Ride

Chapter 8- All Time Low

Chapter 8- All Time Low

The storm had stopped by the time they were on their way home. Now, it was just wet and gloomy. Nobody said anything; just cried. Of course, they were all upset. Lightning and Luigi were mad at each other. Fudge was in a coma. Nothing could make this worse.

Bleak sunlight greeted the cars from Radiator Springs when they arrived in the small town. It almost looked like the sun was mourning too. Most of the residents went home, but a couple of them went over to Flo's. Sheriff joined Luigi and Guido in Casa Della Tires to make sure they were all right, even though it was blatantly obvious that they weren't.

Meanwhile, over at the Cozy Cone, Sally was doing the same thing to Lightning. The first thing the stock car had done when he returned home was start drinking.

"Stickers? I really don't think you should be-" Sally began pleadingly.

She sighed and stopped short when she realised that her boyfriend wasn't even listening. He was too distracted by the alcohol. She didn't say anything else. It seemed pointless. Besides, looking over at him, did she, too, want to join him in drowning their troubles in liquor? Yes. Yes she did.

Lightning wanted to forget. Forget what he had done to Fudge. Forget that she was fighting for her life in hospital. Forget that it was all his fault. He wasn't crying anymore. He wasn't doing anything, except drinking. And pretty soon, he wasn't able to think or feel anything either. That was just what he wanted if he couldn't have Fudge.

Things weren't much better at Casa Della Tires. Luigi and Guido entered with Sheriff and found a message waiting for them on their answering machine, which was informing them of Fudge's accident.

"I'm calling for Luigi Topolino", the hospital receptionist explained once she'd identified herself and the hospital she was calling for. "We have him listed here as the emergency contact for Brittney Rossi-Topolino and I am calling to inform him that she has been involved in an accident..."

The message went on a little bit more, but Luigi and Guido had both tuned out by then. They absolutely did not care to hear anymore.

They must've received that call from the hospital while they were still at Flo's. That was why they'd had to hear the awful news from Sally. It really didn't matter to them how they heard it. They felt sorry for Sally, though; being given the terrible burden of telling them that their daughter was in a critical condition in hospital.

Well, none of this would've ever happened- Fudge wouldn't be critically injured and they wouldn't be experiencing this... unbelievable pain- if McQueen hadn't been so reckless!

It made Luigi's oil boil just thinking about it! McQueen had promised that he would take care of his daughter! Then what had happened?! This! Luigi didn't feel like he could talk to Lightning now or ever again! How could he ever forgive his so-called friend for what he had put his daughter through?

Guido was just as devastated, but he didn't blame Lightning. He was just far too concerned about his daughter to point any tyres at anybody over the incident. The little forklift didn't really care about who or what had caused Fudge's accident. He wanted nothing more than to have her come home and move on with life. However, it looked like that wasn't going to happen. Not for a long time.

Casa Della Tires felt empty and quiet. Sure, Luigi and Guido were there and so was Sheriff to make sure they were okay. But Fudge wasn't. Twelve and a half years ago, she had brought this place to life. Now, she was gone. And they had no idea whether or not she was coming back.

What if she didn't? Both Italians had the same thought at around the same time. Neither of them had wanted to think about it, but the possibility was very real. There was a very good chance that Fudge wouldn't survive. How empty and quiet would this place feel then? If it was like this from now on, neither of them would be able to bear it. They were very quick to dismiss the thought. Fudge wasn't going to die. She had to be fine. She just had to.