My almighty alpha gene

"Come on, Liam, we have to leave now!" A female voice shouted urgently.

"I had no complaint when you spent three hours applying makeup. I only went to grab something for two seconds, and you're already yelling,"

Liam replied as he slipped a small box into his pants pocket.

"Don't tell me that's weed you're putting in your pocket, Liam? Because a little bird told me you've been doing drugs," the female questioned Liam, suspicion glinting in her eyes.

"You're the one doing drugs, since apparently you now talk to birds," Liam scoffed, as he puts on his eye glasses that helps improve his sight before storming out of the house with his backpack.

Ever since Liam's parents died under mysterious circumstances, Liam and his elder sister, Dawn, had been living with their uncle, David, for two years now.

The cause of Mr. and Mrs. Batson's death remained unknown.

After months of relentless investigation, the police concluded that their deaths were not caused by a normal human.

Since then, the two Batson children hadn't been the same.

Dawn would often sneak away to a hidden spot to shed tears, while Liam chose to forget everything by turning to drugs and alcohol.

Even after two years had passed since the tragic incident, Liam and his sister hadn't quite moved on.

Despite their outwardly happy façades, they were still grieving on the inside.

Liam and Dawn made their way to school and headed to their respective classes.

"Stay out of trouble, okay?" Dawn said before parting ways with her brother.

Liam didn't bother to reply, walking to his friends at their usual spot instead.

****

The mid-morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Ms. Thompson's history classroom, casting warm rectangles of light across the rows of desks.

The walls were adorned with colorful maps, timelines, and historical artifacts, setting the stage for an immersive learning experience.

As the bell rang, Ms. Thompson stood at the front of the room, her enthusiasm for history evident in her every gesture.

"Good morning, class," she greeted with a smile. "Today, we embark on an exploration of the enigmatic civilization that arose along the banks of a significant river. Can anyone tell me which river we're referring to?"

Eager hands shot up, each student hoping to impress with their historical knowledge.

Ms. Thompson's gaze settled on Liam, who sat near the back of the room, his notebook open but his expression slightly anxious.

"Liam," Ms. Thompson called, her voice encouraging. "What river was crucial to the development of the ancient Egyptian civilization?"

Liam's brows furrowed as he searched his notes for the answer.

The room held its breath, the anticipation palpable.

"Um... the Amazon River?" Liam ventured tentatively, a hopeful smile on his lips.

Ms. Thompson's smile remained warm, tinged with amusement.

"A valiant guess, Liam, but not quite. The river we're discussing is the Nile River. The lifeblood of ancient Egypt, it provided fertile soil, transportation, and sustenance for the civilization that thrived along its banks."

Liam's cheeks flushed slightly as chuckles rippled through the classroom.

"You did well, Liam," Simon said, trying to lift his friend's spirits.

Undeterred, Ms. Thompson turned to the large map behind her, tracing the course of the Nile with her finger.

"As we journey through the history of the Nile River and the remarkable society it nurtured, remember that making mistakes is an integral part of learning,"

she encouraged, her tone gentle yet motivating.

"So, let's dive into the rich tapestry of ancient Egyptian history together."The class settled in, captivated by Ms. Thompson's storytelling prowess as she wove a tale of pharaohs, pyramids, and the enduring legacy of a civilization that once flourished along the banks of the mighty Nile River.

And in the midst of it all, Liam scribbled notes, his determination to grasp the intricacies of history stronger than ever.

****

Classes for the day concluded, and it was time for the school's sports team to practice.

Liam was a part of the field hockey team but hadn't played a single game since the term started.

He was always on the bench with his friends, Simon and Leon.

"Why do we keep showing up for training if we're not going to get picked?" Leon questioned, glaring at the portly coach standing a few meters away.

"If we keep showing up, Coach John might notice our determination and give us a chance in the trials,"

Liam replied, paying close attention to the training session.

"That pig will never notice us," Simon grumbled. "Let's get out of here and go have a quick smoke downtown."

Leon cheered at Simon's suggestion, and although Liam wanted to object, the two boys chanted his name until he reluctantly agreed.

"Fine, just a few smokes and drinks, and then we head home," Liam conceded.

The three boys rode in Simon's blue jeep to a nearby bar.

They ordered a few drinks and began consuming them rapidly.

Hours Later...

"Excuse me, I think you should leave now," the bartender requested as he glanced at the intoxicated teens on the floor.

"Uh... okay... thank you... we'll leave now," Liam slurred, helping his two friends to their feet before they stumbled out of the bar.

"Didn't you have fun? If I didn't suggest it, we would have wasted our evening watching that boring training," Simon mumbled drunkenly from the passenger's seat.

Liam started the jeep and began driving them home.

The three friends engaged in loud singing of their favorite song, a ritual they practiced whenever they headed home.

Driving through the dark expressway at high speed, their singing and intoxication caused them to lose focus on the road.

"Look out!" Simon shouted, but it was too late to hit the brakes.

Crash!

The jeep collided with a girl who was crossing the road.

The impact sent the girl flying through the air, and she landed several meters away.

"Oh my God," Liam stammered, his disbelief evident.

The boys rushed to the motionless girl. Simon knelt beside her and checked for a pulse.

"She's dead," Simon said, his voice shaky. Liam verified the grim assessment, checking for signs of life.

"There's nothing we can do," Simon added.

"We should take her to the hospital for treatment. She might still have a chance," Liam said, sweat forming on his forehead.

He was only 16, and the weight of death was overwhelming.

"Are you crazy?" Leon exclaimed. "If we take her to the hospital, we'll get arrested. I'm not ready to spend my life behind bars."

"He's right, Liam. No one saw this. If we leave now, it won't be traced back to us," Simon supported Leon's argument.

Reluctantly, Liam agreed. They hurried back to the jeep and drove away.

As Liam sat in the passenger's seat, he felt a strange sensation inside him.

Unbeknownst to him, his eyes were now glowing a bright yellow.