Haze Bois

Chapter 22

After school, Caleb walked to Brummie’s house. He went alone, not wanting to explain the background leading to the current situation. Telling people you can cure cancer just isn’t a good idea. He didn’t the voice in his head to tell him so, though it did… frequently.

“We can’t afford any scrutiny of that kind,” the voice explained. “Or the attention.”

Caleb knocked and waited. It wasn’t his usual style, but this was a family home with a child. Barging in and throwing his weight around wasn’t necessary. When the woman answered the door, recognising Caleb, she flung herself into his arms, enveloping him in a hug that lasted a few seconds too long for his liking.

Finally, she peeled herself back, standing and looking at him in silence for a moment before indicating for him to come in. The house was clean, but packed with boxes, similar to his own bedroom. She appeared to be selling beauty products, with piles of beauty kits wrapped up in Christmas bows taking up most of the dining room.

“I’m sorry about the mess. I never knew this product would be so popular,” she said, making a space at the table. “Do you want a cup of tea?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

The tea was weak and too sweet, but Caleb drank it out of politeness, listening to the woman make small talk.

When Brummie appeared, running into the room with his daughter in his arms like an aeroplane, Caleb was shocked by the difference in the girl.

“Every bit of damage done by the illness and the treatment has been repaired,” the AI explained.

The little girl complained as her father set her down, crying, “Again, again!”

“One sec pumpkin,” Brummie said. “Daddies friend is here.”

The girl frowned at Caleb. “He doesn’t look like your other friends.”

Caleb laughed at the girl’s comment. He was surprised Brummie had described him as a friend with no hint of a lie on his voice.

Brummie sat beside Caleb as his wife handed him a cup of tea. “It’s like she was never even ill.”

“It’s magical, right?” Caleb nodded.

“Is it… is it really magic,” Brummie whispered. “I just… can’t think of any sort of other explanation.”

“I could explain it to you, but it would take all day, and you wouldn’t be able to understand. In short, yes, magic will do,” Caleb said. He couldn’t explain it, not really, but saying this might make the guy feel better.

“The doctors don’t have a clue,” Brummie laughed. “One of them wants to do some sort of medical—”

“No,” Caleb cut him off. “Don’t do that.”

Brummie nodded, and Caleb knew he would heed his words. He wouldn’t do anything to put his daughter at risk. His wife passed him an envelope, which he then passed on to Caleb in a short game of pass the parcel.

“This is the keys and all the information you need,” he said.

As Caleb got up to leave Brummie grabbed his arm.

“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t even have the words to tell you how grateful I am.” The wife joined him, taking a knee on the floor, and grabbing Caleb’s other hand in her own. She kissed his hand, which Caleb thought was a little odd, but as she continued to stare at his hand while thanking him, Caleb realised she was trying to see the magic. Some sparkle, or light, or anything that might indicate the power they held.

“You don’t need to thank me,” Caleb said, pulling away from the couple as their daughter burst back into the room with an armful of toys.

“This one is for you,” she said, thrusting a plushie penguin into his chest. Caleb shrugged and took it, figuring it was pointless to argue with a kid. They had the advantage of kid-logic and cuteness. All he had was a measly AI.

“Nice one,” he said, stroking the girl on the head as he let himself out.

When he arrived home, he threw the stuffed toy to Jade.

“Oh my god!” she cried. “How did you know I love penguins?”

Caleb shrugged with a knowing smile, though honestly, he hadn’t had a clue. Jade didn’t strike him as the type of girl to collect things, especially girly things like plushie animals. He hadn't planned it, but was happy for her to think it was a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

“Katie was looking for you,” Jade reported, rolling her eyes. “She’s gone a bit ‘t**s-on-a-fish’ over that Jamie lad. I don’t see what all the fuss is about.”

Being too lazy to go round, he texted her, “Jade said you want me.”

It didn’t even take her a minute to appear. Her eyes looked puffy and swollen, her hair was unbrushed and her clothing was creased and dirty. It made him feel horrible, doing this to one of the few people he actually cared about.

‘Does it have to be her?’ Caleb asked the thing inside his head.

“She has the highest chance of success. Trust me. She might be in pain for now, but she will be better off in the end,” it assured.

‘Fine.’

Listening to the AI and the outer world at the same time was impossible. He noticed that Katie had begun to babble about her feelings for Jamie as he’d consulted his inner voice. He stared blankly as she explained, and grovelled and pleaded. Waiting for her to say the magic words.

“You’re breaking my heart,” she cried. “All I want is a chance with him, is it so much to ask? It barely affects you, but it means everything to me. Will you please just say yes.”

Caleb slumped, waiting for her to break. She was far more recalcitrant than he would have thought.

‘If only you were more submissive, Jamie might like you for real,’ Caleb thought.

“Do you want me to beg?” she asked, eyes hopeful that he wouldn’t make her. That he would agree to help her, and she could avoid the humiliation of begging to her cousin. In all honestly, he didn’t want to force her to do anything. It wasn’t the same feeling of power Jade gave him.

She slumped to the floor, looking up with big sad eyes, asking, “Please don’t make me beg.”

Caleb couldn’t help but smirk at the irony of that statement. Then she said the magic words.

“I’ll do anything you want.”

“Okay… deal!” Caleb cried, making her jump.

“Huh?” she asked.

“You’ll do anything I want, and I’ll do what you want,” Caleb confirmed.

Katie looked both ecstatic and terrified, her face stretched simultaneously into a smile and a frown. “What do you want me to do?”

“You know the saying… you have to kiss a few frogs to get your prince?” Caleb asked.

Katie’s smile became a gaping hole, “Who… who do I have to kiss?”

“I’ll explain everything later. For now, go home and get yourself done up. You look a mess.”