Jacob Morrison/The Hitchhiker
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
Jacob leaned back in the front seat of the rather large truck as he sped down an abandoned back road.It was late, perhaps 3:00 A.M., and he was taking the scenic route on his way down to Atlanta to attend a convention.He could have been there with a few simple utterings, or he could have even sprinted there if he'd been feeling really adventurous, but he had decided to take the slow path this time, takeing in the sights a bit on his way down.
As he sped down the road, he noticed a young woman walking beside it, probably a hitchiker.Normally, he would have kept on going, but it was a back road, and it was late at night, and she was a young woman, so he stopped and turned back, pulling up beside her.
He gave her a smile as he opened the passenger side door, "Hello there, rather late for a stroll, isn't it young lady?"
She smiled as she climbed up and buckled herself in, "Sorry, my car broke down a few miles back and I was trying to make my way back home", she certainly seemed friendly, and Jacob welcomed the company.She was wearing a simple t-shirt and denim jeans, barefoot, as she'd slipped out of her heels, which now rested in her lap.Jacob eyed her for a moment, then his smile faded slightly as a sad look fell upon his face.
"Where too?", he said, putting his cigar out in the ashtray before putting the truck back into gear and starting back down the road.
"My house is just a few miles down the road, my mother is probably worried sick, I was supposed to be home by midnight", she smiled, shivering slightly.
Jacob reached down and flipped on the heater, "I'm sure she'll find it in her heart to forgive you, after all, that's what mothers do", he smiled at her warmly, before turning his attention back on the road, "What's your name, if I may ask?"
She leaned forward slightly, warming her hands a bit, "Mary, Mary Pryce", she returned the smile, seeming relieved that she hadn't been picked up by some random psychopath, "I headed into town to visit some friends and I guess I forgot to fill the tank back up before I headed back out."
"I see, how long have you been walking?", Jacob cast another aside glance before turning his attention back on the road.
She gave a soft laugh, "It seems like hours, my feet are killing me.Oh, take that road there", she pointed to a gravel road off to the left side of the road.
Jacob turned as instructed, just noticing a broken roadside sign that had long since fallen into disrepair.He followed the road, turning into a short driveway after a few minutes.
"This is it, thanks mister?", she gave him an inquisitive look as she opened the passenger side door and slipped out.
"Morrison, Mary, Jacob Morrison", he gave her a smile and a sad wave as she walked up the cobblestoned walkway, oblivious to the overgrown grass and vines threatening to swallow it whole.
She waved back, "Thanks Jacob, drop by sometime and visit, mom's a great cook!", she turned and grasped the doorknob of the house and twisted, oblivious to the fact that the door had rotted and was near to falling out of the frame as she simply passed through it, dissapearing as she walked into the crumbling remains of what would have once been a comfortable, two story home and faded from sight.
Jacob sighed as he turned and pulled out of the driveway, quickly returning to the main road.The poor girl, he thought to himself, as he lit another cigar, thinking back on just how many times she had been picked up, had that very same conversation with other late night drivers, and to just how many more times she would before she would find her peace.
