The rain fell heavily onto the blood-soaked concrete, causing little
crimson rivers to trickle into the gutter, and down the drain in the
darkened street. Jacob's father, Mattew Stiles, was dead.
The rain fell.
It ran down his face, the fresh water mingling with the taste of salty tears. He felt shame, for he had failed to prevent what he had seen. He had caused his father's death. Ever since he had seen his Mother pass away in hospital, Jacob had become prescient - he could see fragments of future events. When Jacob got into a fight, he knew what his opponent would do before they did, this, coupled with his extensive training in Tae - Kwon - Do, Kung Fu, and Ninjitsu, no - one could beat him. That was why he blamed himself, he should have been able to see that his father would leap in the way of the knife, but he hadn't. The only warning he had been given was the vision of seeing his father die whilst walking the streets at night. Because of that, he had taken to walking with his father at night, but this had caused his death. Jacob ran through the cold unforgiving streets, and upon reaching home, left an anonymous message with the police, collapsed onto the couch, and knew no more.
He awoke to the phone ringing a few short hours later, the police told him that his father had been found killed in a knife fight, and that Jacob's uncle would be flying in to ensure a speedy funeral. Jacob thanked them somewhat brokenly, and collapsed onto the couch once more.
* * * *
The next two weeks passed in a dull blur for Jacob, filled with consoling relatives, and many assurances that he would be cared for. Jacob's uncle had made a few inquiries to a few boarding schools as to where he could go.
One school, however, simply rang.
"Uh-huh, so that has already been dealt with?" Came his Uncle's voice from the kitchen. "Someone will come to pick him up? Whe-? Oh, okay." Jacob had crept close to the kitchen to hear. "Scholarship? Well, thank you. This is greatly appreciated. Goodbye."
Jacob stepped into the kitchen, "What was that about?"
"A school said they would take you on, and are considering giving you an all-rounders scholarship. Someone will be coming by the end of the week to pick you up."
"Okay." Reluctantly, Jacob agreed.
"Well, I need to deal with some things for a day or two, so call me when you get there."
The rain fell.
It ran down his face, the fresh water mingling with the taste of salty tears. He felt shame, for he had failed to prevent what he had seen. He had caused his father's death. Ever since he had seen his Mother pass away in hospital, Jacob had become prescient - he could see fragments of future events. When Jacob got into a fight, he knew what his opponent would do before they did, this, coupled with his extensive training in Tae - Kwon - Do, Kung Fu, and Ninjitsu, no - one could beat him. That was why he blamed himself, he should have been able to see that his father would leap in the way of the knife, but he hadn't. The only warning he had been given was the vision of seeing his father die whilst walking the streets at night. Because of that, he had taken to walking with his father at night, but this had caused his death. Jacob ran through the cold unforgiving streets, and upon reaching home, left an anonymous message with the police, collapsed onto the couch, and knew no more.
He awoke to the phone ringing a few short hours later, the police told him that his father had been found killed in a knife fight, and that Jacob's uncle would be flying in to ensure a speedy funeral. Jacob thanked them somewhat brokenly, and collapsed onto the couch once more.
* * * *
The next two weeks passed in a dull blur for Jacob, filled with consoling relatives, and many assurances that he would be cared for. Jacob's uncle had made a few inquiries to a few boarding schools as to where he could go.
One school, however, simply rang.
"Uh-huh, so that has already been dealt with?" Came his Uncle's voice from the kitchen. "Someone will come to pick him up? Whe-? Oh, okay." Jacob had crept close to the kitchen to hear. "Scholarship? Well, thank you. This is greatly appreciated. Goodbye."
Jacob stepped into the kitchen, "What was that about?"
"A school said they would take you on, and are considering giving you an all-rounders scholarship. Someone will be coming by the end of the week to pick you up."
"Okay." Reluctantly, Jacob agreed.
"Well, I need to deal with some things for a day or two, so call me when you get there."