The Principles of a Grand Hunt // Part 1 - A Cars Story

Chapter 20 - Have Mercy

Author's note: Much like Chapter 18, I decided to include lyrics of a song to once again give an idea of what the characters are going through (spoiler: they sing it. Copyright, don't cancel me.) Enjoy!

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Present Day

"Whew! Another day of busy work gone by just like that! Makes you think... in this limited time we have on Earth, should we really waste our lives by doing menial labor? Or should we live it up and enjoy all the small things? Heh... cue the Blinker-182 song."

Dash knew that voice. That sweet, sweet voice. It felt distant however, like it was in another world of sorts.

"Ugh, my hood... where am I? Is this... is this heaven?" he thought.

"All this... driving... I am driving... I drive, this stinks..." the voice quipped.

"Is that... is that really you?" he asked in thought.

"Look, I tried, okay? I'm sorry that I'm nowhere near as good as you at improv... well, a lot of things..." the voice sighed.

"No-no. Don't say that. Never say that." he said in thought.

"Ugh... I just... I want you back, in the real world." the voice pleaded.

"Wait! I am back! I am back in the real world!" he exclaimed in thought.

"Just give me a sign... anything. By the Manufacturer, things have been hard enough." the voice asked.

"I am giving you a sign! I am! Please, tell me you can hear me!" he thought.

The voice paused for a few moments. Dash tried his hardest to do anything to reach out and show that he was really there. Alas, his body wasn't ready to cooperate.

"Hey, hot rod?" the voice asked.

"Y-yeah?" he asked in thought.

"I'm gonna give you a wash. Is that alright?" the voice asked.

"Well... sure. Wow, I don't think you've ever washed me before," he said in thought, marvelling at the idea.

"I've never washed you before. I've always wanted to. Heh, think of it as a sensual venture of sorts..." the voice quipped, chuckling a bit.

Dash chuckled along with the voice, hoping that it could hear him. Alas, the sound of their tires slowly faded away for a minute or so, gradually returning.

"I'm totally gonna ruin this nice carpet with all this soapy water, but I really couldn't care less. I'll move mountains to make sure you're... washed. Heh." the voice quipped.

"Heh... that's funny! You're funny! Please, tell me you heard that. Please..." he pleaded in thought.

There began an odd sensation. He could feel all of a sudden. He could feel the suds of soapy water slowly running down his body ever-so gently.

"Mhm... that feels really nice." he thought.

The voice paused once again, letting out a sorrowful sigh as they gently caressed Dash's body.

"Sing me a song... if you can." the voice asked.

"S-sing? I can't sing." he thought.

"I wish we had our own song. Like, something we can call 'our song'. Like, 'babe, let's sing our song.'... but you should be here to do that." the voice said, sighing.