Bloodstock Island

Chapter 14

The view from atop was unlike anything he’d seen before. They could see mountains, lush forest, and there was even a river flowing between them and the other side.

The scenery was astounding, which was so different from what was inside the wall. It was like they were looking at a strange world entirely. Also, it was the first time they found out they built the town on top of the tallest mountain there.

“Good thing they had stairs. Else, we wouldn’t make it here.”

Max was all smiles, sights wandering throughout the land.

From there, he now saw had a perfect idea of how long the barrier spanned. Going from how the structure stretched for miles, he’d say it surrounded the entire town.

“As I’ve expected. It’s the same where I am from.”

Spartacus mumbles.

The lad’s eyes looked bored, half mass, while gazing at the surroundings. He heaved a sigh, shoulders falling at the thought of being caged.

“But aren’t you from the city?”

Max sits beside his friend, noticing the bad mood he was in.

The guy’s features turn sour, his lively demeanor going down, like the frown on his face.

If he was not mistaken, the guy came from a much more affluent place. A land with tall buildings, nearly reaching the skies. With roads, malls, and lots of people, you can barely count them. Unlike theirs, where you’d be able to get to know everyone in a matter of weeks.

“Yeah, though it’s no different from here. Only more crowded. To tell you honestly, this town is way better. With so much space, it provides a breath of fresh air.”

Spartacus let out a half smile. He exhaled, letting in the sweet fragrance of the trees all around them. He stretches his hand, enjoying the breeze, when a wind blew, giving a refreshing vibe to their weary bodies, somewhat putting their minds at ease.

“No way. You’ll get bored here in just a few days.”

It was the thing Max faced all the time, having lived there his whole life. He was itching to leave, go somewhere else. Escape from the suffocating enclosure of their so-called town.

“At least it’s peaceful here. From where I’m from. Things are always a mess.”

His friend laid down on the cold stone floor, sprawling his body without a care. Hands on his head, he looked up into the sky, sighing in a deep and contemplating manner.

His mind seems to wander off again, being absorbed in his thoughts while appreciating the clear blue skies above them.

“You’re joking, right?”

Max snorts, leaning back with a frown.

He didn’t like the serious tone the guy was giving out, since it made him worry. It completely changed the surrounding mood, encasing them in this sort of bubble of dread.

“The thing that happened at the school. It’s nothing new to me. I’ve seen this happen several times.”

The young man starts, closing his eyes upon reminiscing about those days. His breathing was slow and steady, having this weight each time he’d exhale.

Silence fell between them, hearing only the whistling of the wind. The atmosphere became heavy, dreadful, and awkward at the suggestion of such an occurrence taking place.

“So you know about it.”

Max swallowed hard.

It was the question plaguing his mind for the past few hours, and was the reason he came along, wanting to understand more.

He’d gotten puzzled by his friend’s revelation, troubled by the idea things were being kept from them.

“Yeah, and it has something to do with people like us.”

Spartacus opens his eyes. His gaze remained deep, pondering. His lips straightened after saying those words, together with a shadow which suddenly loomed over his expression when he turned to him.

There was now this discomfort within Max. Slap by such an idea. All he can do was take another heavy gulp to calm his nerves, since a tingling sense brewed in him. Aware it may be true.

“I think I understand.”

He mumbles.

Memories came flashing in his mind, from the drunk images of his classmates, to the hungered and crazed action of mister Jefferson.

All of that toppled over his head, placing some pieces together.

When Spartacus noticed this, he sits, leveling with him. He put his sights on the horizon, not wanting to give unease throughout their conversation.

“Has it ever crossed your mind that you’re different from the others? Unique like nobody understands you.”

He utters, blinking several times when a nudge struck a cord inside of him, causing some unwanted experience from the past flashed before his eyes.

“Always, since I was a kid.”

Max’s tone became downtrodden.

From what he can remember, it had consistently been that way. Though he’d gain friends in a sort, none ever showed any similar interest to his. There was also the part where he would constantly feel distant from everyone. As if he did not belong anywhere.

“Has anyone explained this to you?”

Spartacus heaves another sigh, forcing himself to smile upon glancing at the pain within him. Aware of how it was like being an outcast.

“No, not really. Though my dad would tell me I’m special.”

Max mumbled, looking down in shame.

There was this punch in his gut which he can’t put aside, having spoken those words which his father had always told him repeatedly. It had been said so many times, he’d accepted the idea, even if it didn’t seem right at all.

“We’ll, in a sense, it’s true.”

Spartacus let out a pained chuckle, inhaling with such heaviness it made his chest nearly inflate.

“How so?”

The words put a smile on Max’s face.

His whole life, there had only been two people whoever told him that. One would be his old man, and the other was his coach.

Spartacus remained quiet for a while, deliberating upon himself on how he’d point out things properly. They returned their gaze to the horizon, looking far off and just enjoying spacing out for a bit.

“From what I heard, our bodies are built differently. I don’t know the exact details about it, but it’s what they’d explain to everyone.”

He starts after having his bearings.

Max’s furrowed, suddenly catching a chunk of something block his throat, causing him to swallow hard. A few ideas came rushing into his mind, getting a surge of different emotions from the realization.

“There’s only a handful of us. So few, you can literally count us within your fingers. In school we’d get separate from others, for safety reasons. Though some things are unavoidable, no matter how careful they are.”

Spartacus’s eyes became dark, his expression stoic. It was as if he’d suddenly turned ice cold, with no emotions of any sort to show.

“Are you saying I caused the entire school’s lock down?”

He gaped, due to the sudden nudge in his heart at the possibility of putting two and two together.

“I doubt that. You’re about two or three years younger than me, so your effect isn’t as strong as mine. It’s more like I caused all of it.”

His friend smirks, keeping his chuckle. He gives him an assuring gaze behind the stony expression of his.

“Then the virus.”

He mutters, remembering his classmates’ conversation.

From what was being presented to him, it was the only thing which could make sense. But then again, if that was the case, how come it only happened now?

That finally broke the guy, making him laugh out loud. A good few seconds passed before his friend recovered, tearing up from finding amusement and hilarity at his ignorance.

“You can say it’s like that. But it is more of a condition rather than a sickness. And they have a name for this from where I am from.”

Spartacus gave a half smile. Eyes narrowing upon staring straight into him.

“And that is?”

He utters, holding on to his mouth in anticipation.

With how the fellow look at him, it throw his entirety in disarray, sensing deep inside of him that whatever was going to be told would completely change his views.

“The alpha heat.”

The guy said it with such dread and weight it seemed to echo through his head. The name itself gave a ringing sensation in him.

A chill came down his spine, feeling the ticklish sense running through his entire body. It was as if the reality of it all sent an extreme rush within him.