Lola and the Menacing Machine

Chapter 4: "A Gift with Strings"

The morning sun had just started to rise over the suburb, casting soft rays across the windows of the Daniels’ house. Their new town was cloaked in autumn hues, and a slight breeze drifted through the air, carrying with it the scent of dry leaves and fresh morning dew. The Daniels family—Thomas, Abigail, Maisey, and little Lola—were still adjusting to their new life. The town was smaller than they were used to, but their wealth and elegant, sprawling home marked them as distinct newcomers.

Maisey stood in her room, carefully studying herself in the mirror. She had dressed impeccably, choosing a cream-colored blouse with a high collar, delicate lace trimming the cuffs, and a sleek, forest-green skirt that ended just above her knees. Her outfit was modest yet chic, suited to the latest trend among her friends back home. She had swept her glossy, dark hair into a loose, elegant ponytail, framing her face with a few soft curls. Her heart beat with excitement and anticipation; today, she’d finally be driving her new car to school.

Downstairs, her mother, Abigail, looked effortlessly graceful in a tailored navy-blue sheath dress. A thin gold chain adorned her neck, and her shoulder-length black hair was styled into soft waves. Abigail Daniels was a woman of taste and refinement, carrying herself with a quiet authority that suited her background as a successful business owner. This move had been difficult for her, but she wanted her children to settle in as smoothly as possible.

Meanwhile, across town, Freddy sat in the back room of his small car dealership, a dingy office cluttered with paperwork and the scent of stale coffee. He wore his usual attire: a worn leather jacket over a grimy undershirt, his greasy cap pulled low over his eyes. His short friend and business partner, Barney, fidgeted beside him. Barney was a wiry man with a quick temper, sporting a threadbare sweater and jeans, and a wary expression that seemed permanently etched on his face.

“We need to get that car back, Freddy,” Barney muttered, sliding a crumpled slip of paper across the table. “Here’s what we’ll need.”

“Calm down, Lola! How can you possibly be more excited than Maisey?” Thomas, their father, teased as he tried to wrangle Lola into her chair for breakfast. Tall and broad-shouldered, Thomas Daniels was a picture of strength in his casual linen shirt and well-fitted trousers. His face had a gentle warmth, his graying hair the only indication of his middle age. He looked at his daughters with a mixture of pride and amusement, relishing these moments of family chaos before heading to his newly opened office nearby.

Lola, dressed in a sunny yellow dress that flared around her knees, practically vibrated with excitement as she sat swinging her legs wildly. Her hair was a riot of curls, framing her face in a halo that matched her energetic personality. She bounced in her seat with eager enthusiasm, her bright blue eyes dancing with mischief. “I’m so happy for Maisey!” she exclaimed, a spoonful of cereal halfway to her mouth.

Maisey, who was busy scrolling through her Instagram feed, looked up and smirked. “Thanks, Lola,” she replied, pretending to be indifferent, though her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve already got so many likes on my last post.” She glanced at her mother with a smile, getting up and hugging her. “Mom, thanks for this. Seriously, it’s the best.”

Abigail hugged her back, pleased to see her eldest daughter happy. Maisey’s transition to a new school had worried her, and this car felt like a small way to ease the adjustment. She watched as Maisey and Lola chattered and laughed together, feeling a pang of nostalgia; they were growing up faster than she wanted.

“Alright, finish up, girls,” Abigail said, adjusting her bracelet as she glanced at the clock. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll never make it on time, and Maisey has the whole school to impress,” she teased, smiling as Maisey rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

Meanwhile, across town, Freddy sat in the back room of his small car dealership, a dingy office cluttered with paperwork and the scent of stale coffee. He wore his usual attire: a worn leather jacket over a grimy undershirt, his greasy cap pulled low over his eyes. His short friend and business partner, Barney, fidgeted beside him. Barney was a wiry man with a quick temper, sporting a threadbare sweater and jeans, and a wary expression that seemed permanently etched on his face.

“We need to get that car back, Freddy,” Barney muttered, sliding a crumpled slip of paper across the table. “Here’s what we’ll need.”

Freddy ran a hand through his thinning hair and sighed. “You don’t think I know that? But it’s too soon. That family might’ve paid the price, but they have no idea what they’ve bought.” He looked at the paperwork for the sale, noting the price he’d somehow set too low without even realizing it. “It… changes, Barney. When we first got it, it was an Audi. Now it’s a BMW. Who knows what it’ll be next?”

Barney stared, wide-eyed. “So, what? You’re just gonna leave it with them?”

“No. We wait a few days, then we take it back, quietly. I don’t want the cops asking questions.” Freddy’s gaze shifted to the window, watching as the morning fog rolled over the used cars outside. They had no choice; the car was dangerous, something he and Barney had known from the start. Freddy’s heart pounded with worry; he needed a plan to retrieve it before anyone got hurt.

Back in the Daniels’ house, Abigail leaned down and kissed both of her daughters on the cheek before Maisey headed out, her pulse racing as she thought about her first drive. Thomas wrapped an arm around Abigail, watching his eldest stride confidently to her car. “They grow up fast,” he murmured, smiling as Maisey opened the car door with Lola cheering her on.

“Too fast,” Abigail replied softly, wondering how she’d ever keep them safe in a world full of unknowns.

In her new BMW, Maisey played music and belted out the lyrics, with Lola chiming in from the back seat. Her phone captured it all, ready to be uploaded as part of her journey. As she drove off, she couldn’t have imagined the shadows lying in wait, the unsuspected history of the car she now called her own.