Captive of the Hawkmen

They came from a distant planet to terrorize our cities and prey upon our women, turning them into... captives of the hawkmen.

(F-exh, MF)

by PleaseCain, copyright 2001

 

Chicago, 1964

I knew I should have gotten the cottage cheese for lunch. Then I wouldn't have landed in this trouble, the most harrowing day of my life.

But then again, gliding in the warm moonlight, wrapped within his arms, my fingertips tracing the ridges of his chest, his stomach, and even lower, his flesh hard and hot...I closed my eyes, nestling my face in his shoulder, inhaling his scent.

No, I wouldn't trade this for the world, so never mind what I said about the cottage cheese. But you see, it isn't as easy is all that.

It was a typically frustrating morning. Life isn't easy for the low man on the totem pole, and a temp secretary is certainly that. Margaret, the head of the secretarial pool, who has a penchant for tight sweaters, lords it over everyone. That morning she made one of her standard cracks about my glasses or my weight, because the other secretaries all giggled as I returned to the room; what they didn't know is that Margaret says similar things about them too when they aren't around. That's the kind of person she is. I rolled my eyes after she announced she was meeting one of the attorneys for lunch and slammed the door shut behind her.

I knew I would be going off my diet at lunch. As I returned the cottage cheese to the cooler at the convenience store and waited in line for a personal pan pizza, I didn't care what I ate or how I looked. This was it, this was my life. The same as yesterday, hum drum, and all it would ever be. As the cashier rang up my lunch, I threw in a candy bar, as well as a roll of those K-Nines potassium and niacin lozenges they advertise on the radio, to assuage my guilt and perhaps find the energy to carry me thru the rest of the day.

Outside, I ducked thru a reasonably decent alley as a detour away from the surging lunchtime crowds. My mouth watered from the smell of pizza, and I opened for that first luscious bite.

But never tasted a thing. Vertigo seized me. The sour odor of decay filled my nostrils. I clenched my eyelids to fight away the nausea. Warm air gusted over my hair and skin, and I felt a constriction around my arms.

On the verge of panic, I forced myself to squint open my eyes. Clasping my arm was a gnarled hand—a claw really, with talons and filthy feathers. I screamed, but that nothing came out, and nothing went in either. I could not breathe. I could not move. My head grew heavy, drowsy. I found myself sprawled on a makeshift mattress of bags, papers and scraps of clothing. My head rested on an aluminum vent. With a start I realized I was on a rooftop, a skyscraper! And squatting some twenty yards off, with its hunched back turned to me, was the creature that had kidnapped me, devouring my personal pan pizza in an orgy of guttural noises. The thing was hideous, with great mangy wings folded about its shoulders, a bony crest along the top of its humanoid head, and a body covered with a scruffy layer of mud-colored feathers.

I bit my lip, all I could do to keep from crying aloud. Rising to my feet, I turned to make my escape.

Unfortunately, my heel hooked on the raised lip of the nesting, and I tumbled face-forward. The grotesque brute whipped its head around, yellow eyes glaring. I made my dash.

My remaining shoe kicked off. I scooped it and tossed it over my shoulder. The giant wings crackled the air over my head. I pitched forward, shrieking in terror.

I turned to face it hovering menacingly overhead. Inching backward, I shouted over and over in desperation, but it only closed the distance. I had nothing left to defend myself, and foolishly threw the candy bar still in my pocket, which went sailing over its head.

To my surprise, the monster turned to retrieve it.

Sobbing uncontrollably, I discovered I didn't have the strength to flee.

Then, in the blink of an eye, salvation swooped down from the sky.

But I was out of the frying pan and into the fire. I found myself in the clutches of another of these flying creatures, ascending in a spiral from the roof of the building, where the foul creature that abducted me shook its fist, a brown candy wrapper fluttering from the corner of its mouth. Overwhelmed by fright and despair, I passed out.

I awoke beneath a full moon. I lay on a hard surface, another rooftop, and covered by a blanket. I snuck to my feet, when the thing appeared out of nowhere.

It held up its hands. "I mean no harm," it said.

"Then why won't you leave me alone!" I turned away, clutching the blanket about me. "Take me home."

In spite of my rage, I could not help but notice that this one was subtly different from the first one I encountered. He looked every bit as strange and powerful, and with the same giant wings, but this one was rather less horrid to look upon, less bestial in its manner. In fact, this specimen was more notable for its reticent behavior, along with its straighter shoulders and proportioned arms and legs. He even seemed crestfallen at my harsh tone. "Very well," he said, "here, take my arm."

His grip was like steel on my upper arms, and immediately we launched into the air above the city. We glided over the canyons of skyscrapers, filled with twinkling lights. His blond hair snapped in the wind. I pointed the way to my building.

We floated to the balcony, and he released me as gently as he would an egg. While I fumbled with my keys, he floated silently over my shoulder. Finally, I got it open, as Mitzi my poodle barked at the intruder outside.

"Thank you," I called above the racket.

"You are well?" the creature said, tilting his head.

I nodded, from around the drape.

He flashed a smile that looked positively beautiful on a square cleft chin, his eyes sparkling. "May I check on you tomorrow evening?" he said, and I surprised myself by nodding. "I am Xyzogpertl."

"Madeline," I said, pulling the door shut, "bye."

Shutting the door tight and fixing the bars and locks, I pulled the curtains and ate by a nightlight before turning in, sleeping with a knife under my pillow.

 

Luckily, I still had a job in the morning, but the day was no better than the last. Half of Margaret's directions, and all of her comments, eluded me. Everything seemed petty and unimportant. I ate lunch at my desk, picking at my garden salad while listening to Dr. Powers' show for the lovelorn. "True love will out," the doctor advised an octogenarian meeting disapproval from his 18-year-old girlfriend's family. I found myself doodling "Madeline + Xyzogpertl" and "Xyzogpertl + Madeline" and even "Mrs. Xyzogpertl," which somehow didn't have the right ring. The way home was as bad, jostled on crowded sidewalks and honked at by aggressive cabbies. Even the cashier at my favorite grocer was short with me, and as I made my way home, the world seemed a cold, despairing place, with nothing to believe in and no way to make it better. As I stirred the pot of boiling pasta in my kitchenette, I wondered if my mind was betraying me, if the eerie events of the night before had occurred at all.

I sat in the candlelight before two steaming plates of food, listening to the clock striking down the street, and buried my face in my hands.

When I raised it again, I heard the rapping on the window.

I whipped aside the drapes: it was Xyzogpertl! He appeared more beautiful than ever, the V of his lats framed against the streaming moonlight, his hands on his hips, accentuating the muscular biceps and forearms. I was having difficulty jiggling open the lock, and when I looked up to apologize, his smile melted me and made things worse!

Finally I invited him in, and he surprised me with a bouquet of flowers. I almost jumped up and kissed him, but caught myself and showed him to his seat.

"This is just delicious, Madeline," he boomed. "Is it, by chance, healthy food?"

"Oh yes, Xyzogpertl," I insisted, "I've always been one for nutrition."

"Oh ho," he exclaimed, "you see, we Xyzogpexi do not often ingest foodstuffs such as these."

"The Xyzogpexi, you say?"

"That is the name of our race of peoples," he said. "You may call us the Hawkmen."

"The Hawkmen," I rolled the word around my tongue.

"We come from a far-off planet," he said, positioning the Parmesan cheese and the water glasses just so in illustration, and proceeded to tell the story of his people, visited by an Earthman, a Commander Rogers, with whom they fought side-by-side against an evil emperor. However, Xyzogpertl's space-vessel was shot down and they were forced to crash-land in the New Mexican desert. Inexplicably pursued by the strange machines of the Earth people, they fled from place to place, always one step ahead of capture, until at last they found a perfectly safe environ, ironically the place with the most Earthlings: the city, which provided valuable nesting sites at the summits of their towering structures, as well as a ready place to scavenge food. But unfortunately, their ill-fated crew had included no females, and their once-mighty contingent was steadily dwindling and losing hope of rescue, their numbers winnowed by man-made pollution and processed foods.

"Now, most of our proud aeries, or nests, which once commanded the rooftops of the city, lay fallow, eroded by the wind," he choked.

And he broke down and wept, unable to check his sorrow, so I leapt to take him in my arms, smoothing his hair. When I had soothed him and his crying ceased, he looked up with a forlorn glance.

"And the other hawkman I saw yesterday?" I asked.

"Xyzogphyghus," he pronounced gravely. "He is all that is corrupted in us—he even smokes—and we are locked in a duel for the leadership of the survivors. He thrives on hatred and revenge, and will stop at nothing to destroy me...and then the entire human race."

"Oh Xyzogpertl!" I blurted and pulled him into a kiss. His embrace was strong, his breaths hot, his scent hawkmanly. My fingers ran thru his hair, over his shoulders and the white down of his arms. I had to break away, before it was too late.

"Pardon me," he rasped.

I turned from him. "You had better go now."

"Yes. Goodbye Madeline, Earthwoman." I heard him sail into the distance, until all that was left of him was the rattle of the drapery rod against the wall, while I sobbed into a tissue.

In a daze, I prepared for bed, at once elated and heartbroken, and crawled beneath the sheets for a deep night's slumber to escape my whirling emotions; a good eight hours and a morning shower would prepare me to sort thru the thoughts muddling my mind. How could I have anticipated meeting this interesting being? And hearing his tragic tale? How could I have known that such a magnificent male could harbor such a broken heart? No one would believe me...not even Dr. Powers! And yet, the way he shed his tears on my shoulder, holding me as if for dear life, for his only salvation: his pain and desperation were genuine, and affected me profoundly.

I felt a tear trickling over my cheek, and wiped my face against the sheet. It was then I realized that my hand was playing on my nipple. True, there was guilt and surprise, but more than that I felt electric jolts radiating from my breast each time my fingertips brushed it.

Was I masturbating, thinking about Xyzogpertl? Images of his hands and shoulders flashed thru my mind. Of his bright eyes and beaming smile. A virile hawkman he was, and yet that wasn't why I had become aroused. It was instead, I understood, that this powerful, stoic leader of Hawkmen had trusted enough to expose his fears to me, a frail mortal woman. Drawing the sheets down to my navel, I twisted and teased my erect nipples.

Fluttering the sides of my index fingers over the tips, I worked myself to the crest of a swelling wave. I hadn't realized the volume of my hoarse vocalizations until I heard a curious snap outside my window, and held my breath in silence. Thru the gauzy curtains dancing in the breeze, I saw the figure of Xyzogpertl hovering beyond. My heart skipped at his return, at his watching me. I kicked the sheets away from my body.

When I touch myself, it is on my breasts, which are very sensitive, and besides I am more comfortable with them than with touching my genitals. However, lying nude under the gaze of that gallant man, drove me out of my head with lust. Abandoning all scruples, I parted my knees, shamelessly affording him a full view of my most private parts and the hand that was cupping them, while my other hand played over my titties like a flitting dove.

My hand was soaked with my excitement, my labia slick beneath my fingertips. My clitoris felt as hard as a pebble. My hips danced in the air. The flapping outside grew more insistent as my passion grew. I buried one and then two of my fingers inside me, playing in and out as my thumb stroked my clittie. He made me feel like a special woman, and now I was repaying him with a daring show.

Arousal bubbled under my flashing hand. "You make me feel wonderful," I moaned, "I am yours, all yours." Throwing back my head, I groaned as the tremors intensified. I screamed my ecstasy and called his name:

Xyzogpertl, oh, Xyzogpertl!

When I had calmed and brushed my hair away, I saw only the blue glow of the night where Xyzogpertl had been. I stretched in exhilaration, exhaling that magical name: Xyzogpertl.

In the next instant, he smashed thru the window, snickering, "Not quite, dearie, tho I can't wait to tell him about the little show he missed." It was Xyzogphyghus!

Wriggling against the headboard, I shrieked and brought my hands before my face, but it was no use. The villain swooped me up, carrying my nude body into the cold night.

In spite of my kicking and flailing, his hold on me was unshakeable. His sinister laugh echoed from the buildings on either side. I screamed and tried biting the dastardly gargoyle, to no avail. We rose higher and higher, toward the silvery moon.

We ascended above most of the buildings, the rooftops of the city shrinking in the distance. The world spun, and I grew faint, my limbs dangling helplessly. Ahead, I spied the Megamonolith Tower, the tallest building in the world.

"No," I screamed as we raced up the face of the gigantic building.

I don't recall if I lost consciousness during those frantic moments, but the next thing I knew I was lying in a sprawling nest, larger than the one I saw the day before, and there, cackling atop the ledge, was Xyzogphyghus. I covered myself with my arms, but as his laughter grew more maniacal, I forgot my modesty and began inching away from him. His eyes flashed as he ripped away his codpiece. Between his legs hung an enormous penis, over a foot long, rising like a nocturnal plant seeking the moonlight. I gasped my horror, which made him laugh the harder, his grotesque missile wagging with each paroxysm.

I felt the wall of the nest against my shoulders. I waited until my captor was seized by an especially hearty gust of laughter, then scrambled over the wall.

Instantly his gnarled talons seized my shoulders, and thrash as I might, I was frozen, motionless, as if trapped in concrete.

The evil one snarled, "Where is your Xyzogpertl now?" and his rotten breath almost made me retch. My stomach wobbled, queasy. I looked down at the phallus poised threateningly between my legs. "Hold still, dearie."

Tears choked my throat. "Help! Xyzogpertl!"

Turning my eyes to heaven, I saw my hero, framed by the white orb of the moon.

"Unhand her, coward!" he thundered.

"Fie on you, traitor! Lover of Earthlings!" taunted my attacker, hurtling overhead, plowing into Xyzogpertl's stomach.

Cowering in the nest, I shrieked as the two titans grappled high above, arms locked in a death embrace, legs kicking, wings beating, roaring their mutual hatred. It was impossible to tell who had the upper hand in the melee.

"Get him," I yelled impotently. As if in answer, a streak of hot blood rained down, slapping across my cheek.

The ferocious duo slammed against the brick wall of an adjacent building, crashing thru to the interior.

Several interminable seconds passed before Xyzogphyghus emerged, alone, spitting and pointing into the dark void. He darted indoors again, this time dragging Xyzogpertl behind him, and slamming him thru another skyscraper.

The villain reappeared, turned, picked up speed and flew into the wrecked building to finish his prey. But this time he emerged alone, searching to and fro.

My champion lay in wait, smashing him into the tower across the way.

The foe brandished his fist. "Now you die!" he said, and chased Xyzogpertl into the canyon of buildings.

It was impossible not to cover my eyes at that harrowing dogfight, the hawkmen flashing past at breakneck speeds, whipping around obstacles, climbing and diving so that the wind whistled on their wings, leaving white braids of contrails in their wake. There followed moments of stillness when they had flown out of sight. Then they would rocket just above the rooftop, forcing me to dive for cover.

I heard a series of booms, and wincing, went over to investigate.

On the rooftop across the street, the rogue had beaten his leader to unconsciousness with a bus-sized air-conditioning unit. He kicked his defeated enemy. At my sob, he finally relented. He began floating menacingly in my direction. I retreated, but a defiant voice made me stop.

"I'm not finished with you yet." It was Xyzogpertl, brushing debris from his arms and wings.

The criminal spun, seething, and rushed like a bullet at his teetering enemy. I tried to shout a warning, but the words stuck in my throat. I threw my hands before my eyes. My heart sank and died at the agonized cry.

Quivering, I peeked thru my fingers.

Xyzogpertl teetered before me.

I cradled his tired body, kissing the wounds on his face and shoulders. "It's you, it's really you," I cried. "But what...?"

"Don't . . ." he said, but I had already shuddered at the scene beyond his shoulder: Xyzogphyghus' lifeless body hung like a rag, impaled on a broadcasting antenna.

Exhausted, I wept against the granite chest, the massive arms encircling me. His lips touched the top of my head, and then they covered mine.

He stopped.

"You have truly helped me, Madeline Earthwoman, and have earned the Hawkmen's everlasting gratitude." His voice sounded stiff and formal. "And now I release you, and return you home."

"Xyzogpertl," I said, "my home is here."

"But...but you belong among the Earthpeople."

I silenced him with a finger on his lips. "I belong to you. To bear your offspring."

At my declaration, his plumage shivered. In elation, he bore me into the air, where the first shards of sunlight spiked the eastern horizon. Our eyes locked. We settled downward as if drifting thru clear water, where Xyzogpertl laid me in his nest.

His tongue brushed my toes, curled around my ankles, shimmied up the inside of my thighs. Yes, I parted them so readily, so shamelessly wanting, watching him nuzzle my damp fur. But those tantalizing lips landed instead around my navel, his warm tongue swishing, exploring.

"Oh god," I moaned, stomach twitching. I brought his head to my breasts, growling while he latched onto one of the nipples. Never had I felt such lust; he seemed to draw out my deepest passions thru his suckling, his touch, his very presence.

We stared together when he had finished sucking: my nipples stood pregnant red. When he next looked in my eyes, my lips wordlessly beckoned him closer.

"Make love to me," I breathed, softer than a ghost. "Make me your queen."

Now his body enveloped mine, his arms and wings shrouding me completely, his phallus stroking for entrance. His cockhead mingled with my dewy lips, then slid inside, filling me up. Mated with this noble creature, I arched my back into his thrusts, kissing encouragements over the regal feathers of his shoulders.

We swelled into the air, the golden panorama of morning sky stretching above us, the tiny world of busy creatures far below. He embraced me totally, inside and out. Surrendering, I grasped him with my entire being: arms, legs, and vagina.

He poured out life-giving love that I devoured, shouting my power over that former world beneath me. The power of a purpose, of a brand new life.