29 September 2012
(Chapter 1)
A sultry August afternoon in Jubilee, Georgia brought down enough heat to kill a man...or so Jack Finney believed as he trudged about his daily duties at the Stop 'n Hop Station. Beneath the merciless sun, the gentle hum of an outdated 70's song drifted from Pop's old rusted stereo as cars rumbled in and out of the station, sending dirt whirling into the humid air as they cruised along the unpaved road. Pop himself sat in the station hunched over a desk full of haphazard paper, scrutinizing them with one hand over his furrowed brow in concern. He was an elderly man, approaching years nearly past middle age, but his face had traces of vivaciousness and determination that still held him in health. He had not, however, managed to escape the many years of August heat, Georgia sun, and a relentless Southern work ethic that permanently marked his aging face in a way that others respected him for. The Stop 'n Hop Station had been his own up bringing and his passion for life as it became a popular hub in the family-like community of Jubilee, though his grandson Jack had yet to experience this love for his job. At 15, Jack was not as tall as he'd hoped in order to make the Jubilee High basketball team, but rather he was exceptionally lean and long limbed and had a certain way with cars, thus his assistant position at Pop's station much to his disappointment. A mop of sandy brown hair swept over his tan face in such a way that provoked daily comments from his mother ("Sweet heart, if you don't head up to the barber soon, I'll be tempted to lop it off myself"). He had the mischievous green eyes of his grandfather that squinted when he smiled and an adorably toothy grin that was slightly crooked. When not preoccupied with school or station duties, the brisk young fellow could be found behind the Maynor's barn shooting baskets with the half inflated ball and rusted old wagon wheel as a hoop. However, on that ragingly hot August afternoon, Jack found himself half-heartedly chipping away at a dried mud splatter on a customer's vintage Ford as his mind wondered elsewhere. The station became quiet and all that could be heard over the distant chirping of birds was the gentle buzz of Pop's old radio. A soft breeze emerged from no where and aroused a small flurry of dirt before dying down again. For the first time in weeks, the station was completely deserted of costumers. Heat. Dirt. Sweat. Silence. Pop emerged from the station's swinging glass door and squinted into the daylight, one hand shielding his eyes. "Jacky Boy!" His deep voice broke the languid silence. "I've got 'ter run over to Maynard's. Cow's broke out again. Watch after the station for a while, will ya?" Jack raised his hand in acknowledgment as Pop revved up his "good 'ole truck" and pulled out of the station. Sighing, he shoved his hands into his surf-washed jeans and half-heartedly kicked an old soda can before heading inside. More silence. Eerie silence. The interior of Pop's shop consisted of a small general store, a popular hangout for the Jubilee High teenagers after school. But not today. It was as if they had unanimously decided against it that particular evening. And it was here, sitting behind the counter in Pop's abandoned station, that Jack found himself alone with his thoughts which he had tried so very hard to neglect. Since the failed basketball tryouts, he had made every conceivable effort to hide his disappointment, but the stone cold solitude of the station made him give in. A small tear began to form in his right eye, and he quickly swiped it away. "Not this again..." he muttered, and helped himself to a candy bar from the store. Jack Finney was an expert at hiding his emotions and that would never change, he was certain of. The burning daylight poured in through the huge glass windows of the station and birds chirped in the distance. Jack sat on Pop's tall stool behind the store counter and leaned his head against the back wall, letting the warm light soak in his skin. The stillness and silence grew deeper. Jack felt his eyes begin to close when suddenly the station door was flung open wide and in stepped a slender figure. Caught entirely by surprise, Jack awkwardly scrambled to his feet and rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the sudden burst of light. Regaining his composure, his eyes focused and he gasped aloud upon seeing the customer. A girl stood in the doorway of the shop curiously looking about...the most beautiful girl Jack had ever laid eyes on. She was perhaps near his own age - of average height, quite slender, unruly golden locks tumbling to her waist that looked as though they had been brutally wind swept. She wore a pale blue shift that hung rather loosely over her slim figure and sashayed flirtatiously about her knees in a way that made Jack want to faint. Her smooth cheeks glowed a pleasant peachy shade against her delightfully luscious skin. Soft, hazel eyes peered out from underneath sloping eye brows and long eye lashes, suspiciously examining their surroundings. She was young, but stood quite firmly with the resolution of a woman twice her age. Jack became quite unaware that he was obsessively transfixed upon her doll-like face, tracing each delicate curve with his eyes. The girl took a few cautious steps towards the snack counter, eyeing it's contents with languid contemplation. For a few awkward moments, Jack stood rather speechless in the presence of this strange and beautiful creature. At length, he gathered himself and drew a long breath, preparing to speak. "Can I help you?" He blurted. The girl made no acknowledgment in his direction and kept staring intently at the selection of candy bars. Jack's face grew warm in embarrassment. He watched as she reached for a Snickers bar and slowly turned it over in her palm as if in deep contemplation. Suddenly, without any forewarning, the girl thrust the bar into her shift pocket and flew out of the station door before Jack had time to blink. "Hey!" He called, scrambling from the the desk in an attempted pursuit. He burst out of the door just in time glimpse the girl's golden hair vanish into the trees on the opposite side of the road. Jack bolted after her for all he was worth. There was a deep urging in him like never before. He HAD to catch that girl. But goshdarnit, she was fast. Now just yards in front of him, Jack saw her slender, sylph-like figure weaving nimbly among the trees while he himself crashed rather clumsily through the underbrush. Golden hair whipped behind her like a curtain. Smooth, slender shoulders twisted through the thickening trees. Suddenly, her quick stride was broken as an outstretched branch became entangled in her loose flying hair. The girl let out a scream and twisted furiously in the grasp of her captor but not before Jack lunged forward and firmly clasped her wrist, shoving his free hand into her shift pocket and retrieving the stolen candy bar. The girl's eyes focused on him with intense ferocity. "Hey," Jack said, gripping her arms to prevent her escape. "You wanna pay for this?" He indicated to the bar. She blinked once, delicate lips tense in fury but remaining silent. Most unexpectedly, her face suddenly relaxed. Her sweet hazel eyes softened and firmly bore into Jack's heart like a knife. Jack drew in a sharp breath, suddenly feeling his body turn numb. The girl's arm slid from his weakened grip and wrapped around his neck, running her fingers through his sandy hair. Loosing all sense and feeling, Jack stumbled backward in surprise. The girl stepped towards him, pinning him against a huge oak. She leaned closer and closer until Jack felt his breath leave his body entirely. Pressing her lips against his ear, the girl whispered softly in a sultry, crystal voice, "I just did." With that, Jack fainted on the forest floor and the girl vanished into the woods.
The Runaway Siren • Opuss № I