Runaway Dragon

Hoarder Help

Our little metal cart squealed and rattled, the fumbling wheels crunching over gravel. The second we rolled out into the open highway, it seemed to hit Ari that this wasn't really the funnest ride of his entire little life. God must have hit the slow-motion button because all around us the cars seemed to slow to a crawl, and I could watch Ari's expression change, and how he lurched towards my brother and I to grab our hands. Or maybe it was Ari having lightning fast reflexes and the drivers slamming on their brakes trying to avoid us. I could smell burning rubber, and hear the screams. I saw an eighteen-wheeler's trailer swerve to the side as the truck driver burned rubber trying to stop the truck. I stared straight into the headlights, sure the next light I would be seeing would be the angel delivering me from my roadkill body. There was no way it would miss us. I forgot how to breathe. This was it.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see Ari's stricken face. Not wanting to see the world go spinning, my brother turn into roadkill, not wanting to see what death was like. It doesn't make sense, but it did in that moment. I just wanted to feel that kick- the oh I'm dead kick and be over with it. The squeals of tires and frantic beeping and screams weren't helping though.

VROOM. I could hear the wind around me as the 18-wheeler neared. I could hear my brother scream... and keep screaming as suddenly the whooshing sound of the wind stopped. A weird sensation crept over me, like I was on a roller coaster and had suddenly taken a deep dive straight into a pool of Jello. My stomach churned, my skin shivered. Was this death? But before I had a chance to contemplate that, the wind urged me to open my eyes as I felt our cart awkwardly lurch along. That was weird. Why...

"Kara... Kara you won't believe this," my brother panted. I could feel the little jolt as he stepped off the grocery cart. The pitiful squeaking of the grocery cart was silenced when he pulled it to a stop. Then it resumed after her swung it around, redirecting it towards the parking lot.

"Won't believe what?" I asked after a long minute, slowly opening my eyes and starting to breathe again. Remington looked paler than usual, his forehead dripping with sweat. What? How? I turned to look towards what I thought would be my deathbed. Instead I found the 18-wheeler up ahead, awkwardly beginning to park on the side of the highway. How did we survive that? Not that I'm complaining.

"It was... it was like a glitch in a video game..." my brother panted. "Suddenly we were inside the trailer... like we went right through it..."

Not a car moved. A massive domino-like effect of drivers seeking to escape murder had created a massive collision of smoking, bent, and broken cars. Nobody seemed to notice us-the creators of such chaos- as we squeaked in front of their very eyes. I could spot the Rider having his hands full, using his dragon's powerful jaws to help crush car doors and aid people's safe exits from their vehicles. It didn't seem like any of the cars were too bad off... at least I hope. I was guilty. So guilty. But I couldn't help that horrible feeling of relief washing over. Selfish, selfish relief that I myself hadn't died. I looked towards my brother, finally taking in what he had just said. "You hit your head?" I asked, my voice sounding strained.

"No- I'm serious," he snapped before shaking his head in defeat at my expression. "Grab some bags. We have to get out of here before the Rider remembers us."

I nodded and jumped off, walking beside the cart. Ari snatched his hand out and grabbed my hand. I gasped, realizing I had almost forgotten the poor guy. I looked at him, seeing that there was tear streaks down his dusty cheeks. His green and blue eyes were huge and watery. "I'm sorry Ari, it's okay," I told him quietly, massaging his hand.

Soon as we got to the car, I quickly shoved the bags into the trunk before helping Ari out of the cart and into the backseat. After I strapped him in, I crawled over him to the seat in the middle, pushing the bulky cooler out of the way with a grunt. Fumbling with the buckle, I cursed under my breath as Ari tried to take my hand. "Just a second," I huffed, finally shoving the dang buckle in. I leaned back in my chair, letting out a long breath of tension. My brother glanced back at us before looking back at the road as he began to drive. I could tell he didn't know what to say.