For Jacob (i luv u)

The occasional loose cobblestone shifted under Jacob’s tired feet as he strolled alongside Nicholas through the quaintest of neighborhoods. Leaves of every color rained down on them, brushing their faces: filtering out the sunlight. They passed many small cottages, dark and quiet, tangled in aging oak trees. Nicholas walked in silence save the steady tapping of his feet on the ground. Jacob looked far off at the clouds, cumbersome and glorious. Slowly blurring to a pretty pink hue. The boy’s thoughts drifted off into a daydream.

*

Jacob found himself out in front of the Crystal movie theatre, staring blankly at a group of teenagers, all conversing rapidly: Friends. From his high school… All so young and with a certain lustrious aura about them.

“Hey Starscream,” a lilting voice escaped the lips that so softly planted a kiss on his cheek just then.

“Nina!” A boy announced to the group as they all turned to face her.

“Hi, Adam,” Nina laughed, “How’s it going, guys?”

‘THE TWO T0WE S’

was lit up on the marquee over the ticket booth.

“Let’s go!” Oran squealed.

Jacob’s friends were now filing in through the entrance, and out of the cold. As they moved inside, Jacob noticed a group of five or six boys, all leaning against the brick exterior of the building. One particular boy in a black ‘Korn’ sweatshirt stepped up behind Nina, who was at the end of the line, and charaded to spank her. The boys all laughed and made dirty jokes.

“Hey,” Jacob stepped up to the boy in black, “that’s my sister you just pretended to harass.”

“Screw off,” the boy spat back in Jacob’s face, “you little emo faggot.”

“Jacob,” Nina, seeing he had not followed them inside, held the door open with an outstretched arm, “you coming?” She gave the boys a puzzled look.

“Oh, yeah,” Jacob took a step towards her, “these are just some friends of mine. I’ll catch up with you guys in a minute.” He smiled at her and turned back to the Korn kid and his cronies. They glared back at him, obnoxious smirks smeared across their faces. “I was just saying, I really don’t appreciate you treating her like that.” Jacob tried not to stutter.

“So?” the boy scoffed, “What’re you gonna do about it? Huh?”

“Well… I’m not going to do anything. I just..”

“Oh, what?” the boy interrupted, “What, you wanna fight?” He shoved Jacob back a step.

“No, I’m not..,” Jacob sighed.

“C’mon you pansy,” The boy slapped Jacob’s cheeks repeatedly, “Let’s go!” Jacob stood in silent frustration. “Anyway… your sister’s a slut.” Jacob’s hands were bony: sprouting long fingers with cold, purple knuckles. One of them connected with the stranger’s face. “Ungh!” The boy staggered, but kept his balance, eyes wide with fury. “You piece o’ f..” *CRACK* There was a horrible squeal in Jacob’s head. His vision flashed white as he stumbled backwards. Dark red blood gushed out his nose when another loud crack put Jacob on the ground.

*

Nick pulled on a weathered, wooden door in which ‘The Bluestone Bistro’ could be seen etched. The windows were smokey and translucent. Jacob was ushered in and led to a small corner table.

“What can I get for you boys?” a portly waitress approached them, pen and pad in hand.

“I’ll have the cake and gravy.” Nick said with a bit of hesitation.

“Anything to drink?”

“Just milk, please.”

“And how about… you?” The waitress bent over, attempting to catch a glimpse of the boy’s face.

“I’ll have the same,” Jacob muttered. The waitress’ eyes moved from the hook to the torn, blood-stained shirt to the boy’s eyes, stormy and cowering behind a thicket of curly black hair. She finished her scribbling and left them alone. The restaurant was quite empty. A wall clock tocked 7:28. Jacob stared at the clock absentmindedly, lost in a trance thinking about the sounds it made.

“..hook…wolf…hook..,” the clock began to chant.

“Shuttup…” Jacob’s words echoed through the halls of an especially spacious haunted palace that was his own.

Nick spoke in a low voice, “I’ve been watching you, Jacob,” he stared at him intently, “I… I didn’t think there was anyone left to resist. Anyone who gives a damn.”

“But I don’t,” Jacob replied solemnly, “not anymore.”

“Jacob… He took my mother from me. When I was fourteen years old.”

“At least you knew your mother,” Jacob mumbled.

“I watched Wolfhook murder her,” Nick choked up, “Her screams ring in my ears still.”

Feeling empathetic, Jacob tried to console him, “I’m… I’m sorry.”

Nick continued, “I’m going to get revenge. That’s all I have left to live for.”

“Haven’t you heard the stories?” questioned Jacob, “He doesn’t die!”

“I don’t believe that, Jacob,” Nick locked eyes with the boy before him, “Death may lie and wait, and death may fly. But with passing eons, even death may die.”

“Okay, so… suppose he’s not completely invincible,” Jacob said, “Still, I don’t think you stand much of a chance.”

“Well, as far as I know, I can’t die either,” Nick stared, expressionless. Jacob gave him a sarcastic look. Nick took a deep breath, “I was sixteen. After hunting Wolfhook for two years, I finally found myself standing face to face with him. ‘Wolfhook,’ I said, ‘The suffering ends here.’ I unsheathed my grandfather’s sword and charged the monster. The fight didn’t last long. I skewered him through the heart. A dark red river of blood covered my blade. But a second had passed when Wolfhook plunged a large, bladed hook, much like yours, into my chest. The pain was… excruciating. My lungs filled with death. Wolfhook withdrew his weapon and fled. Thinking this was the end, I grasped the hilt of my sword and laid it on my chest. Alas, I began to feel, strangely, alive once again. Jacob..,” Nick’s eyes twinkled, “The only scar I bear was given to me by the one who’s blood flows through my veins.”

Jacob stared at Nick in awe, “You mean..?” Nick smiled and unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a long scar, running vertical down the middle of his chest. A waitress noticed Nick with his shirt open and gave a quizzical look. The same, portly waitress then returned with their breakfast. “Nick?” Jacob asked, “Where’s Olea?”

“Olea is what we call the moon,” he answered.

Jacob scoffed, “I see…”

“But since Wolfhook ended his solar quest and returned to Earth, I, in turn have done so.”

Jacob laughed for the first time that morning, “Solar quest, huh?”

“I’m living in the Shadybrook apartment building on twelfth street for now,” Nick continued, “We’ll go get you cleaned up when we’re finished eating.”

Jacob stepped out of the shower, drying himselft off. One of Nick’s black suits hung from the bathroom door. Jacob dressed himself and combed his hair. He was growing tired of having to perform so many simple tasks with one hand. Jacob left the bathroom and walked down the spiral staircase, into the living room. Nick had a nice, humble apartment. A few old photographs graced the blank walls. There was a couch and an entertainment center with an old television. A stereo sat on a desk in one corner, filling the apartment with classical music. Also on the desk was a photograph of a girl. Jacob stepped closer for a better look. The girl appeared to be some sort of harpie. She had large, black wings, and what looked like about a twelve foot wingspan. Jacob soon noticed that in every frame, those pictured all had large black wings. Nick walked in from the kitchen, wearing his same clothes.

You’d better take a look at this,” he said, thrusting a newspaper in Jacob’s face. Jacob’s eyes fell on a front page photograph. It was of several police men and EMTs, all standing around a covered body.

LOCAL TEEN FOUND DEAD IN LAKE

read the headline. Jacob’s eyes darted wildly across the page.

Tuesday evening, Jeff Morriss, 32 was hiking a well known wasatch trail with his dog, Achilles. Morriss soong became suspicious of his dog’s behavior. “He was acting so strange. He’d never bring back the sticks I threw in the lake for him to fetch. And one time, he paddled back to shore pulling a corpse.” The corpse was that of a local Northhaven girl, Nina Mason, 16. A girl who’s “been missing for about a month now,” reports Detective Michael Booters, “The girl suffered a stab wound in her left side, a few inches below the armpit.” The autopsy revealed that the wound was, in fact, six inches deep and had, “somewhat of an arc shape,” according to Booters’ partner Detective Sulley. Three of Nina’s ribs were broken and had caused some severe internal bleeding which was, “most likely the cause of her death, contrary to the previous assumption that she drowned,” says Booters. Sulley assured that “This is most certainly a murder case and we are currently tracking down a prime suspect. A boy who was believed to have been in the mountains with Nina the night she was last seen.” The detectives were not at liberty to reveal the suspect’s identity and claimed any other information they had to be confidential.

Author’s Note: For those who need it: the prime suspect is Jacob. The Darkboy movie comes out around Thanksgiving 2004.