Rosa's Journey

"And I tackled him...whoosh whoosh," Prince George threw his arms around knocking a dish of vegetables to the ground, with a clatter. The King chuckled and slapped him on the back, "Well done son. You continue to defeat our enemies. I'm very proud." George gave Rosa a smug smile when their father wasn't listening. He had always fought for the King's attention, and won. Now an adult and soldier their father favoured him even more. Servants rushed to pick up the food and dish from the floor. Rosa bit down on her bottom lip, hard, and drew blood. How many times would she have to endure her father's derision for her, for all women. And why did he hate her? Because she was female? She breathed deeply fighting the urge to explode. "Father may I leave the table?" He waved his hand at her, without bothering to look in her direction and without stopping his conversation with her brother about the Crown Championship. She ran to her room and collapsed on the bed, sobbing. "Princess, what can we do?" her servants cried in alarm. "Oh! Your lip!" Rosa shook and sobbed until she was sated as her servants stroked her hair and cleaned the blood from her lip. As she lay awake that night she formed a plan.

The following morning over breakfast she mentioned to her father that she would like to stay with her Aunt for two weeks.

"Fine," he said glancing at her briefly. “But make sure you are back to see your brother win the Crown Championship."
“Of course,” she agreed.

The servants who took care of the horses put the saddle on Hazel, Rosa’s favourite horse and she headed into the forest toward her Aunt’s house. Once hidden by the darkness of the forest she switched directions and headed toward the witch’s house. She finally found it, and tired after riding all day she set up camp about a mile away and spent the night in a tree. The next morning, the sun peeked through the tree tops as she knocked on the door. The door opened with a loud creak though there was no one behind it, just darkness. She shivered, and taking a deep breath she walked inside.

"Your father underestimates you," the witch said, in her high croaky voice. A sob escaped Rosa's lips & her eyes flooded with tears. She fought to regain control of her emotions.
"It's okay dearie," the witch said. The cottage lit up and the witch, who now simply looked like a very short elderly woman patted her arm.
Make me a man," Rosa begged.
"Forever?" the witch asked.
Rosa shrugged. "Woman aren't respected. Especially by my father."
The witch watched her for a few minutes and Rosa felt as though she was looking straight into her soul. "Come with me. I will prepare the spell. You will be a man for two weeks exactly."
"If I'm precise," she said throwing ingredients in a bowl, "You should turn back into a woman after the final of the competition. Oh,” she laughed excitedly, “I will have to be there to see this. Now drink." She pored the liquid into a tumbler and passed it to Rosa who looked at the olive green liquid apprehensively for a moment then gulped down the disgusting mixture.
“Bring in your pack dearie.”
Rosa did so and the witch cast a spell over it. “The change will happen over the next twenty four hours. I can see a little into the future. You will meet someone on your journey who will help you prepare for the Championship and be a lifelong friend.”
Rosa thanked her and rode Hazel until the sky darkened. She settled in a tree to sleep and when she woke, she was a man. She gave herself the morning to get used to her new body and at lunchtime she ran five miles to the nearest river. Stopping as she reached the river she grinned, her male body was made for running. As she was topping up her bottles she heard a voice.

“Hello," She looked up to see an attractive man with dark hair and green eyes close to her also filling her bottles
 "Hi," she replied.
"Do you live here?" he asked.
"No, I'm training for the Championship."
"Me too. I'm Ro..."oops, Rosa thought and added a different ending to her name, "ry."
“James,” he shook her hand. "We could train together if you like?”
Rosa nodded her response.

After a week of training they were both as ready as they could be. Rosa loved training with James. He pushed them both to the limit and she grew to respect him greatly. She began noticing little things about him, the mole under his eye, his scruffy black hair, what made him laugh. Oh no, she realised. I like him too much! She greatly wished she could have met him as herself. Oh well, focus on the competition, she told herself.

They journeyed to the arena two days before the Championship at the Palace. Once there they were given a room to share for the duration of the competition. Rosa was glad when she found out that James was in one of the other seven groups and would only battle each other if they made it to the semi-finals. They cheered each other on as they beat opponent after opponent.

She saw her father with George each day, seated in their thrones at the North end of the arena. George began to take more notice of Rosa, which terrified her. Would he recognise her? He began preparing for the final early each morning, and his level of skill with a sword was incredible. Rosa’s confidence faded somewhat.

Finally the time had come where she must fight James. It was with a heavy heart that she threw the wining attack. She vowed to stay in contact with him and train with him often. She noticed the witch in the arena too, smiling at her and winking as she walked towards George for the final. His arrogant smirk, gave her the motivation to beat him. He was good. Rosa was soon covered in sweat and filth. She heard James shout her name and she was distracted. George sliced her arm. She screamed, as warm blood flowed down her now numb arm, and lunged at him with her other hand again and again, trying to ignore the pain. She caught him on his chin, and blood poured from the wound. When she heard the whistle sound she fell to the floor, and drifted into unconsciousness.

Medics ran to her, checking her over and bandaging her wounds. She came round, some time later, she didn't know how long she had been unconscious for. They just kept telling her that she had won. The following day, she was brought before the King and in front of all the other competitors she was given her prize, a huge bag full of gold. She thanked him, bowing before him and as she did her body begin to change.

The King gasped in shock. "Rosa?"
"Yes father," she curtsied.
"I don't understand," he said, shaking his head. "You really did it, you're amazing," he said pulling her into a hug. "I love you."
Rosa sobbed and then laughed. “I love you too Father." Finally she pulled out of the hug.
"I underestimated you," he said with a shake of his head, looking into her eyes, properly, for the first time.


Later, she found James. "Hi," she said ruefully.
They hugged.
“I feel so confused,” he confessed with a shake of his head, “I felt something for you that didn't make sense. Does that sound strange?”
“Not when you've been through what I've been through,” she smiled though tears filled her eyes. “I feel something for you too, I have since we met.”
"Is your arm okay?" he touched it gently.
"I'll live."
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I’d love to see you again Rosa. Would that be okay?"
"Yes," she said with a grin as he drew her into his arms.

Alison's Morals

"What are you?" she yelled breathing deeply as she ran.
He flew over her head and came to a sudden stop in front of her.
"Why do you care? You'll be dead soon"
"I do care" she responded bravely holding her chin high "I know you're not human"
"No, I'm not human" he chuckled watching her with his dark red eyes.
"You're beautiful though" she muttered.
"Hmm, some of you humans are quite interesting. I will keep you I think. Let's hope I can control myself"

He lunged at her neck knocking her to the ground and drinking. He managed to stop drinking just in time and he cut her wrists and ankles letting the venom travel into her blood stream cutting off the flow of blood.

"You're going to be perfect" he said picking her up in his arms and running back to his home, a house at the edge of a small village backing onto a forest.

She just began to scream in pain as he carried her inside. He laid her on a bed and left her. He remembered himself how painful the change from human to vampire was for him.

Three days later she opened her bright red, changed eyes. She leapt up from the bed and stared at him.

"What have you done to me?"
"You're a vampire now" he replied taken aback by her beauty.
"A vampire?" she responded as she admired herself.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Joseph, you?"
"Alison"
"We'll go hunting soon when it becomes dark. You're thirsty?"
She reached up gripping her throat with her hands.
"I thought so" he laughed "Go change your clothes. In that room there" he said pointing towards a closed door.
She found herself at the door a moment after the thought. She opened it almost wrenching it off it's hinges. She walked inside.

"Don't break my house" Joseph said chuckling.
"Don't tempt me" she muttered shutting the door behind her.
"Ha ha I was right, I'm glad I saved you"
"Right about what?" she reappeared from the room wearing a full length red dress.
"You're interesting. And beautiful"
She appeared at his side a moment later and stared into his eyes "Tell me, you feed on humans?"
"Yes, of course"
"Do you regret all the human death you've caused?"
"No, they are our food source"
"And you chose to change me into a monster without asking me first"
"A monster?" he queried frowning "But you're beautiful. You can live forever now"
"A monster because of the prey I have to feed from" she said touching her neck again "My own kind"
"You would have preferred to die?"
"Hmm I'm not sure about that. I feel amazing like this. Strong and powerful"
"Let's stop talking then and hunt" he said grabbing hold of her hand and leading her into the forest,
"Were are we going?" Alison asked.
"To find some food" he whispered as they ran "We have to be discrete"

They ran for miles until they suddenly came to the edge of the forest. Alison felt the burning in her throat as she smelled the humans walking around close to them.

Joseph disappeared before returning a moment later with a man lying unconscious in his arms. He lay him on the ground and told Alison to drink.

"No. I can't do this"
"What's wrong with you? Drink" he commanded.
She refused, holding her nose to resist the smell while he drank the man dry.

"Find some food yourself" he told her as he walked away into the dense forest leaving her there.

She wandered through the forest realising that her sense of smell had developed. She noticed that some animals smelled a little like food too. Not as delicious as the human smell but close. She followed the smell until she was close to them. They were wolves. She lunged for the largest and sank her teeth into it's neck. It died quickly and she drank until the animal was empty. The burn in her throat eased.

She suddenly noticed that she had an audience and she crouched defensively.

"Peace" replied the vampire "We spotted you and your maker earlier. You seem to have strong morals for a new born. We only eat, or should I say drink, animals too. See that our eyes are yellow, rather than red"

Alison could see the vampire's eyes were indeed a different colour to Joseph's.

"I believe you. What do you want from me?"

"Join us" responded the woman stepping forward.

"Why? I don't know you"

"You might find it easier sticking to your morals with others who do the same"

"I can't leave Joseph. I love him"

"We understand"

"I have to return to him. He became exasperated with me and left. I would love to get to know you better. Will I see you both again?"

"We would like that very much" They said introducing themselves as Elizabeth and Henry "See you soon"

Alison back to Joseph's home and entered through the back door.

"Joseph, I'm back"

"In here" he called and she headed into the lounge.

"You found some food in the end?" he asked looking at her suspiciously.

"Yes I did" she said choosing not to enlighten him.

"Come closer" he said "You really are beautiful Alison"

She felt as if her heart were pounding although that wasn't physically possible.

They kissed, and Alison ran her hands through his thick dark hair eagerly. They ripped the clothes from one another rejoicing in the feeling of skin against skin.

"I can't imagine ever not wanting to be with you" Alison said as they made love again.

"I feel the same"

They continued getting to know each other over the next couple of days and Alison marvelled at the fact that she never felt tired or any need to sleep. Her only worry was Joseph finding out her secret as she could feel the burn in her throat gradually increase as the days passed.

"Are you getting thirsty again?" Joseph tracing a line down her throat with his finger.

"Maybe a little bit"

"Let's go feed then" he said standing up from the bed and pulling her with him.

Alison went into the walk in wardrobe to dress saying "You go, I'll feed another time"

"What is the problem" he asked as she left the room. He grabbed hold of her hand and they ran to the the edge of the forest as before.

"Go get yourself some food"

"No, I'm not really hungry" she shrugged hoping he wouldn't see the anxiety she felt.

"Why are you so reluctant to feed?"

"I was worried about telling you" she admitted.

"Telling me what?" he shouted.

"That I fed on an animal"

"Ha ha you stuck to your morals then. We'll see how long that lasts" he laughed again.

He ran to find food while Alison slowly calmed herself. She ran slowly smelling the scent of the animals nearby.

She could smell deer which she stalked before throwing herself onto one of them and ripping it's throat. She guzzled the warm blood and soon the deer was empty. Then a different smell, a smell that she could not ignore hit her.

She ran towards it, nothing could stop her. It was Joseph. He stood watching calmly as the human's blood poured onto the ground.

"What are you doing?" she spat, not breathing.

"Proving a point"

"I will not feed from a human" she told him using the last of her air. She started to run, afraid to breath again until she was far from the smell of the human. But she discovered something amazing. That she had no need to breath at all.

She tried to distract herself from going back as she ran.

"You have amazing will power" said Henry as he stepped out from behind a tree.

"Hmm" she mumbled afraid to breath.

"It's okay, the smell is very faint from here"

Alison breathed carefully. "Thank you. I don't know what to do. I won't last long on animals if he continues to tempt me like this"

"You may come to live with my wife and I. I've always wanted a daughter"

"Daughter. I would like that" Alison said "But I love Joseph"

"He can come too but he would have to stop feeding on people" he said.

"I don't think he will do that" responded Alison sadly "You saw what he was doing to me"

"Let me show you where we live. You can always return to him if you are not happy"

"Thank you Henry. I will come with you"

It was time to start the next chapter of her life.

The Baby Problem

The screen came down, forcing us to watch. I was always shocked. The poverty of our surroundings, yet this screen was made of some clear, high tech material. The screen announced three times a day the number of babies born in the world.

"Four babies born so far today" the presenter announced smiling and gave the details.

I had learnt at school that in the past the world was full of children and adults and many babies born every day. That was before the world wide infection, which affected 90% of the population. Nowadays babies are given to infected adults to bring up. And teenagers are tested and automatically impregnated many times in their life if found free of the infection when they are sixteen years old. Their families never see them again.

Mum looked at me giving me a look full of fear.

"Don't worry Mum. I'm sure I will be infected"

"I'm not sure what to hope for, that you are infected or not. It should be your choice to have a baby or not Kellen"

"There's no point wishing that things were any different" I said harshly “No one can change anything by wishing it so”

"Kellen" she shouted as I grabbed my coat and bag and left the house.

I walked to the woods breathing deeply trying to calm myself.

"Hello Kell" he said squinting against the sun.

"Jal"

We walked along the trail digging up roots and picking edible flowers, leaving some for the next day and future growth. We came across a blackberry bush heavy with fruit and filled our bags.

"We can make jam" I said excitedly.

"Anything to keep them going when we are taken away for testing" Jal said with a frown.

"Hopefully we have the infection and won't be away long" I said hopefully.

"Kellen, we both have two days left" he said fearfully.

"I know Jal, I'm scared too"

"Let's run away"

"Run away with our families too? They wouldn't manage like us"

"We can't leave them behind, they'd be punished" he said frowning.

"I've tried to think of a solution, but there isn't one" I cried with my hands over my face.

"Shh" he said pulling me closer and holding me "We'll be together at least. I'm thankful for that. That we were born in the same month"

We walked back home deep in thought with our bags full of food and heavy.

"See you tomorrow Jal" I said and he nodded walking away back to his parent's house. I quickly made my way home.

"Hi Mum" I said as I walked in the door.

"Kellen" she said.

"I'm doing as much preparation as I can before_"

"And we appreciate it" she said turning to my little sister.

"Let me teach you how to make jam Rosie" I said.

We spent the afternoon together making jam and preparing the vegetables to be preserved.

"Jal will give you and Mum food if I don't come back" I told her.

"You will come back Kellen, I'm sure of it"

"I hope so sweetie" I said hugging her tightly "But if I don't, you need to learn to do this because Mum is ill and she can't"

Two days Later

We ate breakfast together in silence nervously watching one another. I dressed in my best dress, the blue one with daisies on it. They came at ten to collect me. I couldn't stop staring at their clothes, so bright and new looking.

"Bye Mum, Bye Rosie" I shouted "I love you both so much. Look after each other"

We hugged quickly and then I was lead to a vehicle and told me to get inside. I looked around searching for Jal but I couldn't see him.

Once inside the vehicle they gave me a drink and told me to relax. As if I could relax in this situation. I hoped that I had taught Rosie enough skills. That they would survive without me if I didn't go home. Hours later woke suddenly noticing that the vehicle had stopped and saw a large building. I was escorted inside. I noticed as I was lead inside that the decor was white, and very clean, so unlike home. We walked up lots of steps before I was lead into a small room and left alone.

A few minutes later a man in a white coat came into the room and gave me a cup of water. It was the coldest drink I had ever tasted.

"Hi Kellen" he said looking at some sheets of paper "I need to take some blood"

I closed my eyes and felt something scratch my skin.

"All done" he said a couple of seconds later.

"Can I leave now?"

"Not yet, I have to get the results of this test"

I was left alone. Eventually I fell asleep, my stomach rumbling with hunger.

The next morning I woke up to find some food and drink had been left for me. I quickly drank the whole bottle of water and started on the food. There was so much of it but I ate it quickly as it was the most delicious food I had ever tasted.

Soon I felt the effect of having drunk so much and looked around me for somewhere to relieve myself. There was nothing. Soon I was desperate and banged on the door asking for help.

The door was opened by a woman with a very high voice. I noticed her face was perfect, and didn't look real.

"I need somewhere to_"

"I'll take you" she said and I followed her out of my room and into another door where there were cubicles.

"I'll wait here" she said "Use the toilet and have a shower"

Afterwards I felt so clean that I didn't want to put on my dirty clothes again.

"Here, put these on" said the lady, not seeming to care that I was standing there naked. She handed me a white dress with white shoes.

"Thank you" I said quickly throwing them on and braiding my wet hair.

She took me back, not into my room but another room where she sat me on a chair and immediately unbraided my hair before brushing it and drying it.

"You look tense" she commented and opened a drawer taking bottle of something out. She sprayed it around and I suddenly felt calm and relaxed.

"That's better" she said looking proud of her work. She finished by spraying something on my hair which she said made it look shiny "I'll take you back to your room now"

"Okay"

We walked back and she locked the door once I was inside my room. There was a plate of food waiting for me and some more water. I dived in straight away wondering how I could be so hungry already.

There was a knock on the door.

"Hello" I said and the door opened.

"Hello Kellen" said the doctor.

"Can I go home now?"

"I have good news Kellen. You show no signs of the infection"

"_" I was just speechless.

"You will be moved to the fertility suite now for insemination. Come with me"

"No" I shouted "I want to see my friend Jal"

He flicked through some sheets of paper and then announced "Jal has been taken home"

"Take me home now" I shouted angrily.

"Don't you realise the human race is dying out? That you could help save it?"

"I do realise that, and I do care" I said still in a loud voice. "But I want to make the choice myself, not to be forced to have a baby. And I want to be at home"

"That wouldn't be safe for a baby. No you will stay here. This is your home now"

"No"

He took a needle out of his pocket and held my arm as I struggled injecting me. The next thing I was aware of was lying on a bed in another room.

"Oh thank goodness you woke up" said the lady in a high pitched voice "We've found a great match for you. You'll be pregnant in no time"

She led me along a corridor which lots of white doors with numbers on and opened door number 10.

"In you go then" she said pushing me into the room.

I looked around the room noticing a boy with his head in his hands.

"Hello"

He looked up and I suddenly recognised him "Jal"

"Kellen" he said walking over and hugging me.

"What are you doing here? They told me you had been sent home"

"They told me the same" he said "What are you doing in here?"

"They just lead me into here. I'm not sure why"

"Oh Kel, it's been awful. Loads of girls have been in here. I've had to_ with them"

"And now they want us to do the same" I said angrily "I'm not doing it"

"You don't know what they'll do if you refuse Kell"

"What do they do?"

"I'm not telling you" he cried.

"Shh Jal" I wiped his eyes and put my arms around his waist, holding him.

"They don't have the right to force us"

"But they do Kell, because that's what they do"

"Look we're together again now. We can think of a way to escape together" I whispered in his ear. I took his hand and lead him onto the bed. I lay down too and covered us both with the blanket.

"How long will they give us?" I whispered.

"All day" he said and pointed to the table full of food that had been left for us.

I looked around and noticed a small window.

"Are you hot?" I asked Jal winking at him.

"A little bit" he smirked.

I hopped off the bed and walked over to the window. I turned the handle and pushed it open. Looking outside I noticed how high we were and the long drop down.

"That's better" I said joining him on the bed. We pulled the blanket over our heads and just hugged each other.

"We might die going out of that window" I whispered into his ear.

"Better than this" he said.

"Are you sure? We have to decide now"

"I'm sure" he said and we both immediately threw the blanket off, ran to the window and squeezed out.

"The ledge" he said and we crawled along it searching for a way down.

"There" I pointed to a ladder leading down the roof.

We climbed down and along another ledge and down again until we were on the ground.

"Somewhere to hide" he said and grabbed hold of my hand as we ran together. This place was nothing like home and we knew we needed to find somewhere to hide and quickly.

"The alley" I said pointing and we ran into the dark alley.

"The bin" he said.

We jumped into the big bin which stank and sat still.

"What should we do?" I wondered.

"I have no idea" he said looking worried. He held my hand and we sat like that eventually falling asleep.

We woke together suddenly and peeked out of the bin. There was no one there. We were safe.

"They'll still be looking for us" Jal said.

"How can we get home?"

"I have no idea Kell. I doubt we can" he said sadly "We're so far away"

"Look" he said pointing at a forest in the distance "We can make a home there, the two of us"

"Let's go then" I said with tears in my eyes. I let the tears fall, grieving for my family, who I would never see again.