Carl the Death Driver
Chapter.2: Residential Rampage • Part.5
Introduction: Welcome to the ninth installment of “Carl the Death Driver”. As Chapter 2 continues, LUVCARL’s late-night rampage takes an ominous turn when the mysterious vehicle enters a public space to explore some automotive acrobatics. Casual observers become thrill-seeking followers and what begins as playful pursuit leads to unforeseen dangers down the road. In this segment, we witness how LUVCARL has no boundaries in terms of destruction and can influence others to tag along.
So Far: Carl is dead and his body remains undiscovered on his kitchen floor. In the days following his death, a car bearing the license plate “LUVCARL” has emerged from his garage to wreak havoc across the neighborhood. After terrorizing a homeless encampment near Poet’s Park, LUVCARL roams and discovers other parts of the community in the dark of night. The mysterious vehicle has left a trail of toppled trash bins, frightened residents, and growing unease in its wake. Now, heading to the city water tower, LUVCARL is being watched.
During the day, dog walkers and baby strollers freely passed through the open field beneath the water tower. On the weekends, locals would spread out and form a patchwork of blankets occupied by slumbering couples, picnic partiers, and deep thinking individuals. In the evenings the grass would recover, and late at night on alternating days, the grass and dirt below would receive regular reclaimed water.
As LUVCARL approached the water tower, the municipal irrigation system was at work. High pressure water hissing from dozens of impact rotors, dispersed in overlapping and rotational patterns, each covering a radius of 120 to 160 feet. The sight of cascading water shooting through high trajectories attracted and enticed LUVCARL to climb the curb, cross the sidewalk and freely drive around on the open meadow. The vehicle was saturated from above and cleansed on every part of its exterior surface.
LUVCARL chased the circular path of water as it cascaded down and saturated the natural turf beneath his tires. The vehicle moved up the small hill toward the dark green gates and then glided down the slippery slope. Skidding sideways, LUVCARL cut the wheels and accelerated a bit to straighten out. The car whipsawed and swung around completely. There was a deep gash in the sod and water collected in the narrow channel of exposed earth.
It was an exhilarating feeling and worth repeating. Many approaches going up the hill and more improvisational moves coming down cut through huge swaths of turf. The vehicle’s wheels carved up the small hillside and left the area covered with angular strips of dirt glistening with the dusting of reclaimed water. Mounds of fertile soil and grass roots gathered at the base of the slope from the repeated plowing of LUVCARL’s front bumper. The vehicle continued to hunt for virgin turf until most of the hillside was stripped and torn apart.
The sprinkler system sequentially shut down each zone throughout the block. Valves closed and one by one the impact sprinklers let out a high pitched gasp and retracted into the ground. The water show was over, the land was quiet, and visibility was much improved. In these clear conditions, LUVCARL pursued the flatlands of the field at high speeds. The vehicle employed the newly acquired skills for braking and turning with a high degree of precision, resulting in spectacular gliding spins. For almost an hour, LUVCARL crisscrossed the public property beneath the water tower, transforming the once pristine green meadow into a canvas of utter destruction.
For some time, a large sports sedan loaded with five teens enjoyed the late night spectacle. Incredulous at the daring stunts and public vandalism on such a large scale, they maintained a front row view from their parked position. There was laughter, howling, and cheers for the star of the show. Watching this mysterious vehicle performing imaginative tricks and stunts had the feel of a sporting event, complete with beers and snacks.
Upon completing a triple rotation that landed near the perimeter trees, LUVCARL froze. The vehicle’s headlights caught movements beyond the saplings and locked onto the parked sedan full of young boys. After a brief pause, LUVCARL slowly pulled away in reverse. This movement somehow enticed the teen driver to climb the curb and enter the torn landscape for a firsthand experience. Empty beer bottles rolling about the floor mats had stripped away concerns for the myriad things that could go wrong. Yells of encouragement filled the sedan’s cabin as they picked up speed and caught up to LUVCARL, maintaining some distance after witnessing the vehicle’s unpredictable nature.
LUVCARL led them on a tour of the grounds with light turns and shallow corning near the boundaries of the place. The teens reveled in the skidding and sliding through the wet grass and exposed dirt. At one point, the teen driver tried to pull alongside LUVCARL while his backseat buddy held out an offering of a bottled beer through an open window. Each time the sports sedan attempted to edge up beside the darkened driver’s window, LUVCARL would increase speed to stay a half car length ahead. The side mirror captured the kind gesture of friendship, and LUVCARL lowered his driver’s side rear window. The teen tossed the bottle in.
They reached the dark side of the city block where less damage was done and malfunctioning streetlamps hid their presence. Up ahead, the city’s parking enforcement was on duty generating revenue from overnight visitors lacking proper permit stickers. A solitary officer tucked a bright yellow citation beneath a wiper blade and started to pick up the sound of the teen’s sports sedan approaching. At first, the officer looked toward the nearby street. Then he became alarmed realizing headlights were approaching across the grasslands beneath the city water tower. LUVCARL was hit by the narrow beam from the officer’s flashlight. Unarmed and unwilling to get to his radio for a proper dispatch call, the parking officer double-clicked his flashlight for strobe mode and expressed his displeasure with the trespassing vehicles through flashing light and useless hand gestures. This was the cue for the cars to get back to asphalt. Find an escape route and leave the damage done to be discovered by morning joggers and dog walkers.
Discussion Questions:
- LUVCARL’s playful interaction with the water tower’s sprinkler system suggests an almost childlike quality. How does this contrast with the vehicle’s previous destructive behaviors, and what might this reveal about its nature?
- The teens watching LUVCARL’s performance treat it as entertainment, showing no concern for the destruction. What does this say about human nature and our relationship with acts of rebellion or vandalism?
- The sprinkler system seems to draw LUVCARL in like a moth to flame. How might this attraction to water connect to earlier scenes in the story, particularly the fish tank in Carl’s home?
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Teaser: As dawn approaches, LUVCARL’s late-night rampage reaches a devastating crescendo. A high-speed pursuit through empty streets leads to a moment of reckoning, forever changing the lives of those who cross paths with the mysterious vehicle. In this final segment of Chapter 2, we discover how far LUVCARL will go in a relentless drive to leave an indelible mark on the community.
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