Run, Rabbit
“There’s no other way, no other way at all?” Serena asked, trying to find a solution that didn’t mean she and Vas would have to split up. She was grasping at anything and everything, wishing she was smarter, that she could find a way.
“Right now? No … I would more than slow you down and I can’t have that. So I’m the next best thing giving you the best change you can. So you make the most of it.” Vas said taking the turn on the road hard, wincing from the rough movement of the car, eyes sharp for the best place for Serena … a truck … a gas station … hell if he had to he would drive strait to the city if he had to, though he had doubts they would make it that far.
“I’ll make the most of it,” Serena said, solemnly. “On account of I’m a hellhound, an’ we fight an’ survive.”
Vas nodded. “Exactly. S’why last one standing. Toughest of tough.” He wheeled the SUV suddenly into a gas station with a snack truck unloading. Vas rested his head on the wheel for a moment his face dripping with sweat. He was hot as hell but he could sort of take a full breath now however the blood loss was making him light-headed and dizzy. “This is your stop Rabbit …” He said his voice rough and strained.
“Maybe… I should bandage you up first,” Serena tried. “I mean, your nanomites are workin’ hard as they can, they might need a little help.”
“No time. It needs to look like I didn’t. You need to be gone before they call a chopper before they catch up.” Vas said wincing as he reached down tanding her his boot knife. “It’s all I got left give … so you use it, take care of it and you can give it back when we find each other again. You can’t be going anywhere without a weapon, not on my watch.”
Serena took the knife, then took off the bootlace necklace. “It’s all I got left too,” she said eyeing it, then held it out for him. The one with the pretty flower knots. “So you remember to look for me.”
“Well trade it back when we find each other? Deal.” He said taking the bootstrap necklace.
“Deal, honest and swear,” she promised. “I’ll find you, Puppy.” She opened the door slowly.
“Run Rabbit.” Vas urged. “You got your orders. Time to be a Hellhound.”
“Yes, Sir,” Serena said, just as he had earlier. She hopped out of the vehicle. “Time to be a Hellhound.” She waited for the man with the hand truck to go into the gas station before climbing into the back of the truck, hiding behind stacked boxes of nutty buddies and chips.
Vas hesitated for a moment watching her go. “She's got this. She’ll be fine …” He said reassuring himself. “... do your job and everything will shake out fine.” He said putting the car in gear and speeding back onto the road. “We can do this.” It didn’t help ease the dull ache in his chest from hurting any less but this was the only way.
Serena tried, unsuccessfully, to convince herself that a hellhound wouldn’t cry as the driver closed the doors and the truck headed off.