Art's warmth through cold emotions part IV [Jacob]

I. the rage of the earth invokes fear, II. at every storm I claim the atrocious I. be aware of the heaven's tears, II. profanity is to love the infamous, III. do not fear me little one, III. as I had come to take everyone.

VI. I do not represent heaven nor hell, VII. I am but a deliverer of eternal rest, VI. I order you to take my hand, VII. so you can return to the nest.

VIII. I am neither Good, nor Evil, IX. I am just a guide of souls, VIII. only the guilty fear what hides the veil, IX. as the innocent rest peacefully on the shawl.

----Jacob Einarsson.

it has been a whole week since the last time Jacob met with Carmen and Caroline.

Jacob has more work now. there are some troublesome figures causing chaos for the organization daily. Jacob is send every once in a while to do some cleaning. the Fleming family has been behaving strange lately.

Jacob is more convince by the day about his retirement. there are so many things he wants to do now. there are many things he wishes to do before he becomes too old. he never left the city. now seems to be about the right time to leave, far away from here.

the city was never safe nor ideal. it's just that Jacob never thought about leaving before. he never questioned his job. the more time that passes, the less likely is for Jacob to stay on such a dreadful city.

Jacob is aware that this isn't the only dark place on the world. there is meant to be darkness and filth everywhere. he is just tired of the city.

he is not the only one thinking about leaving the city. Carmen and Caroline are also thinking about leaving soon. Jacob isn't sure if he will follow them, or if he will just go anywhere that is far from the city.

many times as a child. his father would tell Jacob to leave the nest once he becomes old enough to live alone. Jacob had forgotten those memories. he didn't like to think too much about the future nor past.

Jacob can taste the paint on his lips. the colors are mixed on his face and hands. Jacob is a neat person. but when it is about painting he becomes a completely different man. there are some paint stains on his chest, there is even some on his private parts.

someone knocks on the door. Jacob stands up and puts on a bathrobe as he walks directly towards the door. he opens the door. he looks at Carmen eating chips on the other side of the door. Jacob feels shy as he tries to explain his awful appearance.

"is that how you salute my friend? with your carrot hanging in there in a perverted way, are you sure you're not a pervert?"

"pardon my tasteless appearance. I am mostly visited by males. I was on the middle of working on a piece. it's quite the piece of you asks, my lady."

"I will take your half baked apology. so what do you mean about 'mostly males' visiting."

"my lady your mind is too shady to see shapes and forms. I only meant that my co-workers and at times my boss come to give me jobs. I am so what of a separate entity that works for a bigger corporation."

"yeah whatever Mr big carrot-man. can you stop tempting the rabbit with the carrot?"

"my lady like I was informing you, I am working on a piece. I wish not to brag, but it may be my masterpiece. a whole concerto with orchestra on the blue sky."

"stop calling me my lady. also do you always work naked on your paintings?"

Jacob seems to be unable to answer. he doesn't dislike Carmen, actually it is the opposite effect she causes. but Jacob can't understand how can such a lady with a vulgar mouth be friends with the innocent looking Caroline.

Jacob asks Carmen if she wants a cup of coffee. she accepts. Jacob prepares the coffee right away. Carmen keeps looking at the 'carrot.' she can't understand how is that such a giant beastly looking man can be a virgin.

Carmen asks Jacob if he had ever use the carrot for anything that isn't to pee. or if he had stroke the goose. she then makes a grin awaiting for the answer.

Jacob has no idea of what she is asking. Jacob finish preparing the coffee. he leaves two cups on the table. he sits carefully in front of Carmen. Jacob forces a friendly smile. then he starts to drink his coffee.

"so what do you do for a living? you said something about not working directly for the big company. so is it something like office work?"

"I am a bodyguard. my job is related to protect people, rescue people, and at times to hurt people who can be dangerous to the boss."

"that doesn't sound like a bodyguard. whatever. my mommy has money. so if I am ever on danger, would you rescue me?"

"or course. you and lady Caroline are my friends. the least I can do is to protect my friends." said Jacob with a huge genuine smile.

Carmen blushes. her heartbeat becomes irregular. she fears that she may fall for an older rough looking guy. a man who can double her age.

Carmen stands up and leaves before anything dangerous happens. she has fallen easily for bad guys who had hurt her on the past. she fears that Jacob can be another of those bad guys. she fears even more the sweet honest smile that he shows at times.

Jacob returns to his solitude. he goes to the bathroom to take a shower. he has some work to do later. there is a lot of work lately. Jacob's contract will expire in 27 days. soon he will be able to dedicate his whole time to his craft.

there are times in which Jacob feels like he can understand his father's words. every tale he ever told had a meaning. but then there are times in which Jacob questions if his father was always right, or if he committed mistakes too like every other human.

sometimes Jacob wonders if his father is actually dead. or if he just left, vanished to not cause trouble to his son. he was told that the old man got shot down on a bridge. to Jacob it doesn't make sense the way in which Sir Jean died.

Jacob gets out of the bathroom naked. he is holding his clothing with his right hand. he walks towards his studio. when Jacob opens the door he is surprised by Daniel Grinberg and two bodyguards. they are looking at Jacob's work.

Daniel offers to pay for some of the paintings. Daniel may be a gangster, but he knows how to recognize a good work. he can feel Jacob's emotions on those paintings.

Jacob shows some more paintings to his boss. he starts to put some clothes on. Jacob asks his boss if he had more work to do. there is a long silence. Jacob takes the silence as a proper answer. he offers coffee to his boss.

"I choose to hunt down my father. I need you at the glass castle for the next two days. I need of all my forces to deal with the infamous Blue Devil."

"as long as our contract is still valid the Giant Hammer is your weapon. I will devour and break as many souls as long as I am told to do it. you order it and I follow."

"it is a shame to let go of my most loyal warrior. that strength and that loyalty is rare to find on this world. we can celebrate later for your retirement."

"yes sir. it was an honor to work under your leadership. there will be no man who has the greed and guts to create a perfect empire as your lordship."

Jacob isn't just throwing empty flattery. he truly believes on Daniel's leadership. Jacob's loyalty isn't just part of his personality. if he has been such a loyal pawn is because Daniel gain his trust and loyalty.

Jacob is aware of Daniel's brutality and tendency to create chaos. he is also aware of how organized and perfect is Daniel's organization.

we could say that Daniel Grinberg is the worst creature to exist on the city, and he is also the greatest businessman on the city. there is no political figure nor gangster as smart nor as fearsome as Daniel Grinberg.

Daniel has work to do. he pays Jacob before leaving. his bodyguards take the two paintings for which Daniel payed. Daniel is starting to search for someone suitable to take Jacob's position. he needs of powerful people to stay on the top.

Jacob is once more by himself. he thinks about giving one of his paintings to Caroline. her friendship has been of great inspiration for his latest pieces.

Jacob may be a fearsome killing machine, but he is just a human. like every other human he is afraid of aging. he may not be fully aware of it. jet he can feel the horrors of feeling how his youth leaves between his fingers like sand on the beach.

that is one of the greatest factors why Jacob wishes to leave. there are many things he wishes to experience for the first time, before he is too old. before his age becomes an impediment or an obstacle.

Jacob takes two of his works and he leaves. he walks peacefully with direction to Caroline's department. later once it is finish, he wishes to show her what he believes to be his masterpiece. his greatest work so far.

Jacob keeps walking with a grin on his face. somehow Jacob is starting to feel more and more human, the more time he passes with Caroline. he may never feel human emotions like love or sorrow. but he is starting to understand better those emotions.

maybe the world isn't as gray as he believe it to be. lately he sees more blues and greens everywhere. maybe there is hope for this city.

Jacob receives a call from Caroline. she sounds sad and scare. Jacob tells her that he will be there soon. Jacob asks her to wait. once he is in there he will take care of things. he ends the call and starts to run.

Jacob keeps running as fast as possible without stopping nor losing speed. in twenty minutes he arrives in front of the front door. he knocks twice. Caroline opens the door. she has a tearful face. she looks down on the floor.

"tell me, what happened? I will take care of it."

Caroline looks at the damaged paintings on Jacob's hands. she is glad to know that he values their friendship more than his precious paintings.

"Carmen's dad was kidnapped. I don't think you can help, but thanks."

"No. I can help. I have connections all over the city. tell me everything you know and I will get him back to his family."

"thanks, you are an angel. you're a good man."

"I am no angel, but I am the butcher of evils, the greatest evil of all. I am Jacob Einarsson the Giant Hammer."

Caroline didn't answer to his words. she allows Jacob to enter. she then starts to tell him everything that Carmen told her. Caroline makes two cups of coffee. she is so worry that she can't think about anything else.

Jacob starts to make some calls. he doesn't use many words to force others to cooperate with him. his voice is cold and gentle at the same time. one single word is enough to break anyone who knows the legends of the Giant Hammer.

it doesn't take much time for Jacob to have some names, a location, and a reason. Jacob looks at Caroline with a huge smile. Jacob tells her to wait as he goes to rescue Carmen's father. he stands up and leaves.

Carmen was already outside crying on her car.

Jacob gets inside of the car. he gives her the direction on which she needs to drive. she starts driving without asking questions.

Jacob is silent for the whole time. he takes a lolly pop from his pockets. he starts sucking the lolly pop as he clears his mind.

Carmen cries hoping for her father to be safe. since the divorce Carmen has looked down on her father for letting her mom walk away.

after about ten minutes they arrive on some abandoned construction site.

Jacob gets out of the car. he is followed by Carmen. she asks him if he has any plan. she tells him that it is dangerous to walk directly towards them. she then looks at four youngsters and then at her dad tied on a chair.

"Mr Giant Hammer we didn't know. I swear we didn't know you knew this man. we are only trying to get some money. we need the money. please mercy."

with one single punch to the face that boy drops on the floor. his nose, mouth, and even his ears are bleeding. the youngster cries. he offers money to the beast that stands in front of him right now.

Jacob keeps punching his face until he kills him. he then walks towards the other boys. Jacob tells them that the one he killed was a warning. he warns them that the next time there ain't going to be no warning.

the boys pee their pants by witnessing the brutality of a legend. of a beast. of the Giant Hammer who killed someone by only using one fist. they run away crying. it is unclear what is going to be their future.

"why did you killed him? it wasn't necessary." Carmen yields. "he was just a boy."

"I am a mercenary. I am a Hit Man. I am a killer. I saved your father. if I had forgiven those kids. they would had done worse. sometimes warnings must be graphic in order to make a statement. it was the only way. I am sorry Carmen."

.....

A little smiling Pig grow up on a farm. he was a rebel who often caused trouble. the Pig was often told not to do it. but for the smiling little Pig the warnings were only a motive to cause even more trouble.

the little Pig grow by the day more rebellious and more chaotic. the little Pig was becoming unstoppable. and every time he was told no. the little smiling Pig didn't listen to the voice of reason.

one day the little smiling Pig hurt the son of the owner. the boy was bleeding from a leg and was taken to emergencies. the Pig felt sorry for his vile actions. the little smiling Pig asked for mercy as he was taken to the slaughterhouse.

that day the little smiling Pig became a meal for the whole family. and everyone on the farm learned an important lesson.

a warning doesn't work if it isn't loud enough. otherwise a warning will only cause the contrary effect on others. and ever since then warnings are loud and visible on that little Happy Farmhouse. there are no more Rebellious Smiling Little Pigs.

---Jean Einarsson