Invasion stories: Jacob.
Author's note: This story and any that may follow are set during the "Quest" storyline. It will not be necessary to read any of those chapters to understand these. I hope you enjoy! ( By the way, those of you who have been reading Quest… I will hopefully have it finished in the next couple of months. Thanks for your patience!)
Jacob walks down the sidewalk and sighs as he looks at the surrounding devastation. The second anniversary of the alien's invasion is slowly approaching and the evidence of their deeds remain. Metropolitan cities became towns, towns became villages, and villages became dust on that day.
According to the elderly guard at this entrance, a small hotel exists in the middle of town. Jacob looks for signs of activity and spies nothing that indicates any kind of bar or place to rest. He tells himself that he will turn the next corner and, if the hotel is not there, then he will just try to find some sort of bedding in one of the many empty homes. He prefers speaking to live people but ghosts will be just as welcome, if that means he can get a decent night's sleep.
He turns the corner and smiles when he spots the building that must be the hotel. It is a nice two story house, probably was the house for some rich family before the invasion, he thinks. He can see candles lit from various windows throughout the house.A small group of people are standing at the entrance, talking and laughing with each other. Laughter, Jacob thinks, what a rare treat.
He approaches and the conversation dies. Jacob knows that he must look horrible. His jeans are old and full of holes. His overcoat is dark black and is also nothing but rags, but it has kept him warm. His dark black hair is long and stringy. His once handsome, smooth face is full of bruises and houses a very long beard.
The other people say nothing as he enters the building. They must encounter plenty of people like himself, he thinks.
The spacious liviingr room he enters is lit by several candles. An old, plump, woman sits behind a table. She looks at him as he approaches. She, too, must encounter other strangers like himself because she doesn't blink an eye at him.
"Can I help you," she asks, her voice sounding younger than her old body would suggest.
"Do you have a room available," Jacob asks.
"Payment?"
He pauses. He remembers all the lies that he has told in other towns. Lies that were able to get him free room and board. Lies that were able to get female companionship along with the room and board. Lies that kept him alive. However, he finds he doesn't want to lie anymore.
"No money," he admits. "I lost what little the aliens left me during a mugging just over a year ago."
"Let me see your arms," commands the old woman.
This request surprises Jacob but he removes his overcoat for the lady. He knows he doesn't have to remove his t-shirt for it has just as many holes as his other attire.
The woman looks him over and speaks.
"Okay, you can have a room for a night. However, your payment will be to help my niece gather firewood tomorrow. Along with the room, you will be provided with a hot meal. That is, if you want one."
Jacob smiles.
"Yes, ma'am," he replies. "I would."
The old woman looks him over.
"For two days worth of work, I will throw in a second night and a change of clothes. One of my sons was a victim of the invasion. I still have some of his clothes and I think they should fit. Is that acceptable?"
Jacob is speechless. During his two years of struggling, he has never met someone as generous as this lady.
"Thank you."
A smile creeps on the old woman's face.
"Don't thank me yet," she winks. "Wait until you see how much wood I need."
He extends his hand.
"I'm Jacob."
She accepts it.
"Nice to meet you. Room number two and I will send my niece, Ann, up there later with your soup and clothes."
She hands him a key and a small paper bag.
"Good night," she says.
"Good night," Jacob replies.
*******************************************
Jacob looks into the mirror and smiles. The contents of the paper bag lie across the bathroom countertop and any evidence of his beard is slowly going down the drain. He rubs his smooth face. Since the invasion, has only been able to shave twice so the razor and shaving cream was a welcome gift.
He blows out the candle and walks into the small bedroom. A giant window overlooks the town and he is able to see more of the alien's handiwork . That day was such a horrible day. He remembers the picnic. He remembers holding Tina in his arms and kissing her. He remembers asking her to marry him. He remembers the catch in her voice as she said yes. He remembers slowly making love to her by the river. He remembers her moans of pleasure as he came inside her. He remembers how the expression of pleasure left her face as the skies grew dark. He remembers her screams as the world began to fall apart around them. He remembers watching as she was hit by the laser beams that were raining down. He remembers wanting to die right then but the aliens were moving too quickly and left him kneeling, alone, on the river bank.
A faint, timid knock, interrupts his memories and Jacob wipes away a tear from his face.
"Come in," he says loudly and turns to the door.
A young girl, maybe twenty five or so, enters the room. In her arms rests some articles of clothing and, sitting on top of that, a small bowl.
Jacob freezes at the sight of her. Her face is smooth. Her long hair is as black as the night. The blue dress she is wearing is very conservative and covers her entirely but he can tell that it is hiding what must be a very shapely body. In the darkness that separates them, he cannot see her eyes but can only guess that they must be dark and mysterious.
"Where do you want this," she asks and Jacob snaps back into reality.
He walks over to her, apologizes for his lack of manners, and takes the items from her. He sets the bowl of hot soup on a table next to the bed, and the clothes on top of the bed. As he looks at her once again, he notices that she is looking him over. He realizes that she has probably seen worse but attempts to apologize. He is just glad he was able to shave.
"No need to apologize," replies the girl. "However, thank you. Most of the other guys that have stayed here just accept the food and clothes and that is it."
Jacob realizes that her eyes keep glancing away from his face. He looks down in the direction and figures out what has drawn her attention. His arousal had begun while thinking about Tina and their lovemaking. The appearance of the old woman's niece was helping to maintain the arousal.
Jacob looks at her and notices a small grin on her face. She looks up at him and quickly blushes.
"I'm…I'm….," she stammers. "I'm so sorry."
Jacob laughs.
"That's okay, Ann. It is Ann, right?"
She nods.
"Yeah, short for Annie. You're name is Jacob?"
He nods.
They stand there in complete silence, looking into each other's eyes. Jacob has had sex on several occasions since the invasion but none of the women he went to bed ( or couch, or hay loft ) has been as gorgeous as this girl. He tries to think of lines that he could use: "So, here we are, alone, aliens invading the planet… how about comforting a lonely stranger." or "What is a gorgeous girl like yourself doing in a rundown hell hole like this?"
Or "If I said you had a gorgeous body…"
