Wheels of Evil - Part 7
Bon-bon has calmed down. Two days have passed. Nothing happened. Lyra seemed to be acting normal. No weird night-outs. And just when she thought everything’s going to be fine, it was there. She bought a newspaper on the way to her stand at the market.
First page. Objective, brief article. Gruesome hit and run at Old Pine Road. The victim: Carrot Top. Bon-Bon’s face went ashen. She too have found it odd, that such a hard working pony like Carrot Top doesn’t show up at her stand for so long. The police say it was a drunken carriage driver. Impossible! No carriage goes that fast. The recognition squeezed her belly. It was that thing… Lyra’s car.
As Bon-Bon gave it more thought she realized she’s read something about a strange accident in the recent past. Something about a pegasus… Sinister questions… and somehow, the beige mare knew she was right. There’s no other way!
“Hello…” a voice calls out. Bon-Bon shakes her head. She was so sunken in her thoughts that she didn’t realize she had a customer.
“Oh, hi Berry! What’s up? You look so… distressed…”
“Nah, you… you… wouldn’t believe me if I told you… nopony believes me.” Berry Punch replies, gazing into nothingness.
“A-huh… So… what would you like?!” Bon-Bon inquires, raising a brow.
“Huh?! Oh… give me a dozen of Vanilla Vendetta please…
“So, what’s your unbelievable story?” Bon-Bon asks, while she’s packing the treats. She just wants to pass the time. Reroute her thoughts from the dark questions.
“A carriage from Tartaros killed Carrot Top two days ago.” Berry says apathetically and conjures a flask form the depths of her saddlebag.
“Well, I think you should lay of the… WAIT, WHAT?!”
“That’s right! You heard me!” Berry exclaims and takes a long pull. “Up at the Old Pine Road… a carriage… made of metal… it just ran over Carry… everypony says I’m drunk and don’t know what I’m talking about… but I was there… I know what I saw…”
Bon-Bon blushes a little. Her first thought was that Berry’s drunk as well. But she speaks of a metal carriage. She may be living a somewhat dissolute life, but she’s definitely not a liar.
“Berry, I believe you. In fact, I want to discuss something with you. But not now. I’ll drop by after work, how about that? You can rest until then.” Bon-Bon offers.
“Okay… whatever…” Berry whisks. She thinks the other pony’s just mocking her. She’s about to leave.
“Wait! Here’s your package! Remember, 6 PM, your place!” Bon-Bon yells.
“Fine…fine…” Berry walks away slowly, finishing off what’s left in the flask.
*** ***
The pegasi made a cloudy weather. The dusk approached early. Bon-Bon quickly closed up her stand. She was among the last ones on the market. The mare headed to Berry’s place. She felt uncomfortable in the fading light. Especially on open roads.
There were only a few ponies out. They say it’s going to rain. Bon-Bon’s angst is growing with every second. Finally! There – the winery! The mare knocks at the door. Waits. No signs of life from the inside. She knocks again. Her hooves click against the wooden door. Berry Punch opens it. She’s wearing a robe. She’s got noticeable bags under her eyes.
“Hey, Bon-Bon! Come in!” the purple earth pony greets with a pale smile.
Bon-Bon enters the apartment. The smell of fresh fruit, coffee and booze fills her nostrils. Interesting combo. She recoils in surprise as she trots into the living room. A peach colored stallion is there.
“You said you believe me.” Berry says, grabbing a mug of coffee. “But if we’re going to talk about this, I find it best that you hear all the versions. That’s why I invited Caramel over. He was there too when it happened.”
“I see.” Bon-Bon waves to Caramel. Acknowledges his presence. Berry offers her a seat. “Well then… let’s talk.”
As Bon-Bon listens to the stories of Caramel and Berry, her fear arouses. She tells the others about Lyra’s strange obsession, her weird night-outs, how she behaves afterwards and even her own presumptions.
“Hmm… There are many blurry parts. We’re still in the dark about this. We need some kind of evidence. Do you know where this…uh… car, might be?” Caramel asks.
“Unfortunately no. But I intend to find out.” Bon-Bon replies on a resolute voice.
*** ***
“Sheriff, the reports of the Carrot Top-case finally came in!” the deputy calls out.
“It was about bucking time! And it only took them five days!" Copperhooves complains loudly.
His tone is rather sarcastic. He studies the documents for some length.
“Gosh Darn it! I’m not any closer of solving this case! They say they’ve found metal, red paint and some unidentifiable stuff… wait a minute! Son, get me the file from that pegasus-accident from about a week ago, will you?”
The deputy searches for a few minutes.
“Come on, Son, we ain’t got that many cases!”
“Got it, boss!”
“Good. Now let me see…” Copperhooves murmurs, putting on his reading glasses once again. “AHA! Traces of red paint! Like in the Carrot Top case!"
“What does that mean?” the deputy asks.
“It means we might have a serial killer on our hooves… The first one Ponyville has ever encountered… and he’s riding in the killer weapon.”
*** ***
Lyra moves carefully. She’s trying to make no noise. She sneaks out of the house. She thinks Bon-Bon’s asleep. The unicorn heads toward the Everfree. It’s dark but she can see well by the Moonlight.
She awaits her. Lyra finally arrives. Christine is not there. She parks deeper in the forest. In the darkness. The mare looks around nervously. Then she hears the ignition. The V8 comes alive.
Aww, where were you for so long? Christine purrs like a kitten.
“Sorry. I was busy. I couldn’t come. My friend kept watching me. But I think I’m in the clear now.” Lyra whispers, but she still cannot see the Fury.
The V8 revs up.
It’s okay. You’re here now. Let’s go.
The shift levels to “D”. The Plymouth comes out of the darkness. The Moonlight twinkles on the shiny metal. Her grille looks like a predator’s snarl. The left door opens. The unicorn hesitates a little.
Come on. I know you want to.
Lyra gets in. She cannot resist. Christine launches, leaving a cloud of dust behind. A minute later, a silhouette emerges from the bushes. She coughs. Bon-Bon locks her eyes at the spot where the car disappeared. But she only sees darkness.
Christine accelerates. The V8 purrs. It’s soothing. It’s cozy warmness inside. The radio turns on. It plays “Black Betty” by Spiderbait. A satisfied smile expands in Lyra’s face as she grabs the steering wheel. The mile counter keeps spinning backwards.
And that strange smell is creeping inside… a smell like rancid meet. Lyra hasn’t noticed before… but now it becomes more and more dominant. It seems it comes from the interior. No! From everywhere… like the car itself is the source…
Nah… Lyra brushes away the negative thought. The smell that was so present a second ago vanishes.
Now… tell me more about your friend… Christine purrs. I want to know EVERYTHING!
Bon-bon has calmed down. Two days have passed. Nothing happened. Lyra seemed to be acting normal. No weird night-outs. And just when she thought everything’s going to be fine, it was there. She bought a newspaper on the way to her stand at the market.
First page. Objective, brief article. Gruesome hit and run at Old Pine Road. The victim: Carrot Top. Bon-Bon’s face went ashen. She too have found it odd, that such a hard working pony like Carrot Top doesn’t show up at her stand for so long. The police say it was a drunken carriage driver. Impossible! No carriage goes that fast. The recognition squeezed her belly. It was that thing… Lyra’s car.
As Bon-Bon gave it more thought she realized she’s read something about a strange accident in the recent past. Something about a pegasus… Sinister questions… and somehow, the beige mare knew she was right. There’s no other way!
“Hello…” a voice calls out. Bon-Bon shakes her head. She was so sunken in her thoughts that she didn’t realize she had a customer.
“Oh, hi Berry! What’s up? You look so… distressed…”
“Nah, you… you… wouldn’t believe me if I told you… nopony believes me.” Berry Punch replies, gazing into nothingness.
“A-huh… So… what would you like?!” Bon-Bon inquires, raising a brow.
“Huh?! Oh… give me a dozen of Vanilla Vendetta please…
“So, what’s your unbelievable story?” Bon-Bon asks, while she’s packing the treats. She just wants to pass the time. Reroute her thoughts from the dark questions.
“A carriage from Tartaros killed Carrot Top two days ago.” Berry says apathetically and conjures a flask form the depths of her saddlebag.
“Well, I think you should lay of the… WAIT, WHAT?!”
“That’s right! You heard me!” Berry exclaims and takes a long pull. “Up at the Old Pine Road… a carriage… made of metal… it just ran over Carry… everypony says I’m drunk and don’t know what I’m talking about… but I was there… I know what I saw…”
Bon-Bon blushes a little. Her first thought was that Berry’s drunk as well. But she speaks of a metal carriage. She may be living a somewhat dissolute life, but she’s definitely not a liar.
“Berry, I believe you. In fact, I want to discuss something with you. But not now. I’ll drop by after work, how about that? You can rest until then.” Bon-Bon offers.
“Okay… whatever…” Berry whisks. She thinks the other pony’s just mocking her. She’s about to leave.
“Wait! Here’s your package! Remember, 6 PM, your place!” Bon-Bon yells.
“Fine…fine…” Berry walks away slowly, finishing off what’s left in the flask.
*** ***
The pegasi made a cloudy weather. The dusk approached early. Bon-Bon quickly closed up her stand. She was among the last ones on the market. The mare headed to Berry’s place. She felt uncomfortable in the fading light. Especially on open roads.
There were only a few ponies out. They say it’s going to rain. Bon-Bon’s angst is growing with every second. Finally! There – the winery! The mare knocks at the door. Waits. No signs of life from the inside. She knocks again. Her hooves click against the wooden door. Berry Punch opens it. She’s wearing a robe. She’s got noticeable bags under her eyes.
“Hey, Bon-Bon! Come in!” the purple earth pony greets with a pale smile.
Bon-Bon enters the apartment. The smell of fresh fruit, coffee and booze fills her nostrils. Interesting combo. She recoils in surprise as she trots into the living room. A peach colored stallion is there.
“You said you believe me.” Berry says, grabbing a mug of coffee. “But if we’re going to talk about this, I find it best that you hear all the versions. That’s why I invited Caramel over. He was there too when it happened.”
“I see.” Bon-Bon waves to Caramel. Acknowledges his presence. Berry offers her a seat. “Well then… let’s talk.”
As Bon-Bon listens to the stories of Caramel and Berry, her fear arouses. She tells the others about Lyra’s strange obsession, her weird night-outs, how she behaves afterwards and even her own presumptions.
“Hmm… There are many blurry parts. We’re still in the dark about this. We need some kind of evidence. Do you know where this…uh… car, might be?” Caramel asks.
“Unfortunately no. But I intend to find out.” Bon-Bon replies on a resolute voice.
*** ***
“Sheriff, the reports of the Carrot Top-case finally came in!” the deputy calls out.
“It was about bucking time! And it only took them five days!" Copperhooves complains loudly.
His tone is rather sarcastic. He studies the documents for some length.
“Gosh Darn it! I’m not any closer of solving this case! They say they’ve found metal, red paint and some unidentifiable stuff… wait a minute! Son, get me the file from that pegasus-accident from about a week ago, will you?”
The deputy searches for a few minutes.
“Come on, Son, we ain’t got that many cases!”
“Got it, boss!”
“Good. Now let me see…” Copperhooves murmurs, putting on his reading glasses once again. “AHA! Traces of red paint! Like in the Carrot Top case!"
“What does that mean?” the deputy asks.
“It means we might have a serial killer on our hooves… The first one Ponyville has ever encountered… and he’s riding in the killer weapon.”
*** ***
Lyra moves carefully. She’s trying to make no noise. She sneaks out of the house. She thinks Bon-Bon’s asleep. The unicorn heads toward the Everfree. It’s dark but she can see well by the Moonlight.
She awaits her. Lyra finally arrives. Christine is not there. She parks deeper in the forest. In the darkness. The mare looks around nervously. Then she hears the ignition. The V8 comes alive.
Aww, where were you for so long? Christine purrs like a kitten.
“Sorry. I was busy. I couldn’t come. My friend kept watching me. But I think I’m in the clear now.” Lyra whispers, but she still cannot see the Fury.
The V8 revs up.
It’s okay. You’re here now. Let’s go.
The shift levels to “D”. The Plymouth comes out of the darkness. The Moonlight twinkles on the shiny metal. Her grille looks like a predator’s snarl. The left door opens. The unicorn hesitates a little.
Come on. I know you want to.
Lyra gets in. She cannot resist. Christine launches, leaving a cloud of dust behind. A minute later, a silhouette emerges from the bushes. She coughs. Bon-Bon locks her eyes at the spot where the car disappeared. But she only sees darkness.
Christine accelerates. The V8 purrs. It’s soothing. It’s cozy warmness inside. The radio turns on. It plays “Black Betty” by Spiderbait. A satisfied smile expands in Lyra’s face as she grabs the steering wheel. The mile counter keeps spinning backwards.
And that strange smell is creeping inside… a smell like rancid meet. Lyra hasn’t noticed before… but now it becomes more and more dominant. It seems it comes from the interior. No! From everywhere… like the car itself is the source…
Nah… Lyra brushes away the negative thought. The smell that was so present a second ago vanishes.
Now… tell me more about your friend… Christine purrs. I want to know EVERYTHING!
