Bloodstock Island

Chapter 22

Max’s heartbeat continued to drum uncontrollably, sitting opposite his father, dawning a weak yet cheerful smile. He remained battling with his unconscious not to say anything.

The task seems hard, since there’s never been secrets between them, and having one now was putting a heavy weight on his shoulders. Especially each time his old man glances at him with his warm demeanor.

The fact he was keeping a secret gnawed at him, as he wished to tell him all about his new friend, their trip to woods, then to the wall, there were so many stuff he wanted to discuss and converse, but could not because he made a promise.

Also, there was the part where he was still uncertain about what Spartacus said, and that reality put him in a pressing bind.

“Dad, can I not go to school today? I’m not feeling well.”

He mumbled, nearly coughing as the lie was choking him.

It was one thing he hated the most, since with his father’s intuition, he was bound to find out something, eventually.

And the idea he’d known about their little escapade freaked him out, which was the reason he cannot say a word right now.

“Why, is someone bothering you again?”

Lance’s face crumpled at seeing his son’s sheepish grin.

Usually, the man would only see that expression whenever the youth was being harassed at school, or if he did something wrong. And since he didn’t receive any call from the principal, he perceive it was the first.

“No, I just don’t feel like it right now. I think I’m coming with a flu.”

Max says.

The part about that was easy, cause he has been feeling off lately. Also, there was this immense fever brewing inside of him, which had been taking over him these past few days. Though he didn’t seem sick, it made him really uncomfortable, which got him thinking if it had to do with what his friend explained.

The lad pointed out it was because he was becoming an adult. His body began its metamorphosis, which is the reason he was getting the so-called alpha heat.

His father was keen to place the back of his hand on his forehead, feeling his temperature with his own. A few minutes more and he was nodding in approval.

“Okay, seems you are hot.”

Lance's face turned serious, noticing the difference. Even if he kept his smile, a shadow of worry covered his expression, as his mind went into a deep state.

“Thanks dad.”

Was all Max could say, noticing the grim look on his father.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, nervous if he’d gotten caught already. But the moment his old man stood up, he let out a sigh of relief, watching him head straight for their medicine cabinet.

He only frowned when he heard him rummaging, searching for an item stacked up between boxes of the medicine that were there.

“Dad.”

Guilt pressed on Max like a barking dog, making him call out to him.

There was a part of him wanting to confront him about the stuff Spartacus told him. He had this need to understand if all of it was true, and if there were people who were aware but chose not to.

“Yeah? What is it, son?”

Lance remained searching, hurrying to remove a stock of boxes with red marks on it. His mind was rushing, in a hurry, to find the item he’d hidden in the far depths of those objects.

“Have you ever had any experience with you know…?”

Max tried to start, but his tongue suddenly retreated, when memories of their little fiasco appeared before his very eyes.

Naked officer Klyde, Spartacus smirking, and placing all the officers in a lewd position inside their vehicle caused him to think twice.

The question prompted his father to pause for a moment, peaking from behind the door of the medicine cabinet. The man put on a frown face, trying to intimidate and figure out of what his son meant.

“What kind of experience?”

Lance muttered after a few minutes of not coming up with anything. Also, the youth had suddenly become quiet, avoiding his gaze whenever he’d try to look straight into his eyes.

“Max, tell me what happened?”

The man’s voice boomed after not receiving an answer. A switch inside of him ticked from a sudden gut wrenching feeling calling out to him.

Max jolts, surprised upon sensing the anger in his old father’s tone. Along with pulling the scary composure he had whenever he’d done wrong.

“Sorry dad, I meant, have you ever found a person who was so much alike, you feel like your literally brothers?”

He tries to salvage the idea, putting on his situation with his new friend. And since the question wasn’t a lie, he sounded really genuine asking it.

This was what he was thinking after he and Spartacus went home. The travel back seems so light, as the fellow tried to remove his thoughts from what happened.

He was like the big brother he’d always wanted, teaching him stuff, showing him things, and teasing him now and then, with the additional playful punches here and there.

Also, they nearly had the same interest from sports to the movies they watched, and even in their choice of clothing did not seem so far off.

The expression on his father’s face brightened, the line on his lips widening, and his eyes suddenly had this glint of shine upon hearing that.

“Did you finally make a friend?”

Lance asks, elated at the idea his son was being more sociable. A thing he did not think would ever come, considering certain factors.

“Sort of.”

Max gave a weak smile, remembering his new companion.

Even if they had some unsavory encounters recently, it did not erase the fact that he had found someone who was much like him.

With that, Lance stops what he was doing, and at the exact time, he’d dig up the thing he was looking for. He looked at the black box with a marking of a shield and sword for a moment, contemplating on things.

Since their conversation was about a comrade, he ignores the item and buries it back with the pile of medical kits, choosing to pick up a thermometer instead before heading for his son.

“So, who is this kid?”

He asks with such enthusiasm, his voice almost squealed.

“Actually, he’s the guy who recently transferred.”

Max says.

But before his father can reply, they hear an odd ring. It made his old man jolt in attention, while he couldn’t help but frown noticing the difference of the noise.

Though it came from the house, it was coming from a cabinet there. Also, it sounded nothing like their phone.

But what truly got to him was the manner his father jumps out of his chair, runs for one of the overhead cabinets. This time pressing something from inside of it.

He ended up frowning, seeing there was a line there, and the way his dad turned his back on him while talking only made him more suspicious.

“What happened? Are you sure about that?”

Lance's voice mumbled between gritted teeth.

It was all Max could listen to as his father move to the other room, taking the receiver with him and closing the door behind.

There was this sudden strike in his chest hearing the panic in his father’s speech. The way he spoke didn’t seem it was a call from the hospital, as he was more authoritative and pushy than usual. Not to mention, this was the first time he had to hide from him while talking.

A mix of curiosity and dread creep into him, when the thought of their little prank being found jump at him. But then again, he was certain his father wouldn’t be involved in such a case, which only caused him to ponder a bit more on what the call could be?