Hide and Seek
Chapter 8
Warning: There's character death, and you all should know which one it is because it is canon. Although the scene is also a bit different, maybe a bit more realistic. Takes place during DotM, so there's going to be spoilers. (Do I really need to keep posting that part of the warning?)
Sitting there on the ceiling of the overturned bus, Erin blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep herself awake. The noises of the battle seemed to drift away and her mind wanted nothing more than to flick off, slipping her into a slumber that nothing could wake her out of. She idly wondered if it had anything to do with the medication that Carly had given her at the flat, but a naive little reminder told her that the effects should have happened before this moment.
She shifted in her spot and attempted to listen to herself breathe, taking deep breathes in and out to calm herself. She hugged her knees tighter and rested her cheek on them, head turned slightly and staring out the small window to her left. As she fought the sleep, her sight blurred and cleared periodically. It was only a few moments in that position that she taught something through unclear vision.
She bolted upward and nearly smacked her head against one of the upside down seats. Blond hair, she swore she'd seen it and a part of her hoped that it had been Carly. With unbalanced movements, she stumbled over to the side and knelt down, glass nipping at her flesh. She was just about to shout and reach through the window when something happened.
The earth shook under the massive weight of the robot's landing, she could hear her friend and another voice shouting. The vibrational alone was enough to knock the teenager back and her head to smack against the thick metal of the ceiling. Yelping at the impact, she brought her hands up to cradle her head. The voices were blocked out by throbbing of her skull and the buzzing in her ears.
It happened so fast that she hardly had time to react. Figures had appeared, she soon found a petite hand shooting out and grabbing her arm. She was pulled to her feet, only to be pushed back down as a sharp blade sliced through the bus, cutting it in half. She looked up as it fell apart, the two figures trying to pull her out - so many voices, two human and one coming from the creature above - but she couldn't move.
She stared up in fear into bright red optics. The same ones that had been peering through the window, she could tell from the armour that the robot was sporting. She choked back a gasp and tried to move, but the creature was too frightening in all of its greatness, it towered over her and snarled.
"Erin," Carly's voice finally broke through. "Move it!"
"Car-" She was tugged from the bus and shocked when the creature's head whipped upward to follow her movements. "What is-"
"No time," the guy, Erin figured it was Sam, broke in hastily.
Before anything else could be said, Erin was pushed once again and she found herself on the ground. It was happening quickly, she pressed herself against the wall in an attempt to stay out the raging Decepticon's way. She covered her ears as it screeched angrily and everything became a blur of movements.
It flew upward and released another screech, then something happened. It dove back down, screaming in a language that she didn't understand. The flier landed near her, one glowing red optic stared at her and then it smacked its helm against the ground. She cringed as it forcefully ground the top of its helm against the street, sparks flying and its voice crying out in agony.
She screamed out, her words were even unknown to her and it was in no time at all that the creature stopped its vicious attack on itself. Her eyes widened as it dove at her, almost seeming to be pleading for the 'slave' to assist him, but before she could even see what was wrong with the alien, it took off into the skies again.
Stumbling to her feet, she ran to see what was happening. Then, before she could even see anything, there was an explosion that knocked her off her feet yet again. Parts of the alien flew and an arm nearly hit her tiny frame. She screamed as half of its head rolled over to her, and she was quickly moving backwards out of the way.
A sobbing mess, Erin brought her knees to her chest and buried her face into the fabric of her clothing. She'd seen the Autobots she'd been with kill Decepticons, but those moments were quick and seemingly painless. What she had just witnessed was nothing of the sort and it made her stomach clench. That alien had been in pain, his shrills of agony proof enough, and it had went on for too long, for her liking.
"Erin, we have to go," Carly's voice broke through to her.
She hardly looked up, "No..."
"Listen, girl, Erin, whatever," Sam spoke quickly, "We can't stay here. We have to go, like, now."
"I can't," she whispered as she pulled her legs closer to her body. "I have to wait here."
"What's going on," a voice asked. "Who's that?"
"Friend of Carly's, long story, no time," Sam nearly ranted.
Carly rolled her eyes, "Shut up."
"We can't stay here, get up," Sam added, ignoring his girlfriend.
"I can't," she snapped and lifted her head. She was surprised by the new human figure and a blue eyed robot, yellow in colour. "I-I have to stay here."
"Get up, get movin'," the yellow bot added, broken words and played by different voice.
"I can't, I won't," she replied sternly, pulling herself onto shaky legs. "I promised that I would stay here. I won't break that promise."
There was a silence that followed, before the nameless man spoke, "You can't stay here, we can't stay here. It's too dangerous. We have to leave right now."
"You guys must have brought him because it was safe here until you came along," she replied harshly, glaring at the woman and man next to her. "Mirage made sure of it!"
At the name of his brother in arms, the group's robot perked up a bit. It stared at her with wide blue optics and its head tilted to the side, as if it didn't understand what she was saying. Or maybe it did but didn't want to believe it. Either way, the other humans were still arguing but her focus was on how the alien's eyes dimmed and it seemed to have distanced itself.
Incoming transmittance from Bumblebee. Accept or Deny? Accepted.
"What is it, 'Bee? I'm a bit easy here."
"Erin."
"... What happened?"
"So you know her?"
"Affirmative. Now what the frag happened to her?"
"Nothing."
Communication line disconnected.
Wheeljack, sensing the distressed field of his companion, turned his helm with an inquisitive expression. The other Autobot grunted in response before turning and taking off in the direction that they had left their human. The inventor's processor froze for a moment, realising that something must have happened to her.
"Mirage," he called out before taking off after the noble. "What's wrong?"
"Bumblebee called about Erin," he answered swiftly as he sliced through a drone that happened to be in his way. "I think something-"
"If she's with him, she's fine."
Mirage stopped dead and turned his head, staring at the inventor in surprise. "What?"
"If Erin is with Bumblebee there is nothing to worry about," Wheeljack repeated himself slowly. "We'll return to her, but right now we need to help in the field."
Mirage nodded slowly, "Right..."
"Come on now," he responded cheerfully. "We have a world to save."
"You have to come with us or you'll die," the soldier, who Erin had learned was named William Lennox, argued along side the other two. "Come on-"
"Let's go," the yellow vehicle's radio spoke brokenly as he transformed. The last bit fell into place and he opened his doors for the humans. "Leave the - girl - behind. Safe."
"What," Sam blinked, surprised like the others.
"Come on - let's rock n' roll."
After a bit of bargaining, the two men had gotten into the car but Carly seemed to linger at the passenger door. Erin stood tall and proud as the two females stared at one another - one seeming to ask if she would be safe, and the other confirming it. The blond slowly nodded and smiled softly, "See you in a few?"
"Yeah," Erin returned the nod, smiling meekly. Despite only knowing the other girl for a few hours at the least, she didn't want to see her go but was forced to watch as she climbed in the car. With a few flashes of the headlights, Bumblebee took off into the city and left the teen standing next to the building. "Be careful..."
Author's Note: Thoughts? Constructive Criticism?
Can you believe that I finally got my cord today? It's only five or so days late, technically later than that because of the time that I ordered it, but at least it got here. Anyway, I promised myself that I wouldn't waste your time ranting about that.
I figured that since I started writing this today that I wouldn't have it up until tomorrow. I had thought that, like all the other chapters, it would take at least two days to write. However, once I started writing (I think, because this chapter is very canon worthy) it just kept flowing. I even have the next chapter almost complete as well.
Can you believe it? There's only going to be two more chapters left. I'm dreading it, if I can be honest. Mainly because this is my baby, given that it's probably not the best written thing ever and there are a lot of things that I could have done differently to make it better, but it's my baby.
Well, not going to ramble too much. I just want to inform you all that I'm hoping to have the next chapter up sometime tomorrow, or Hell, maybe even sooner than that. I'm not entirely sure yet.
