Strawberry had to decide what she was going to do with the vial. It was pretty, but what would happen if she kept it? Or even drank it? Why was it even mixed into her stocks?
There was a soft thud on the roof of the truck. More steps, and a yelp as the truck door clicked open. Once the car door shut, Strawberry was finally capable of processing the events that had just unfolded. She stumbled over to the front of the truck, her posture and breathing growing shakier every time a muscle moved.
"Driver?" Strawberry started, before facing Driver's usual seat, now empty. "Driver!? Driver, where are you!?" Strawberry wanted to breathe. Strawberry wanted to break. Strawberry was afraid for her life.
In a distraught haze of panic and stress, Strawberry stumbled back into the legs of her bed, catching her hands in a blanket. The next thing she could recall was the vial rolling next to her feet and trying to grab it, seeing double vision. She unplugged the cork from the vial's mouth and stared at the calming blue liquid, watching bubbles dance to the top and pop over and over.
It was tempting.
It was calling.
It was worth a shot.
After some hesitation, Strawberry forced herself to down the whole vial of liquid. Mixed with her hazy panic, she passed out.
A teenage boy hopped down from the roof. He stared to his right at Driver's pleading face.
"Please, boy, let me go! I have to protect her...!" Driver begged and begged, watching him climb into Driver's seat. It heard him turn the truck on and started wriggling in duct tape and rope that had been tied on by none other than the boy.
The engine revved and Driver felt the crushing pain of being run over many, many times, over and over.
Over.
And over.
And over.
And over.
When the boy had decided he'd done enough, he parked the truck, and hurried out, piggyback carrying a knocked-out Strawberry.
Strawberry's vision was painfully blurred. What had happened? Where was she? She could feel the hops of someone walking, their body every-so-slightly bobbing up and down. She groaned a bit and pulled her hands around someone's neck to rub her eyes.
"Hey, watch it. You might fall over, dummy," a boy grumbled.
Upon hearing him, she jumped and fell down onto the solid earth. "Who the fuck are you!?" she cried, "Where am I!? What's happening!?"
"Shush, kid. Quiet down, I'll explain everything. I just need you to come with me."
"How am I supposed to trust you!?"
"Can you please hear me out for a second?"
Strawberry, despite being frustrated and confused, stopped talking and let him express his view.
"I'm part of a group of refugees from after the whole incident. I'd hope you know what I mean by the incident, but I can't be one to assume. While you were resting one time, I snuck the vial into your stock and waited every day for you to find it. Finally, you drank it and saw my chance. Get rid of the monster, save another person."
"Wait, what monster?"
"The one that was sitting in the driver's seat of your truck. It spreads infections. I can't have you around that."
Strawberry was speechless. Had this guy really killed her friend? Her only parental figure? She clenched her fists, feeling tension sizzle up in her lungs. "You... YOU KILLED DRIVER!?"
"Driver? It's a monster, not a driver, kid. Get it right."
"IT WAS MY FUCKING FRIEND! THE ONE PERSON I COULD RELY ON! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!?"
"Why were you friends with a monster?"
"IT ISN'T A FUCKING MONSTER, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"
"Well, it isn't a human, that's for sure. Now please stop screaming, you're going to lure more monsters and we'll die."
"So... you really just... killed Driver?"
"Yeah, I did. I'm sorry for killing your friend, but it's a hazard. I'm surprised you managed to befriend it."
Strawberry stood in silence.
"Listen, kid, things had to happen. I know you miss your friend now but you'll be safer if you just come with me."
"Why should I come with you? I don't even know where you wanted to go with me."
"I intended to head back to the whole camp of refugees I'm a part of, and you could've figured that out when I said I was part of a group of refugees. Besides, there's nowhere else to go now, is there? I know the way back to the camp. Just follow me." The boy stretched his hand out.
Strawberry, understanding the situation, succumbed to him and took his hand.
With that, the two were off to somewhere Strawberry had never been before.
Note: note
YOU ARE READING
An Itsy Bitsy Strawberry
Teen FictionStrawberry has always been on the run with her friend Driver, running a store all the while. However, when someone strips her away from this "normal" life of hers, she has to learn to adapt to the place, including learning skills such as talking to...
