Sunday Reloaded: The Hitchhiker

The sun was beating down on my back, these corn fields seem to go on forever. I squatted on the ground and mopped my brow.

I'd been on the run for the past couple of days, hiding out in barns and out buildings from deserted farms. It had been an unfortunate accident, during a confidence scam. One of the local hoodlums had got killed, and they'd hung the thing on me.

The cops knew what I could do; get inside other people and hide but they'd figured out a way to protect themselves. All they needed was a sigil tattooed on the inside of their right wrist, and I wouldn't be able to touch them. People were even able to download, and put it on themselves as a temporary one. I tried to jump someone and found that I'd just bounce off them, scared I'd just ran.

It must have been about four in the afternoon where the field came to an end. In front of me was a dirt track--perfectly straight that disappeared into the distance in each direction.

I had no idea where I was, or which direction I should take. Looking at the sun, I could see it beginning to set so decided to go west.

Walking along the dusty track, I'd occasionally look up and down the track in hope to see something. I knew I'd be risking any contact, but to be honest I was really looking for a shower and somewhere to sleep.

I must have walked about five miles, when I saw a dust cloud heading towards me. I stopped and squinted against the sun; a glint caught my eye. As it approached I could see it was a large pickup. I waved my hand as it got closer, and then it pulled up next to me and stopped.

The window buzzed as it slid down, and the cool air from inside felt like a kiss of an angel. "You OK son?" The driver asked. I said nothing as I basked in the fresh breeze emanating from the cab. The driver; a big guy leaned over and opened the door. "You'd better get in before you pass out boy," he chuckled.

The cool air, beckoned me in, and I practically fell into the passenger seat. I pulled the door closed locking out the heat of the day as the window buzzed up again. The guy handed me a bottle of water, which I accepted and gulped down. "Hey, slow down boy there's plenty."

"Thank you Sir," I gasped.

"You're lucky I came across you, this dirt track is hardly ever used. I've just finished my two week survey, and heading back to the city."

"The city?" I repeated, that's the last place I want to visit full of people protected. "Are there any towns you can drop me off on the way?"

"Not really, it's just corn fields and dirt. The office wants me back urgently, couldn't quite figure out why, so I need to get going. Make your mind up kid."
Finishing the remainder of the water I pondered the options. I returned the bottle, and noticed this guy didn't have the sigil. That must be why his office want him back so urgently; to get some protection. I handed him the bottle, and as he dropped it into the door pocket I rested my hand on his chest. I felt the tingle I'd missed for so long, and he fell unconscious.

I thought for a moment, my father always told be the best place to hide was right under the noses of the people that where looking for you. They'd never expect me to return to the city.

Pushing the guys head back I climbed into the drivers seat, his thick thighs on each side. Leaning back I felt his chest in my back. Grasping the steering wheel, I braced myself and closed my eyes pushing hard, forcing myself backwards.

After the usual warmth, I felt cool air on my arms again. I let out a low groan that rumbled through the cab as I opened my eyes, and blinked a couple of times. Taking a deep breath, I looked down seeing my huge chest rise and fall. I reached up a hand and rubbed my pecs through the t-shirt, and then a large bicep came into view. "Fuck," was all I could mutter as I threw the pickup into gear and continued back to the city.

I'd taken jocks mainly, same age as me. They always had a good source of cash if you picked the right ones. That's how I was siphoning off the money, but I'd been caught on camera swapping between people. It was the end of a good scam; at least for that city, and here I was heading back to that same city again. I knew I had to wait for it to cool down before I could move on, and all those temporary tattoos to fade.

Thirty minutes was all I needed to learn everything I needed to adopt John Solomon's life. I knew he didn't know about me, he'd received a garbled message from his office saying he needed to report back as soon as he hit the burbs.

As I got closer to the city I gave John's office a call, told them I was heading home. They wanted me to go straight to the office, but I growled that I was tired and needed to clean up and just hung up the phone.

Arriving back at John's house I wearily climbed out and grabbed his bags from the back. Dropping the bags at the front door I went through my shorts cussing as I tried to find the keys.

I frowned when I felt a tap on the shoulder, slowly I turned. In front of me was a weedy guy in a suit with glasses; obviously had a Men in Black fixation. Flanking him on either side where two police officers.

"What's this about," I groaned trying to keep calm.

He held up an official looking badge. "Vermin control," he sneered, and the two officers chuckled. He offered his hand, and I thought he wanted to shake it. To my surprise he held on to it hard and twisted it to show my wrist. "This one needs to be done," he muttered to one of the officers who made some notes.

Without any warning he pushed a small box against my wrist, it burnt, and I pulled free of his grasp. "What the hell!"

"It's a temporary sigil, lasts sixty days. Make sure you get a permanent one before it fades," he retorted as he left.

I looked at the sigil, it was burning red and hot to the touch. I rubbed at it hard, but it wouldn't come off. Inside John's house, I dropped the bags and exhausted collapsed into John's favourite chair.

Closing my eyes, I focused on leaving John. Returning to the city was a bad idea. Trying to pull out of the giant failed, it felt as if I was bouncing off the inside of the guy. Each time I tried the sigil glowed and burnt. "Fuck, this shit stops me getting inside people, but also stops be getting out as well," I cursed under my breath.

I had one option; stay and be John. It wasn't all that bad I thought to myself. I knew they'd never be able to find me now.