Chapter 54

Sage was sitting alone in an empty classroom. His mind was hazy as he stared outside of the window. 

He was so lost that he didn't even realise that someone was calling out his name. Someone shook his shoulder, when he got out of his daze Nick's face became clear in front of him.

"Hi!" Nick's voice broke through the haze, his hand gently resting on Sage's shoulder. Sage blinked, his mind slowly refocusing as he turned to face Nick.

"What's up?" Nick asked in a worried voice. "I've been calling you for a while now." 

Sage stayed silent and stared at the weird boy who was acting friendly with him. His lips pursed, and he turned his gaze back to the window.

Nick's concern deepened as he noticed Sage's reddened nose. "Hey, is everything okay? Your nose looks kinda...red. Were you crying?"

Sage instinctively touched his nose, frustrated he told him. "No, I wasn't crying." 

But Nick just wanted to comfort him, he already knew Sage was upset because of River. "I don't mean to pry. It's just...you looked like a reindeer with that red nose." 

Sage glared at him, his eyebrows furrowing. "What?" he snapped.

His expression caught Nick off guard, he thought that he offended Sage. So, he quickly tried to explain himself, he doesn't want to ruin his chance to get close with sage. "I mean, not in a bad way! Reindeer are...cute, right? I just thought it was, you know, kinda cute."

Sage crossed his arms, nose scrunching at the weird boy. "So, you think I'm cute?" 

Nick panicked pretty badly, rubbing his hands on things in nervousness, eyes widened in fright. "Well, yes, I mean…no. Not when you're mad, but, uh…I just think reindeer are cute, that's all!" 

Suddenly, he froze when a cute small laugh escaped Sage's lips. Nick stopped babbling and could only stare at his smiling face. His own lips curled into a smile as he sighed. 

"You have dimples as well. River has too-" Sage started but stopped suddenly, his smile disappearing. He was shocked how for a moment he forgot that River was giving him a cold shoulder. 

He became upset again. 

And it was because of this weird boy. No, I should stay away from…River said not to be near him. If he finds out he will get even more angry! 

His heart began to pound. Without a word, he abruptly pushed his chair back and left the room. 

"Sage, wait! What happened? Where are you going?" Nick ran after him. 

Sage's pace quickened, and he shot a glance back at Nick, his eyes burning with frustration and sorrow. "Just leave me alone." 

"But at least tell me what happened?!" 

Sage continued down the corridor. However, a sudden, unexpected halt froze him in his tracks. 

There, standing before him, was none other than his roommate. And his face doesn't look good. 

Sage's expression changed into fright, though seemed calm, different from his inner conflict he was experiencing. 

"What are you doing here?" River demanded, his eyes emotionless, they didn't hold the affection they hold for Sage. 

Sage blinked, his eyes momentarily lighting up, he was about to respond to River's question. But as he noticed River's gaze focused on the person behind him, the light in his eyes faded away. The question wasn't for him but for Nick. 

"I can be wherever I want to be," Nick retorted, arrogantly. 

Nick grabbed Sage's arm who fell into a slump because of River's ignorance. "I have to talk about something with you." 

This grabbed River's sight, and his eyes burned with jealousy and anger. He snarled and instinctively tried to pull Sage away unconsciously. 

"Ah!" In his haste, he accidentally hurt Sage's hand because of rigid speed, his nails digging in Sage's skin, causing Sage to wince in pain. 

Seeing Sage hurt, his eyes widened. He quickly reached out to soothe the scratch on Sage's hand, his voice filled with regret. "Ziggy, I didn't mean to hurt you."

Sage, however, was in no mood for apologies. He was in disbelief. He was hurt and irritated. He yanked his hand away from River and shot him a withering glare. "Yeah, you never mean to hurt me, but somehow, you always do," He rubbed his hand, trying to lessen the stinging pain.

River was speechless and in shock, his heart heavy with guilt and frustration seeing Sage reacting like this. He watched in silence as Sage turned to Nick. "You know me from before?" 

Nick nodded solemnly. Sage took a deep breath. "Then tell me. I want to know everything." Without another word, and giving River a last glare of disappointment he turned and walked away. 

"Thanks for making it easy for me," Nick chuckled. 

River's frustration boiled over, and he turned to him, demanding, "What's the meaning of all this, you fucker?"

Nick met River's anger with a calm face and victorious smile. "It's time for Sage to know the truth."

River couldn't contain his outrage, and he practically shouted, "You've gone mad, Nick! What truth are you going to tell Sage? No subject is supposed to find out about themselves! Don't be a jerk and tell him something that would get him in trouble!" 

Nick's gaze changed, his smile faded and he snarled. "I don't know or care about other subjects. All I care about is Sage. Do you get it Mr. Doctor? Who didn't think once before having a sexual relationship with a so-called subject." 

River wanted to kill him but he couldn't respond to his accusation as well. He had broken the rule, he had used Sage. He doesn't know how Sage would react after finding out the truth. 

"Don't be a smartass! There are so many side effects if a subject remembers his memories. It's not a piece of cake where you go and tell him everything and he'll understand everything, his brain could be paralyzed if messed up in the wrong way." 

Nick rolled his eyes. "I won't make him remember his memories. I just want to tell him about Sunford and the lab so that I can get him safely out of here."

River laughed dryly. "What?" 

Nick's expression remained deadly serious as he locked eyes with River. "He will be coming soon. You know who? And this time, I don't know what fucked up things he will do here. I'm not leaving Sage here to die."

River's expression changed at the mere mention of 'HIM.'

"You can't just take Sage away no matter what," he protested, his voice trembling. "As long as I'm here, he can't harm Sage. I'm sure he's only coming here to see how Alpha is doing?" 

Nick snorted, his laughter was devoid of humour, a cold, bitter sound. "You really believe you can fool or fight him? He's the creator of Sunford, River. No one can defy him. I've had enough of your shit. You've only brought sadness and pain to Sage. Once I take him away, he'll forget about you."

River was shocked at his words. Anxiety of losing Sage made me defiant, refusing to back down. "You're the one talking shit! I've kept Sage safe, and I'll continue to protect him in the future."

"Believe what you want. I know Sage long before you ever met him here. I was there for him, not you."

"Do you think he'll let you take one of his subjects away?" River posed the question that had haunted him all along, the one he was most afraid to hear the answer to. 

Nick looked unconfident as well. He knows the task is impossible, yet he said with a serious face. "Leave that to me. It's my burden to figure out how to rescue Sage, not just from Sunford but from the lab as well."

River's anger flared, and he glared at Nick. "You can't take him. He's mine. He loves me!" 

"Soon, he'll love me. Once he learns that you already have a lover and that you used his body all this time, he'll come to hate you. That's when I'll be there to comfort him and help him fall in love with me," Nick's reply was chilling, one that pierced through River's conscience. 

River gets really angry and frustrated at those words. He grabbed Nick's collar and said. "You wouldn't dare! And who says I can't have two lovers–" 

"Watch me do exactly that," Nick matched his glare. 

"I'll kill you before that—" 

"What's going on here?" 

Both of them froze as Alpha's voice cut through their ongoing tension. River released his hold on Nick's collar, and Nick stepped aside as well, they both exchanged a silent agreement to maintain their composure in front of Alpha.

Alpha approached them with an emotionless expression. "What were you both doing?" he inquired.

River attempted to come up with an excuse but was interrupted when Nick abruptly walked away furiously, leaving River to explain himself. 

Alpha's direct question caught River off guard. "Why were you holding Nick like that?"

"Nick? Do you know him?" River frowned, feigning ignorance and trying to change the topic. 

Alpha nodded hesitantly. "Yes, he was my bro—" 

Nick is not your brother. His words trailed off as Eve's warning echoed in his mind. 

"Never mind," he corrected himself, changing the subject. "Come with me. I have something to tell you."

River sighed that Alpha didn't push the topic and followed him into a room they often used for their meetings. Once inside, Alpha turned to him, his gaze steady. "What was it...you wanted to tell me?" River asked. 

Alpha's frown deepened as he observed River's unusual behavior. "Why aren't you smiling or talking nonsense like you always do?" he questioned, suspicion creeping into his gaze.

River blinked at him, his initial response was a nervous and awkward laugh. "What? C-Come on, man. You really think I can only laugh and talk nonsense—"

"Yes," Alpha cut him off with a direct and firm response. The seriousness in his tone sent River's heart racing, making him wonder if Alpha was growing suspicious of him. "You being serious and calm is weird and creepy."

To avoid Alpha's penetrating gaze, River quickly took a seat. "You're overthinking. So, what did you want to talk about?"

Alpha's sigh as he told him, ignoring his change for a while. "Those murders...I didn't commit them."

River froze, his heart skipping a beat. He abruptly looked up, his voice filled with shock and disbelief. "What?!"

Alpha confirmed River's worst fears with a simple nod, unaware of the growing anxiety his words were causing in his friend. "Hmm. And on the Night Hunt, I didn't kill him either."

Alpha was terrifying him. River put up a shocked and confused face. "How is it possible? They have the same X mark on their bodies—"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," Alpha responded. "There's someone else who's killing them using my name and sign."

River's palm grew sweaty with unease. He chuckled nervously. "I feel like my brain stopped working. Do you have any suspicions about who might be behind it?"

Alpha simply shook his head. "No, but I'll find him soon and kill him."

"I'll help you find him," River offered nervously. 

Alpha, however, shook his head firmly. "No, I'll find him alone."

"Huh? But why? I'm your friend. I'll help you catch that bastard," he desperately said. 

River can't allow Alpha to investigate further, the risks of him getting caught were too great, with all that bullshit going on in Sunford.

Alpha turned to him with a gaze River never expected from him. It made him flinch, and the next words almost turned him into a statue. "I don't want you to get into this mess. You might not understand the kind of messed-up things happening in that family. You're my friend, which is why I'm telling you not to do anything rash. I can't handle losing another person in my life." 

River was left stunned, his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't find the right words to respond, only able to stare at Alpha. This person couldn't be Alpha, he thought. 

Where's the scary and formidable guy they're trying so hard to turn him into? What happened that made him so different, and who's the one who's able to change him?" 

Though the emotions River felt in that moment was far from his own thoughts. Staring at Alpha he couldn't understand them—was it sadness, guilt, or something else entirely? It was all so overwhelming.

"H-hey," River stammered, trying to regain his composure. "You're making me emotional," He laughed, making Alpha roll his eyes. 

 🐣🐣🐣

Sage sat alone in the classroom once again waiting for Nick. 

However, his peace was interrupted by a hyperactive boy, who stormed inside. 

"Oh, it's you," the boy panted heavily, his eyes wide with fear. "Where should I hide?" He darted nervous glances around the room.

Sage frowned in confusion. "Why are you hiding?"

The boy stared at Sage with terror in his eyes. "Jax was trying to comfort me, so I bit his dick you know and now he's haunting me! Oh man, he's going to kill me! Why are you so calm? Help me hide!"

Without waiting for a response, the boy scurried behind the lecturer's stand, seeking refuge from the upcoming storm, his roommate. Because it's in his fate to always be caught. 

Just then, another guy burst into the classroom, his breathless words tumbling out. "Have you seen someone here?"

"You mean the green-eyed monster," Sage replied calmly.

Jaxton replied with irritation. "Yes, the green-eyed monster, indeed."

Sage shook his head. "No, I haven't seen anyone," Ira, hidden behind the desk, couldn't contain his relief and let out a sigh. "But don't check behind that stand, there's no one there." 

"Hey, you cheater!" He screamed, standing up, and pointing an accusing finger at Sage with an angry expression. 

But soon he met with Jaxton's menacing expression. "Look, I was just kidding, dude."

"You're so dead," Jaxton growled, grabbing a protesting Ira and dragging him away.

"Weirdos," Sage muttered, shaking his head in amusement before returning to his silent expression. 

"What are you doing here alone?" Sage gasped at the sudden voice. Looking at the other side of the class he found Eve sitting there. 

"When did you come here?" Sage asked, catching his breath. 

Eve let out a small smile. "When you were lost in your thoughts. Do you know where River is?"

"Why?!" Sage snapped. His eyes narrowed as he fired off a series of questions in defence. "Why? Why are you asking about him? What do you want from him?" His tone had a panic to it, reflecting his unease.

Eve was shocked and in disbelief. It was the same reaction when Eve got in Sunford and Sage asked him to stay away from River. 

It was jealousy.

"I-I just asked to know if Alpha is with him or not," Eve lowered his head, fidgeting his fingers on the desk, his voice soft and scared. "I don't want to upset you."

Sage frowned, realising his words. He instantly felt guilty for reacting so harshly. River's feelings for Eve weren't Eve's fault, and he shouldn't take his frustration out on him, he thought. 

"I don't know where he is," he replied, his tone softening. "And I don't want to know where he is or who he likes, anyway." The last part was something he was trying to convince himself of, even though it still hurt.

Eve frowned, though he somehow got it. "He's still ignoring you?"

The words directly stabbed his heart, and he nodded. Eve didn't understand how to respond to that because he was in a similar situation. 

"Why are you looking for Alpha?" 

"He left the room without telling me where he's going," Eve responded, he was scared of what Alpha might be doing. It would be a problem if he tells anyone the things he told him about Sunford. 

Sage almost fell from his chair. "And now you're looking for him? Alpha? The guy everyone tries to stay from?"

Shouldn't you be happy that he's not in the room to bother you? 

Eve smiled. "Yes!" 

Sage fell from the chair.