Now back to the regular schedule. Hopefully I can keep up with lt. This is the second part of the dark edition of Chapter 12 (confusing). No like dark, no read.
Vanirce paused much longer than the first time, mentally preparing for this. But no preparation would be enough for either of them.
"I would get raped, beaten & sometimes even tortured by Beelzebub on a daily basis. I have scars all over my body & in places unimaginable. I was told I am worthless & berated constantly. I was malnourished & anything that could be used against me was. I was abused physically, sexually & emotionally. And by my father, no less. At least I knew what to expect from Beelzebub. But when the villagers came, anything went.".
Vanellope had to quickly stop her. She had a hand to her forehead, trying to process such cruel treatment.
"Okay, hold on. That is a lot to take in. You really are right about lt being horrific.".
She was surprised that Vanirce finally spilled some beans.
"What made you want to tell me?", Vanellope wonderred.
"You weren't begging to hear lt. I could tell that you were really just trying to help. Some people just want to know things to satisfy their curiousity. Besides, you desserve to know for how good to me you've been.", Vanirce rememberred Vanellope's emotional support throughout their time together.
"Thank you. But is there any reason at all why they would do those things to you?".
Vanellope knew that Vanirce didn't desserve her treatment, but she thought they must have some reason, even an unjustifiable one.
"Not that I know of. The villagers are insane & Beelzebub is plain evil. He takes joy in torturing.".
"At least he's gone.", Vanellope reminded.
"I wish he were still alive, so I could get back at him.".
"You would kill him?".
Vanellope wasn't upset. She had every right to want to, but she hoped to instill a little more ruth in her.
"I'd torture him lf I knew how.", Vanirce said with a sort of long subsided anger.
"Does Station 74 have a surge protector?".
Vanellope changed the subject. Her mind was now preoccupied with finding answers to this mysterious game's existence.
"No. I never saw one.".
"Well, we'll ask our surge protector then.".
Surge has been around the block. Perhaps he knew something.
"Ask him what?".
"Where the game came from. There has to be a reason for this. People don't just make sadistic games or we'd see more of them. BeelZeBub Arcade is unique".
She expected a rebuttal, but Vanirce agreed to go almost eagerly. It seemed that she wanted answers just as much. They heard someone shouting incoherently. It was Turbo. Felix began calling as well, politely deciding not to intrude. As they enterred the room where Felix was, they could hear Turbo much more clearly.
"How do you get inside?", Turbo asked, voice raised so that they could hear him.
Having fallen behind, he didn't see anyone walk through the wall. Vanellope came outside to show him.
"Welcome to my home, Turbo. Just walk through the threshold to get in.".
As Turbo did so, he marveled at the coding craftsmanship of the level.
"This is my kind of level. I love the entrance, I love the Mentos stalagmites, I love the open space. This is a very nice home indeed. Heck, I wish I lived here.".
"Thank you, Turbo. I don't get that often.", Vanellope said, glad to be complimented.
He noticed what had to be her kart, being the only kart in view.
"This is your kart? Is lt even safe to drive a candy bar like this?".
"Probably not. But the Lickety Split 2 is valuable & lt wasn't easy to obtain.", she answered sentimentally.
"Okay, let's get started then. Ralph, do you think you can make a course out of this place?".
"Sure".
Ralph, slamming his fists into the ground & travelling in a circle around the place, created a race course.
"What do you know about racing thus far?".
"Nothing really.", she responded truthfully.
"Okay, then we'll start with the basics. This is the gas pedal. This is the brake pedal. This is the emergency brake pedal. This is the steering wheel. And this is your gear shifter. You shift lt to, 'D', to drive, 'R', to reverse &, 'P', to park. 'N', is neutral. I'll get to the rest next time. For now, put lt in Drive & you should immediately start moving, but slowly.".
She complied & began handling the turns.
"Good. Easy peasy. Now lightly step on the gas pedal. I want you to run a lap going a little bit faster.".
She was a natural & handled instruction well.
"Great. Now just let loose. It looks like you know what you're doing.".
She sped around the course at what appearred to be top speed & short stopped near Turbo.
"I think you're ready.".
"I hope so. The race is tomorrow.".