MaxNeil Oneshots

Control your Beckon

Pt 2 of "Don't follow a Siren's Beckon"

No P.O.V.

David awoke at his desk groggily, his eyes puffy over the dead camper he found two weeks prior. The man honestly thought camp would be canceled, but the death was considered an animal attack, and the police left the same day. Despite the other campers' teasing of Dolf, they were all crushed upon hearing of his death. Max refused talking the rest of the day. The red head had tried to himself what could've possibly happened; but it was all in vain. There really was no evidence of the small child's mode of death. With a heavy sigh, he stood, intendant on laying in bed awake for the remainder of the night; aware that no more sleep would come, when he heard something. David froze in place and listened intently. It was a soft noise, one he couldn't distinguish. Regardless, it was beautiful. Astoundingly so. David strained his ears to identify the source, but it was too lovely, too perfect. Fully awake and alert at this point, the man opened the cabin door to find the sound. It was just so drawing.

Though, just as quick as the noise started, it stopped. The babble of the woods surrounded him, still standing there, waiting. The lull did not return. Filled with curiosity, he began drifting around aimlessly, wondering what could've produced a melody so entrancing. At some point, an intuition led David closer to the lake, a notion he didn't understand. He surveyed over the dark water when reaching the treeline's edge, calmed by the view. That is until his eyes landed on two dark figures in the partial moonlight. Evidently, laying on the beach, licked by the black waves. That's strange, David thought, who would be on the shore at this hour--especially with what happened to Dolf... Approaching slowly, not able to see much in the dim light, David's eyes were met with piercingly bright green ones as one of the forms' heads snapped up to gaze at the unplanned intruder. David would know that stare anywhere. "Max-" he started before the smell of blood smacked his nostrils. What is going on??? He froze. Wait who else is- thoughts of Dolf rushed through his mind, cutting off his own internal question.

"...W-who?" was all his stunned lips could muster. Max's tail flopped up and down, as he peered up at the adult. "Petrol," was all he responded, the young teen's eyes practically glowing orbs against the night. The man shut his eyes took a deep breath to compose his shaking mind. "So," David finally started, "you're a siren, aren't you?" Max looked up at him inquisitive eyes, "What're those?" The councilor turned his nose away from the stench, trying with all his willpower not to vomit. "I'll tell you-just-" he swallowed a gag, "come to my cabin once when you're...finished." The Indian boy nodded as he chewed, observing David's disgusted but understanding expression. The adult quickly strode away from the sickening scene, very concerned on how he should react. A flow of questions entered his mind as the door to his cabin swung shut with a quiet click. Slumping into the old, comfy armrest, David stared at nothing, waiting for his camper to finish his...meal.

Max continued to feast on his catch, the waves brushing over him and the shore constantly ensuring his tail remained. Now, Max was still a bit irritated with himself  for eating one of his fellow camp-mates, and the way he had just forced the smaller child down; but when he had witnessed Petrol entering their camp grounds with a large knife, those morals of a peaceful death scattered from his mind. And, Petrol, well...he was pretty big. Bigger meant more food, and more food meant less prey. After pulling the remainder of the body into his secret little cave, the boy resurfaced and made his way back to camp. The water flowed off to reveal his legs. A lamp was on in the cabin, illuminating it with a dim orange glow. Max entered the small building silently, sitting on David's bed. The councilor appeared dazed as he turned to the small teen. "So what's a siren?" the ravenette finally asked. He thought sirens were those loud noises there was a bad storm or something. Why the hell would I be compared to that??? "Sirens are..." David began, "well, considered mythical creatures that roam deep waters. The stories started in Greece I believe, I learned about the stories during my time in France. They are known for entrancing songs and luring sailors in the water for various reasons dependent on the tale. Sometimes to drown them, others to eat them. They're also thought to occasionally save sailors from shipwrecks as well though."

The Indian boy sat for a moment to think that over. It sounded mostly right, though of course, human stories wouldn't be able to get all the facts straight anyway, so there wasn't any way to to be absolutely sure. "I guess so." was all he stated in reply. He expected David to be angry with him. I mean...he did find the boy eating another human. "Look Max," the red head started, "if you're hungry for meat I can hunt animals for you so you you don't have to resort to eating other campers..." The shorter blinked at the man. The boy put a hand to his chin before nodding in acknowledgement and looking down, not in shame, but in confession. "I never wanted to kill any of you," he admitted truthfully, "Dolf was an accident...and I wasn't going to waste him." Their eyes met as Max's head lifted, David's face once again twisted involuntarily in revulsion as Max continued, "I think that would make it even worse." "Who else have you eaten during this summer?" David inquired, wondering why he hadn't heard of any other disappearances. "A girl named Ainsely and a couple of hikers I found earlier in the summer." He responded. "Golly..." David commented, letting this information sink in, "you haven't really eaten much at all this summer have you?"

"That's what you focus on??" Max burst out with a laugh. David stayed silent for a moment as he calmed. Max eventually sighed and shook his head. He honestly never ate much period; but David didn't need to know that. After that point, Max persuaded David to at least let him finish the remainder of the body, as it was the best thing for him and the man would be able to come up with a reason for suddenly hunting food every so often. He couldn't hunt just for Max, as the other campers would become jealous or even suspicious. The councilor was a bit overwhelmed on how he was going to get enough for everyone every meal, but the ravenette informed that he only needed to eat like twice a week, though in quite a bit larger quantities. David was a little skeptical of this, but the camper continued to insist. Two weeks later, two large deer were on the table at dinner. Max had said he preferred raw meat, but that wouldn't easily go unnoticed, so he separated a large portion of the meat for the Indian boy that was cooked about a third of the time as the rest. Let's just say the other campers were pleasantly surprised by the fresh feast, and opted for that over whatever else the QM made that night. David also insisted on vegetables as well, because, of course he did. Max scarfed down his entire helping, still being hungry after, but not making that known as someone his size consuming the equivalent of half a large deer in 30 minutes would raise some eyebrows.

The fact that he often ate close to nothing didn't help with that illusion either. Finally, Max was content; he wouldn't have any more hunger pains, having to sneak away to feed himself. Camp stayed as chaotic as ever, he and Neil shared a bed each night. It was nice for a while, definitely helped with his anger. Still, it didn't stop his late-night swims. David had tried to get the camper to inform him whenever he left. The boy didn't, as expected, but the councilor was happy nonetheless with the new layer of trust was now established between the two. The only major bump around the issue was that Neil had developed a campylobacter infection. Guess Max hadn't been brushing his teeth as well as he thought. Whoopsie. Thankfully, it was fairly cheap and easy to treat. Unthankfully, Neil wouldn't drop that he hadn't eaten any raw meat so it would've been impossible to get it. His boyfriend's lips stayed in a tight line during any of his ramblings on the subject. The worst part though, was that Max couldn't kiss him as to not 'spread the bacteria'. He groaned and flopped his head onto the picnic table he resided. "This fuckin blows..." he muttered. He'd have to wait at least another couple weeks. It was pain. But, this was his fault and now he'd have to deal with it. Soon enough though, he would tell Neil his secret. Max could only hope his boyfriend wouldn't scream in terror at what he truly was...