User blog:Cartoonprincess/Somnium: Chapter 10 Driving to the Brink of Insanity

'This chapter is dedicated to PurpleJerk, of whom helped me come up with the name of this chapter. :3'

' NOTE : This chapter might seem kind of boring and cheesy'' to some of you. It's another one of those chapters that focuses primarily on a few select characters instead of everyone at once. For those of my loyal readers who long for more action/adventure scenes, you will have to bear with me because they don't come for a while. However, trust me when I say they ARE coming, I just won't give away too much. ;)'''



Chapter 10: Driving to the Brink of Insanity 



           In spite of the recent scarring occurrences, the horror of what happened at the beach party was left unspoken. In fact, Samlovesham’s mellow harp strumming beside the Weeping Willow tree and SakratheHedgie’s thoughtful writing and sketching in her notebook underneath said tree set a scene of discrete serenity that greatly contrasted the stress of what they had all recently witnessed. Because of this, the following morning remained passive.

           Isabel ignored the glaring silence and strangeness of a fantasy world without her stubborn alter-ego screeching in her ear as she wandered through the park and into the cottage. When she passed by the game room, she heard some commotion and decided to check it out.

           It was Slappy, along with Candy, Tash and Lucy playing a game of poker. As Isabel came in and inspected the cards and multi-colored chips, she raised a disapproving eyebrow.

           “Oh, hey Toon!” Slappy said with a huge grin.

           Isabel put her hands on her hips and scowled slightly, “You guys are playing poker…? Really?”

<span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy chuckled, “Yeah, it started with me wanting to bet the last $20 in my wallet…you should join us.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Yeah, I’d rather not…” Isabel said with a sad sigh.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “You might like it, Toon; it’s all about probability and psychology…” Tash pointed out as he smiled timidly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel relaxed her pose and pondered perceptively at this comment, “Hmmm, well I do like psychology…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           All of a sudden, Candy smiled knowingly and dropped her cards, “Come on guys, let’s leave and let Slappy teach Toon the rules…” As she and the others left, she winked and gave them both a thumb up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           At that, Slappy and Isabel were left sitting and awkwardly gazing in opposite directions.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After a long pause, Slappy finally found the nerve to speak up, “…Um, look, I’m sorry I got so competitive the other day, it was just my anomalous way of getting us to hang out…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Anomalous?” Isabel repeated.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Yeah,” Slappy said, not looking up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel sighed once again in aggravation, “You know, if all you wanted was to hang out, you could’ve just asked me…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy cringed fleetingly, “I know, but you know it’s not that easy…you would think something was up and turn it into some big thing…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel shrugged helplessly, not knowing what to say in response.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Another long pause succeeded as Slappy looked away in disrepute and Isabel anxiously bit her lip.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I’m sorry about your friend dying…” Slappy said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel suddenly snickered, “She wasn’t really my friend; she was just…always there…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy thought deeply for a moment and then smiled softly, “Well, you want to take a walk to keep your mind off of it?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Okay,” Isabel replied in a spacey tone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Without a word, they stepped outside. As always, there was a warm, pleasant breeze that Isabel gladly took in as she inhaled profoundly. Samlovesham’s gentle harp-playing could be heard faintly in the background along with the placid, cheerful sounds of birds. Overall, things were mild and calm.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           As they walked, Isabel quietly and casually rolled her eyes towards Slappy. She didn’t fully understand why she was putting up such a front with him; he was actually being sweet. Maybe she just didn’t want to let herself back in so easily.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Suddenly, Isabel found herself in a place she didn’t recognize. Had she been over this particular hill before? There were so many hills. Comforted by the fact that Slappy was still walking beside her, she decided to ignore the fact that she felt lost and instead continue walking and going with the flow. After all, this was supposed to be a meditative walk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Some reflective time had passed when they saw a big, grey, dusty garage up ahead. Instantly, the same penetrating sense of adventure and curiosity that had enraptured Isabel as a child had come back full swing as she eagerly ran towards said exciting, mysterious garage. Slappy, who was finding it hard to keep up, decided to keep a safe distance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Thoroughly enjoying her rediscovered childhood intuition, Isabel peered around to see what was up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Out of nowhere, the garage door slowly creaked open revealing a large, purple convertible. Isabel’s eyes widened as her mouth gaped in shock. Slappy, too, was shocked as he noted the car’s grand size and presence from a distance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Come on! Let’s take this baby for a ride!” Isabel said elatedly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Um…are you sure it’s safe…?” Slappy asked warily as he walked towards her and the vehicle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel scrunched up her face in uncertainty, “Psh, ‘course it’s safe! This is my fantasy world; I highly doubt I’d dream up a killer car!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Slappy rolled his eyes at her logic, “Okay, I just don’t want to see you get hurt is all…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel tilted her head in confusion as she leaned against the automobile, “…Slappy, what’s gotten into you? It’s so unlike you to take precautions…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“It’s different when you’re around,” Slappy explained. “I just don’t want to put you in danger…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel chewed on this thought for a brief moment as she stared at some distant dandelions blowing in the breeze.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“…Well, I just want to take a risk for once in my life,” she stated self-assuredly. “I don’t know what the heck this car does or why it is here but…I’m going to get in!” and that she did.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In the spur of the moment, Isabel hopped over the door and landed butt-first on the front seat. Much like the cottage, it was much roomier on the inside than it appeared to be on the outside. Immediately beginning to second-guess her thought-process and question her motives, Isabel sat quietly. By contrast, Slappy nonchalantly opened the unlocked door and sat next to her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They stayed like this for a while as Isabel stared worriedly at the keys that were dangling and jangling next to the steering wheel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Well,” Slappy finally said. “Aren’t you going to drive, now..?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Feeling self-conscious, Isabel quickly glanced over at Slappy, then back at the keys.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Um…I guess so…” Isabel replied in a small voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Anxiously, she started the car. The sudden, rumbling noise of the motor engine intimidated her. Taking short, alarmed gasps of breath, she put on her seatbelt. Then, her sweaty palms shifted the gear to drive. She glanced back over at Slappy, who was staring suspiciously at her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel winced as she tightly shut her eyes and slammed the brake. When she opened her eyes, she realized they were flying…but not for long. The rest was a blur as Isabel lost control of the steering wheel and the convertible was speeding mercilessly in all directions. Screams of profanity escaped Slappy’s vocal cords as their lives flashed before their eyes. Though Isabel was having a heart attack on the inside, she was not freaking out on the outside. Instead the abrasive action put her in a state of paralysis where she could not move to save her life. She could not even feel herself blink.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Slappy’s shrieks of terror snapped her out of it, “STOP THE CAR!!!!! STOP THE CAR!!!!!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Briskly, Isabel slammed the brake again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Surprisingly, the car remained intact. After they were both done hyperventilating and contemplating what had just happened, Isabel looked over at Slappy in guilt.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “Okay, so here’s the thing…I don’t really know how to drive…” she confessed as she smiled in embarrassment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All Slappy could do was glare in utter annoyance at the painful overtness of what was being stated.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Don’t look at me like that!” Isabel exclaimed defenselessly. “I guess I just kind of figured I would mystically…know how in my fantasy world…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Slappy remained silent.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At that, Isabel chuckled nervously impulsively scooted out of the front seat, “Why don’t you drive?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile, the rest of the users had discovered that the cottage had other incentives that weren’t pointed out to them; one of them being a giant-screened movie theatre with crisp resolution and top-notch sound quality.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At around 4:00 pm, Ar0n and Becky were seen coming out of said movie theatre laughing and talking and appearing to be enjoying themselves greatly. Alica, who was standing by herself nearby, immediately took notice of the distinct noises of fun and pleasure being uttered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A few moments passed and the two associates at last seemed as though they were about to part ways.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Goodbye, Tle!” Becky said sunnily.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Bye, Becky!” Ar0n responded with equal satisfaction and fulfillment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Becky didn’t have to walk far before she saw her once best friend scowling back at her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Becky smiled shyly, “…H-hey, Alica…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Alica skipped the friendly greetings, “What was going on in there?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Becky’s eyes widened in discomfort as a sense of acute unrest flushed over her, “…Nothing.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Alica crossed her arms in insecurity, “…It didn’t sound like nothing…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Well, why do you care..?” Becky asked softly in misunderstanding.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“No reason…” Alica said abruptly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Becky glowered and sighed in frustration, “When did it suddenly become unacceptable for me to hang out with my friends…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, don’t play so innocent; what did you guys even watch?” Alica asked sensitively.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I don’t even know, okay!? We were too busy throwing candy and popcorn at each other!” Becky began to raise her voice in anger.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“OH, just what I thought!” Alica affirmed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to get between you and Ar0n’s closet time!” Becky bitterly retorted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In response, Alica became red with rage as she scoffed and stomped off. She then briefly came back to pick off a piece of leftover popcorn that was stuck in Becky’s hair.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In the meantime, Slappy and Isabel had been driving around quietly and aimlessly for a few hours. Finally, however, Isabel spotted a location she could recognize.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Wait! I know where we are, now!” Isabel exclaimed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They were headed towards the highest hill in the entire park; the one that Sydney had shown her that overlooked the fantasy world.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Could we park up there and sit for a few minutes..?” she asked keenly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Slappy glanced uneasily at the steepness of the hill, “All the way up there..?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel smiled winningly, “Yeah, there’s a breathtaking view…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Slappy narrowed his eyes grudgingly as he looked at her, “Okay,”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once they made it to the top, they both got out and climbed onto the hood of the car. For just a few brief moments, all was silent. Staring at them was one of the most remarkable views imaginable. All they could do was stare back in awe.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Just then, Slappy’s eyes wandered over to Isabel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He smiled warmly and then smirked a bit, “Toon, this is going to be our car…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel raised her eyebrow in question, “Wh-what do you mean…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“If either of us have personal issues, we should drive up here and talk them out here…deal?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabel smiled slowly, “Deal!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They then shook hands. At that, Isabel hopped off the car and began walking away.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Don’t you need me to drive you back?” Slappy asked from the hood.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Nah, I can walk back,” Isabel reassured him as she started down the hill.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">On the way down, she chuckled quietly to herself, “Silly Slappy…”