Bloodstock Island

Chapter 25

Max caught the chill creeping up his spine. His entire body became stiff with every step the group took. He looked back at his friend, gasping upon seeing how he was sniggering while crawling onto the bleachers.

Before he can turn around, he hears his named being called. It was too late. They had seen him. All he could do was plaster a smile on his now pale face.

“Hey deputy.”

He says, forcing his lips to rise, twitching as he struggled to stop it from falling. Flashes of his deeds crawled up to him. The air suddenly went cold as they stood in front of him.

His heart throb so much he can hear it drumming from his ears. He put on the best normal expression he could muster, readying himself for whatever it was they needed to say.

“You okay Max?”

A furrow appeared on the man’s face, noticing how he kept swallowing hard, sweating uncontrollably just from being there.

It didn’t help he’d run from his house to there, which only increased the large drops of perspiration falling from his forehead.

“Never been better.”

Dread slowly took over him, remembering the alpha heat. If memory serves him correct, his smell and the feeling he was having brought the thing. And since his brain would not stop thinking about the sensations and acts he had done. His body recalled and react to all those flash backs.

He swallowed hard, sensing his private parts wiggle, awakening from its slumber after his jog. The sensation embedded in his mind caused some unruly static within him.

“You sure? Seems like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Another officer states.

Max’s eyes grew wide, recognizing the person who spoke. Images of the guy’s open mouth, dripping with the white liquid, flustered and grinning at him cause his composure to falter.

He shivered, having the struck of ticklish lightning flow all over him, seeping into the far recesses of his veins.

But when he saw they remained stoic, unbothered, and casual around him, like they always do. He calmed down, remembering the words left by his friend.

“Yeah. What are you all doing here?”

He diverts the subject, wishing to remove the carnal stuff running through his head.

If what Spartacus said is true, then it only means they have no recollection of the incident. Of course, he was not sure how far the erasure reached, considering he had a conversation with them before the entire thing took place.

“Just patrolling, you know. The usual stuff.”

The guy states with a chuckle.

As they chatted, the other officers roamed around, searching every nook and cranny within the place. Eyes sharp, their gazes wandered like a hawk in search of prey. They would lift the stack of tables, behind boxes, and underneath the bleachers.

Max did not remove his gaze from them, seeing the meticulous manner they were checking on things. Also, they were carrying sheaths for their baton, along with another kind of stick on their belts.

“We’ve been getting weird calls as of late. Seen anything odd lately.”

One of the officer adds, sighing when he finished.

The others were nearly done scouring the area, making sure they left no place unchecked.

“Al, shut it!”

Klyde hissed, glaring at his companion.

The guy was quick to purse his lips, zipping it upon catching the bewildered look in Max’s eyes. The information got him intrigue, immediately getting his mind off of those unsavory memories he had running around.

“Did something happen?”

He asks, trying to pick for any clue what as to the reason was behind it all. There was this voice in the back of his head, telling him the situation they were talking about could be their encounter.

Then again, he can’t help but wonder how come they don’t seem to be bothered by him, along with recollecting even the part where they all had a chat.

“Nothing for you to worry about.”

The deputy waves a hand at him, wanting to make him shrug at the idea of any problem.

But Max noticed the sudden tension in the man’s action, seeing how he shivered when he mentioned about it.

It made him think that whatever they were looking for was dangerous, yet he can’t recall if there’s ever an animal which can pass through those tall fences protecting the town, not to mention they have to get through the high walls.

“Shouldn’t you be at school today?”

The officer points out, realizing his mistake, wanting to divert the attention upon noticing how his expression became questioning and doubtful.

“I was not feeling well a while ago.”

He was able to state, having gotten a go signal from his dad, there wasn’t much to be afraid of. Also, he was sure they cannot bother his old man right now.

This was always the case whenever they had the usual blood letting, the only difference right now is they did the procedure in haste, since they had a schedule for it.

“We’ll. Best you go home. Can’t have your dad worrying about you.”

Klyde gives him a good tap on the shoulder, laughing off the entire conversation.

But the sudden change in topic only made Max suspicious. His eyes narrowing from the crease on his forehead. The way they acted, together with his father’s own behavior, only caused him to consider they had a connection somehow.

“I’ll do that. I just need to check on something first.”

He says, putting on a smile to pretend he was okay.

But deep down, he was making up assumptions, considering all the potential causes and reason behind it. The only problem is he couldn’t come up with anything else. Except for the part where his friend could probably answer.

“Make sure you don’t go wandering around the woods.”

Deputy Klyde nods.

The other officer was done with their sweep, gathering in front of him in a straight line. But their sights remained roaming all over the place.

“Why, there’s nothing much here?”

He tries pulling the same trick, this time feigning ignorance and truth.

For the past years of living in there, not once has he seen any kind of dangerous creature? And this was even before he went farther than his usual trek. Also, after going at the end of the trail with his friend, he’d become aware their town was like a fortress.

“We received reports of some wild animal being spotted roaming around. So, better avoid that place for now.”

Officer Al was quick to state, flickering a finger on the zone beyond the fields.

Max swallowed hard, realizing the area was where they got caught. On top of that, he can’t remove the prank they’d done to them, considering it was uncalled for.

“Did something happen to you in there?”

He asks. The smile on his face twitching from a sudden flash how they left them.

Memories of men sprawled naked together, set up in a way which would make it look like they were sucking on to one another’s privates. The entire picture remained engraved in his mind and was not even sure how he was going to remove it.

“What do you mean?”

Klyde states, frowning, confusion written all over his face.

Again, Max took in a deep breath, needing to calm his nerves from the sudden jolt of relief he got. With how they acted right now, it seems Spartacus was telling the truth.

“You know, did you get attacked or something?”

He asks.

This was his last method, trying to shift the topic, and also try to confirm if they truly could remember nothing.

The men only looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders before shaking their heads at him.

Before anyone can answer, the radio suddenly made the static-like sound. The deputy was keen on squeezing it, making sure he’d be the only one who could hear the other line.

The man’s expression turned from playful to serious in a matter of minutes, the crease on his face increasing upon nodding as if the person on the receiver was looking.

“Yup, got it. We’re on our way.”

Klyde replies before pressing the off button on the device. After putting on a smile, he playfully messes Max’s hair like before.

“Rest assured. Whatever it is. We won’t let it get close to the town. You be careful now, Max.”

The man says before walking out of there together with his comrades.

A rush of guilt took over him.

The memory which cause him to pick up those odd sensations was bringing a sense of remorse.

The only thing keeping him from apologizing is the fact they seem to hide something, making him think their town had this secret.

He watched as they walk back into their vehicle, murmuring words and exchanging glances. They kept pointing into the woodlands, while the others analyzed and crossed some things on their map.

He’d glimpsed it a while ago, and he was certain the area they were discussing was the same place where they had encountered them.

It piqued his curiosity since he suddenly remembered the group appearing from the stairs, but he did not see them come from their side of the wall, which was the reason they got caught by surprise. It now made him think if they were patrolling beyond and if there was a hidden door there.