The Hitchhiker (1080 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.9 on 43 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by ChaosJester (View user info) at 2007-11-20 12:39:34 EST
The truck-stop was fairly typical for its kind; a tiny outpost of pseudo-civilization artificially plunked down in the middle of an otherwise lifeless, sun-blasted scrubland. Mid-summer Texas heat beat down on the weathered asphalt in hellish, wispy waves as the hitchhiker stepped out of an ancient pick-up truck. Wiping his already perspiring brow, the grimy young man waved as his former benefactor sped away into the azure distance, then looked out at the small herd of 18-wheelers clustered together in the parking lot. Judging from the number of vehicles, the lunch-time rush must be just starting to wind down.
Slowly ambling towards the small diner connected to the main fueling station, the weary wanderer mentally calculated the likely price of a burger versus the meager amount of cash he had; it should be enough. Pushing open the glass door, the young man's senses were suddenly blasted by the air-conditioned interior.
"Hey, darlin'," a pleasant-looking, middle-aged waitress called out from her seat at the Formica-covered bar. "Just sit wherever. Menu's on the table; I'll be along, shortly." Turning back to a greasy man in an apron who was obviously the cook, the waitress resumed their interrupted conversation.
Choosing a table facing the window-covered outer wall, the hitchhiker tiredly sat down and absently leafed through the laminated menu. Finding the prices to be about what he expected, the young man closed the cheaply-bound manuscript and waited patiently. Soon enough, the matronly waitress glided over, took his order and gave it to the cook, who promptly vanished into the back.
After a few minutes, the waitress came back with his burger and set it down in front of the newcomer. Instead of leaving him to his meal, however, the woman sat down opposite him.
"Name's Janine McDaniels. Mind if I ask what yours is?"
The tired traveler quietly sighed, then shook his head. "Jeremy."
"Well, nice to meet you, Jeremy. Pardon me for bein' nosey, but you look like you've been walkin' a long and lonely road. Want some company?" After a brief pause, Janine smiled lopsidedly and continued. "After all, we don't usually get anything besides red-neck truckers around here this time of day and, between you and me, it gets a little dull listening to the same old bitching and moaning about politics, U.F.Os and the weather."
Jeremy shrugged. "I don't mind if you stay, but I'm a little too tired to hold up my end of a conversation." Taking a bite from his meal, the young man looked up at Janine. "Your chef makes a decent burger," he said after swallowing.
"Doesn't he though?" Janine smiled. "That's Bill, my husband. We actually own the diner part of this truck-stop." The middle-aged woman briefly looked outside. "Yup. Been together 25 years; all of 'em right here."
Jeremy nodded in appreciation, then looked confused. "This truck-stop's 25 years old?"
"Of course not, Honey," Janine laughed quietly. "Damn Highway ain't even that old. No, There's a tiny-ass town a couple of miles down the road called 'Winston' that we both grew up in. Ain't much bigger now than when I was just a fool slip of a girl, but it's home."
Jeremy nodded, then took another bite. Chewing slowly, he savored the thick taste as he rolled the food around in his mouth. Swallowing the morsel, Jeremy spoke again. "I don't suppose you'd know of any odd jobs that need doing in this town of yours? My cash flow's getting a little low."
Janine looked thoughtful. "You know, now that you mention it, Bill's been sayin' somethin' about needin' an extra hand pretty soon. Y'see," she added, "We've also got a small ranch on the outskirts of Winston. It's not much, just a few head o' cattle and some ostriches, but we've done well enough. Got the seed money for the diner from it, anyway. Around this time of year though, we start selling off what we don't need. You know, young steers and the like. Bill ain't getting' any younger and, these days, thing's are just plain easier with someone else to help out.
Janine shrugged her shoulders. "If you want, you can stay with us for a couple weeks. Free room and board plus, at the end, we'll give you, say, two hundred bucks. You might find a better job in town, but I doubt it. You know how small towns can be," she said with a small toss of her head, "distrustful of strangers an' such."
Jeremy hesitated for a moment, then looked over at Janine. "Are you sure that you want to invite a vagabond into your house? I mean, you just met me. I could be a thief or worse, you know."
The woman sitting opposite him chuckled a bit. "Son, me'n Bill been runnin' this place for a long, long time. I've seen all kinds of folk come in through those doors. After a while, you just get a feel for who's trouble and who ain't. You don't look like you're runnin' from anything. If I had to guess, I'd say that you're just a little lost. Plus," she said mischievously, "you've got a cute face, under all that dirt. Play your cards right and you might get a little somethin' extra outta the deal." Upon seeing Jeremy's raised eyebrow, Janine smiled saucily. "Oh relax, Honey; I'm just yankin' your chain."
Jeremy finished his meal. As he wiped his hands on a nearby napkin, the young man looked outside at the harsh heat presently baking the ground. Turning back to Janine, he nodded. "Okay. I grew up on a farm, so I don't mind a bit of honest work. Do you want me to wait somewhere 'til you close up?"
Janine smiled broadly and Jeremy noticed that her teeth were very white and even. "Atta boy. You just rest easy here. Me an' Bill usually close up a little after lunch anyhow. Most truckers like to hit up actual restaurants for supper, so we don't generally get a lot of evening business. Anyway, I'll let you know when we're ready to head out."
For the next half hour, Jeremy sat at the table, absently staring out into the sun-drenched countryside. Occasionally, he would sharply inhale a bit thorough his nose, as if smelling something that he didn't like. Soon enough, Janine and the man Identified as Bill walked up to him.
"Well, everything's cleaned and put away," Janine began. "We can go whenever you're ready." As Jeremy slowly stood up, Janine made a startled noise. "Oh, good heavens! Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce my husband, Bill McDaniels. Bill, this is Jeremy. He's the one who'll be staying with us for a few weeks to help with the ranch." Janine reached out and curled one arm around her husband's shoulders. Bill wordlessly stretched out a hand toward Jeremy, who shook it.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir." Jeremy said, formally. Bill nodded once, then took back his hand.
"He doesn't say much, but that's just 'cause he's a bit shy. Once you get to know him, he'll talk your ear right off." Janine squeezed her husband's shoulders once, then let go and began walking towards the glass door. "Anyway, let's get on. You look just plum tuckered out and, here I am, chatterin' away. The sooner we get you to bed, the sooner you can wake up tomorrow and we can put you to work."
The wanderer followed the couple out to an elderly, but obviously well-cared-for car. As he got in the back seat, Jeremy sniffed again, loudly. Janine, sitting in the front-passenger seat, turned to face him. "Everything okay, Dear?"
Jeremy nodded. "Yeah. I've just got some allergies that bother me every once in a while. I think it's all the dust blowing about."
Janine nodded. "Oh, isn't that the God's Honest Truth? It seems like every other day that I get the sniffles from something or another that blows in, whether it's the cedar spores or the ragweed pollen." Turning back around, the gregarious woman motioned toward the other man. "Well, What are you waitin' for, Bill? Let's get this show on the road."
****************************************
The McDaniels home was impressive, in an antique fashion, with two stories and a grand front porch complete with Victorian columns and a rocking bench. Like the car, the house appeared exceptionally well preserved, despite the harsh environment. As Janine and Bill showed Jeremy around, it was obvious that the two were very attached to the place.
Finally, they came to the spare bedroom. As Jeremy looked around, he noticed that the room seemed to already have an occupant, by the personal nature of the furniture and decorations. Noticing his confusion, Janine explained that the room had belonged to their daughter, Anne, who had moved off to college a few years back. As the tired wanderer drifted through the room, he coughed, once, then set the backpack that contained all his worldly belongings in a corner.
As Jeremy turned back to the McDaniels, Janine spontaneously declared him unfit for polite company until he "got a hot bath and a good nights' sleep" so, without further ado, he was shown the bathroom and left to his own devices. After luxuriously soaking in the bathtub for almost an hour, Jeremy padded around Anna's room, occasionally sniffing faintly. Shortly afterwards, the young man settled in the bed and closed his eyes.
*******************************************
Sometime in the small hours of that night, Jeremy became aware that something was different. Upon opening his eyes, the young man discovered that Janine was standing at the foot of his bed, outlined in moonlight and clad only in a thin, sheer robe. The expensive cloth gave faint hints of a well kept, hourglass-shaped figure. As the older woman became aware that he was awake and looking at her, Jeremy noticed that her nipples instantly hardened enough to show through the fabric.
Janine slowly loosened the knot tying her robe closed and allowed the cloth to gape invitingly. "I told you there might be a little somethin' extra, Darlin" she said, smiling that white, predator's smile. "Do you want me to go away?" she asked, completely unsurprised when the young man shook his head. Then, moving almost blindingly fast, Janine snatched the thin sheet covering Jeremy away, revealing both his own nakedness and obvious arousal. As the older woman gazed down at him, a tiny frown wrinkled her smooth brow. "That's one mother of a scar you've got there, Honey. Whatever happened to you?"
Jeremy shrugged, then traced the scar tissue that ran in one long line from the bottom of his throat to below his naval. "Long, unpleasant story. Several years ago, I was given something that I didn't particularly want. The scar was just an added bonus." The young man looked away, "I...don't really feel like talking about it."
Janine flicked her lips with her tongue. "Well, I usually like 'em with a bit more meat on their bones, but the rest of you is just lovely, I think." Arching her back, Janine let the robe slide off, then slowly knelt on the foot of the bed. Lowering herself to all fours, she crawled up Jeremy's body, occasionally caressing a bit of his skin with hers. When Janine reached his almost painfully erect manhood, she halted. Bowing her head so that her long, dirty-blonde hair cascaded over her face, Janine slowly began tracing Jeremy's cock with her tongue. As soon as he felt the warm moistness making mysterious patterns on that most sensitive patch of skin, Jeremy gasped and began to writhe.
Presently, Janine began kissing up Jeremy's scar until she encountered his collarbone. Even as she began gently worrying that part of his body like a dog with a chew-toy, she guided Jeremy inside her. As she began moving up and down on him, her teeth would clamp down harder and harder until Jeremy was gasping with as much pain as pleasure. He tried to reach up to grasp her back, but instantly felt her hands on his wrists, pressing them back into the mattress with an unusual strength.
Faster and faster she rocked, almost grinding her body into his. Still, as frenetic as her movements were, the young man matched them, muscle for muscle. Eventually, they fell into that glorious rhythm that sometimes happens between two people; when each movement by one was instantly understood and reciprocated by the other.
At last, the moment came when Jeremy could stand it no longer. "I'm coming," he hissed through clenched teeth as his movements became more and more urgent.
"Good," she murmured from around his torn and bleeding flesh. As his mind exploded with ecstasy, Jeremy roared into the night, heedless of who might hear as he fountained inside the woman astride him. As he screamed into the darkness, Jeremy barely noticed that Janine had thrown back her own head and was laughing wildly. He certainly didn't notice the tiny prick of pain in his right thigh, where Janine's hand had just rested.
Afterwards, as they lay entwined, Jeremy began to feel more and more lugubrious, like his blood was turning to syrup inside him. Just then, something glinted in the moonlight and caught his eye. Slowly turning his head to the side, Jeremy locked gazes with Bill's icy brown stare.
"W...Whasss...goin'..nnn," he muttered thickly.
Upon hearing his voice, Janine raised her head to look at him. "Well, Dear, you were just wonderful, but I'm afraid that there's more to tonight's festivities..." The last thing Jeremy remembered before blacking out was Janine caressing his face while saying "...and I don't think that you're going to like the conclusion very much."
**********************************************
When next Jeremy unclosed his eyes, he discovered that he was chained, spread-eagle, to a stainless-steel table. Looking around, he noticed a great many sharp, cutting instruments as well as various cruel-looking devices neatly arrayed on trays and tables. As he was admiring the fact that the walls, floor and even ceiling were covered in clear plastic, a door opened and both Janine and Bill, dressed in esoteric outfits consisting mostly of chrome, leather and latex, entered.
"Oh, how wonderful," Janine began. "You're awake. Now we can get down to business. What shall we start with first, Bill? The scalpel or the bone saw?" Bill simply smiled and reached for one of the blades. "Of course," Janine said, "Why didn't I think of the guthook knife? You're just so clever, husband dear."
As the two began moving toward Jeremy, the young man began to laugh uproariously. "Well, that's new," Janine said with a faint air of disappointment. "They usually start screamin' or pleadin' for their life right about now. Some of them even piss themselves. Why, pray tell, are you laughin', young man?"
"Oh," Jeremy said, in between guffaws, "I always laugh at this point. It's just so fucking ironic, every time."
"What is?" Bill said, speaking for the first time. Jeremy noticed that his voice was a quite pleasant baritone.
"This," Jeremy replied an instant before his torso violently burst open along the giant seam that most people thought was dead scar tissue. As Janine and Bill gawped in horror at the roiling, screaming Hell that was thus revealed, fleshy red tentacles shot out of the cavity and wrapped around them. They barely had time to wail before they were pulled inside that yawning maw.
Afterwards, once his Mouth had closed, Jeremy sighed in satiated contentment before snapping the chains that bound him as easily as if they had been made of wet paper. The wanderer no longer stooped or looked tired; indeed, his skin glowed with health and his eyes were bright with life and excitement. It had been far too long since he'd last been able to feed.
***************************************
A day or so later, the traveler picked up the receiver of a public telephone from yet another of the endless truck-stops he called home. Dialing an 18-digit number that would never show up on any call record, he waited patiently. Silence greeted him when the call connected after five minutes of an exceptionally irritating looped message that stated in no uncertain terms that the number dialed was not a working connection.
"I checked it out," he said simply.
"And," the Old Woman's voice replied.
"It was only a serial killer couple. They were just Sensitive enough to have started to build up some residual energy. In time, they might have figured out what to do with it, but they aren't a problem any more. I smelled eight, maybe nine previous victims. The first was their daughter."
"You fed?"
"Of course. Their screams lull me to sleep at night now, just like all the others. Where to now?"
"Tucson. Rachel's felt something...disturbing."
The Eater of Souls looked impressed. "Something that disturbs Rachel, huh?" He shrugged. "Should be fun. I'll be there in a few days, see what I can sniff out."
"You need money?"
"No. The couple was loaded. I've got more than enough to get to Arizona and then some."
"All right. Be careful."
"I'm always careful. Love you, Mom."
"Love you too, Boy."
User Reviews
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2007-12-13 22:45:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Nyrea (user info) at 2007-11-21 12:49:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-11-21 08:38:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-11-21 08:20:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Fungah (user info) at 2007-11-21 05:38:49 GMT (#)
Ranking: -1
I'm pretty sure this is based on a computer game.
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So?
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2007-11-21 08:05:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"When next Jeremy unclosed his eyes"
That REALLY bothered me. You've got a great rhythm and cool storyline, don't go into overkill and lose the simple tone, by over-wording.
See?
Submitted by Fungah (user info) at 2007-11-21 00:38:49 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
I'm pretty sure this is based on a computer game.
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-11-21 00:08:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2007-11-20 23:46:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
i quite liked the sex scene
as i said, i usually lose interest in stories on here very quickly, but this sustained my interest to the end
i found the writing jarred a bit at times, but not that often
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2007-11-20 23:07:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Best story of yours that I've read. I wasn't too keen on the sex scene...it just didn't seem like it belonged and it read a little cheesy to me. But the rest of the story more than made up for it.
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2007-11-20 19:58:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
A dog smells his own first.
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2007-11-20 19:34:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This almost has a great "tales from the darkside" feel.
Submitted by Yozz (user info) at 2007-11-20 17:20:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Dick
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v
Submitted by TheDoctor (user info) at 2007-11-20 17:02:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Lib (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:51:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:40:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by triangle_man (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:29:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:18:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
i don't normally read stories on here, but for some reason read this one
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:15:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by FALLEN (user info) at 2007-11-20 16:03:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Kaos-King called, he wants his genre back.
good stuff.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-20 15:20:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Just thought you should know that I read this and found it wonderful, except for Anne turned into Anna. I may come back later and ruin your streak.
Submitted by oapa (user info) at 2007-11-20 15:08:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Initially thought it was classic SAW. The victim turns to perp. I like it. =)
Submitted by Creepy_guy (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:59:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:46:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh ho ho! Did NOT see that one coming. I was all, "aw christ, another evil people torture story."
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I was thinking the same thing...
This was a really, really well written piece.
Submitted by Fartman (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:57:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
He swings and it's a long fly ball, to deep center field! Watch this baby, it's OUTTA HERE!
*nod to Harry Kalas*
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:48:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You should have given me a retaliatory +2, faggot.
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:46:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh ho ho! Did NOT see that one coming. I was all, "aw christ, another evil people torture story."
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:35:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Rock on.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:30:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
bwahahahahahaha.....do they have any single friends?
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:29:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Shitty last name. You know the rest of the compliments.
Submitted by ChaosJester (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:26:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:22:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
How is it that you afford to travel so much working as a janitor? Seriously, do you have some trust fund of daddy's that you tap into. I'm quite envious, just thought you should know.
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I date a lot of, ahem, older gentlemen.
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:23:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:22:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
How is it that you afford to travel so much working as a janitor? Seriously, do you have some trust fund of daddy's that you tap into. I'm quite envious, just thought you should know.
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:16:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I still hate you, faggot.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:16:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Definitely one of your best.
Submitted by Lambchop (user info) at 2007-11-20 14:00:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We can never go back to Arizona
Submitted by ChaosJester (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:54:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
...And the pic, as always, comes from a random google image search.
Can't remember where it came from.
Submitted by ChaosJester (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:53:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Right back at ya, BOSHman.
Tomorrow, I leave for my four-day trip to Budapest.
WOOOT!
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:39:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
3 more hours until i begin my 5 day weekend
Happy Thanksgiving!
+2s for all!
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:34:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/84765
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:27:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Name's Janine McDaniels. Mind if I ask what yours is?"
I was all set and ready to give this a mere 1 at this line, as it requires a suspension of belief that I wasn't willing to dispense.
Nothing personal, just for the same reasons you had for rating my Grueberfest entry, our backgrounds and knowledge conflict with depth of realism in the story.
That being said, once I got past that point, I believe this was one of your best that I've read so far.
And a query: Is the image at the bottom from a white-wolf tabletop RPG? It looks like the claws of a werewolf.
Submitted by ahumblefool (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:15:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Bingo. Well done!
Submitted by lechuza (user info) at 2007-11-20 13:15:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I need to read more of your stuff
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2007-11-20 12:52:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hahahahahhahahahha
Submitted by The_Hitcher (user info) at 2007-11-20 12:45:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This better be about me boy.