Page 77 of Reject (Academy of Misfits 2)

“Didn’t know you had it in you,” he says, giving her a backhanded compliment.

“Not many people do,” she retorts, ripping off the gloves and chucking them on the floor.

The last person left to face Camden is Ford. For a beat they just stare at each other. Ford’s face is impassive, free of any shred of emotion. He isn’t wearing the gloves. Instead he holds them in his hands offering them to Camden.

“Here,” he says.

“Ford, man…” Sonny interrupts, looking between the two then glancing at me. He knows as well as I that this isn’t going to go down well.

“Back the fuck off, numpty,” Camden growls at Sonny who just shakes his head.

“You’re funeral, arsehole,” he shrugs, stepping back.

Camden’s lip curls up. “Not this time.”

He rips off the pads and shoves them into Ford’s chest, then snatches the gloves from him. Cal looks as though he’s going to say something, but Mr Burnside shakes his head. He backs off, and we all wait for Armageddon.

Two gang leaders going head to head.

Two enemies who were once friends.

Two guys I care about ready to rip each other apart.

Two broken kids who are growing into broken men, ruled by their pasts.

The second Ford has the pads pulled on Camden lays into him. He hits hard and fast, a rage unlike I’ve ever witnessed pours from him.

Smack.

Smack.

Smack.

Smack.

Ford takes each blow, adjusting his body to take whatever Camden gives. Over and over again Camden hits the pads. Sweat drips from his brow, sliding down his face. I’m vaguely aware of Sonny and Eastern asking the girls to take a step back. They know as well as I do that this has the potential to get dangerous fast.

Then just like a match to a box of tinder, Ford lights Camden’s rage.

“You can do better than that, Cam. Stop being a pussy andfinishthis,” Ford taunts, his eyes narrowing.

I see the change in Camden a second before everyone else. If he was livid before, now he’s beyond the point of no return.

“You’re a motherfucking murdering bastard!” Camden roars, the last shred of his control snapping. Instead of hitting the pad Ford is holding, his glove covered fist smashes into Ford’s cheek sending him reeling backwards. But he doesn’t stop there. He launches himself at Ford, punching everywhere he can.

And not once does Ford retaliate.

He takes all the punches. His head snapping back. Spittle and blood flying from his mouth. Ford stumbles when Camden’s glove meets his face in a neck snapping blow, and when Camden hits his temple he falls to his knees.

“Camden, stop! PLEASE!” I shout.

For a second Camden hesitates, catching my eye. I’m not sure what he sees, but whatever it is only seems to fuel his anger further. If he weren’t wearing gloves then I’m pretty certain Ford would be in a much worse state, as it is he’s in pretty bad shape.

“Camden stop!” I repeat, ready to throw myself at him when Sonny grips my arms and holds me back.

“This ain’t your fight, Asia. There’s too much bad blood between these two. It’s time the score was settled once and for all.”

“He won’t stop!” I shout, trying to get out of Sonny’s hold.

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