Chereads / A FALL FROM GRACE / Chapter 2 - A STRANGER'S KINDNESS

Chapter 2 - A STRANGER'S KINDNESS

It took him a moment to emerge from the rubble. Below him was a 6 meter crater. He heard sirens in the distance, humans he presumed were on their way. He didn't want to be here when they arrived for he would have to explain how he survived such a fall. A fire seemed to have broken out which means that the firetrucks would be on their way.

He was injured and badly. He had multiple broken bones to say the least all which was all to new to him. He needed a place to rest, a place to heal himself but he was too weak. With each step he took he felt his strength leave him. He was in the streets now, street lamps lined the road emitting light onto the sidewalk.

He took a left and started heading down the sidewalk. He had no destination in mind for where would he go, who would aid an angel. People were not keen to helping others except for a few good ones. He decided to head to a hospital, at least he could receive some sort of  medical treatment though he doubted they could help.

Clutching his side he walked on. A couple of blocks down the road he saw a group of homeless people standing around a fire. He decided to go on ask for directions.

A guy in tattered jacket saw him first and motioned to he's friends.

"Yow guys look at that guy crossing the street" he said.

"What of him..??" a girl beside him said " He doesn't look like much to me"

"It don't matter" said another guy " We get whatever we can out of him and that's that. I haven't had a good meal in a while ".

He approached the group of people slowly. They were five in total and didn't seem threatening in any sort of way. "  Hello there " he began " May you kindly direct me to the nearest hospital"

"Hurt are we ?" Said the guy in the jacket.

" Sort of " he answered back.

" Well why don't you come warm yourself up a bit with us , then we'll personally take you to the hospital " said the girl.

He took the invitation without hesitation. Homeless people were usually friendly. He approached them and stood with them around the fire.  He felt a jolt of strength return to him.

"So what happened to you ? " Said a girl beside him. She was dressed in a tank top and jeans.

"Nothing really just fell down some stairs and broke a couple of bones " he replied.

" Then why didn't you just call an ambulance " said the guy in the jacket.

"I don't have a cell phone on me" he replied.

"You don't seem like you're from around here ..?" he replied back.

" You could say something like that" he said

"In that case " said the girl in the tank top " This makes our job all the more easier "

They circled him and in that moment he knew what it meant. These people were about to rob him. Well that's if he had anything of value on him. Clutching his side while slowly taking a step back he tried to not provoke any violence, to show them that he was no threat.

"I have nothing of value " he said to them.

"That's for us to decide " said the one in the jacket. "Now just be a good boy and stand still"

He obliged in knowing that once they saw he truly didn't have anything on him they would let him be.

"Well guess he was saying the truth" said the girl in the tank top "He has absolutely nothing on him"

"Wrong " said the guy in the jacket " He's got some nice looking robes on him, bet they cost something"

" My dear friends" he began " I am afraid I cannot give you my clothes for I will be left naked"

"Well duh that's the idea my guy " he replied.

He tried to stop them from taking his clothes to no avail. He's resistance only rewarded him a beating.

After taking he's clothes the group left him in an alley.

Naked and wounded Jacob didn't have anymore strength in him. He decided to lay where he was and try to regain he's strength.

He lay beside a dumpster on top of rubbish bags. The bags were filled with rotting filth , rats and cockroaches scurried all about. Having no strength left in him he drifted to sleep where he lay.

He was back home in front of him stood a man in robes. He wore a face of betrayal and disgust and he was talking  . He couldn't make out the words he was saying though they seemed directed towards him.

A moment later he was being dragged out by two other people and was dragged up a mountain. On top of the mountain stood a man in with black flowing hair as dark as the night. He looked at razeael with pity and sadness and he too spoke but he's words were an audible as well.

He motioned to the two others standing beside him and they brought him forward. In front of him was a cliff and below was an endless plain of white misty clouds.

He looked back into the eyes of the dark haired man and before he could say anything he was falling. He tried to scream but no voice escaped he's lungs. Below him he could see the earth rush towards him and before he hit the ground he woke with a start.

In front of him stood a an African American girl who seemed to be in her early twenties. "Sorry sir " she began " If you don't mind me asking, but are you alright ?"

"Yes..yes I am, thank you for asking" he replied trying to get up. As he did the girl covered her face then hurriedly looked away, that's when he remembered he was practically naked.

The girl kindly offered him a blanket to which he took with a thank you.

" Sir you look in bad shape would you like to come to my apartment and have a cup of coffee?"  She asked.

He considered her offer and nodded in agreement. The girl led the way to her apartment. It was one the two buildings of the alley he was in. She led him up a flight of stairs to the 5th floor of the building. She went to her apartment door and slid in a key and unlocked it. She invited him inside with a smile.

"Please take a sit while I prepare the coffee " she said and disappeared into what he presumed was the kitchen. A few minutes later she emerged with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a plate with a pizza in the other.

" I thought you would like something to eat too" she said placing the cup and plate in front of him.

"Thank you " he said " but why are you doing this? "

"Doing what ?"  she asked.

"Helping me, you don't know me nor did you even ask me my name. Aren't you worried I might be a thug"

"Huh" she laughed " Why would I be worried. You seemed like someone in need so I decided to offer my help and besides I believe even thugs know how to appreciate kindness now don't they ?"she asked teasingly.

"I guess so " he replied.

After finishing he's food she took the plates and went to the kitchen. Razeael heard a tap open then the sound of water on a plate. He took this time to look around the apartment.

It was a nice cosy place and well furnished. It seemed like she was the only person living here. She didn't have many pictures but the ones he saw were mostly of what he presumed was her childhood. The photos were mostly of her and who he guessed were her parents. They seemed like a happy family.

"It's Samantha by the way " she said as she came back into the living room.

"Sorry" he said with a look of puzzlement on he's face.

"My name " she repeated " It's Samantha.. Samantha Blake "with her hand outstretched.

"Ohh pleased to meet you Samantha, my name is Jacob " he said while shaking her hand.

"You could hop in the shower if you would like. I think I can find a pair of clothes that belonged to my ex boyfriend"

"It's that bad huh" he said " I knew I smelt bad I didn't think it was that bad" he said smiling.

"I didn't say that I just thought you would like a warm shower that's all " she said smiling back " But you do kinda reek"

Samantha led Jacob to her spare room which she kept prepared in case she had guests around. She showed him the shower .

"There's soap, a towel, shampoo and everything you need to take a shower"

" Thanks " he said and she left the room.

Jacob entered the shower and turned the shower knob . Warm water engulfed his skin soothing his muscles and providing him a sense of calmness.

' This feels great ' he thought. As he was in the shower Jacob started recalling he's dream.

He remembered the man but couldn't hear what he was saying. That's when it hit him it wasn't a dream it was real. He was pushed of a cliff . And the man standing in front of him was he's brother. That much he recalled but why couldn't he remember the rest. Why couldn't he remember why they did that.

After finishing he's shower Jacob dried himself and got out. He found a pair of black jeans and a white shirt on the bed. He out them on and went to the living room. He found Samantha getting ready to leave.

"Going out?" He asked.

"Yeah need to rush to work but I'll be back early. You can help yourself to some leftover pizza in the fridge. I'll pass by the grocery store on my way back"

" Wait what?" He asked with shock "You're leaving me in your apartment ,you don't even know me"

"You're Jacob and I'm Samantha. I think knowing each other's names clarifies that"

"That doesn't clarify anything" he said.

" The fact that you don't think trusting a stranger is a good thing is why I trust you. No good person would think that leaving someone you just met in your apartment was a good idea. So I'm off I'll be back later. There's a first aid kit in the kitchen. Thought you might wanna disinfect those cuts you have " and she left.

"Well that was unexpected" he said and headed to the kitchen.