CHAPTER TWO

My Life, The Movie

***

I collapsed onto my bed, feeling very tired all of a sudden. And it was only Tuesday…three more days of school to go. I disliked being at school almost as much as I hated being at home. There was nowhere I really felt comfortable, except…

I smiled, just thinking about this weekend, when I could go to Big Nanna's house. Okay, so my step-family would be coming too, but that was okay. Big Nanna – whom is my great grandmother, on Dad's side of the family – lives on a farm just outside of Perth city. At Big Nanna's house, I have over three hundred acres in which I can lose my step-sisters. And, if all else fails, I can go and round up a few snakes or two, and scare them. I may get slapped for it latter. But it's worth it.

Actually, it's all worth it because, next year, I am going to graduate from high school. Then, I have only one year left of living with my step-family, before I can finally, FINALLY shift out and become my own independent self.

It'll be sad moving out of the house I grew up in…but I'm planing on renting a flat in the city somewhere. I work at a restaurant – which Fran owns – but I'm certainly not going to stay there forever! I long for the day when I can walk out of that place…I have a speech written and memorized, and I'll throw my Japanese-style maid outfit onto the floor. I won't tell you what I'm gonna do with my roller-skates, though.

Lifting myself up to the window-sill with my arms (I may be small but I'm strong) I looked out over the front yard, which was bathed in the orangey sunset light. The sprinklers were on, even though it's not our day to water the lawn (tell that to Fran) and, from where I was perched, I could quite clearly see Fran's car, which is a beautiful – expensive – red Ferrari 458…would you rob a bank in one? Maybe. Would you rob a bank to buy one? Definitely. But Fran just paid for it with some of Daddy's life insurance…

I could also see the twins' car, which was gleaming as I'd just washed it.

I sighed, just looking at that yellow Bumblebee-look-alike. I wished that it were my car…

My eye-lids began to flutter, and I could feel the waves of exhaustion washing over me. Maybe I am working too hard…

Or maybe I was just hungry. I had just been sent to bed without supper, after all.

***

I was sitting in a car, but I didn't know which car it was. The radio was playing, Underneath The Radar I think the song was. The Underworld version. The landscape outside flew past – we were driving along one of those long stretches of road you usually find reserved for places like California or whatever that place outside of Mission City was.

"Where are we going?" I was surprised at how my voice sounded – it didn't sound like my own at all.

I also didn't know who I was talking to. But, I got an answer.

"I don't know," Came the disembodied, slightly mechanical voice. It sent a shock of recognition through my spine, for reasons I couldn't quite explain.

But it seemed to be coming from the car

"But," The voice – it was a male's voice – continued. "I will get you out of here, out of harm's way. Just like I promised."

"Who are you?" I wanted to know.

The voice was silent for a moment, as the song changed to Tomorrow, by Shimokawa Mikuni. The starlight above seemed to flash by in loops and chords, staining the sky with an aurora of sorts. It was beautiful, haunting and eerie, and seemed totally out of place.

But I loved it, because it gave me hope. I didn't know why, though.

"Ella?" The voice sounded uncertain.

"I want to know." I said firmly. I felt like I had had this conversation before. "Tell me…who you are. Before it's too late." I added, even though I had no idea what I meant by that.

"Ella, I am the one…who loves you the most." The voice sounded firm, like he had been wanting to say this for quite some time now. "I can't live without you anymore. And don't you ever forget that…but if you do, then I'll remind you just how much I love you. You complete me."

I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't know what it meant.

"I…complete you?"

"Ella…" The voice sounded sad.

"ELLA!!"

***

I awoke with a start, to find Sasha shaking my shoulder, and my head on the window-sill. Oh slag, I must've fallen asleep…I think I need to see a doctor.

"W-what's going on?" I mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Sasha sounded dead anxious, and the expression on her usually vacant face alarmed me. "What happened?" I asked, wider awake now.

"No time to explain, just come downstairs!" She cried, yanking me forcefully out of the room. "It's horrible!" She added, in an almost wail.

"Sasha!" I cried, yanking my hand back. We were halfway down the stairs now, but I wasn't going another step until she told me what in the world was going on! "What is going on!? What's horrible!?"

"Ella!" Fran appeared at the foot of the stairs, and Sandra was with her. I was surprised to see Sandra looked pale underneath all her makeup. It scared me. Had something happened? "Don't take that tone with your sister!"

At any other time, I would've stated that Sasha is not my sister, but by then I had become too worried by whatever was going on to correct Fran. So, instead, I whispered: "What's happened?"

Fran opened her mouth to speak, but the doorbell beat her to it. (Our doorbell plays Fur Elise).

"Ah," Fran said. "That'll be the police. Don't worry girls," She said, addressing my step-sisters. "They'll track down your car."

My mouth dropped open.

***

Fran opened the door to let the policemen in.

There were two of them. One was short and chunky (oh, okay, he was fat) and he had blonde hair and a big nose. He introduced himself as police chief Faren Zanders, and he reminded me so much of Captain Fanzone from Transformers Animated it was scary. If I heard him say 'this is why I hate machines', I wouldn't be at all surprised. I liked him immediately, though, because he was just so straightforward, getting right down to the point of things.

The second police officer was taller, but younger, maybe in his early twenties. He had black hair, and was wearing sunglasses even though it was night. He introduced himself as Bard Arice but, other than that, he didn't say much.

I noticed he kept looking at me though (probably wondering where I fit in with this family – I look nothing like my step-glitches) – and the twins kept on looking at him. I could give you three good reasons why

Faren did most of the talking, mainly asking the boring questions such as where had we last seen the car and yadda-yadda. I grew bored, and impatient, until he directed a question at me.

"You were the last one to see the car, correct?" He had a pencil poised over a notebook, and appeared to be waiting impatiently for my answer.

I realised I had just about fallen asleep on the couch chair again, and sat up a little bit straighter. I nodded. "Yes, that's right. I washed the car at about…" I checked my watch. "Six-ten." (Faren wrote that down). "And then at about five past seven I saw it again from my upstairs window." I didn't want to mention that I had fallen asleep.

And I didn't have to because, just then, Bard spoke up for the first time. "You were washing the c-car at six-ten?" He seemed to be checking something, and was looking right at me. It gave me chills, but I can't say that it was unpleasant.

I nodded again. "That's right." And I took the opportunity to glare at Sandra. "So, when you find it, it'll be shiny."

Sandra glared back at me.

Bard glanced at her, and then back at me. "Anything else?" He asked me.

I shook my head, noticing a tattoo on his neck underneath of his collar, but I could see some of it. It was black, and I could make out a six, and part of a four, and then what looked like a barcode. Cool tattoo.

"When will you find our car, officers?" Sasha asked tearfully.

"We'll find it when we find it, if at all." Faren muttered, and I had to bite back a smile. "Bloody kids and their cars. This is why I hate machines."

There it was!

Oh my Primus, he said it. I couldn't hide the smile then, and I noticed that Bard looked like he was trying not to smile now.

The only sound was Faren packing up his things, and the occasional sob from Sasha.

Something very interesting happened then.

Saphira wandered into the living room where we were seated and, for some reason, we all happened to look up at her.

As soon as she saw Bard, she hissed. The hair on her back stood up, her tail stood on end, her ears flattened…and then she pounced!

Just as the telephone rang.

"Okay!" I yelled, leaping up from the sofa chair and grabbing Saphira by the scruff of her neck in mid pounce, as I dashed into the kitchen.

"Ella!" I heard Fran yell, and heard her coming into the kitchen.

I picked up the phone, just as she came into the kitchen.

"Hello?" I said, and then my eyes widened. This…it had to be some kind of a…it couldn't be…

"We're … our way…we should arrive…tomorrow…"

"Protect…her kid…that?"

"Yeah yeah…heard ya!"

All of the voices – but especially the last one – sounded familiar.

I slammed the phone down hard, spun around, and ran to the front door, pushing past a startled Fran.

I flung the front door opened, and ran outside.

I stared up at the sky.

Saphira, in my arms, began to purr silently, a content and calm sound.

I heard the others come outside behind me, heard Faren ask where his partner had gone, didn't register anything strange going on at all.

Except for one thing.

Up there, in the sky, in place of where the Bat-Symbol should be.

It was the Autobot symbol instead.