Into the Dust

I just want to thank everyone for the reviews and the feedback. I am sorry if you felt like the flash back was too early. This is the first time really trying to write a fan fiction that is good. One of the reviews really showed/told me what was wrong about it. I will try my best to make it more correct in grammar and layout. I did go back and fixed up the story line a little and issues. I am ALSO sorry for how long it took to update. I have been VERY busy with college work.

Sunlight poured into Liz's window breaking up the darkness. Disturbed by the invader she rolled over to face the other way and pulling the covers over her head. Then her cell phone alarm went off bringing Liz completely out of her sleep. She threw off her rose colored quilt and grabbed her cell pressing the button to unlock it.

Liz looked at the phone in confusion, no time had she turned on the alarm last night. Nine am was not the time she would even want to be up by. She got up and went through boxes trying to find something clean to wear and head out of this house. Ted was already out of the house for his weeklong job trip and her mother would of left a few hours ago to work at the local care center.

Walking into the kitchen she found a glass and filled it up with milk and made some fast toast. Liz loved the smell of toast. It always reminded her of what he mother would make back home in New York. Back then her father would be around more. Ignoring the ringing phone she walked out of the house to be greeted by a impossible sight. Sitting right in front of the house was the same red car from yesterday.

She backed up inside the house and slammed the door shut breathing heavily. Her back was pressed against the door . What was she going to do. Somehow this freak followed her home last night and is not stalker her. Calling the police was an option, but giving that, he probably would just take off. What the hell was he doing?

Great, knockout said to himself. Activating his holoform projection unit, he made himself manifest into a human. His headlights gave off a very faint light that was hardly noticeable. In this state he could blend into human crowds or when the mission called for it. It took a lot of energon to power himself so he would rarely use it. The other negative limit this device had was that it could not venture far from his alt form or it would start to break down. With a smile on his face he walked up to the door.

A sharp knock sounded on the door. Liz flipped back around to face the door, afraid what to do.

"Oh come on, It is just me. We talked the other day." There was a slight pause which he added "I promise I won't bite." He gave a little chuckle.

Touching the door knob she let out sigh and banged her head on the door. She can't believe she was in this situation. All because she HAD to walk up to a nice car and touch it. She mentally cursed herself.

Liz turned the knob and opened up the door. Standing there was the man. He wore a smile on his face with the same outfit he had on last night.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Maybe confronting the issue straight on would get this guy to go away without involving anyone else.

"Well, If I recall correctly, you wanted to race this car." He was about to point to himself, but quickly pointed out to where his alt form sat. "Are you still up to it?" Bringing his arm out to his side he held himself up as he leaned on her door frame.

"What? NO! I don't even know who the hell you are. First you follow me home last night somehow, then you come back to my house parking your ugly ass car in front of my house, then you ask me to step into some stranger's car to race it? Who the hell put you up to this?" Liz screamed out. she shot her hand out to grab the door and slam it shut on his face. Freaking stalker, Liz thought.

The man's hand grabbed the door with inhuman speed and held the door open, bringing his face down to look right into her eyes. He was clearly pissed off. "Who the hell are you calling an UGLY CAR? Clearly you don't know a good paint job when you see it, and as I recall you raved about it last night. Hum-*cough* you should learn some... manners." He placed one finger hard against her shoulder. Liz noticed that his eyes look more red then a second ago.

Stepping back she pushed his finger away from her shoulder. She pointed a finger at the man. "I must of been crazy to say that shit. Your such a stalker. Leave before I call the police."

"I don't know why anyone would want to stalk you, you're too weak for anyone to find interest in. Plus I could never see you racing a lawnmower let alone a automobile. " He stepped back with his arms folded. His face melted back into a wicked smile.

"I don't race, at least not anymore." Liz looked down away from the man's face. In a way he was right. She enjoyed racing, till that day. Every time she went to race, she would see the images of her in the car with the failing breaks. The loss of her friends.

"Excuse me but how on earth would you stop racing! It is so fun to run down your enemies and show then who the true winner is. It is such a thrill." Liz remained silent.

"Aww, are you afraid to race the big bad car? Poor girl, I would be afraid to race myself too if I knew I would lose" he laughed. "Knock out, this is Starscream, I need to go on a... complex mission." His com-link activated. The device feed incoming transmissions into his cpu.

"Yes Starscream, I'll be there in a minute."

"It looks like I should be going now."His com-link activated again. "This is NOT funny. Are you fooling around with those damn humans again and their racing? So disgusting".

"You come here just to torment me then you randomly leave?" Liz said shaking her head.

"Sorry about that, I'll catch you later then. Hope you're ready to race by then." He gave her a wink and turned back around, heading towards the car.

"Oh Starscream, one day you will understand the joy of racing." He transmitted back. when Liz closed her door, his holo-form faded out before it reached the door. The light from the headlights turned off, not needed anymore.

"Shut up Knock out and get here. That is an order. Starscream out." Knock out started up his engine and let himself sit there for a minute as he revved up. Showing off his amazing self, he turned on his lights and did a 180 turn on the dot and speed away.

"Hey Liz, It's Sandra. I know we like just meet a few days ago, but there is this huge party going on down outside of town. It's kind of an annual tradition."

"Oh, hey there. Um, I really don't know. I -"

"Sure you know, It is going to be so fun. I know you are knew here so you need to really need to meet everyone. You know, make some friends? They have this really hot DJ that started up a few years ago. There is no way you won't have fun! Oh, oh, almost forgot the best thing since I know you love it. Racing! I know you said you don't do it anymore, but they have this desert race out here as well that is 10 miles long and there are some very hot guys." Liz could hear her give a little giggle after the "hot guys".

"Since it seems I can't say no, when is it?" She held her phone to her ear between her head and shoulder as she was putting away her laundry.

"That is the best part about it, It is going to be tonight! I can come pick you up here in 3 hours but remember to wear something that will keep you warm. You know how it gets when the sun goes down."

"Yea, that's fine. Just beep when you get here I guess." I can't believe I am doing this, Liz thought. Making friends was not top on her list, only getting out of Jasper was. Next summer she had plans to head out to the west coast.

"See you then!"

It was 15 minutes before Sandra was going to show up and whisk her away to this party. Liz decided to wear a black jacket with a long sleeve white shirt with her regular jeans. Nothing to special to make her stick out. She pulled out a small black back to stick her cell phone in and a little money, she did not want to stick in a lot. Going through the house she turned out the lights and made sure everything was off.

She turned the door knob and walked out of the house closing the door behind her and locking it. To her right sat a plastic chair which she decided to take advantage of. The weather was shifting from the heat of hell to the freeing desert stillness, so it was pleasant out. Looking around the street she noticed that is was more active than other days. Cars were pulling out and in going places. One was packed full of some high school aged teens yelling out to her with streamers in their hands. The male on the passenger side held a beer in his hand with those black shades covering his eyes. Liz hoped that the whole party was not going to be full with these idiots. She looked up into the deep orange sky. Her ears could barely make it out, but she knew what the sound was. It was the sound of a powerful jet engine as it flew through the sky. Liz only got a small glimpse of the jet before it flew out of her vision. She was used to military jets flying over Jasper.

A few minutes later a 2003 Black Audi rolled up her driveway. A red headed Sandra had her head out of the window yelling at Liz while she waved at her. Sandra put the Audi in park and ran out of the car up to Liz giving her a hug which Liz was taken back with. Liz liked her personal bubble but this girl had no clue what the hell space was.

"Uh, Hey there Sandra." Liz lightly patted her back and attempted to put some distance between herself and Sandra.

"So, You ready to have some FUN?" she asked pulling back waving her hands into the air. Liz tried to keep a straight face.

"Yea, Lets head out." Liz moved towards the passenger door. The door unlocked after Sandra pressed a button on her key ring and Liz got into the Audi.

"I see someone can't wait to go!" Sandra opened her car door and slid in. She turned on the ignition and Liz pulled her seat belt down onto herself snapping it shut. The car moved backwards back down to the main street and took off. Liz noted that Sandra liked to drive slow and safe.

"So, How are you enjoying yourself so far here in Jasper?"

"Let me tell you! It feels like paradise! If hell is paradise to you." Liz said as she looked out the window watching the blue and purple mountains rush by her.

"Ha, It is not so bad when it's this time of the day!" The Car slowed down as they hit a traffic light.

"That is the only thing around here that I look forward too." Liz took a glance at Sandra and noticed that the remark she made hurt her. "Except for the new friends I am making." The car started to move again once the light changed back to green.

"Thanks. That means a lot." A smile appeared on Sandra's face. "Omg, did you hear about what happened a few night ago?"

"I don't really read the news paper or watch the news often." Liz replied.

"Up by tom's gas station they were having a little mini race. There was only a few cars. Nothing big to attract attention. Anyways, there is a well known racer that was there, I think his name was Jack Derail, he is a jack ass but knows how to race. As they were racing he went around a turn to fast and went off the cliff. It's strange since he knows what he is doing and raced on that road a few times."

"Is this Jack still alive?"

"Luckily, yes. He has some broken bones and his one lung collapsed I believe. He's in deep shit with the police. Oh, And there was a strange rumor going around about it. They say when they took the car out there was damage to it that would of not been done when he went off the cliff. Like someone hit him from behind with enough force to cast him over. Before the race started, some of the racers are saying that he did something to someone's car and that might of caused some.. incident. Some are on a look out for a red car. No one really remembers what it looked like. How many car around here are red? I would say about 100. And who's saying it's not from out of town?"

"That is strange." Liz really didn't care. Yes it was sad but nothing she could do about it. Plus being new here she would not know anyone here. the only red cars she have seen were soccer mom cars, some ford pick-ups, and that... odd red car. Wait... nah, just being paranoid.

"Yea! There is a lot of freaky things going on! "

After driving 30 miles outside the town of Jasper they hit where the party was being held. Young adults and teens from the local high school were dancing around the grounds cheering on others. Off to the side was a large bonfire with some people around it. Some help sticks with hotdogs on and some had marshmallows on it.

Towards the left was a concrete area that was used to pump water in but instead of water was there was cars. Race Cars. In the back of Liz's mind a memory started to come back. Liz mentally shook it away. Sandra parked her car next to some others and they got out walking towards a group of people. Some looked up as they approached and gave a little wave which Sandra waved back at them. A engine from a car gave a back fire which Liz turned her head towards.

"Want to head over there? I can introduce you to Sarah and them after the race. It should be starting soon."

"Yea, sure." They both walked over to where the cars sat below them. Liz looked around for a way down but saw none. Two girls to their right came from behind them and ran down the steep incline laughing as they went.

"I guess we found our way down" Said Liz as she took a few steps down. She almost made it down safe but 5 feet before the bottom her left foot slid losing her footing. Liz fell on her ass as she hit the bottom. No one saw her fall down which relieved Liz as Sandra helped her back up.

"You okay there?" Sandra pulled her up to her feet as Liz looked down at her right palm. A cut ran in the middle of her palm with blood slowly coming out. Tearing her scarf off her neck she wrapped it around Liz's hand.

"Thanks Sandra." Liz gave a smile and started to walk towards the cars. Two guys were talking over by a purple and silver race car. It looked pretty old. The men stopped talking and looked at Liz. One gave a little whistle at her. Shaking her head she looked over at the other cars. There was a silver car that looked pretty expensive with a teen leaning up against the door frame. Her black skirt looked a little too short for the cold that was starting to build up.

A yellow Camaro type car moved between the crowd of people and racers to join the front line of racers. The black striped that weaved on the car drew attention to it from Liz.

"Hey Sandra, who's that?" Sandra looked up from one of the nearby cars. The black tinted window went down to reveal the face behind it. The guy seemed to be talking to the other racer beside him.

"Oh, that's Jack. He's in High school right now. Works at the local burger place."

A girl stepped out in front the cars illuminated by the headlights. Liz watched as the girl gave a little wave to Jack as a man's voices asked if everyone was ready for the race. That is when a car came out of nowhere and drove behind the camaro. Its red paintjob a beacon to Liz. The black detail work on its doors was a dead giveaway on who was in that car and her body became hot.

"Hey Liz take a look at that car!" Sandra said pointing out the newly added car to the race.

"I've seen that jerk before. Total hothead and a creep"

"What?"

"Long story. forget it."

The sound of engines roared to life as the race started. Cars flung up dirt in every direction as their tires searched for the traction of the concrete. The girl that waved at jack stood where she was as the 2 ton cars passed her by inches. People around them took out there phones and started to video record the race as well as bring up other cell phone videos of it.

"What are they doing?"

"Oh, People around the track are using their cell phones to stream different parts of the track." Sandra took out her cell phone and turned it on. It gave a little beep as she went to some type of app and opened it. She went to some type of number and on her phone popped on the front of the pack of racers. In front of the black car followed by Jack and then that red car.

"You go jack! Show them how it's done!" Right after she said that the image went black and her cell phone turned off. Around them they could hear people having the same issues with their own phones.

"Must be those damn solar flares we are to get this week." One guy blurted out as he walked to his car.

"Guess we won't find out who wins till they come back. Liz, Let me show you some of my friends as we wait for them to return." Sandra grabbed her arm and took her off to meet with her friends that gathered down to the start line.

"Sure, okay." Liz said as she looked into the darkness where racers disappeared into. In her mind, flashes of the red car came up. Could he be the one that wreaked that car?