BLOOD DROP

Chapter 1

On Saturday morning, bright sunlight streamed through the window, spilling warmly across the room. The light fell directly onto the eyes of a sixteen-year-old boy who stirred awake, struggling as though he were wrestling an invisible opponent stronger than himself.

“Thank God, it’s Saturday morning—hooray!” he shouted, just as he did every day. He had a habit of naming the day aloud and thanking God upon waking, believing that doing so brought good luck to his daily routine.

Once out of bed, he reached for his phone resting on the table beside him. He quickly typed a message.

*Hey Michael, how are you? Did you receive any message from the Boss?*

About ten minutes later, while he was in the shower, his phone vibrated and lit up with a notification.

“This boy is always late with everything,” he muttered to himself as he read the message.

*Hey Jacob, everything is set. We’ll meet as scheduled on Shanta Town Street. Don’t forget—the code is 2580. It’s important.*

Jacob rushed to get dressed, pulling on his trousers and a polo shirt. According to Michael’s message, he had only twenty-five minutes to reach the meeting point.

Shanta Town Street was crowded with people of every kind—businessmen, vendors, and beggars alike. Everyone seemed busy surviving in their own way. Despite the town’s attractive appearance, the arrangement of the buildings created an uneasy feeling, as if every step required caution.

“Hey, dude. Code?” a tall man demanded.

He was dressed in a black suit, wearing no bow tie or necktie, only a plain white shirt beneath the jacket. His voice was rough and intimidating.

“2580,” Jacob replied quickly, his voice trembling.

“Follow me,” the tall man said.

Jacob obeyed, moving carefully behind him. They passed through a shabby building once owned by the Carvex Group, a former confectionery manufacturer. The factory had long been abandoned, leaving space for criminals to occupy it as a base for their illegal activities.

As they reached the production area, the tall man stopped beside a door labeled *Manager*. He reached for the handle and opened it. Jacob’s heart pounded with fear.

“Boss,” the tall man announced, “here is our mastermind.”

“Alright. Leave us,” the Boss replied.

As the tall man exited, the Boss gestured for Jacob to sit.

“Welcome,” he said calmly. “I am Zacred—the genius of Shanta Town. Make yourself comfortable, even though your heart refuses to.”

He smiled widely, his grin resembling a crocodile’s.

“I’m all in,” Jacob replied confidently, surprising Mr. Zacred.

“Well then,” Zacred said, impressed. “Let’s stop wasting time and get straight to the point. I hear you possess something valuable—something people nowadays call technology. I don’t care what it is. I want it. Are you in?”

“Do you believe you can buy it from me?” Jacob asked, sitting with the confidence of a powerful businessman.

“How much?” Mr. Zacred asked.

“Two point five billion dollars,” Jacob replied.

Mr. Zacred’s eyes widened in shock, as if he had just witnessed a snake swallowing a giraffe.

“That much?” he exclaimed. “You do realize that if I don’t get it from you, you won’t leave this place alive.”

Jacob laughed. “This isn’t about who survives,” he said calmly. “If things go wrong, we both perish.”

“Is that so?” Zacred replied. “Let’s see.”

He reached into the right pocket of his thick trousers and pulled out a radio. Speaking loudly, he commanded, “Seal all exits. Activate the steam—activate it now!”

As soon as he finished, Jacob opened his bag. It was small, branded with a Reebok logo. He pulled out a device labeled **JXC2** and switched it on. Instantly, the room filled with a glowing blue light.

“What are you doing?” Mr. Zacred shouted, suddenly realizing Jacob was far beyond his control. “Listen, I can guarantee your safety. Don’t do anything foolish!”

But it was already too late.

A mechanical voice echoed from the ceiling: *Steam activated.*

“Turn that thing off!” Zacred screamed. “I can’t find my mask! The steam is poisonous!”

Jacob remained silent.

*Pairing successful. Ready for takeoff,* the device announced.

“Take off—and explode,” Jacob commanded.

A massive explosion followed.

Blue, rope-like energy wrapped tightly around the chair Jacob sat on, shielding him just seconds before the blast. The entire building collapsed into ash and debris. When the dust settled, Jacob remained seated exactly where he had been—the sole survivor.

Three hours later, sirens echoed through the ruins. The Shanta Town Sheriff’s Department arrived and carefully freed Jacob from the glowing restraints that held him. He was placed into an ambulance for questioning, according to protocol.

An hour later, Sheriff Alan arrived.

“How are you feeling right now, son?” he asked.

“I don’t know anything,” Jacob replied.

“What about your family?” the sheriff pressed.

“I don’t know anyone,” Jacob said quietly. “Or anything.”

Sheriff Alan pulled a chair closer and sat beside Jacob. His voice softened.

“Hey, son, don’t pressure yourself. Just relax. I’m more like a father to you than a cop—at least by your intuition—though I *am* a cop indeed.”

He leaned forward.

“We found you tied to a chair with something that looked like a rope. Can you explain what happened? It’s hard for me to believe that a boy like you could survive such a blast.”

After speaking, he lit a cigarette and waited.

“I don’t know anything, Sheriff,” Jacob replied calmly. “Honestly, I’m surprised to even be questioned here. The last thing I remember is that today is Saturday, February 2024.”

Sheriff Alan slammed his hand lightly on the desk.

“Hey, boy! Do you think I’m a toad, making all this noise for nothing? I’m here to get proper information about the explosion we heard. And 2024? Are you crazy? Do you expect us to believe you’re from the future?” He scoffed. “Nonsense—absolute nonsense!”

“May I ask you a question, Sheriff?” Jacob said quietly.

“Go on,” Sheriff Alan replied, puffing smoke into the air.

“What year is this?”

“1985, you stupid boy.”

Jacob’s eyes widened. “In Shanta Town?”

“Yes,” the Sheriff answered, tapping ash onto the desk.

Jacob whispered to himself, unaware that his words escaped his lips. “What am I going to do? Why did my JXC2 bring me here?”

The Sheriff stiffened. “Hey! What did you just say? *JXC2?* Brought you here? Don’t mock me, boy. Tell me what’s going on!”

Jacob swallowed. “I was holding something—did you take it from me? It looked like a pen… wooden, like a pencil.”

“Nothing like that,” the Sheriff replied. “Only that rope-like structure that tied you to the chair.”

Jacob’s heart sank. “Then I can’t return… I’m stuck in 1985. What will I be charged with, according to your laws?”

“Nothing,” Sheriff Alan said dismissively. “You’ll be questioned, and then you’re free to go.”

Jacob exhaled slowly. “I remember having a business conversation with someone—I can’t clearly recall who. But I do remember creating JXC2: a time-based technological device designed to transport a person from one place to another within the same day and year. The explosion wipes out all physical evidence of the location. I never expected it to send me back in time.”

The Sheriff shook his head.

“We heard an explosion from the sky. When you landed, debris was everywhere—like you’d been thrown from a helicopter. But our patrol team found no sign of any aircraft. I tried to understand you, but all this…” He stood up. “You’re either a psychopath or wasting my time. Everything you’ve said is nonsense. Get out of here, boy.”

Jacob was released.

As he stepped out of the police station, a sudden realization struck him.

*1985.*

That meant his parents were alive.

Somewhere in this town.

For the first time, his chest felt both heavy and hopeful. He would witness their lives—long before they met, long before they married in 2007, and before he was born in 2008.

His mind darkened.

By the time he was seven, both of them were gone.

How did it happen?

Perhaps being thrown into 1985 wasn’t an accident after all. Maybe it was the key—the doorway to answers he had been searching for his entire life.

And now, the question remained unanswered:

*Where do I find them?*