Bloodstock Island

Chapter 23

Ears on the door, Max listened in on who his dad was talking to. But from the way the conversation was progressing, he cannot fully grasp who the other person is on the other line.

From the sound of it, his father sounded agitated, nearly hearing his whispers because of how his voice was becoming stronger with each hiss.

He furrowed, having caught a few words, so he ended up gaping in both dread and horror as he swallowed hard.

“That’s impossible. How? Are you certain it’s not just a fluke?”

Lance tried to hide the anger in his tone as much as possible. His language remained but a mumble, but we’re becoming a shout.

Hands on the receiver, the thing was cracking each time he’d speak with intensity. With a sharp gaze, he continued to ponder.

There was a sudden pause from the other line. Max cannot pick up anything from it. The voices became more hush-hush. It had become so weak that the sound of his heartbeat was way louder.

“Three days! And how sure is the test?”

Once again, Lance muttered gritted teeth.

There were a few mumbling on the receiver before he heard a deep heaving, along with the sudden slamming.

Max took that as his cue to move. From where he was, he immediately ran back into the table, rushing like a panther with a soft, tip-toeing motion to make sure he did not cause any kind of noise.

When the door opened, he was in his seat, quietly munching on the food his father had meticulously prepared. He remained quiet, indifferent as if he wasn’t listening, but on the side of his gaze he watch how his parent hurried to the medicine cabinet.

A few seconds more and he rushes back to him, with something in his hand which made his brow furrow so much it connecting.

“Hey kiddo, I’m going to need a sample.”

Lance states.

Without warning, his old man sits beside him, grabs a hold of his hands and starts pressing the middle of his arm after putting the plastic tubing on his mouth. He searched frantically for a vein, making sure he was getting the largest one.

Though this wasn’t new to him, it was the first time his father had done it with such haste, to the point he can feel him trembling underneath his skin.

There was this fear and worry in his eyes, his sweat sliding down on his forehead as he began rubbing a piece of cotton on the part.

“What would you need my blood for?”

Max did not hesitate to ask out of intrigue.

It wasn’t the time of the month yet, so he got confused as to the reason behind it. Also, the way the old man was acting at the moment was too conspicuous, as he’d never seen the guy like that.

“It’s just for a test. Don’t worry.”

Lance’s voice trembled. He was now preparing the syringe and was tying the youth’s arm up after finding the right part on his arm.

But as their usual routine, his father looks at him for permission. They both took in a deep breath before he sticks the needle into his skin.

Max winced, feeling the sharp sting slowly piercing through his flesh. It did not help his father was in such a hurry and shaking, but luckily, the red liquid flowed easily into the vial without a problem.

There was this oddly eery silence coming taking over them, as they watch how the vial get filled with his fluid.

The most notable would be how pale his dad became, seeing a sudden motion change in the liquid as if he had noticed something odd about it.

“What kind of test? Is there something wrong with me?

Again he asks.

A flash of memory came into his mind, recollecting the conversation he had with Spartacus. It reminded him of the people who were aware of their situation and status.

And it only dawned on him that one of the so-called individual who’d fit the bill was his own dad. Now the only question he had was why’d he’d hide such a thing from him.

Several more theories formed as he contemplated on the issue. But he could not make out any probable reason he’d do such a thing.

His mind only came back to reality because of the sudden jolt of pain which got to him. His father had pulled the needle out of him with such haste it stung and made a bit of the crimson liquid flow out.

“It’s to make sure you didn’t get anything.”

Was all Lance muttered, hurrying to pick a piece of cotton buds. He paused for a bit, noticing how nicely the thing flowed down on Max’s skin. His eyes grew wide, seeing how the fluid dried in such a fashion it left a nice trail of it.

“Okay.”

Was all Max can say.

He didn’t want to look too nosy at the moment.

But deep down he was already having second thoughts, noticing how his father trembled at the sight of his blood. Sure, there was something different with it right now, since it seems to have gotten more liquid y than before, but he can’t understand why it would cause such concern.

“I need to go to have this check. I’ll call your school and tell them you’re not feeling well. Okay.”

After messing up his hair, his father didn’t even bother finishing his meal, going straight for his bag while staring at the vial he had, he shake it a few times before putting it in a black casing. He waves finally goodby before dashing straight for the door.

Max got left gaping, dumbfounded being left there alone with now question. Besides that, it seems his father had completely forgotten their conversation a while ago, no longer putting any thought to him as he rushed outside.

He watched as his old man ran to his vehicle, fumbling with his keys as he got in. He was still wearing his normal clothes, which only added to the issue, as he didn’t bother changing.