Nightmare

The rest of the evening went well. They all enjoyed the banquet Gladys had prepared for them. They watched more home movies, much to Lola and Brendan's dismay. It was a pleasant evening, reminiscing in the past. After a few stories and jokes, the night had come to an end and it was time to go home.

Bugs and Lola got up from the couch.

"Where'd the kids go?" asked Lola

"They went to the trophy room with Dad," answered Brendan, "I guess they got tired of seeing home videos."

The two parents went down the hallway and found the kids with Larry in the trophy room. They were finishing up their slices of cake and admiring a display case.

"Hey Mom," said Sean, "I didn't know you won a trophy for gymnastics."

"And ice skating…swimming…track…soccer…" said Tanya as she pointed to Lola's various awards and achievements.

"Yeah…" said Lola trailing off

"Geez Mom, what didn't you do?"

Lola let out a nervous chuckle. She turned to her father with mock frustration.

"Dad, I thought it was mom's job to embarrass me,"

"Hey it wasn't my fault, they dad-napped me,"

"We wanted to know who's trophies these were…so we asked Grandpa," said Sean

"Besides…Grandma's tapes were starting to freak us out…"

"I can relate to that," said Lola

"Hey, how come I wasn't invited?" said Brendan

He came into the room and looked over the trophies.

"Hey! Where are mine?"

"It's right there…" said Larry

Brendan squinted at them.

"All I see...is…Lola…Lola….Lola…Lola…one Kate…Lola…Lola…"

Larry took his son's head and put it on the medal right in front of him.

"That little thing?"

"Yeah…"

"Pfft…bowling…"

Brendan staggered out of the room. The twins giggled.

"Alright kids, we gotta go home," said Bugs

"Aww…Can we stay?" asked Tanya and Sean

Lola looked at Bugs. He smiled at her in approval.

"It's alright with me," said Bugs

"Mom?" asked Tanya

"Of course you can," she said

"Yay!"

"Dad?" asked Lola

"You know they're always welcome here,"

He patted the twins on their head.

"Go tell Grandma,"

"OK!"

Tanya and Sean went out the trophy room and searched for Gladys. They found her cleaning up in the kitchen.

"Grandma! Mommy said we can stay tonight!"

"Oh wonderful!"

"It isn't any trouble, is it?" said Lola coming in

"Oh it's no trouble at all. Don't worry about a thing sweetie. I have extra clothes for them and everything. We're going to have fun, aren't we kids?"

"Yeah," they smiled

"Alright mom," said Lola. She turned towards her twins, "you two behave,"

"Yes mom," said Sean

"You know what happens if you don't,"

"Yes…" said Tanya

"No… you don't know my Dad very well…"

Larry came in and gave the twins his trademark stern look.

"You know that nobody plays games with me," said Larry as he crossed his arms and looked down upon them. The twins gulped, then nodded in agreement.

"Maybe it's not such a good idea…" whispered Tanya to Sean

"Have fun you two," said Bugs as he kissed their cheeks.

The kids said their goodbyes to their father. Lola kissed them and hugged them as well.

When Lola and Bugs turned around, Larry gave the twins a wink. He kneeled down to them so he could be at their level.

"Don't worry, we'll get to play some 'Street Fighter',"

"YES!" cheered the kids

Sean and Tanya went to the TV in the living room; they plopped down next to their uncle Brendan.

However, something was bothering Tanya. It was too simple she thought; her mother never let them sleepover anywhere. This was to rare an occasion for her mother to just say 'OK'.

When her parents were about to head out of the door, Tanya approached Lola.

"Mommy, how come you never let us go over any of our friend's house for a sleepover?"

Lola turned around to face the curious look on her daughter's face.

"Because I don't know them," she answered frankly

"Yes you do,"

"I mean I don't know their parents," Lola sighed, "we'll talk about this later ok."

"Ok,"

"Bye you guys," said Bugs

Gladys and Larry waved them goodbye.

"Bye sweetie,"

"Bye kiddo, Bye Bugs,"

They watched as the car drove away. They closed the door and went back to the room.

"Come on! Let's play!" said Sean

"Pfft! 'Street Fighter'…I was the master at that game!" said Brendan as his eyes were struggling to open

"It was the only thing you ever did…" said Larry

"Yeah…if I could have entered a 'Street Fighter' tournament…all those trophies woulda been mine!"

Larry and the twins looked back at him. Brendan was barely awake. He grabbed the controller and squinted at the screen.

"Let's go!" he said

"This oughta be easy…" said Tanya

In the car…

The atmosphere in the vehicle was of an uncomfortable calm. The radio was low, and Lola had been oddly silent throughout the drive. Bugs was pondering something that Tanya had said earlier.

"That's true," he said breaking the silence, "you never let them sleepover any of their friends' house,"

"I just…I dunno," she responded while looking out the window

"You have to relax a bit,"

"I can't, I worry about them too much,"

"You're too overprotective,"

There was a long pause. Bugs turned to face her; she seemed to be deep in thought.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing…"

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

"I…don't want to think about it…"

Not ever…

It had been about a month since the terrible argument. And since then there had been many others. It hurt Lola to see her mother and her sister fight. She felt guilty because her sister was so horribly jealous of her; and her mother always showed favoritism for her rather than her sister. Lola always wanted to somehow end the fights, but she didn't. She knew no way and no how.

One night, Larry and Gladys were talking alone on the porch. It was late and all the children were asleep.

"Oh Larry, I don't know what to do," said Gladys, "Kate has never been so difficult."

"She's going through a phase,"

"I feel that I'm losing her. That she never wants to see me, or be anywhere near me,"

"She's just confused,"

She sighed. Larry put his arm around her shoulder.

"Ever since I told her…she took it pretty bad. But I had to; she had to know the truth,"

"You know that I love you, both of you. She is my daughter, no matter what the circumstances,"

"I know, and I thank you for it. Because you accepted us both into your family. Most of the men I knew would have left us…but you took us both as we were. And for that, I am eternally grateful,"

Gladys felt herself tear up. She lay her head on his shoulders, he caressed her hair.

"I'm just so scared…that he…may try to come back,"

"I won't let that happen,"

He held onto her tight and soothed her. Gladys felt safe and relieved in his arms. After some time passed, they both decided it was time to go to sleep. As they came inside and shut the door, the phone rang.

"Who could be calling this time of night?"

Gladys went to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Gladys…"

She froze. That voice sounded so strangely familiar. But before she could ask, the person hung up. She placed the phone down on the receiver.

"Gladys?" asked Larry

She looked up at him straight in the eye.

"It was him…"

It was a new day, the classes the kids had been taking on the side were over and they were taking new ones. Brendan was on the football team now. Gladys had signed both Lola and Kate for the same ballet class. Kate didn't like being around her sister, and Lola could feel the anger and resent within her. She dreaded the days she had to go with her sister to class.

Lola, having a talent for physical activity, was great at every session. Kate wasn't bad herself, but that didn't stop her from being jealous. This particular day, they were performing a routine with the others in the class. They were graceful as they spun and jumped in the air. In her fourth spin, however, Kate tripped, causing Lola and another girl to crash to the ground, the routine was thus ruined.

"Oh Kate! What happened?" asked the instructor

"I'm sorry Madame Toussou," she said as she hung her head low.

"It's alright..." she said, but then she turned serious, "you're just not disciplined enough."

Kate looked up at her.

"Go to the mirror, and practice again,"

Kate got up and went to the mirror.

"Lola, Gloria, both of you alright?"

They nodded

"You two were marvelous, go with the others and take a break,"

"Madame Toussou?" asked Lola

"Yes?"

"Must you be so hard on her?"

"Lola, dancing takes discipline, she has to learn control. Only then will she become a great dancer."

Lola looked over at Kate, she could see the glare of envy shot her way. Lola gave her a sympathetic look, then went with the others.

Class was over. The Bunny sisters were walking home. Lola was gathering the courage to speak to her.

"Kate…I'm sorry," she mumbled

"For what? You didn't do anything," she shot back, "all you were was perfect. Little miss perfect! The sweet innocent angel!"

"I'm not perfect,"

"But I am beneath you…"

"No you're not!"

"I am! I'm nothing but an accident! I was never meant to be born! I was Mom's mistake!"

"No! Mom loves you…"

"Well she never shows it…"

"But she does love you! If you meant nothing to her, then why is she still taking care of you? She could've abandoned you! Left you on the street like a piece of garbage! Tell me that!"

"Pity…that's all…"

"No…"

"I have half her blood…and she took pity on that half…"

"Kate, please…"

"Shut up…don't talk to me…"

Kate walked ahead of Lola. She wanted to be alone, but Lola was going to keep her in her sights. Lola had learned only recently of the truth between her and Kate; that they were half sisters. Gladys had explained to Lola that she was in another relationship before she met Larry. But the other man had abandoned them; leaving her to raise Katie on her own.

All this time….living a lie. I have…no idea how she feels. To find out that…that the family you have isn't really yours. Oh Kate I'm so sorry…

The streets were pretty lonely, not many people were walking about. It was that way at this time of day. Just about sunset and people were already in their homes. Cars were parked along the streets, silent and motionless. However there was one car who's engine was running. There was a male rabbit, whom got out of the car not too far ahead of the girls. He walked in their direction.

"Hello," said the rabbit

Kate and Lola stopped in their tracks. They were a little scared that a stranger had spoken to them. They looked away from him. They tried to walk past him but he got in front of them.

"Katie…"

Kate's eyes went wide

"Don't you remember me?"

She shook her head and tried to get away. But the man grasped her shoulders.

"It's me…Daddy,"

"Daddy?" whispered Kate with a hint of fear in her voice

"Please tell me you remember…"

"I…don't…" she shook her head

"But it's me!" he begged

Katie didn't make a sound.

"You were so little…but I remember when I held you in my arms,"

She couldn't move.

"You're not our Dad!" said Lola

"Our? So…she's your little sister, is she?"

Kate nodded timidly

"Heh…cute little one, aren't ya?"

Lola eyed him suspiciously

"My Mom told me you were a bad man…she said to never talk to you…" said Kate

He turned suddenly towards her.

"Your mother said that? Why that little…" he clenched his fists. He then held onto Kate once more, "don't listen to what she said. She lied to you. Everything she said about me is a lie!"

Kate was frightened, she couldn't move at all. Lola was confused; she didn't know what was going on...or what to do.

"Come with me," he said, "come with Daddy."

"N-no..Mommy said…" said Kate

"Don't listen to what she says!! I'm your father goddamnit! I would never hurt you…"

Kate was shaking her head. But then the man lost his patience. He grabbed Kate by her arm and pulled her to his car. Lola chased him…

"Let her go! Let her go!" she demanded as she hit him with her fists

But alas it was to no avail. Before she knew it, she too was taken forcefully by him. Both girls began to kick and scream, but it was useless. He was too strong for them, and there was no one there to help them. They were both tossed into the car. He got into the driver's seat and drove the car out of there.

The girls were horrified

"Stop! Let us go!" they wailed

"Stop that whining!" he yelled

He slapped Kate, whom was nearest to him.

"Listen here Kate! You're mother is not going to keep you from me anymore! You're staying with me!"

"No! I want my Mom!!" she yelled through tears

"Shut up!' he slapped her again

Kate's tears were streaming down her cheeks. Lola was horribly terrified. She instinctively held on to her older sister. Kate held protectively onto her as well.

"You can't be my father!"

"Oh but I am…" he said

"My father wouldn't kidnap me…or slap me!" she screamed

"It's called discipline you little brat!" he yelled, "And how can I be kidnapping my own daughter!"

"But you're kidnapping my sister!"

"If she's YOUR sister, then she's MY daughter as well. Why would I want to separate both of you? You two seem so close…"

"Let us go!"

"Shut the hell up!"

The man was fuming. He drove like a madman. Cutting ahead of other drivers and screaming at pedestrians. The girls were sweating, trembling in the back seat. Lola was so scared, she couldn't breathe.

Oh my god…what is he going to do to us?!

He aggressively made a stop at a red light and looked at the girls. There was a horrible look on his face; an evil grin crept onto his face. The sisters closed their eyes and screamed at the top of their lungs, with their last bit of hope. But their screams were muffled and their muscles lost their strength…In that moment…

...Lola's memory went blank...

Next thing they knew, they heard the sound of glass breaking. They dared not open their eyes. They heard grunts and the sound of a body hitting the pavement.

"Girls?"

The voice felt like an old friend. They opened their eyes and saw their real father, Larry, leaning over the seat. He pulled them both out of the car. They both clung onto him and began to cry. He put his arms around them and cradled the two sisters.

"Everything's gonna be ok…" he whispered

Lola's heart was racing. She shot up from the bed and was breathing heavily. Sweat was dripping from her forehead and her hands were shaking. She got up from the bed and went towards the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water and leaned over the sink. She felt no strength within her.

"Lola?"

Her head was still down.

"Lola, you alright?" asked Bugs in a concerned tone

"Nightmare…" she whispered

She turned around and leaned against the counter. The glass was shaking in her grip. The tears were swelling in her eyes…a pain that she hidden for so long within her heart was relived in her dream…her nightmare. It was a torment that she would forever be cursed with, like a dark thorn deep within her flesh…within her heart. Her tears had escaped from her eyes; she could not bear it any longer. She dropped the glass and it shattered on the kitchen floor. She felt so weak and debilitated…that she collapsed; Bugs had saved her from falling to the floor. He held her tightly and cradled her in his arms. He could feel her shaking body and racing heartbeat. She cried, she cried like a baby in his arms.

"It's alright Lola. Everything's gonna be ok."