Task Rabbit

Being in your early twenties in 2023 isn't easy. A simple run to the grocery store can rack up a 200-dollar bill if you’re feeding more than one mouth, not to mention gas and the ridiculous rent price. That was the only reason Marlo even picked up a task rabbit job: the extra cash kept food on the table. It wasn’t easy; some days Marlo would get home as late as 1 AM just to have to wake up 4 hours later. It wasn’t what they wanted, but it kept them living independently from their family. Any amount of work was worth that. They couldn't go back. Not after their mom lost her mind.

One final drag of their cigarette burned their lungs before Marlo looked up at the dark night sky, filled with too much smog and light pollution to see the stars they so desperately wished to see. It was Saturday, and though they wanted to accompany their friends out and about living the nightlife, an unexpected fender bender called for an extra three hundred dollars. Marlo had already made most of the money working overtime at their day job, but just a few more task rabbit gigs and they would be able to enjoy Sunday to themselves.

The gas station light flickered and hummed loud against the silence.

“Come on, there has to be something available!” Marlo groaned, pulling another cigarette from their beanie and lighting it.

Sliding down against the wall, they watched as a car drove past, cutting through the wind and vanishing into the night. Marlo stared as its light faded into the black blanket of the sky.

“Can someone need something already?” Marlo complained into their phone screen and refreshed it for any tasks.

“I need something.”

Marlo jumped, startled by the voice, then quickly lept to their feet. Their brows furrowed as they stared back at an elderly lady. She stood with an unwavering smile on her face, white hair slicked back into a bun wearing a large blue muumuu.

Silently, the two stared at one another, Marlo still trying to figure out where this woman had come from. It was like she came out of nowhere. Marlo was the only one in the gas station when they arrived, and they hadn’t seen anyone pull up.

The air felt thick, and the more this lady stared up at Marlo in silence, the more they felt a sense of uneasiness.

“I, uh- I’m sorry, you scared me. What do you need?” Marlo asked, hesitantly flicking the cherry of their cig to the sidewalk.

They watched as the ember rolled, leaving a small trail of soot behind until it stopped. Marlo felt their heart nearly skip through their chest. The cherry had landed in front of a paw. A large paw, with long gray fur and sharp claws that curved against the concrete. Their eyes followed up the paw noticing a massive dog that stood still behind the old lady. Something wasn’t right. Marlo knew the lady hadn't been there before, nor the dog.

Her smile grew, and Marlo noticed the black that caked the cracks in her teeth and stuck to her gums like a growing mold.

“I’m looking for someone to join me. You see, things aren't like they used to be; not like the good ol’ days. And, and… That's just not right for me.”

Marlo raised a brow. “I’m sorry, I'm not sure I follow?” They shifted ever so slightly to get a better look at the dog that began to grumble from behind the woman.

She laughed, waving her arm at Marlo as if to make their previous statement less concerning. Their eyes widened. The lady’s arms were unnaturally long, stretching past her knees. Her fingers could practically touch the ground. Marlo felt their chest grow tight as they struggled to keep their composure.

“Too many cameras, too many ways to communicate. I could take you now and someone would be looking for you before I could even get you halfway down the street.”

The hairs on Marlos's neck rose and goose flesh prickled their skin. ‘This isn’t right,’ they thought to themselves, taking another step back. Their attention was drawn back to the dog as they watched a long pink tongue lick the ground from under the old lady’s fingertips. The light pink tongue lifted revealing pigments of bright red.

Marlo’s knees began to quiver as they noticed a long trail of blood that ended under the woman's fingertips. Marlo watched as the tips of her fingers dipped into the small puddle the dog was drinking from. It was only now that Marlo could see the features of the dog.

Its snout was long and though the rest of its body was covered in fur, its face remained fleshy and gray. It was translucent enough to see veins that pulled with every lap from the puddle. Marlo could see the skin stretched and sunken in, forming a layer over the eye sockets. It was blind.

Marlo could no longer hide their fear. Beads of sweat dripped from their forehead and their hands, cold and clammy.

The lady's smile grew as she spoke, revealing long needle-like teeth that oozed with the same black moldy substance. As she laughed, globs of black slime bubbled and dripped from her mouth. Before Marlo had the chance to run, the lady’s hand cupped Marlo’s shoulder, holding them still. Marlo stood frozen as the lady held up her other hand. It stretched from the ground and stopped just before Marlo’s mouth. She held a small gelatinous cube that giggled as her arms shook.

The smell of iron penetrated Marlo's nose, and they choked back vomit that threatened to leave their mouth.

“Eat it!” The lady yelled, wetting Marlos face with spit.

She yelled again. “Eat it! Then… Then you will understand why we can’t stop!”

She hissed, pressing the glob against Maro’s closed lips. They could feel its wet, sticky residue glide across their skin. They pinched their lips together as hard as they could to prevent it from entering their mouth.

“Come on! You can’t say you’ve never wondered what human tastes like, can you?” She cackled and pressed the meat harder against Marlo’s mouth.

Marlo squirmed and smacked the meat to the ground, fighting the hand that stayed clutched to their shoulder. As they ripped away from the woman’s grasp, they fell back, letting out a scream that allowed the remaining blood into their mouth.

“Human?” They panicked, frantically wiping their lips with their arms.

The lady now stood taller than 7 ft. She laughed.

“Of course. That's why I need you… I need you to bring me more.” She hissed, drooling down onto Marlo.

Marlo ran. They could hear the growls and howls of the hellhound behind them and the loud obnoxious stomps of the lady.

“Help!” They yelled, tearing down the empty road, hoping for a car to drive by, or almost any other sign of life.

Their chest burned as they ran, pushing each step into the earth like it would be their last. As they ran, they could hear the monotone jingle of the iPhone ringing from their pocket.

Frantically, they answered the phone without even checking the caller ID. Anyone on the other end of the line would be better than no one, but the smooth and gentle voice that echoed through the phone was one they never expected to hear again.

“Mom,” they panted through heavy breaths.

“Yes dear, I need you to listen to me,” she said desperately through the phone.

Maro grunted. “Now's not the time!” They yelled, ready to tell their mom to call emergency services.

Then her voice grew stern. “Marlo, you're being chased. You need to listen to me if you want to live. Now.”

They stopped dead in their tracks, listening to the footsteps behind them grow louder.

“You need her to look at herself. The camera on your phone will do. She told her to let her look at herself as though it were a mirror and with no fear you need to tell her to go away! Three times will do.”

Marlo could feel the woman and the dog now standing behind them. They could hear heavy breathing and the drips of blood falling onto the asphalt.

They swallowed. “Mom, how do you know this will work?.”

She was silent for a moment, then whispered. “Because I didn’t listen.”

A tear fell down Marlo's cheek as they ended the call. Swallowing hard, they could feel the lump in their throat swell as more fat tears fell from their eyes. They took a deep breath and let out a shaky sharp exhale, flipping to the camera setting on their phone. Maybe their mom wasn’t crazy after all. Either way, if their mom was right and they listened to her advice, they would have a chance of living.

Swiftly they turned, shoving the screen up at the woman. They watched as her wicked toothy smile dropped and she stared deep into the camera staring at herself. This gave Marlo hope. They pushed the camera deeper into her face and she stepped back. It was working.

“Go Away!” Marlo yelled, and as they yelled more tears fell.

“GO Away!” This time they could feel the scratch in their throat and the lady hissed.

“GO AWAY!” They screamed louder than they ever thought they would need.

Marlo’s heartbeat threatened to break through their ribs, and they watched as the lady’s gaze shifted from the screen back to Marlo. Then, as the wind blew, she faded away like dust.

Marlo dropped to their knees and sobbed, holding their hands to their face, furiously wiping away tears. As they caught their breath, they stared up at the night sky dizzy and exhausted, but grateful. Closing their eyes, they slumped back, lying flat on the asphalt. It was over. Then a quick buzz and whistle came from their phone. With a moan, they reached into their pocket. The screen illuminated their face and they sighed.

“Task Rabbit: You have one new task request.”