home. Ame-"

Suddenly, a roaring car tore past, taking away with it the word.