Run Rabbit Run

Run Rabbit Run 5

Lara shivered. The morning mist sank into her skin like it was thirsty for bone. Ivy's aunt and uncle hadn't even stopped in to say hi as she and Ivy watched movies, so they didn't notice when she said bye either. Maybe that was why Ivy was so mean to her brother. Her own folks didn't seem to much care where their niece was at. It was all a little strange. Lara hadn't wanted to pry but why was Ivy living with her aunt and uncle? Where were her parents?

Glancing at the fading stars, Lara frowned. She hadn't meant to stay so late, but Ivy had insisted she stay for one movie then another. She had seemed so pleased at watching them with her that Lara couldn't disappoint her and leave at a decent hour. However as she drove back , she doubted her wisdom now. At least she had her Trig book again. Ivy had copied the pages she'd needed earlier. Lara patted her book. Its comforting firmness felt good as she drove in the gloomy twilight. How weird was that, that math could ever make her feel good?

She flipped on the radio, jostling it for a minute to get a clear station. Out here in the country any reception was considered good, especially at 4:30 in the morning. Moisture grew on her windows, clouding up her view. She flipped on her windshield wipers, but soon realized she was driving through a thick patch of fog. It rose all around her, twisting the double yellow lines into one, then into nothing. Should she pull over? Wait for the dawn to burn off this fog? Or should she keep driving, fairly certain that she was the only person on the road right now and any mistakes she made would be hers alone?

Lara kept driving, more slowly though. She peered through the glass, but found she couldn't see out the back. Nervous now, she wished her mother had been able to afford back-defoggers. Every time she used the back-wipers, it just seemed to get cloudier. Suddenly the sun shot out like a shaft of light from the sky. For a moment, Lara was blinded as it turned the fog solid white. But slowly the mist turned from solid to trendrils and she could see a little better. She took a deep breath, grateful. The last time she hadn't been able to see she'd hit that poor raccoon and met up with that kook. Her driving picked up speed, but to her frustration she found she still couldn't see well out the back. The sun, just coming up, wasn't working fast enough on the mist back there.

Fortunately, she was almost home. Pulling into her driveway, Lara grabbed her stuff and climbed out her car. Only then did she walk around to the back. In an instant, she stopped. Horror clenched her hand to her mouth, sealing it there. Her windshield wipers had tried their best, but even they couldn't stop blood from smearing into the glass. Bits of black and gray fur clung to the edges of her car window.

Lara couldn't stop staring at the windshield. The raccoon had been thrown hard enough to create a hairline crack in the grass. That was what had made the fur stick. Now blood clung to that crack like a great red vein. She ran to the bushes and threw up.

The laughter began then. It sounded so close, Lara would have sworn someone was standing over her shoulder, cackling into her ear. She wrapped her hands around her head, but it did no good. She couldn't shut it out.

"Got to take care of things, girlie-girl" she heard echoing in her head. She could do nothing but lay there and shake unable to look away from the smeared red glass.

"Got to clean up your own messes."

"Or else."

For long minutes Lara just lay there, trying to distinguish fantasy from reality. Then she rose to her feet, determined to ignore the mocking voice in her head. Thank goodness it was so early. She went into her garage and pulled out a hose. If any of her neighbors looked out, they might think it was weird that she was washing her car at dawn. But how much worse would it be if they saw the blood? One bucket of soapy water was enough to get the glass presentable. Then she turned the hose on high, washing away all evidence of the night's insanity.

When she was finished, Lara took a deep sigh. No more adventures for her this weekend. Nope, she was going to stay put and not leave the house, not even for a pizza dripping with cheese and pep. Leaving the car to dry in the sun, she unlocked her front door and collapsed on the sofa. Bells chimed in her dreams.

"Go way," she waved her hand, "It's not time yet." But the bells wouldn't stop. Dazed, Lara fought for reality. It took a full minute before she realized that the phone next to her was buzzing. She picked it up, knowing in advance who it had to be. Her mother had a thing about "wasting the day by sleeping the morning away."

"Hi mom, yes, mom, I'm fine."

Her mother sounded worried. "Are you sure you're ok, honey? Your voice doesn't sound right."

For a moment, Lara debated about telling her everything that had happened last night, but then she stopped. Her mother was far too capable of getting all hysterical and banning Lara from leaving the house at night, until she got back, or worse yet, getting her Aunt Tophenia, just to stop by, for the rest of the weekend. The last thing Lara wanted was her Aunt Tofu, hanging over her shoulder, wanting to know how what she was doing with her life. And then telling her with clear relish how successful, her daughter, perfect blonde-bubble, beautiful-Kinsley was at doing at her school. And did you know they just elected her prom queen, she could imagine her aunt gushing, quite an honor for a freshman! Oh god, the very thought, made Lara want to puke.

Then she realized she hadn't responded. "I'm fine, mom," she hastened to say, "just a bit sleepy."

"Well, if you're sure. Maybe you should slow down on the books, and relax a little tonight? You could watch a movie."

Not unless it has flying chipmunks who sing, Lara thought to herself crossly. "Yeah, maybe I'll do that." she replied.

"Look, I have to go, but Lara, you take care. I didn't mean to come down so hard on you before I left. I know you'll do the best you can."

Waves of guilt, mingled with annoyance threatened to drown her. That was so her mom. She had a positive knack for making her feel good and bad at the same time, all because she wanted her daughter to do well. Lara sighed.

"I will, mom. Love you."

"Love you too, honey. See you soon."

Lara hung up the phone. Eager to abolish her night, she stared at her Trig book. It stared back. Hungry, ravenous white pages filled with numbers and symbols, all designed to trick her. The pages began to blur before her eyes. And just think after me, she could almost hear it chuckling, Calculus!

But that brought a different laugh to her head. Malicious, sadistic, she was positive she could hear the weird old man laughing at her. Last night flew back at her, only this time the man chucked the dead animal directly at her. It hit her on the back as she ran, tumbling her downwards, sticking her to the ground. Lara screamed and screamed, pushing, scraping at the animal, but it wouldn't let go. Its teeth now embedded in her leg. Thin lines of blood dripped down her calf. The man stood over her, clutching a shovel. His hands were sweat and calloused dirt as he piled the earth onto her.

"Got to clean up your own messes, girlie-girl. Got to do it right."

Lara flung up her hands, but it was no use the dirt was heavy, suffocating. She gasped as shovelful after shovelful fell on her face. Relentless, never stopping, Lara tried to take a breath, failed, then failed again. She screamed one last time. Dirt spewed out of her mouth, coughing air back into her lungs. The sun shone mercifully warm on her face. Groggy, confused, Lara opened her eyes and was rewarded with the sight of her own sofa, her own living room. She was home.

Eyes almost afraid to look, she glanced at the clock. 2:00 pm. She had slept for over six hours. Her skin shivered, wet and clammy. Her hair was plastered to her forehead. Gross, she was a sweaty disgusting mess. But she wasn't about to take a shower, not after watching Slasher movies last night, no, a bath would do just fine. Making up her mind, Lara headed to her room, stripped down, then hit the tub. The water felt unbelievably good. Soft and warm, it wrapped her like she was in a blanket. She ducked her head down, enjoying the way her long-brown hair, lady-Godivaed around her shoulders. Slowly she began to relax. A nightmare was much easier to banish in the light of day. She closed her eyes and let herself feel safe.