Bloodstock Island

Chapter 26

Spartacus came out underneath a box with his hands on his stomach, uncontrollably laughing his ass off, almost falling on it from the loss of air.

Max’s face turned sour, glaring at his friend. He’d not expect him to run off, leaving him to fend off the entire group. It felt so awkward being caught there all alone, especially after the incident.

He was both annoyed and amused seeing how the fellow came out all jolly, like there was no problem at all.

“The hell man!”

He snaps, brows nearly closing in together because of the deep crease on his forehead. Right now, all he can think of was to release his frustration from being put in such a situation.

Yet his lips wriggled, struggling to hold the smile which started to rise. He wanted to show pissed he was, but the cheerful and playful demeanor of the guy was too much for him to handle.

Also, he didn’t really get hurt or anything and the fact his life wasn’t in danger only made things more bearable and funny.

“You should have seen your face.”

Spartacus continued to cackle, slapping his knees in utter hilarity, remembering the ghostly complexion of Max while talking with the officers.

Relieved the group had left, escaping certain humiliation along with being saved from the need to explain himself. He also found the whole situation hilarious. Of course, he couldn’t bring himself to admit it, wanting to keep his serious facade.

“Why’d you leave me like that?”

He states biting his lip, since he was having a hard time holding the stoic look he had, as a laugh wanted to escape him.

Spartacus needed a few minutes to calm himself, wheezing from the lack of air from all that laughing. The lad tried his best to stop and put on a serious face.

“You know how they’d react to me being the new guy?”

The fellow states having manage his breathing, wiping his tears off, he gave him a playful tap on the shoulder before snorting. Still getting the sense of needing to just laugh at what happened.

No longer able to hold himself, Max sighs, grinning as he shakes his head in defeat. It was true their first encounter didn’t go well, then again, it was because they got caught in a place where they weren’t supposed to be.

“I could have introduced you. We are at school, you know.”

He reminds him of their current whereabouts, gesturing to the surrounding to show the run-down buildings, bleachers, and the recently painted signage.

“We’ll, I wanted to be careful not to repeat what happened last time. Or would you rather have a live show right here?”

Spartacus gave out a mischievous smirk, making his brow move playfully to remind him of their effect on people.

“You got a point.”

Max's lips twisted in defeat, looking around with the buildings nearby, being along the road, and within town. Some were bound to see them if that were to happen, which only made him feel the awkward sensation to linger in his gut.

“Anyway, what are you doing out here if you're sick?”

The lad inquired, hearing his excuse a while ago, throwing a meaningful gaze at him, observing it because he did not show any signs of weakening or the sorts.

Again, Max’s expression turned sour, not wanting to divulge anything. He did not want to look weak in front of the fellow, since he seemed okay after the whole thing.

Even if it bothered him so much, always thinking of the consequences and effects of his action. He was not ready to admit it to anyone just yet.

“Can’t a guy take an off in studying?”

He was keen to reply, not wishing to sound like a wuss. With a straight gaze in his eyes, he stared at his friend, who remained throwing the teasing smirk of his.

“You sure you ain’t going to get in trouble?”

Spartacus leaned his head, giving him the meaningful stare, as if he was challenging to see if he was lying.

“Did it stop me before?”

He states with confidence, since it’s not that hard considering he had had permission, also he’d already had his fair share of mischief, even before the guy came to town. The only difference now was he had a partner in crime and started going into much more extreme acts.

“Figures, so what you doing here if it ain’t for school?”

His friend finally straightened up, curious about his appearance there without his bags and stuff.

“I needed to ask you something.”

He shrugs his shoulders, wanting to shake off the thought he was being rebellious. Right now, there was a concern he wish to confirm, and he knew his buddy was the only person who can answer it.

“Sure thing, shoot!”

With a nod, Spartacus jumps to the nearby seat, leaning back to make himself comfortable again. Feet on the one chair and hands on his head, he returned to gazing into the fields.

Max took it as his cue to start.

“What happens if you don’t satiate those who get affected by the alpha heat?”

The guy’s explanation about their fluids affecting individuals and getting them better confused him. If the case was about the chemicals in their body, then knocking them off wouldn’t mean much, considering they’d still have the toxins inside of them.

“I thought I already told you that.”

Spartacus frowned, trying to recall their conversation beforehand. The guy was certain he had explained the concept to him, wanting to make sure he’d understood the predicament they were in.

“Can you clarify that? I didn’t really get the gist of it with all that was happening back then.”

He states.

It wasn’t easy understanding the way the so-called condition goes, especially since the guy explained it during an uncouth situation. Also, some things which were told to him did not add up. Only causing additional confusion for him.

There was a sudden pause between them, with the lad looking up in contemplation. A bit of scratching on the chin and the fellow finally heave a sigh.

“Well, it depends on what their immunity is. If they’re a Be Medius, there’s nothing much to do, since they faint. So I know little about them. But if it’s an Om Subius, they become wilder, aggressive, and sometimes turn crazy.”

For a moment, he felt his heart clench, together with a banging sensation behind his head. The images of how he punched and took down mister Jefferson and the three numbskulls.

And here he expected they’d recover after that, and eventually tell on him. Now he understood why he had never got a call from the principal. Worst, he did not satiate the group properly, which would explain why they haven’t shown up at school.

“So, you mean it’s permanent, even if we took them down? It wouldn’t stop their craziness?”

Max’s eyes grew wide, realizing his mistake. Guilt slowly crawled underneath his skin as if it had ants.

He shivered at the idea he’d caused some people their sanity, all because he was oblivious to his own condition.

Though he did not like those guys, he knew they didn’t deserve such a fate. As he still had considered the entire incident as his fault.

It did not help that he had this inkling his dad had knowledge about the situation and did not tell him, or perhaps his father wasn’t aware of it. Then again, there was the part his old man was quite knowledgeable, so he doubted if he was unaware.

“No, of course not. They’ll eventually recover in a few months.”

Spartacus broke his contemplating with his reply, eyes growing wide for thinking the condition they’d cause was permanent.

“That long!”

He gasped, gaping in disbelief.

The information only added to Max’s anxiety, gloating upon realizing the length it needed to recuperate from their influence. Just the idea of causing a severe illness like that was enough to cause him panic and regret his actions.

“Yeah, that’s why I told you. They get side effects if we use blunt force. Though it is the fastest and safest way for us.”

Spartacus words now became glum, no longer having the lively charade he was exhibiting a while ago. Seems he had noticed the sudden change in Max’s tone, along with his color, escaping his face.

Again he was turning ghost white, sweating uncontrollably while staring blankly into nothingness. It took him a few minutes to recover, remembering how he could speak with their other victims.

Yes, he now referred to them as that, since none he understood they were only being taken over by the so-called alpha heat they were emitting.

“But the deputy and the others, how come they seem fine? Is it possible they have a high tolerance or something?”

He asks, considering the one case where his friend got it wrong. Hopeful that somehow his theory was true.

“I kind of doubt that. Like I said. It should have taken weeks, but this place seems to have a medicine for it. It’s the only explanation. We can always check on them?”

Spartacus immediately shrugs the idea off, knowing such a thing did not exist. If there was, such a person would be famous by now.

And seeing Max’s face fall from the assumption made him feel bad. So he’d consider helping him out this time.

“How are we going to do that?”

He can’t help but raise a brow at the suggestion. Though he appreciates the notion, he didn’t know how they will make it happen.

“Why? You never tried sneaking into a hospital before?”

Spartacus lips form into a grin, his eyes turning mischievous upon saying those words. It seems once more the lad’s rebellious streak returned, all because he wanted to confirm his worries.

Fearful, he ended up nodding, having the obligation to learn if there was truly a cause for his fears. He wished to clear his conscience, and he will do those unnecessary things if he had to.