Chapter 205: Grandpa’s Birthday Party
Jacob hardly got any sleep throughout the night. The images of the dream he had the night before were still burned into his brain so deeply that it was hard for him to ignore them. He could have sworn that he saw his father pass away right in front of him. It couldn’t be possible that he was alive... at least that’s what he felt.
In his dream, the relationship between Jacob and his father was at best complicated. His father had done many horrible things to him and his friends in pursuit of power, but he had learned that the reason for it was to protect humanity from potential extinction, which changed how Jacob viewed his dad completely. However, he wasn’t dreaming anymore, and he was going to see his father today. But there was still something that felt off about the entire thing. Jacob leaned over to Maria after he sat up and asked her a question.
"Hey, I know this is going to sound crazy, but what ever happened to my mom?"
Maria sat up and rubbed her face before answering.
"Your mom? I don’t think you’ve ever told me about a mom before. It’s always just been you and your dad."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, I am. Where is this coming from?"
Jacob sighed and sat out of bed.
"Sorry. I think the dream is bothering me again."
"Okay, well if you need me, I’m here for you."
Jacob walked over to his closest and put on comfortable outfit. As he was finished getting dressed, he heard a gasp come from behind him.
"Honey, you’re bleeding!"
"Huh?"
Jacob looked down at his hand. One of his fingers was strangely gushing blood all over his sleeve. The pain didn’t even hurt that much, so he hardly noticed until Maria pointed it out. Jacob quickly bandaged the wound and wrapped his hand.
"Sorry about that. I wonder if I hit it while I was asleep somehow."
Jacob walked over to his daughter’s bedroom and knocked quietly on the door before creeking it open. His duaghter was snoring just as loudly as Maria used to back in the cell in Iron Kingdom. He shook his head wildy.
’Wait, that was a dream, right? Then how did I meet Maria? Did I really build this house?! But I had to. My daughter is proof that something had to happen eventually between us. Do I have a really bad concussion and lost my real memories?’
Too many things were not adding up in his head for anything to make sense around him. However, all of that was based on one fact: his dream that he had was truly a dream.
Therefore, Jacob decided he would try his best to confirm this is where he was supposed to be. Yet again, did he really need to? He seemingly had everything he had ever desired out of life right in front of him. He was the happiest he could have possibly ever been.
With a deep sigh, Jacob closed the door quietly and walked downstairs to make breakfast.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was sitting around the dining table eating another perfect meal. Jane was playing with her eggs and pastry with her fork before shoveling it into her mouth. Jacob couldn’t help but stare at her with pride in his eyes.
’My... daughter? I do remember having one of those, right?’
Jane noticed Jacob staring at her and she smiled in his direction while waving her fork in the air.
"Hi dad!"
Hearing her voice brought so much joy to his heart it was indescribable. Maria was sitting next to her and wiping her mouth whenever she needed to.
"Are you excited to see grandpa today? All of daddy’s friends are going to be there!"
"Yay! Does that mean Auntie Zoey and Miss Squabee will be there too?!"
"Yes, it does!"
"Dad, can we go now?! I want to see Auntie Zoey!"
"Yes, of course honey. Let’s help mom clean up first, okay?"
"Okay!"
Jacob was lost in thought once more.
’Auntie... Zoey?’
Jacob was so distracted he didn’t even notice himself leaving the house. Maria handed Jane over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"She wants you to carry her the rest of the way."
Jacob smiled and situated her around his shoulders so she could wrap her small arms around his head for balance. Both Jacob and Maria walked very briefly until they reached a small pavilion area with many seats, balloons, food, and presents. A large group of people were all crowded around the same guy. A man with dark red eyes, grey beard, tall stature, and thick grey hair.
"Grandpa!"
Jacob set Jane down on the ground so she could run over to him. Jacob’s dad bent down and hugged the little girl tightly.
"Oh, don’t crush these bones too much. You have your mother’s strength, you know?"
Small giggles escaped her mouth as she grabbed on to his leg.
Jacob stood frozen at the sight. His father was really alive. Not only that, but everyone also seemed to love him. He looked much calmer, his eyes didn’t have that desire for power anymore, the wrinkles in his face weighed his features down much more than he could remember. Jacob still couldn’t get the image of this same man dying before his very eyes out of his head.
"This... shouldn’t be possible."
"Jacob. I am glad to see you doing well."
Grandpa Vice gave Jacob a soft hug.
"This little one on my leg is as lively as ever I see! What on earth are you feeding her to make her grow so fast?!"
Jacob still couldn’t move. His eyes were wide and his breathing was uneven. Maria put a hand on his shoulder which made him flinch.
"I’m sorry. He had a bad concussion the other day he’s still recovering."
Grandpa Vice nodded his head.
"That is quite alright. If he needs to take it easy, there’s plenty of shade by the group over there.
The group wasn’t just any other group to Jacob. It was both of the noble clans, Joseph, Eden, Squabee, Sarah, Enki, and Slimo.
Jacob slowly approached them, trying to hide his shock.
Zoey was the first to approach. She looked much older, her hair was long and fell down her back, and her eyes shone as bright as he remembered.
"Hey, Jacob! Were’s the little one?"
"Auntie Zoey!"
Jane ran up to Zoey and jumped at her legs. Zoey picked her up and started spinning her in the air.
"Ahaha! I’m going to throw you!"
Jacob started getting worried seeing how his daughter was being handled, but Zoey immediately put her down safely. Jane was dizzy from being spun around and fell on her butt.
"Again, again, again!"
Zoey bent down and messed up her hair.
"No more until later. Okay? Go find Miss Squabee and say hi. She has a present for you!"
"Present!"
Jane waddled away in search of the treasures she was promised.
Zoey walked over to Jacob and slapped his shoulder.
"How’s it going old man? Need a cane to walk yet?"
She looked deeper into his eyes.
"Hey, is something the matter? Why are you looking like that at everyone?"
Jacob snapped out of his odd gaze and looked at Zoey.
"Sorry, I just had this really bad dream the other night. Peter was a part of this weird cult, Emma, Slade, and Zeke were all... dead. It just felt so real that it’s weird to see them here."
Zoey rubbed her chin then slapped him across the face. His cheek burned from the hit.
"Hey! What was that for?!"
"Do you feel better?"
"No! Now my cheek hurts and I’m still thinking about it!"
"Well don’t get mad at me for trying!"
"Trying to what?! Kill me?!"
Maria laughed at the small altercation between them.
"Sorry, it’s just funny seeing you upset sometimes dear."
Jacob sighed and walked towards a tall man with curly blonde hair. He didn’t have a large build, but his presence was still powerful where he stood. He turned his head as Jacob was approaching.
"My my, you still look great for your age Jacob. Have you been working out?"
Jacob forced the awful thoughts away in his head to try and hold a normal conversation for once.
"Haha, yah I try to make sure to keep myself active for my family. They always have me out in the yard doing one thing or another!"
Katra chuckled and raised a small glass of liquid in his direction.
"Tell your pops I said happy birthday. He’s the best boss I’ve ever had. To think I would have never met you if it weren’t for him."
Suddenly, a juvenile shriek sounded from above.
"Sneak attack!!"
A boy who looked to be around the age of fourteen landed on Jacobs back and tried moving him around. Luckily, Jacob’s incredible strength allowed him to effortlessly rid himself of the attacker. The boy fell off his back and raised his fists.
"Come on, Brother Jacob. I’m ready to win this time. I’ve been training extra hard!"
Lidia and Slimo slowly walked behind the boy and rested a hand on his shoulder. Lidia’s hair was grey and put into a ponytail. She was wearing thick, light green woolen garments and a long white skirt.
"Now now Leno. Let’s give Jacob a rest for today. It’s his father’s birthday!"
Slimo put up his hands towards the boy.
"I’m still able to fight if you really want some!!"
Slimo rubbed his knuckles on the boy’s head who began laughing as he struggled in his grasp.
"Hey mom and dad. Man, it feels like just yesterday Leno came into this world. How is he already almost past his teenage years?!"
Lidia walked over to Maria and gave her a hug.
"Tell me about it. Enjoy them while they are small as much you can. He grew faster than any plant I’ve ever grown!"
All of them started laughing, including Jacob. After an arduous effort, he finally found a bit of tranquility in his mind. Who cares if the dream was scary? All that mattered to him is that he was living this perfect life of peace and love... until he noticed something standing far in the brush of the forest.
A cloaked figure with a white skull mask was facing Jacob’s direction. Its mouth hung wide open, its eye sockets were squinted as if blinded by a horrible sight, its figure stayed motionless, but its body was clearly aimed in his direction. An eerie silence clouded his mind as his vision focused more on what he was seeing. His heart began to race, his breathing became irregular, and just as quickly as Jacob saw it...
"JACOB!"
Maria shook Jacob out of his trance. She stared at him with worry in her eyes.
"I tried getting your attention for three minutes now. What’s wrong? Do you see something out there? Is everything okay?"
Jacob stared back at the spot he was just staring at.
The figure was gone.
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