Victor Morris lay still in a hospital bed. You would think him dead if it weren’t for the faint breaths escaping his lungs. He was tangled in hospital equipment, as if suffocating him and making it more difficult to breathe. The decaying flowers at his bedside seemed to mimic him, pitifully. His son, Dan Morris, lay awake in a bed adjacent to him. He seemed fine until you glanced at his legs. They were both encased in heavy casts. On the other side of Victor sat his wife, Julie Morris, clutching his hand tightly. Tears ran down her frail cheeks as she let out mournful whimpers.
“Get in the car! We’re going to be late,” Victor shouts as he pushes his wife and son out the front door. Dan jumps into the car enthusiastically and slams the door shut while his mum and dad get in. Victor starts the engine and pulls off the driveway, gliding onto the road.
“Where are we going again?” Dan says, breaking the silence as they approach a red light.
“To visit Great Aunt Petunia, I’ve already told you,” Mrs Morris replies.
“I didn’t even know I had a Great Aunt.” He receives no reply and slumps back into his seat, folding his arms like a moody teenager. The silence eats away at him, forcing him to ask “What for?”
“It’s her 70th birthday.” Victor answers. “I’ve ordered her a gift, something I think she would really like. We have to pick it up on the way…okay?” He waits for a reply from Dan before turning round to discover he has fallen asleep. “Wake up!” He shouts as he reaches for a magazine and throws it at his lazy son. Dan jolts forward, hitting his head on the back of his father’s seat.
“I wasn’t sleeping! Just resting my eyes,” He spurts out, denying he was asleep at all.
“Oh. Alright then,” Victor says sarcastically, laughing at his son while still driving. The car turns silent and Dan pulls his phone from his pocket. He sits staring at it for what seems like hours. After a while he looks outside and realises that they have slowed down. The road is filled with cars.
“I think I may have taken a wrong turn,” Victor confesses.
“Why don’t we ask for directions?” Julie suggests.
“We don’t need to, honey, I can figure it out myself,” Victor says dismissively. “I just need to get out of this darn traffic.”
They turn a corner and there is a sudden burst of colours as the streets are flooded with people. They look out of place in their dull coloured car. The cacophonous music blares from the street ahead. People dance merrily around one another with wide smiles on their faces. Over-exaggerated costumes sparkle in the abundance of lights. Dan leans forward in his seat out of interest and quickly realises that they shouldn’t be on this road.
Victor cuts him off, “yes Dan, I have realised there is a carnival and we are stuck in it. Thank you,”
“Victor! Don’t be horrible, he was only telling you. As for you Dan, sit back down and be quiet,” Julie says sternly, putting them both in their place. “Now let’s try and get out of this mess,” She says. She winds down her window as a police officer approaches the car to help the family. This causes Dan to sit in his seat properly.
“How can I help you ma’am?” He says.
“Hello sir, we seem to have taken a wrong turn. How do you suggest we get out of here?” She asks politely.
“Well if you just continue down this road and take the first right you should be out of here in no time,” he answers.
“Thank you!” She says, gratefully. She winds the window back up and Victor continues driving.
Dan turns around to see a very tall figure on stilts and is amazed by its skill. The figure waves to him and he waves back. “Wow! Mum, dad look!” he exclaims, turning around to kneel on the seat so he can see out of the back window better. Victor and Julie both simultaneously turn around to admire the figure. Their mouths open in awe. Then Julie realises that Victor is still driving and screams “Victor!” at the top of her lungs. He lunges round and grabs hold of the steering wheel, swerving to the side as a young boy runs in front of them. Julie lets out a loud scream of terror as they near a brick wall. Dan swings his body round to sit into his seat correctly but he doesn’t make it in time for the crash. His legs are twisted, snapping from the force of hitting the wall. Victor is thrown out of his seat and onto the steering wheel with a crack. Blood drips down Julie’s face. The boy has fallen onto the floor and sits in the road crying staring his scraped hands. A couple of adults run over to him and put their arms around his shoulders, comforting him.
A loud beep came from the machine connected to Victor. Julie let out a cry, “what’s happening? Why is it doing that?” she panicked. A pack of doctors stride over to examine the man. Dan looked over at his mother and father with a blank expression upon his face. One doctor pulled out two metal-looking plates and placed them on Victor’s chest. “Clear!” he shouted. Julie cried hysterically as Victor’s body jolted upwards. They tried another time. “Clear!” he repeated. The same thing happened again and they waited patiently for Victor to come round. There was no response from him. Victor Morris was dead.