Kraal

Chapter 14: Rose

It sounded so absurd that I almost laughed. "What are you talking about?"

Josh took a deep, shaky breath. "We're not human, I'm not human. That's why I was able to heal during the night."

"Then what are you?"

Josh looked down at his feet. "I can't tell you."

"Josh, what's going on? I want to know the truth, is it drugs? Steroids or something."

"Believe me, it's much worse." Josh said.

"But what about Jack? How come he didn't heal?"

"It's complicated," Josh shook his head slowly. "Jack's younger than me, it's not as easy for him, not yet anyway."

My head ached as I tried to comprehend what Josh was telling me. "You have to stop this," I said. "You can't fight anymore."

"I don't have a choice." Josh took my hand and skimmed his thumb over my knuckles.

"Yes you do, tell this Nixon that you can't fight anymore, your Mum wouldn't want you getting hurt just to make some money."

Josh gave a snort of derision. "I'm not so sure about that."

"Please, Josh," I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. I'd only known him for a few weeks, but I was already worried about him. "Do it for me." I held my breath, half scared that he would laugh in my face.

He dropped my hand. "Don't ask me to do this."

"People are getting hurt, people are dying.

"I know that."

"Those boys who died, where they.... where they killed during a fight?"

Josh takes a deep, shuddering breath and exhales slowly. "They were killed because they lost a fight. They tried to leave, so they were killed."

I raise my hands to my mouth. "And what about you? Would this Nixon kill you if you refuse?"

"Nixon didn't kill anyone," Josh said firmly. "It was someone else, another organiser."

My blood ran cold as a thought suddenly occurred to me. Josh wasn't just in danger, he was hurting other people, competing against other fighters who might be killed if he beats them. I started to back away from him. "You have to stop. Those boys who died, they belonged to someone, they had families, they were sons, brothers."

"I know that." Josh got up angrily and strode towards the door. I didn't try to stop him as he left.

"Are you listening to me?" Daisy nudged me in the side.

"What? Sorry." I had been too busy staring at Josh's empty chair in form room to hear Daisy's ongoing chatter.

Daisy rolled her eyes in mock-exasperation. "I said this girl in my maths class is having a party at her house this weekend."

"Great." I said, biting at my fingernails.

"So will you come?"

I turned to look at her. "Another party? I don't think so, Daisy."

"Come on, it won't be like last time."

I shook my head. "I'm not in the mood."

Daisy rolled her eyes again. "Are you and Josh fighting already."

"Why? What makes you say that?"

She tossed her wavy hair over her shoulder and leaned in conspiringly. "I experienced three years of Alisha and Josh drama at school, I recognise the signs."