On the Run by M Zeigler (short story to read TXT) 📖

I refer to car parts as the cooling thingy or the sucky thing that goes to the pistons. Jack and Alex have teased me for quite a while, I can build a car but I cannot tell you what part I’m looking for.

“I’m the world’s best and worst mechanic, there’s twelve hundred horses running in that engine. Of course I can’t tell you what I did to get it to run so well, I don’t know the lingo but I know what I put in and how to install it.” I explain to Barrette who kind of hangs his head giving me the most hopeless look.

“How can you fix something you know nothing about?” Barrette replies trying to reason my knowledge. “No one ever said I was normal.” Is my simple response, I only receive more laughter in response to my comment.

“Yeah laugh it up, and I’ll take apart that entire cougar of yours.” I reply threatening his own classic vehicle that the world knows he owns.

“You wouldn’t.” Barrette gulps instantly falling silent deep down he knows that I would take his car apart and leave him to fix it. “Watch me.” I reply with a caustic tone, Barrette checks his laughter immediately. Apparently the bad boy is good at fixing cars but not entirely reassembling them, which reminds me I should probably get the breaks and tires changed when we have a few hours to spare. With the way I drive and how much driving I do, this car is going to need both items very soon.

“What’s at the top of hidden pass?” Barrette wonders aloud trying to change the subject from something less daunting to a topic that is a little more lively. “Hidden Pass Lake, which in reality is only a pond but none the less it’s a gorgeous place far back in the sticks. No one around for miles and miles, it’s quiet, and there’s a lot of wildlife so you can hunt without a permit because no one can hear anything. It’s my idea of heaven.” I reply happily as Barrette pulls over to the side of the road, I look at him with concern until he flips the switch that puts the top down on the mustang.

“What, it’s a nice day? And can you give me a better way to enjoy this scenery than driving around with the top down?” Barrette comments upon noticing my confused expression. “I could suggest a couple things but neither one is legal.” I reply suggestively as Barrette looks over his shoulder to check for traffic, when he sees there is no one coming he pulls out onto the black top.

“Who cares if it’s legal? You’re already in how much trouble? Who cares about a few traffic tickets to go along?” Barrette throws his own suggestive remark at me. “Good point we’ve broken every other law!” I exclaim sarcastically, Barrette grins from ear to ear at my antics but makes no more mention of what he and I could be doing in the back seat.

“Hey Bonnie?” Barrette says with that sarcastic tone back in his voice, and just as I was getting comfortable to. “What, Barrette?” I ask really not wanting to talk anymore, I just want to enjoy the world around us. “Are we there yet?” Barrette chuckles thinking he is being so hilarious and adorable right now.

I kick my feet up onto the dash board and make myself comfortable before I choose to answer Barrette’s remark.

“Barrette, shut up and drive.” I reply tired of hearing where are we going, what’s there, where are we going next, and his latest question, are we there yet?

From the corner of my eyes I see a dangerous glint in Barrette’s eyes before he pulls a stunt that I thought only I would do. “As you wish, nag.” Barrette says seconds before he starts shifting into high gear.

 “I swear if you get us killed I’m going to beat you from heaven to earth and back again!” I howl over the roaring engine as I scramble to put my feet back on the floor. Further acting like me; Barrette reaches down and cranks the radio to one of the rock songs on my playlist cassette. “What was that I can’t really hear you right now?” Barrette shouts back at me then shrugs as if to brush off my panicked words.

 “I don’t like you right now!” I shriek well over the cranked radio only getting a menacing laugh from Barrette who speeds up even more at the sound of my disapproving fit.

Chapter 4

 

On the Run chapter 4

"The dream and the tragedy"

 

“Where am I?” I whisper as I sit up from my space on the black top, looking around me I see I’m in the middle of nowhere on a two lane highway. There are no cars anywhere, there is nothing anywhere for as far the eye can see and the ears can hear.

Stumbling clumsily to my feet I see that I’m once again wearing that dress from the social gathering back in Orange County, except its different somehow, instead of the cloth being woven with sterling silver it’s woven with pale grey threads that look handmade. The dress truly looks vintage and not at all modern day glamorous, not to mention it’s handmade.

The first instincts that flit through my mind are that Barrette is not here and this startles me because he’s been at my side since we started on this journey. I make the effort to call out for him but the name I’m thinking isn’t the name falling from my lips.

 “Clyde! Clyde where are you?!” I shout then pause shaking my head confusedly, first of all I have a sweet southern bell of an accent and second of all I’m calling for Clyde Barrow. Typically I have a bit of southern hint in my voice, but the Massachusetts and California accent thoroughly hide that southern pitch.

Once more I try again to call out for Barrette but his name still won’t form causing me to panic even more than I already was to begin with. “Clyde!” I shout again, this time after shouting the wrong name I cover my mouth feeling the highest amount of terror I have ever felt.

“It’s terrifying isn’t it?” I hear a voice that could pass as a double of my own; whirling in a panicked circle I see what appears to be my doppelganger standing less than six feet away from me. Or rather, I’m her double, the woman standing before me has hair the same color as my natural color, strawberry blonde. The same blue eyes, the color of sapphire, this woman is a lot more slender than I am and she’s smaller, basically she my miniature.

Hot Louisiana wind blows at me giving my twin an even more ominous look, that, mixed with the heat waves billowing up from the ground really gives this whole situation a hellish feel. I never thought I could ever become scared being secluded way back in the sticks.

“Grandmother Bonnie? Why are you here?” I ask in a hushed whisper really unsure of what is happening, is this a dream or is this some kind of reality that my mind has conjured?

“It’s terrifying calling out for the one you love but he isn’t there anymore.” My grandmother says walking a circle around me, I circle with her but stand in place just following her. Never let your enemy out of your sights.

“This is highway one forty five, this where Clyde and I were shot to death. Can you imagine my surprise when I woke up thinking we merely been in a automobile accident only to find out I was dead. I spent two years running up and down this stretch of road screaming out for Clyde, he’s not here. You know where Mr. Barrow is, my darling grandchild? In Hell, Bonnie, Clyde Barrow is burning in hell. He died thinking he lived as full of a life as people like us could, I wasn’t done living yet, I knew I wasn’t. You and I are one in the same Bonnie Elizabeth Parker, we look the same, we both want the same thing! We both know the only reason you are after Devon is because we want our name up in lights, that is why I went with Clyde; I never meant to fall in love with him! I just didn’t want people to forget me!” My grandmother begins shouting, she holds a theatrical pause as tears streak down her cheeks.

“What are you telling me?” I demand from her, she shakes her head, another theatrical moment for her.

“Does it matter, you won’t listen?” She sobs then gives me a side glance, I shake my head disparagingly. I’m glad this is one genetic makeup that I didn’t not inherit, in today’s society I’d be the most annoying person on earth.

“If you didn’t think I’d listen then you wouldn’t have brought me here.” I snap at her, she takes a dramatic deep breath then look at me softening her eyes as she dramatically takes my hands in her own. Her head tilts to the side, her lower lip trembles as she starts to speak. The news paper was right, she could spin a story that no one would ever see through!

“My soul is trapped within you Bonnie, I was sent back to try and make things right. I killed all the wrong people in my life, so did Clyde. Now, I cannot be certain, but, I believe that Barrette is Clyde’s reincarnation, with that said I brought you here to beg of you. Do not make the same mistake that I did. I wanted my name to go up in lights; I wanted the world to know who Bonnie Elizabeth Parker was. I stayed with Clyde even though I could have walked away without any charges; I stayed because I was in love with a fairy tale. Women in that day were not so lucky to find a man with such charm, and loyalty.” My grandmother begins in a more pleasant but still theatrical voice; I guess the books are right; she is a cinematic woman, prone to drama, and ideas of romanticism.

“Finish this my dear, sweet, beautiful granddaughter, finish this war but do it right, only kill if you have to. Do not because you love the thrill of being almighty, we are not god, it is not our place to be all powerful, but we are given the ability to be gods soldiers, only cut down the ones who truly deserve it. and in the end, figure out what you want. Remember that.” Bonnie says very matter of fact like as she takes a distressed step back turning from me as she moves away, I fear she is about to leave but I have no idea what she means, ‘Remember that.’ Remember what? She didn’t say anything that is big news to me, I know Barrette is a charmer, it doesn’t take more than a look at one of his many photo’s to tell he could charm the stem off a cherry.

“Remember what?” I ask my grandmother reaching out to try and stop her from