Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and the minions for reading.
Photo Copyright Al Forbes
He stood beneath the arch with no idea who the target was.
“You’ll smell him coming,” he’d been told, the only information he had to go on.
Problem was he could smell every one of them, and they all smelled the same. Filthy creatures. They reeked of perfumes and body odor- a pungent combination in even the best of circumstances.
A sweeter smell wafted into his nostrils- different than the others, pleasant even. His transparent, second eyelids slid closed. A sea of brown stench flooded his vision, in it a lone pillar of stunning purple.
Unsheathing his knife, he grinned.
Adam Ickes 
November 6th, 2013 at 8:34 AM
Wow!
So many questions.
AnElephant loves this.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:24 PM
I’m glad I could please AnElephant with my crazed ramblings.
November 6th, 2013 at 8:40 AM
How terribly intriguing! I am dying to know what happens next, and why he was hunting someone…and who that target is. I get the feeling it was a woman….
Great tension and imagery!
November 6th, 2013 at 9:25 PM
The target is a man actually. Though I won’t tell you why he is being targeted. At least not yet.
November 7th, 2013 at 8:50 AM
Is he really? Now I’m even more intrigued.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Very interesting, tense and creepy all at the same time. Very well done.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:26 PM
Thank you kindly.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:13 AM
“Invasion–Step One”: sounds like there will be a Step Two with more information on the alien killers and the pleasant-smelling (rival alien?) victim. Well done.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:27 PM
There is most definitely a Step Two, but it might be awhile before it is revealed.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:16 AM
creeeeepy… especially the transparent second eyelid thing. well done.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:28 PM
I was wondering how people would react to the second eyelid. Seems to have the masses intrigued.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Very strange, and so much backstory going on — not that it’s necessary to enjoy this strange hunter you’ve created. Well done.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:29 PM
I seem to have a fascination with hunters lately. The novel I’m currently working on is about a hunter as well, but of a different variety.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:23 PM
Amazing fantasy…I bow to you in this genre.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Thank you for your kind words. They are very much appreciated.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:26 AM
Deserved. Very much.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Dramatic! I love that you chose his sense of smell. What a creative take! 😀
November 6th, 2013 at 9:31 PM
Smell is such an under utilized sense in a lot of stories. I felt like it deserved some love for a change.
November 11th, 2013 at 8:45 PM
You are so right. I always forget to describe any smells in my stories. Maybe I feel they smell enough on their own! Haha!
November 6th, 2013 at 1:19 PM
Intriguing indeed. Loved the smell thing and the way it suddenly switched to being seen with the second eyelids. Good work.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:33 PM
This guy has been floating around in my head for awhile now. I’m glad he finally made his way out, weird eyes and all.
November 6th, 2013 at 2:16 PM
This brings with it many more questions that should be answered. Color me intrigued. Well written.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:36 PM
Your questions may be answered some day, but that day is not today. I have so many stories floating around in my head that most of them will never even see the light of day for sheer lack of time. This guy at least got a glimpse of the outside world before being locked away again.
November 6th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Oh! My first sci-fi story this week, and so well done! This is really fantastic. Left me totally creeped out, which I believe, was the goal. 😉
November 6th, 2013 at 9:36 PM
That was indeed the goal. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
November 6th, 2013 at 7:33 PM
Oh dear – lots of mystery here. What’s going on? What will happen next? Oh the mystery!
November 6th, 2013 at 9:37 PM
I will now commence my evil laugh and give you no answers to your questions.
November 7th, 2013 at 2:36 AM
Excellent; I really enjoyed this. And I’ll remember it. Very well done Adam.
November 8th, 2013 at 8:39 AM
Thanks, Sandra. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
November 7th, 2013 at 3:30 AM
Very mysterious with potential for high drama!Am dying to know who that lone pillar of purple is-a regal persona?And who is he-the one who can “smell” people and has transparent second eyelids-ooh!
November 8th, 2013 at 8:40 AM
I can’t promise I’ll ever get to writing more about this guy, but there’s a good chance it’ll happen sooner or later.
November 8th, 2013 at 12:12 PM
:-)cool!
November 7th, 2013 at 4:25 AM
Dear Adam,
Sounds like we’re reading from the POV of some kind of lizard person with a strong aversion to human scent. You left me wanting to know more. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
November 8th, 2013 at 8:42 AM
He certainly isn’t human, that’s for sure. What he is I’m not entirely sure, but some day I might know more about him and write it down.
November 7th, 2013 at 4:28 AM
Dear Adam,
I have read this again and again. ‘;”’
Aloha,
Doug
November 8th, 2013 at 8:42 AM
That’s a good thing I hope.
November 7th, 2013 at 6:46 AM
This is just like watching smell-a-vsion. Now, you’ve got me sniffing at everything. I’ll have to be careful at work. They’ll think I’m weird–or weirder.
November 8th, 2013 at 8:43 AM
Let your freak flag fly! To hell with what they think about you!
November 7th, 2013 at 8:18 AM
I don’t read many stories based primarily on the sense of smell. It’s a novel way to do it.
November 8th, 2013 at 8:44 AM
Ranks right up there with taste as the most underutilized of the senses in writing.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:52 PM
He is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing, maybe even the anti-Christ. He’s smooth and polished and smells great! Let’s see what happens next …
November 8th, 2013 at 8:45 AM
I wouldn’t go as far as saying he is the anti-Christ, but his being there is certainly not good news.
November 7th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
A true warrior – fighting with all his senses. I’m wondering is the enemy a “she”? I guess we will have to wait for part two.
Well done suspense
November 8th, 2013 at 8:47 AM
You won’t need to wait for part to for that tidbit, though the answer may raise even more questions:
“You’ll smell him coming,” he’d been told, the only information he had to go on.
November 7th, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Ooh, a spooky assassin! Sent through from “elsewhere” to take out someone/thing also come from “elsewhere”, perhaps, or to kill a particular human who might stand in the way of the “invasion”?
Eagerly awaiting part 2!
November 8th, 2013 at 8:48 AM
Without these soldiers hidden in plain sight, the invasion would not be possible.
November 8th, 2013 at 1:57 AM
Ah, just the kind of sinister, twisted, thought-provoking fuel I love to read! I salute you 🙂
November 8th, 2013 at 8:49 AM
Thanks. I’m glad I could provide a bit of fuel for the fire.
November 8th, 2013 at 4:23 PM
Very creepy, Adam. I find it intriguing that he could smell at all. Fantastic take.
November 8th, 2013 at 6:40 PM
While I bristle at being a minion (yes, I read it all), I love what’s left out of this story, and what’s coming, and what’s here. Invasion, indeed! Can’t wait for part 2.
November 11th, 2013 at 7:38 AM
I am honored to have such a loyal minion. I look forward to trying to make you sleep with the lights on in the future. 🙂
November 8th, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Left me wanting to know more and yet perfectly condensed.
November 9th, 2013 at 6:12 AM
That second eyelid got me thinking about menacing creatures like aliens
November 12th, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Interesting take. The second eyelids were unexpected. Creepy!
December 10th, 2013 at 9:32 PM
[…] you read my Friday Fictioneers stories Invasion – Step 1 and Alone and were left wanting more, you’re in the right place. They are actually two pieces […]
December 11th, 2013 at 10:03 AM
[…] for those of you who wanted more from Invasion – Step One and Alone, I’ve posted a longer piece: The Diary of Walter Jakobsen. Click through to read if […]