Anywhere But Burbank

Chapter 33: Wake Me from the Nightmare (2)

Lauren was using a balance beam for her gymastics stuff. "Practicing for the talent show coming up this week?" Carrie asked while preparing her snack. "Oh of course, you know I always try to do my best when it comes to these types of competitions, even if I'm not a winner. I always know I'm my own kind of winner." Lauren chuckles as Carrie finishes making her little snack and she picks up Crakko. "I'm gonna go and take Crakko for a walk in the park." "Alright mom, do you think you can pick me up new hair ties on the way back? These are my last ones and they are starting to fray a little bit." Lauren asked her and Carrie nodded. "Of course."

(At the park)

Carrie and Crakko sat together at the fountain, watching the constant flow. "Hey Crakko, you want to make a wish?" She hands him a coin and Crakko looks at it. "A lot of people can make wishes on stars, paper, and sometimes they can make wishes on coins. Watch this." Carrie takes out a quarter and gives it a cute little kiss and flips it into the fountain. "Now you try." Crakko does the exact same thing and watches the little ploop sound it made. "Ploop." He spoke and then made a raspberry sound. The two go under a tree for some shade and he naps in her lap. "Have a good nap Crakko." Carrie whispers and then takes a nap.

((In the dream.))

Everyone was in their best get up, all in for the annual dance show comes along. Some of them were dancing, some were having food stuffed into their faces. Others were just chatting together like no one was watching. Then all of a sudden, the music comes to a stop as Mr. Plotz and Hello Nurse came up onto the stage. "Alright. Here we go, gather round. It's the moment you have all been waiting for." Wakko gave a big whoop as Mr. Plotz continued his speech. "We give you this years dancing king and queen." He opened up the envelope and took out the card, Hello Nurse reading what was on it. "Yakko Warner and Carrie Nelson."

The crowd began to clap and cheer for them as the two step on the stage, having crowns placed up on their heads and the crowd began to sing for them. "Hail Alma Matter, all matter we salute you. We proclaim our devotion as we set all dreams into motion." Everyone bowed as they waved to the crowd as Brain sees a reflection in the mural. "Oh no.. Excuse me Ms. Nurse?" He approached her with Pinky by his side. "Excuse me, but what are you two doing here?" Hello Nurse crossed her arms. "Look, you have to listen to us, something terrible is going to happen. ZORT!" "I knew it, I knew you two were up to something. Brain, I warned you. Get out! Now!" Hello Nurse throws them out as it pans to Raquel and Chloe in the rafters. "Now. Pull the damn cord, Chloe. Do it."

A loud splash hits Carrie as she is doused in red food coloring. "What is that? Is that food coloring?" Slappy asked confused as laughter came from above. The people looked at each other confused as the siblings began to leave. Carrie looked at her hands as she began to mumble in french something her mother said to her as a child. "Tu ne seras jamais assez, petit gamin. Vous savez que tout cela est vrai. Tout espoir est perdu!" ("You will never be enough, little kid. You know this is all true. All hope is lost!") Carrie then began to sing. "I will not cry, I'm okay. I tried so hard to play their way!" Her eyes focused on the lights. "Momma, you should have told me! For i've been made to show this world the curse on us!" "The curse of what?" The crowd reflected back.

"'Yakko is a very nice boy, momma! I'm gonna finally belong!' An eagle's just another bird, until he can spread his wings!!" Carrie held out her arms as did the others. "Open your heart, let the cute toons in!!" "They'll make fun of you, then they'll break your heart! And they'll laugh at you watching you fall apart!!" Carrie puts her hands on her face as the crowd she sees was mocking her. "SCARY CARRIE!!" Her brain filled with the audience laughing at HER. "Doesn't anybody ever get it right?! Doesn't Anybody think that I hear?!" People started to get quite concerned as Plotz tries to deescalate the situation. "Alright, everyone calm down. Everyone please calm down." Carrie went wide eyed as she stared at the mic stand, shocking Plotz and the thing blowing up in his face. People began to rush to different doors, but they all slam shut and locked. The Warners got out just in time.

"Sera's seen your sinning!! Just beginning! Pay for your salvations from temptation!! Pay or she... will..  burn you! SHE.. WILL.. BURN.. YOU!!" The fire alarm begins to ring out as people began to try and find a way out. Carrie looked up into the rafters. She brings them down as Raquel and Chloe smack their faces into the stage ground. Amelia tried going up to her daughter but she gets tossed by an unseen force, hitting her stomach into a table. Some people were getting shocked, other toons getting cornered. The mural comes crashing down and the glass shatters, pooling at her feet. Fire's began to break out and everyone escapes with only minor injuries. Carrie decides to mess with Chloe and Raquel one more by hanging Raquel upside down by the foot before dropping her. "Raquel? RAQUEL?! NO, RAQUEL!! You god damn freak!!" Carrie sends her out of the door before she leaves herself.

(End.)

Carrie wakes up to Crakko poking at her face. She breathed in and out quite quickly. "Oh okay, just another bad dream." She picks him up. "This time.. I was starting chaos by unknown forces.." She pets Crakko and he rests his head on her shoulder. "Mommy okay." He sighs in relief as Carrie looks at him. "Yes yes, I am okay." She went to the store and got Lauren her hair ties before going back to the water tower.