Replying to Yuki:
A few minutes earlier:
The third time Mr. Purple heard the thud coming from the back of the car, he pulled over and popped the trunk and peered in. "Hmmm, you're awake! I guess I didn't use enough chloroform. Look, you're gonna need to pipe down back here. I can't have all this racket while I'm driving, especially with passengers! I don't want a bad review on my first day!"
A series of muffled and unintelligible protests came from whoever or whatever was inside the trunk. "Great! Glad you understand! Just leave it to me and think of this as a free day off. Try taking a nap or something," Mr. Purple suggested before slamming the trunk lid again.
A few minutes later:
Mr. Purple was on his way again. He saw someone on a nearby curb a few blocks later and pulled over. The door opened and the new passenger slid inside without a word.
"Uh where to," Mr. Purple asked turning around to face his young passenger. Without a word, the passenger held out a scrap of paper for him to read. "What's wrong, cat got your tongue?"
When there was no verbal reply Mr. Purple turned his attention to the paper. He leaned forward in an exaggerated way over the seat with his nose only a few inches from it. He shook his head back and forth slightly and mumbled unintelligibly as if reading it.
"Okay, got it," He said after a moment. Mr. Purple turned on the meter as he turned back around. He mashed the accelerator and the purple cab took off at a high rate of speed, tires squealing and smoking. As he did, Yuki could hear some faint thuds coming from behind the backseat.
Yuki had no way of knowing it, but they had gotten in the wrong taxi. Mr. Purple had neither a phone nor an app. Should they look at their phone, they would realize that their driver was still 1 minute away.
"And awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we go," The puppet announced.
A few minutes earlier:
The third time Mr. Purple heard the thud coming from the back of the car, he pulled over and popped the trunk and peered in. "Hmmm, you're awake! I guess I didn't use enough chloroform. Look, you're gonna need to pipe down back here. I can't have all this racket while I'm driving, especially with passengers! I don't want a bad review on my first day!"
A series of muffled and unintelligible protests came from whoever or whatever was inside the trunk. "Great! Glad you understand! Just leave it to me and think of this as a free day off. Try taking a nap or something," Mr. Purple suggested before slamming the trunk lid again.
A few minutes later:
Mr. Purple was on his way again. He saw someone on a nearby curb a few blocks later and pulled over. The door opened and the new passenger slid inside without a word.
"Uh where to," Mr. Purple asked turning around to face his young passenger. Without a word, the passenger held out a scrap of paper for him to read. "What's wrong, cat got your tongue?"
When there was no verbal reply Mr. Purple turned his attention to the paper. He leaned forward in an exaggerated way over the seat with his nose only a few inches from it. He shook his head back and forth slightly and mumbled unintelligibly as if reading it.
"Okay, got it," He said after a moment. Mr. Purple turned on the meter as he turned back around. He mashed the accelerator and the purple cab took off at a high rate of speed, tires squealing and smoking. As he did, Yuki could hear some faint thuds coming from behind the backseat.
Yuki had no way of knowing it, but they had gotten in the wrong taxi. Mr. Purple had neither a phone nor an app. Should they look at their phone, they would realize that their driver was still 1 minute away.
"And awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we go," The puppet announced.
Mr. Purple wrote:
"Yeeeehaw!"
Lizbeth eyes couldn't more widen, else they'd just pop out as Mr Purple somehow got his taxi at high speed right between others, car doors slam closed half a second before impact, insults can be heard from both sides. And in the middle a doe, her heart stopped beating, her lungs inflated with air but no expiration. Firefighters, paramedics and police officers waving stop, one or the other already having his hand on his belt, there where his service weapon rests. But no breaking, no sign of slowing down, it all passes at a high speed, until...
...until the purple taxi hits the ramp, smashes through the cabin of a tow truck and lifts off. Life in slow-motion, the cabin completely destroyed spreading pieces of all kind over running professionals, a flying cab at over 16 feet of the ground. It's even purple underneath, astonishingly. A roaring engine, a distinct "Yeeeehhaaaaww"and a very high pitched eardrum piercing scream can be heard juste above two accident damaged cars. A musical horn blasts his tune through the air, while a deer floats like in weightlessness next to a red juggle ball over the purple backseat of a purple cab with a total crazy purple puppet at the steering wheel.
High speed down to earth again as the car smashes the ground far beyond the accident scene, sparks spreading as the chassis touches ground. Lizbeth kisses lower side of the seat again, her hooves whirling through the cabin. When in danger deer fluff and flag their tail. Lizbeth's tail is looking fluffier than most soft kid's plush toy, her tail and all her fur stands as far as possible away from her body. She finds herself nose to nose again with a ray-gun.
It's a wonder, an unimaginable, universal, breathtaking wonder, that nobody got hurt. Guardian Angles did a tremendous job this time, but street guardians didn't like this at all, a lot of mermaids start to sing loudly behind that taxi.
Responding to Lizbeth:
Only the car didn't touch the ground as the deer thought. It sailed over the top of traffic and over the rails of the bridge ahead. The under carriage and shocks were pretty well destroyed rendering the car undrivable, but both deer and driver were unhurt. It took a moment to process what had happened, but the car was still moving despite it being crippled.
For a moment, Lizbeth found herself looking right at the ray gun. "Oops, sorry about that," Mr. Purple said shrugging. He rolled the window down and tossed it out the window.
Looking out the windows, the purple cab was high above the other traffic. The car had been headed north and was now going east. After further study, Lizbeth realized they had landed on top of the trailer of an eighteen wheeler. They were still in the city, but traffic on this road was flowing like normal, moving at the regular posted speed.
There was some good news, some bad news, some more good news and some potentially terrible news...
1. Although they were now headed east, the library was a few blocks away so they were headed in the right direction.
2. The taxi was now non-operable, so driver and passenger had no control over where they were going or when they'd stop.
3. There was a great view!
"Well lookie here! This is like being in a double decker bus! Great view and I think we're getting closer to the camel near the lion," Mr. Purple informed her, feeling as though things were going to work out fine.
As the truck continued on, they were getting closer to the library as it turned on a street that would get them going back north. That's when the really terrible news set in.
Should Lizbeth look out the front windshield, she'd notice a low bridge ahead. Train tracks ran above the road. The semi truck and trailer would make it underneath just fine. The purple taxi, Mr. Purple and herself, however, would not!
Only the car didn't touch the ground as the deer thought. It sailed over the top of traffic and over the rails of the bridge ahead. The under carriage and shocks were pretty well destroyed rendering the car undrivable, but both deer and driver were unhurt. It took a moment to process what had happened, but the car was still moving despite it being crippled.
For a moment, Lizbeth found herself looking right at the ray gun. "Oops, sorry about that," Mr. Purple said shrugging. He rolled the window down and tossed it out the window.
Looking out the windows, the purple cab was high above the other traffic. The car had been headed north and was now going east. After further study, Lizbeth realized they had landed on top of the trailer of an eighteen wheeler. They were still in the city, but traffic on this road was flowing like normal, moving at the regular posted speed.
There was some good news, some bad news, some more good news and some potentially terrible news...
1. Although they were now headed east, the library was a few blocks away so they were headed in the right direction.
2. The taxi was now non-operable, so driver and passenger had no control over where they were going or when they'd stop.
3. There was a great view!
"Well lookie here! This is like being in a double decker bus! Great view and I think we're getting closer to the camel near the lion," Mr. Purple informed her, feeling as though things were going to work out fine.
As the truck continued on, they were getting closer to the library as it turned on a street that would get them going back north. That's when the really terrible news set in.
Should Lizbeth look out the front windshield, she'd notice a low bridge ahead. Train tracks ran above the road. The semi truck and trailer would make it underneath just fine. The purple taxi, Mr. Purple and herself, however, would not!
If Yuki were to look at their phone, they would realize that the taxi they had asked for hadn't arrived yet and they had gotten into the wrong vehicle. Yuki didn't look at their phone, though. At least, not yet. Maybe they weren't the wisest person... And maybe being so used to weird things happening in their life had them dangerously desensitized. After all, they were just assuming that this weird taxi that had shown up when they summoned one was indeed the correct one, even if something seemed off about it. They were so used to going with the flow, not questioning the weirdness, when in this case, they probably should question it a bit.
Well, fortunately the puppet had seemed able to read their note, and was definitely driving, so it was probably fine, right? Yuki still wasn't sure what, exactly, that said about their current situation, but at least it meant they'd be getting to their destination. Hopefully.
Maybe, if they could speak, they'd have commented on the high-speed driving, or asked about the weird sounds they were hearing. But then again, maybe they wouldn't, out of politeness. Regardless, they figured they definitely couldn't write another note to communicate - not when that would require the driver to take his eyes off the road to read it. ... That was common sense, and Yuki assumed it applied here, even in an uncommon situation.
Still, they were silently very curious, and a little nervous. They found themself repeatedly glancing around, turning in their seat to try and see what was making those noises back there, and leaning forward to peer into the front of the car in an effort to get a better look at the driver, and/or anything else that might be up there. Yuki didn't know what they were looking for, specifically, but they figured if they saw it, they'd know. And if they saw nothing, well... That would only be a cause for more curiosity and more confused glances around the odd purple vehicle.
Well, fortunately the puppet had seemed able to read their note, and was definitely driving, so it was probably fine, right? Yuki still wasn't sure what, exactly, that said about their current situation, but at least it meant they'd be getting to their destination. Hopefully.
Maybe, if they could speak, they'd have commented on the high-speed driving, or asked about the weird sounds they were hearing. But then again, maybe they wouldn't, out of politeness. Regardless, they figured they definitely couldn't write another note to communicate - not when that would require the driver to take his eyes off the road to read it. ... That was common sense, and Yuki assumed it applied here, even in an uncommon situation.
Still, they were silently very curious, and a little nervous. They found themself repeatedly glancing around, turning in their seat to try and see what was making those noises back there, and leaning forward to peer into the front of the car in an effort to get a better look at the driver, and/or anything else that might be up there. Yuki didn't know what they were looking for, specifically, but they figured if they saw it, they'd know. And if they saw nothing, well... That would only be a cause for more curiosity and more confused glances around the odd purple vehicle.
Responding to Yuki:
Since neither Mr. Purple nor Yuki spoke, there was an awkward silence inside the car. As Yuki looked around, aside from the peculiar driver, nothing seemed out of place in the cab. There was nothing suspicious under the seats or inside the seat pockets. A glance in the front of the vehicle revealed an empty passenger seat, a meter for calculating the fair that counted up along with the mileage as they drove and the other typical things one might see on a dashboard like an AM/FM radio and the air conditioning controls.
A look at the driver revealed the puppet had legs and a full body. Both feet were on the pedals of the car. There were no signs of wires or any sort of mechanical controls manipulating the puppet.
If Yuki was a regular passenger in a cab, they might notice one other unusual thing besides the driver; a lack of any sort of operator's license. This was generally posted prominently on the visor of the vehicle and showed the picture of the driver, their full name, license number, the company the cab was licensed to and an easy to read phone number to report problems. The puppet might be in violation of the law by not having this information clearly visible.
The thuds and pounding continued for several blocks. Finally, Mr. Purple turned around to look at Yuki. He continued to drive along at a high rate of speed while facing his passenger. "Hang on one, sec. I need to take care of something real quick," He explained and turned off the meter when he turned back around. It's a good thing he did because he almost hit a tree, but managed to swerve back onto the road at the last second.
Mr. Purple pulled into a dark alley and placed the cab in park. There was no one around outside of the car. Mr. Purple opened the door and got out. "Wait right here," he instructed raising a finger at his passenger. "I'll only be a minute." The puppet then moved around behind the vehicle and popped the trunk.
Since neither Mr. Purple nor Yuki spoke, there was an awkward silence inside the car. As Yuki looked around, aside from the peculiar driver, nothing seemed out of place in the cab. There was nothing suspicious under the seats or inside the seat pockets. A glance in the front of the vehicle revealed an empty passenger seat, a meter for calculating the fair that counted up along with the mileage as they drove and the other typical things one might see on a dashboard like an AM/FM radio and the air conditioning controls.
A look at the driver revealed the puppet had legs and a full body. Both feet were on the pedals of the car. There were no signs of wires or any sort of mechanical controls manipulating the puppet.
If Yuki was a regular passenger in a cab, they might notice one other unusual thing besides the driver; a lack of any sort of operator's license. This was generally posted prominently on the visor of the vehicle and showed the picture of the driver, their full name, license number, the company the cab was licensed to and an easy to read phone number to report problems. The puppet might be in violation of the law by not having this information clearly visible.
The thuds and pounding continued for several blocks. Finally, Mr. Purple turned around to look at Yuki. He continued to drive along at a high rate of speed while facing his passenger. "Hang on one, sec. I need to take care of something real quick," He explained and turned off the meter when he turned back around. It's a good thing he did because he almost hit a tree, but managed to swerve back onto the road at the last second.
Mr. Purple pulled into a dark alley and placed the cab in park. There was no one around outside of the car. Mr. Purple opened the door and got out. "Wait right here," he instructed raising a finger at his passenger. "I'll only be a minute." The puppet then moved around behind the vehicle and popped the trunk.
The longer Yuki sat in that car, the more uneasy they grew; even their usual 'everything is probably fine, just go with it' attitude was starting to waver as the ride went on in awkward silence that was filled only by the whir of traffic and those mysterious thumping noises. By the time the driver pulled into an alley and got out of the car, Yuki was heavily considering making a run for it. They figured there was a non-zero chance this puppet guy was planning to murder them, or do something even worse, and if they just sat around and let it happen, that would be their own fault for being such an idiot.
With that in mind, they unbuckled their seatbelt and popped the car door open. They leaned out of the vehicle, peering backwards to check on the puppet. They were trying to figure out what he was up to, and if he was paying any attention to them at the moment.
With that in mind, they unbuckled their seatbelt and popped the car door open. They leaned out of the vehicle, peering backwards to check on the puppet. They were trying to figure out what he was up to, and if he was paying any attention to them at the moment.
Responding to Yuki:
Yuki peered out the rear door, the puppet man was talking to someone or something in the trunk, but it was impossible to make out what he was saying. It seemed that Mr. Purple was speaking in a low gruff voice. The lid of the trunk blocked the view and based on the angle, Yuki could not see the cab driver from looking out the door. Whatever was happening, Mr. Purple didn't take notice that the passenger had opened the door and the exchange only lasted a minute or so.
A moment later, the trunk lid slammed closed and the other door on the opposite side of the car to the backseat opened and an attractive blonde girl got in. When Yuki turned their attention back inside the car., he saw she was sitting next to him. She had greenish-blue eyes and her short blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a t-shirt, jeans and flipflops.
What stood out was the woman, who appeared to be in her late teens or early 20s arms were bound to her sides with thick white ropes. Her hands were tied behind her back and her ankles were also bound. A white cloth wrapped around her head covering her mouth. The rag was knotted behind her head covered by her ponytail.
The girl shot Yuki an almost embarrassed look as Mr. Purple fastened her seatbelt around her waist. Strangely, the girl seemed annoyed as opposed to frightened. Mr. Purple looked up at Yuki after the bound girl was buckled in. "Uh, look this ain't what it looks like, I promise," He assured them.
The girl attempted to speak but her words came out as unintelligible 'mmpphs'. She nodded at Yuki as if she was agreeing with Mr. Purple when he explained things were not as they appeared.
"Now, I'll let you ride in here as long as you behave and look out the window," Mr. Purple instructed the girl. She nodded vigorously and managed an affirmative "mmm hmmmm," through the cloth over her mouth.
Should Yuki decide to try to free the girl, her back was pressed into the seat and prevented them from getting to the knots in the ropes around her wrists and arms. Mr. Purple slammed the rear passenger door and climbed back into the driver seat, shut the door and switched on the meter and put the car in reverse. He didn't check to see if Yuki's door was shut because he was unaware that it had been opened.
Should Yuki have anything sharp and want to try to attempt to cut through the girl's ropes, the car began to bounce violently as it began to move again. There would be risk of accidentally cutting her in the process. Angry honks erupted from another car as the taxi's rear end emerged from the ally and Mr. Purple pulled forward into the street and continued on to Yuki's destination.
"Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwway we goooooooooooooooo," He announced as if the situation was completely and perfectly normal.
Yuki peered out the rear door, the puppet man was talking to someone or something in the trunk, but it was impossible to make out what he was saying. It seemed that Mr. Purple was speaking in a low gruff voice. The lid of the trunk blocked the view and based on the angle, Yuki could not see the cab driver from looking out the door. Whatever was happening, Mr. Purple didn't take notice that the passenger had opened the door and the exchange only lasted a minute or so.
A moment later, the trunk lid slammed closed and the other door on the opposite side of the car to the backseat opened and an attractive blonde girl got in. When Yuki turned their attention back inside the car., he saw she was sitting next to him. She had greenish-blue eyes and her short blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a t-shirt, jeans and flipflops.
What stood out was the woman, who appeared to be in her late teens or early 20s arms were bound to her sides with thick white ropes. Her hands were tied behind her back and her ankles were also bound. A white cloth wrapped around her head covering her mouth. The rag was knotted behind her head covered by her ponytail.
The girl shot Yuki an almost embarrassed look as Mr. Purple fastened her seatbelt around her waist. Strangely, the girl seemed annoyed as opposed to frightened. Mr. Purple looked up at Yuki after the bound girl was buckled in. "Uh, look this ain't what it looks like, I promise," He assured them.
The girl attempted to speak but her words came out as unintelligible 'mmpphs'. She nodded at Yuki as if she was agreeing with Mr. Purple when he explained things were not as they appeared.
"Now, I'll let you ride in here as long as you behave and look out the window," Mr. Purple instructed the girl. She nodded vigorously and managed an affirmative "mmm hmmmm," through the cloth over her mouth.
Should Yuki decide to try to free the girl, her back was pressed into the seat and prevented them from getting to the knots in the ropes around her wrists and arms. Mr. Purple slammed the rear passenger door and climbed back into the driver seat, shut the door and switched on the meter and put the car in reverse. He didn't check to see if Yuki's door was shut because he was unaware that it had been opened.
Should Yuki have anything sharp and want to try to attempt to cut through the girl's ropes, the car began to bounce violently as it began to move again. There would be risk of accidentally cutting her in the process. Angry honks erupted from another car as the taxi's rear end emerged from the ally and Mr. Purple pulled forward into the street and continued on to Yuki's destination.
"Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwway we goooooooooooooooo," He announced as if the situation was completely and perfectly normal.
Slowly, reluctantly, Yuki pulled the door shut again and refastened their seatbelt. They decided they absolutely should have run while they had the chance, instead of just sitting there, observing and contemplating. Well, too late now. At this point, they just hoped the ride would be over soon and nothing too awful would happen. Then they could go to the aquarium and look at crabs and pretend everything was fine and normal.
They didn't have anything sharp on them, and they didn't bother with the ropes binding the young woman; she seemed... fine...? She wasn't crying, or visibly injured, and really looked more annoyed than distressed, and although Yuki still felt a bit concerned about her, they couldn't do much to help if they had no idea what was even going on. Thus, they decided to see if they could learn anything, and the first step towards that was removing the cloth muffling the woman's speech so that she could talk to them - that is, if she was inclined to do so, and if they could get the thing off of her in the first place. So they gingerly reached over and made an effort to untie it.
They didn't have anything sharp on them, and they didn't bother with the ropes binding the young woman; she seemed... fine...? She wasn't crying, or visibly injured, and really looked more annoyed than distressed, and although Yuki still felt a bit concerned about her, they couldn't do much to help if they had no idea what was even going on. Thus, they decided to see if they could learn anything, and the first step towards that was removing the cloth muffling the woman's speech so that she could talk to them - that is, if she was inclined to do so, and if they could get the thing off of her in the first place. So they gingerly reached over and made an effort to untie it.
Mr. Purple wrote:
After further study, Lizbeth realized they had landed on top of the trailer of an eighteen wheeler
The head of the doe emerges again out of the abysses of that purple taxi, immobile but moving. One ear was folded inside out, the other crumpled, giving that deer a very expressive “out of bed” look.
“What, where, who,..” lots of unanswered questions. The ray-gun is tossed out of the window, but it doesn’t hit the ground right away, sorry what… Lizbeth is a bit confused, where is she and she looks out of the window. Oh, they’re on top of a lorry, everything fin….
WHAT????
Lizbeth hurries back to the window, flattening her nose against, pressing both hands as if wanting to get out, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that can’t be, no, no, no….
She opens the door and eeps loudly, holding tight to it as she hangs half out of the car 12 feet above the moving ground, her tail looking again like one of those furling pompons.
She manages to get into that cab and looks intensely to that purple puppet, eyes to eyes, her look rather that of a furious buck, ready to pierce his opposite through and through with his antlers, than that of a harmless doe. Lucky for the puppet Lizbeth has none and that ray-gun is tossed out of the window…
Even his joyful words and optimism didn’t lighten the darkness in the doe’s eyes, she’d love to be that lion and beeeeeep, these words are not PG-13 rated, please excuse the doe.
But her face changes and panic shows. She sits back again, eyes wide open and a trembling, shaking finger pointing at that low bridge ahead….
Responding to Yuki:
Dani was unsure of who’s car she was in and what was going on, only that she’d unwittingly been knocked out and dragged into some of Mr. Purple’s shenanigans once again. At least she was no longer in the hot, dark trunk so her predicament had improved at least slightly. Thankfully, she could at least see what was going on and the AC was blowing, so she didn’t feel like she was being roasted alive in an oven. However, Dani was frustrated because she had a gazillion questions about what was happening but was unable to ask them since she couldn't speak.
The rear windows had a dark tint preventing anyone from seeing inside the back of the car. That provided a mixed blessing. On the one hand, Dani was spared the humiliation of anyone spotting her and realizing she had a gag over her mouth or that she was tied up.
On the other hand, while her dignity might be preserved assuming no one saw her like this, it also meant that there was no hope of any good Samaritan alerting someone of her plight, which meant no hope of rescue. She tested the ropes again and they held her tight. Dani realized there was no way she was going to be able to free herself and she was at the complete mercy of the puppet driver or her fellow passenger who seemed to be neither a captive nor an accomplice.
She wondered who they were. The person beside her seemed to be about her age, possibly Asian with long black hair and dressed in a similar manner as herself. Clearly, they were not tied up and Mr. Purple had tried to assure them that Dani being bound and gagged was not what it appeared. The other person hadn’t seemed to question the situation. Was it because they were afraid or didn’t want to be involved? Perhaps they were indifferent.
Mr. Purple was no longer driving erratically and seemed to be focused on the road. Dani decided to take a chance and steal a glance at the other passenger to see if they might help her. It was her only chance of getting untied without anyone else seeing her like this.
Cutting her eyes back at Mr. Purple to make sure he wasn’t watching her in the rearview mirror, Dani made eye contact with the other person sharing the backseat again. She looked slightly downward using her eyes with a slight head nod to attempt to communicate that she wanted them to loosen her gag. It seemed they got the message, and Dani tilted her head and slowly leaned closer to the other passenger who seemed willing to help her.
Her rescuer reached out to try to work the knot free and Dani turned her head so it was easier to reach. The knot was tied tightly and difficult to get a grip on. Yuki couldn’t undo the knot with the car bouncing around, but with a little tugging, the rag could be pulled out from between Dani’s lips and down. A moment later, the white cloth hung from the woman’s neck freeing her mouth.
Dani was unsure of who’s car she was in and what was going on, only that she’d unwittingly been knocked out and dragged into some of Mr. Purple’s shenanigans once again. At least she was no longer in the hot, dark trunk so her predicament had improved at least slightly. Thankfully, she could at least see what was going on and the AC was blowing, so she didn’t feel like she was being roasted alive in an oven. However, Dani was frustrated because she had a gazillion questions about what was happening but was unable to ask them since she couldn't speak.
The rear windows had a dark tint preventing anyone from seeing inside the back of the car. That provided a mixed blessing. On the one hand, Dani was spared the humiliation of anyone spotting her and realizing she had a gag over her mouth or that she was tied up.
On the other hand, while her dignity might be preserved assuming no one saw her like this, it also meant that there was no hope of any good Samaritan alerting someone of her plight, which meant no hope of rescue. She tested the ropes again and they held her tight. Dani realized there was no way she was going to be able to free herself and she was at the complete mercy of the puppet driver or her fellow passenger who seemed to be neither a captive nor an accomplice.
She wondered who they were. The person beside her seemed to be about her age, possibly Asian with long black hair and dressed in a similar manner as herself. Clearly, they were not tied up and Mr. Purple had tried to assure them that Dani being bound and gagged was not what it appeared. The other person hadn’t seemed to question the situation. Was it because they were afraid or didn’t want to be involved? Perhaps they were indifferent.
Mr. Purple was no longer driving erratically and seemed to be focused on the road. Dani decided to take a chance and steal a glance at the other passenger to see if they might help her. It was her only chance of getting untied without anyone else seeing her like this.
Cutting her eyes back at Mr. Purple to make sure he wasn’t watching her in the rearview mirror, Dani made eye contact with the other person sharing the backseat again. She looked slightly downward using her eyes with a slight head nod to attempt to communicate that she wanted them to loosen her gag. It seemed they got the message, and Dani tilted her head and slowly leaned closer to the other passenger who seemed willing to help her.
Her rescuer reached out to try to work the knot free and Dani turned her head so it was easier to reach. The knot was tied tightly and difficult to get a grip on. Yuki couldn’t undo the knot with the car bouncing around, but with a little tugging, the rag could be pulled out from between Dani’s lips and down. A moment later, the white cloth hung from the woman’s neck freeing her mouth.
Responding to Yuki:
It was at that moment that Mr. Purple spoke. “Hey, uh, where’d you say we was going again,” Mr. Purple asked scratching his head. Dani’s eyes went wide, and she pulled away from Yuki hoping Mr. Purple wouldn’t see her gag had been removed. Without a word, she turned her head to look out the window.
Yuki had been distracted for several minutes trying to help Dani. If they looked around, Yuki might have noticed that they were in an unfamiliar part of town. Were they lost? Was Mr. Purple going in the right direction to the aquarium?
Mr. Purple didn’t seem to pay any attention to Dani since she was quiet now and not making a fuss any longer. Maybe all she wanted was to be out of the trunk.
Mr. Purple looked over the back seat at Yuki again, taking his eyes off the road. The purple cab was getting dangerously close to the back end of a car that had stopped in front of them just ahead. It was then that Mr. Purple suddenly remembered his passenger didn’t talk. Maybe he’d scribble another message down like he’d done before. The puppet tilted his head down to glance at the notebook. Meanwhile, the cab barreled closer to rear-ending the car in front of them.
It was at that moment that Mr. Purple spoke. “Hey, uh, where’d you say we was going again,” Mr. Purple asked scratching his head. Dani’s eyes went wide, and she pulled away from Yuki hoping Mr. Purple wouldn’t see her gag had been removed. Without a word, she turned her head to look out the window.
Yuki had been distracted for several minutes trying to help Dani. If they looked around, Yuki might have noticed that they were in an unfamiliar part of town. Were they lost? Was Mr. Purple going in the right direction to the aquarium?
Mr. Purple didn’t seem to pay any attention to Dani since she was quiet now and not making a fuss any longer. Maybe all she wanted was to be out of the trunk.
Mr. Purple looked over the back seat at Yuki again, taking his eyes off the road. The purple cab was getting dangerously close to the back end of a car that had stopped in front of them just ahead. It was then that Mr. Purple suddenly remembered his passenger didn’t talk. Maybe he’d scribble another message down like he’d done before. The puppet tilted his head down to glance at the notebook. Meanwhile, the cab barreled closer to rear-ending the car in front of them.
Responding to Lizbeth:
Mr. Purple was enjoying the view from the top of the oversized truck. This was great! He could see all the cars from way up here! In fact, he could see several streets over. What a fantastic view! Why hadn't Mr. Purple thought of this sooner? There was even a bridge ahead!
Wait.
There was even a bridge ahead...
And it was coming right for them!
"OH DEAR, DEER," were Mr. Purple's final words before the taxi struck the bridge. The front end of the car was smashed in as it met the bridge and the hood buckled. There was quite a show of sparks under the cab as it scraped along the trailer's roof. Too bad the fireworks show wasn't visible to those inside it. And then, the purple car ran out of trailer...
There was a quick trip straight down as the cab plummeted to the ground. It met the road with a bang! There wasn't much bounce as the shocks were totally destroyed. Miraculously, both deer and puppet were unhurt. They were shaken and stirred, however.
Before either could process everything that had just happened, there was another whack! A bus driving behind the semi slammed into the back of the purple taxi smashing the trunk in. The mangled vehicle scooted along the pavement for a hundred feet or so before coming to a complete stop.
The world froze and time seemed to stop for an unspecified period.
Mr. Purple's head popped up after a long moment and he looked around. "Oops," he finally murmured. They were sitting in the middle of the road on the other side of the bridge above. A city bus was directly behind what was left of the mangled purple vehicle. The driver of the eighteen wheeler must have been unaware of his hitchhikers as it continued on down the road unphased.
Mr. Purple was enjoying the view from the top of the oversized truck. This was great! He could see all the cars from way up here! In fact, he could see several streets over. What a fantastic view! Why hadn't Mr. Purple thought of this sooner? There was even a bridge ahead!
Wait.
There was even a bridge ahead...
And it was coming right for them!
"OH DEAR, DEER," were Mr. Purple's final words before the taxi struck the bridge. The front end of the car was smashed in as it met the bridge and the hood buckled. There was quite a show of sparks under the cab as it scraped along the trailer's roof. Too bad the fireworks show wasn't visible to those inside it. And then, the purple car ran out of trailer...
There was a quick trip straight down as the cab plummeted to the ground. It met the road with a bang! There wasn't much bounce as the shocks were totally destroyed. Miraculously, both deer and puppet were unhurt. They were shaken and stirred, however.
Before either could process everything that had just happened, there was another whack! A bus driving behind the semi slammed into the back of the purple taxi smashing the trunk in. The mangled vehicle scooted along the pavement for a hundred feet or so before coming to a complete stop.
The world froze and time seemed to stop for an unspecified period.
Mr. Purple's head popped up after a long moment and he looked around. "Oops," he finally murmured. They were sitting in the middle of the road on the other side of the bridge above. A city bus was directly behind what was left of the mangled purple vehicle. The driver of the eighteen wheeler must have been unaware of his hitchhikers as it continued on down the road unphased.
Lizbeth couldn’t only wait for impact her eyes closed, wait for destiny to decide for her. Her fur became strangely pale as that bridge approached…. Good bye nice world…
Instant stop at impact, she manages to stay on the rear seat, her hooves buried into the front seat, then for a moment she finds herself ears flattened against some purple sky of a car that travels right down onto the street, she bounces off some fluffy purple bench and for the third time has a look underneath the driver seat, crumpled parking and speed tickets all over. But not enough, with a big crush the car slitters over the street like a curling pod, spinning as some beyblade top.
Silence, all stopped, it’s impossible that anyone survived, all witnesses hold their breath.
A purple puppet emerges with an ‘oops’, moments later the head of a doe, relief…
All turns inside Lizbeth’s head, her face showing a strange green tint, would she have eaten something, it wouldn’t last long in her stomach. The door of the wrecked car doesn’t open.
Stuck inside, her eyes idling into nothing, jaw dropped, she doesn’t move…
Instant stop at impact, she manages to stay on the rear seat, her hooves buried into the front seat, then for a moment she finds herself ears flattened against some purple sky of a car that travels right down onto the street, she bounces off some fluffy purple bench and for the third time has a look underneath the driver seat, crumpled parking and speed tickets all over. But not enough, with a big crush the car slitters over the street like a curling pod, spinning as some beyblade top.
Silence, all stopped, it’s impossible that anyone survived, all witnesses hold their breath.
A purple puppet emerges with an ‘oops’, moments later the head of a doe, relief…
All turns inside Lizbeth’s head, her face showing a strange green tint, would she have eaten something, it wouldn’t last long in her stomach. The door of the wrecked car doesn’t open.
Stuck inside, her eyes idling into nothing, jaw dropped, she doesn’t move…
With the woman's gag removed, Yuki had started to write a message to show her, so they could start asking her some questions... And that was when the driver turned to ask where they were going.
They flipped their notebook shut, one finger between the pages to keep their place. Yuki's expression was essentially blank, but they were privately a little annoyed. This puppet guy clearly didn't seem to know what he was doing; all Yuki had wanted was a quick ride to the aquarium and now the car looked lost and they were dealing with some lady who looked like a kidnap victim - why couldn't things ever just be nice and simple? Why couldn't their life be normal, at least sometimes?
...They took a deep breath, telling themself to just calm down. Getting stressed and overwhelmed wouldn't help anything. They had to just... Go with the flow... Everything would be fine. It had to be fine.
Yuki reached into their pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper. It was the same one from earlier, with its slightly torn edges and the address and name of that aquarium written on it. They flicked it over the back of the front seat; if the driver was going to repeatedly forget the destination, maybe he should just hold onto the instructions. When the driver was facing them, they also pointed forward, to indicate the other car that this vehicle was dangerously close to hitting.
They flipped their notebook shut, one finger between the pages to keep their place. Yuki's expression was essentially blank, but they were privately a little annoyed. This puppet guy clearly didn't seem to know what he was doing; all Yuki had wanted was a quick ride to the aquarium and now the car looked lost and they were dealing with some lady who looked like a kidnap victim - why couldn't things ever just be nice and simple? Why couldn't their life be normal, at least sometimes?
...They took a deep breath, telling themself to just calm down. Getting stressed and overwhelmed wouldn't help anything. They had to just... Go with the flow... Everything would be fine. It had to be fine.
Yuki reached into their pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper. It was the same one from earlier, with its slightly torn edges and the address and name of that aquarium written on it. They flicked it over the back of the front seat; if the driver was going to repeatedly forget the destination, maybe he should just hold onto the instructions. When the driver was facing them, they also pointed forward, to indicate the other car that this vehicle was dangerously close to hitting.
Responding to Lizbeth:
The entire scene was disorienting and chaotic. The deer was trapped in the mangled wreck but unhurt. Passengers poured from the bus. Several bystanders moved in to help Mr. Purple and Liz from the wreckage.
“One, two, three,” A muscular bald man directed. He and some of the other passengers on the bus moved in to free the trapped passenger and cab driver from the twisted remains of the taxi A moment later, both were out of the wreckage and standing on the road with a small crowd of people that had gathered.
Mr. Purple examined the wreck. “That’ll buff out,” he remarked. The automobile was clearly totaled and would never be drivable again.
There were multiple people asking if they were okay. An elderly gray-haired man who appeared to be the bus driver based on his uniform, suggested the pair wait on his bus in the air conditioning until emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
The bus itself had sustained little damage. It was a blue modern bus with white stripes. The logos on the front and sides indicated it was a Metro Transit bus and the digital marquee above the driver’s window showed “Route 57: MAIN STREET”.
“That sounds like a fantastic idea,” Mr. Purple replied to the elderly bus driver looking at the deer with a knowing nod. He gestured for her to get on in front of him. “I’m real sorry I messed up your trip and getting you to your camel friend. This is all my fault!”
The entire scene was disorienting and chaotic. The deer was trapped in the mangled wreck but unhurt. Passengers poured from the bus. Several bystanders moved in to help Mr. Purple and Liz from the wreckage.
“One, two, three,” A muscular bald man directed. He and some of the other passengers on the bus moved in to free the trapped passenger and cab driver from the twisted remains of the taxi A moment later, both were out of the wreckage and standing on the road with a small crowd of people that had gathered.
Mr. Purple examined the wreck. “That’ll buff out,” he remarked. The automobile was clearly totaled and would never be drivable again.
There were multiple people asking if they were okay. An elderly gray-haired man who appeared to be the bus driver based on his uniform, suggested the pair wait on his bus in the air conditioning until emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
The bus itself had sustained little damage. It was a blue modern bus with white stripes. The logos on the front and sides indicated it was a Metro Transit bus and the digital marquee above the driver’s window showed “Route 57: MAIN STREET”.
“That sounds like a fantastic idea,” Mr. Purple replied to the elderly bus driver looking at the deer with a knowing nod. He gestured for her to get on in front of him. “I’m real sorry I messed up your trip and getting you to your camel friend. This is all my fault!”
Responding to Yuki:
Mr. Purple looked back at his passenger. They seemed to be writing in their notebook. Suddenly, the notebook was closed, and Yuki pulled a scrap of paper from their pocket and held it out. Mr. Purple wasn’t sure if it was the same one or not, all he knew was it had words on it. Were they the same words as earlier? Who knew?
The puppet leaned forward and studied it for a moment. “Uh huh,” he mumbled. “Yeah, that place! Don’t worry, we’re almost there! Just a few more minutes…uh, I think,” he raised a finger and assured Yuki in a cheerful voice, but somehow, he didn’t sound convincing.
Yuki pointed ahead. Mr. Purple looked at Yuki’s finger and turned around to see what they were pointing at. “AHHHHHHHH,” the puppet screamed jamming on the brakes suddenly. The purple cab stopped inches from rear-ending the car in front of them. The tires screeched to a halt. Everyone in the vehicle was thrown forward, but fortunately, the seatbelts kept anyone in the cab from being launched through the windshield. The passengers in the back were thrown forward and whipped back by the sudden stop. The tied-up girl looked extremely annoyed and was about to say something but stopped herself.
After a moment, the car in front of them moved forward and Mr. Purple resumed driving as if nothing had happened.
Mr. Purple looked back at his passenger. They seemed to be writing in their notebook. Suddenly, the notebook was closed, and Yuki pulled a scrap of paper from their pocket and held it out. Mr. Purple wasn’t sure if it was the same one or not, all he knew was it had words on it. Were they the same words as earlier? Who knew?
The puppet leaned forward and studied it for a moment. “Uh huh,” he mumbled. “Yeah, that place! Don’t worry, we’re almost there! Just a few more minutes…uh, I think,” he raised a finger and assured Yuki in a cheerful voice, but somehow, he didn’t sound convincing.
Yuki pointed ahead. Mr. Purple looked at Yuki’s finger and turned around to see what they were pointing at. “AHHHHHHHH,” the puppet screamed jamming on the brakes suddenly. The purple cab stopped inches from rear-ending the car in front of them. The tires screeched to a halt. Everyone in the vehicle was thrown forward, but fortunately, the seatbelts kept anyone in the cab from being launched through the windshield. The passengers in the back were thrown forward and whipped back by the sudden stop. The tied-up girl looked extremely annoyed and was about to say something but stopped herself.
After a moment, the car in front of them moved forward and Mr. Purple resumed driving as if nothing had happened.
Responding to Yuki:
Dani was about to really let Mr. Purple have it when he nearly slammed into the back of the car in front of them and almost gave her and the person sharing the backseat with her whiplash. She stopped herself, though.
She’d had that uncomfortable rag between her lips for hours and her jaw muscles ached from being immobilized. Dani longed to speak and didn’t want her recently reinstated talking privileges to be immediately revoked again. She wondered if the other passenger would comply if Mr. Purple told them to replace the gag over her mouth even though they had just removed it for her.
As the car began to move again, Mr. Purple returned his attention to his driving. Dani glanced at the other passenger and looked down at his notebook. They seemed to be mute but as near as Dani could tell, they were not deaf.
Nevertheless, not wanting Mr. Purple to hear her, she leaned closer and mouthed “Who are you and what’s going on,” her voice was barely audible, and she was careful to speak slowly and carefully, articulating each syllable so the other person could read her lips if they couldn’t hear the words she spoke. She glanced at the back of Mr. Purple’s head every few seconds to make sure he wasn’t listening in.
Dani was about to really let Mr. Purple have it when he nearly slammed into the back of the car in front of them and almost gave her and the person sharing the backseat with her whiplash. She stopped herself, though.
She’d had that uncomfortable rag between her lips for hours and her jaw muscles ached from being immobilized. Dani longed to speak and didn’t want her recently reinstated talking privileges to be immediately revoked again. She wondered if the other passenger would comply if Mr. Purple told them to replace the gag over her mouth even though they had just removed it for her.
As the car began to move again, Mr. Purple returned his attention to his driving. Dani glanced at the other passenger and looked down at his notebook. They seemed to be mute but as near as Dani could tell, they were not deaf.
Nevertheless, not wanting Mr. Purple to hear her, she leaned closer and mouthed “Who are you and what’s going on,” her voice was barely audible, and she was careful to speak slowly and carefully, articulating each syllable so the other person could read her lips if they couldn’t hear the words she spoke. She glanced at the back of Mr. Purple’s head every few seconds to make sure he wasn’t listening in.
Yuki's annoyance was growing, as was their unease... Even if they didn't show it. The driver was reckless, highly suspicious, had just endangered them and everyone else in the vicinity... and Yuki wasn't even entirely convinced he was taking them to the right destination, or that he even knew where that destination was. As he abruptly stopped the car and Yuki was thrown forward and back again, their muteness was the only thing preventing them from letting out an exclamation or perhaps some profanity. As it was, though, they were just as silent as ever... From an outside perspective, it looked like they were completely apathetic towards their current situation. They'd have liked to tell the driver to be more careful, or demand that he pull over and let them - and the other passenger, for that matter - out this instant. But no. They couldn't say anything, and they didn't want to make the situation worse by acting rashly. Over and over in their head they repeated their wish for this to end soon, and to end without any disasters, and preferably without any more close calls, too, though they weren't going to get their hopes up.
When the drive resumed as normal, they refocused their attention on the other passenger.
Yuki's notebook had fallen to the floor when the car lurched so suddenly to a halt, but after retrieving it, Yuki resumed writing and held the finished message up so that the woman could see it. Their handwriting was small and very neat, dark blue ink on pristine white paper; they clearly put effort into making their words legible whilst also avoiding taking up too much room on the page. This was somebody used to efficient written communication. The message read as follows:
"I'm Yuki. I don't know what's going on; I had hoped you would. All I know is that I asked for a taxi and this is what I got. You don't know this puppet guy? You don't know anything?"
When the drive resumed as normal, they refocused their attention on the other passenger.
Yuki's notebook had fallen to the floor when the car lurched so suddenly to a halt, but after retrieving it, Yuki resumed writing and held the finished message up so that the woman could see it. Their handwriting was small and very neat, dark blue ink on pristine white paper; they clearly put effort into making their words legible whilst also avoiding taking up too much room on the page. This was somebody used to efficient written communication. The message read as follows:
"I'm Yuki. I don't know what's going on; I had hoped you would. All I know is that I asked for a taxi and this is what I got. You don't know this puppet guy? You don't know anything?"
Mr. Purple wrote:
Mr. Purple examined the wreck. “That’ll buff out,” he remarked. The automobile was clearly totaled and would never be drivable again.
Finally out of that, can one still call it a car, Lizbeth stands on her hooves, totally groggy, but obviously completely unharmed. She holds her head, slightly scratching her ear. "That won't work that good anymore", she says, unaware of what's happening around her. It's as if there's only her, that car, Mr Purple and the rest is black, blurred. No bus, no bridge, no people or paramedics, her brain left all out.
Someone has to shake that doe out of that stasis, she's not on this planet for the moment, incomprehensible babble around her.
Some words clearly meant for her reach her ear shells but don't get further, or only very slow....are you ok?....trip.....camel....
Camel, there was something about a camel...
Camel... Yassin... The library
The doe gets in a panic, suddenly remembering all, "Yassin, Library lion, camel, purple taxi, ray-gun...no, no, no, 'm late, I need..." She starts to tremble heavily, her arms waving dangerously around, "My purse, my pouch, where's my pouch, money, I...I... my soiree". She turns towards that purple puppet and starts to shake him intensely, "I need to go to the library.... now.... quick..." Lizbeth is totally away, completely off track, all what happened shook her more than assumed. That poor puppet going back and forth in front of her.
Someone stop her, the seams of the puppet are coming loose!
Only one block away a camel stoically waits for his rendez-vous, Camels are very stubborn and patient to the outermost. But he notices the gathering not far away, people talk as the news goes faster than any bushfire, 'some doe in a cab... it's horrible...limbs teared off... high speed police chase... lynch the cab driver...'. The tam-tams of rumors are beating in false rhythm, Yassin has to find out.
Responding to Yuki:
The other passenger was hard to read. They seemed to have a great poker face, but Dani was now positive they were mute. She wondered what was going through their head. Surely, they would have spoken up or made an audible noise after their near-death experience moments ago if they could. She still wasn't positive if her fellow passenger was deaf or not.
Once Mr. Purple focused on the road again, Dani turned her attention back to them and attempted to communicate. They had dropped their notebook, but seemed to understand what Dani had mouthed to them.
It took a moment for them to retrieve the notebook from the floor of the car and began writing. She looked at the page in the notebook as Yuki wrote responses. Obviously, they understood. She made eye contact as she attempted short answers to what they had written:
-I'm Yuki. I don't know what's going on.
Dani she mouthed speaking slowly and barely at a whisper. D-A-N-I. She spelled it out since responses would be written, not that the spelling of her name was important in this moment.
-I had hoped you would. All I know is that I asked for a taxi and this is what I got.
She read the next line and frowned. Her eyes met theirs with a puzzled look. Taxi? Without elaboration, she glanced to Yuki's pad to read the next question.
-You don't know this puppet guy? You don't know anything?"
The answer to this one was complicated and hard to get across in a few words. Dani wished she had her hands free so she could write her answer in return. She nodded. Yes, I know him...
It was at this point, Dani realized she had a bargaining chip with their puppet driver. She did indeed know him and she had information that she could use against him to take control of this situation, even if she was tied up.
At that moment, Mr. Purple glanced back and realized something was going on between the pair in the backseat.
The other passenger was hard to read. They seemed to have a great poker face, but Dani was now positive they were mute. She wondered what was going through their head. Surely, they would have spoken up or made an audible noise after their near-death experience moments ago if they could. She still wasn't positive if her fellow passenger was deaf or not.
Once Mr. Purple focused on the road again, Dani turned her attention back to them and attempted to communicate. They had dropped their notebook, but seemed to understand what Dani had mouthed to them.
It took a moment for them to retrieve the notebook from the floor of the car and began writing. She looked at the page in the notebook as Yuki wrote responses. Obviously, they understood. She made eye contact as she attempted short answers to what they had written:
-I'm Yuki. I don't know what's going on.
Dani she mouthed speaking slowly and barely at a whisper. D-A-N-I. She spelled it out since responses would be written, not that the spelling of her name was important in this moment.
-I had hoped you would. All I know is that I asked for a taxi and this is what I got.
She read the next line and frowned. Her eyes met theirs with a puzzled look. Taxi? Without elaboration, she glanced to Yuki's pad to read the next question.
-You don't know this puppet guy? You don't know anything?"
The answer to this one was complicated and hard to get across in a few words. Dani wished she had her hands free so she could write her answer in return. She nodded. Yes, I know him...
It was at this point, Dani realized she had a bargaining chip with their puppet driver. She did indeed know him and she had information that she could use against him to take control of this situation, even if she was tied up.
At that moment, Mr. Purple glanced back and realized something was going on between the pair in the backseat.
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