Bloodstock Island

Chapter 11

Both youngsters crouched, hands in a fist, while the other opened at the ready for a grab. Each other throwing a sharp gaze, gauging, calculating, and predicting one another’s next action.

With heavy breaths, they took their time calming their muscles, increasing their senses at the surrounding.

Max had never encountered anyone who’d move head on with him like that. Usually they’d start babbling, talk their way out of it. But this person in front of him was different. He was prepared to take him.

“You sure you want to go ahead with this?”

A daunting smirk appeared on the fellow’s face. His lips showing teeth.

“I should ask you the same.”

He throws the same expression. Exhilarated by the situation and a chance to release all the pent up energy he had.

A moment of silence came between them. Finished with sizing up each other. Like a thread that broke, the tension did so too, as the two youngster charge at each other.

Both did not hesitate to throw a punch, which was received and block. The exchange of strikes seemed as if they were dancing. Both spinning and moving with such speed and strength.

Yet it was clear they were not taking it seriously, continuing to evaluate through their trade of blows. It took a few more of swapping of their fists before they jump back, putting a suitable distance between them.

“You know how to fight.”

The guy says, his eyes giving out a surprise gaze.

The two of them now straightened, relaxing since they seem to have gotten into a silent agreement to no longer proceed.

“I can say the same thing to you.”

Max snorts.

They nod at each other, a sign of truce.

Pleased, their encounter did not disappoint him. Though he still felt puzzled why he got attacked, seeing as it was not intentional put him at ease.

“So what you doing here? I’m sure you didn’t come here just to peek at me.”

There was this hint of tease behind those words. Which causes them to laugh, finding it hilarious.

“What are you talking about? This is my sanctuary.”

He sets aside the comment, letting it slide since he’d been familiar with the experience. He understood the reaction, being used to getting watched and ogled at.

A brush on his chin and the fellow turned to the bench press, bobbing his head to make him look at it.

“You the one who’s been lifting those.”

They shift their sights on the equipment, weights were still on it as he never removed the things since nobody else uses it except for him. It was then he saw he added a few more metal plates to the thing, making him conclude he disturbed his sets.

“I’m the only person who comes here.”

He shrugs his shoulder to disregard the painful and inconvenient truth, even forcing a laugh to make it believable.

“We’ll, not anymore.”

That put a wide smirk on the guy’s face.

The dude moves back to the equipment. He sits there for a minute, wiping the sweat off his forehead from their little spar.

“I’m Max, by the way. You the new kid, right?”

He offers his hand.

The fellow seems adamant at first, but eventually takes it. They share a good firm shake, showing off their tight grip on it.

The greeting showed them a bit more knowledge of one another, providing a sense of comfort and ease towards each other.

“Yeah, name’s Spartacus. Just arrive here yesterday.”

The guy states.

After that they gave each other a nod before the lad starts his sets, while he picks up his stuff. Bag on his shoulder, he heads straight for the changing room, all the while throwing glances at the fellow who proceeded to lift.

Not choosing to take chances, he still locked the door after getting inside before removing his clothes. But he can’t hide his happiness, finding someone much like him.

When he got out. The guy was already doing pull-ups on another machine. He shoves his stuff on the locker before going ahead with his routine.

He pauses for a moment, having this nudge in him to make conversation, having this elation of having finally found a possible friend.

“What was with the surprise attack a while ago?”

He didn’t look at him, but winced with embarrassment since he had nothing else to start with.

Besides, curiosity gnawed at him, remembering the first punch he pulled at him. Still feeling the sting on his side, which he’d never experience before.

Spartacus stops, scratches his head with a chuckle. Face turning flush from the mistake and misunderstanding between them.

“Oh, sorry. My bad. Force of habit, you know.”

The guy’s lips twitch, forming into a half smile. He moves closer, sitting right next to him, having finished his sets. Fellow takes dumbbells on the rack, doing his exercise near him.

“It was like you were aiming to knock me out from the start.”

Max proceeded with the discussion as he laid on the bench. Not wanting to disturb the dude with his own routine.

For what it was worth, this was the first time he could have a normal and light conversation. No sarcasm, defensive language, or blackmail.

That receives a loud chuckle from Spartacus, along with a shake of his head. The guy then pauses, taking a moment to catch his breath.

“It’s that, or I get to be the one on the floor. You know what I mean. I’m sure there are those who tried to put their hands on you.”

The fellow turned his head at him with a meaningful stare.

Max literally froze, holding midway from what his workout. Memories of his brief encounter yesterday flashed before him, sending those sensations throughout his body.

He stops after a long silence, sitting to face the guy who was chugging on his water waiting for him.

“So that happened to you, too?”

He mutters, mouth nearly opening wide. He could not believe there was someone else. And all this time he became certain to be the only one.

“Yeah, why’d you think I got thrown here?”

Spartacus snorts, finding the question funny. His lips twisting when he tried to force a smile, turning into a sneer instead. A mix of pain and blankness showed in his eyes while saying those.

“Whenever someone tries to do that to me, I make sure to beat the s**t out of em. It’s the only way to stop them. Of course, there are exceptions.”

He states, playfully moving his brow move up and down. He let out a hearty laugh, having remembered something.

The sudden change of mood made Max frown. Confused from seeing a glint of mischief behind the anger a while ago.

“What do you mean?”

Puzzled. Suddenly being pulled out from the connection, as he could not relate to what the guy was saying.

That cause Spartacus’ head to recede, brow lifting in surprise. But then his face turned teasing, having gotten a better view of him.

“Tell me. How old are you?”

He utters, grimace turning wider upon the realization.

“I ain’t that far from you.”

Max snaps back, letting out an uncomfortable laugh. Especially noticing the observing gaze the fellow was throwing at him.

Though it was not lascivious, there was he was this manner which seems to look down on him.

“You’re definitely younger than me. That’s why.”

Spartacus blurts out, finger pointing at him as he gave out a loud laughter of the discovery. It was as if their age was important in the topic.

“What’s that got to do with it?”

He grumbles. Face turning sour from the teasing.

“It explains everything.”

Spartacus’s smile became dark, a foreboding sense showed behind his cheerful expression.

It annoyed Max a bit, but the fact remained. The fellow knew something he didn’t. It made him more intrigued. With how he was spitting those things to him, it was like there was this reality he was unaware of, kept from him for the longest time.