Chapter Eleven – A Snag in Our Plan

Darren's Point of View

Around Mid-Afternoon.

On my knees, I sat my backpack beside me with one hand, taking a pair of jeans off the floor with another. I folded them in half, then in half again before sitting them in the bottom of the backpack, on top of some shirts. I took another pair and did the same, smiling to myself as my mind wandered off about Bumblebee and the hours ahead.

Bumblebee was still here, using the bathroom, just about to leave to tell everyone at the base about his decision. I had my door locked and shut, so my nosy-ass mother wouldn't pop her face in here while I packed for my kidnapping…or, rescue, rather.

I put in the last pair of jeans before turning around, looking at all the pictures that I'd thrown on the floor. I crawled to them, letting my backpack fall, and took one in my hands.

It was me and my father on our first fishing trip…so many years ago. I thumbed over my dad in the picture, in his boots and overalls, his tackle box right there, his fishing cap on…Me, his little twin in my own pair of overalls and rubber boots, and my denim cap. Tears blurred my eyes and I chuckled at them, smiling. I hugged the picture to my heart and slid over to my backpack. I sat it on top of all my clothes, then zipped up the backpack, letting tears fall.

Even though Dad couldn't say it, I knew he loved me.

Someone knocked on my door and I turned with wide eyes.

"Yeah?" I called.

"It's Bumblebee," came that British-accented voice I'd grown so fond of. "May I come in?"

I smiled. "Yeah, hold on." Stumbling to my feet, I strolled to the door and undid the locks swiftly. After opening the door, Bumblebee appeared before me, smiling. He entered slowly in long strides.

"I guess I should be off, now," he said in a sigh. His hand patted my shoulder. "I'll be back tonight. Twelve, correct?"

I nodded quickly. "Yeah, twelve..." I suddenly grabbed onto him with my hands on his shoulders, my knees feeling weak all of a sudden. He looked down at me with his blue eyes large, one of his arms moving around my back. I trembled, shutting my eyes. Pain shot up my sides, making me groan.

"Darren, are you alright?" His voice was worried. He hoisted me against him as support. I let my head fall on his shoulder. I hadn't been eating at all. I knew I was dehydrated severely, but I didn't do anything about it. I was afraid to come out of my room.

"Y-Yeah," I breathed shakily. I fell to my knees easily. "J-Just, let me sit, okay?" He let me go and I slid over to my bed to lean my back against it. He joined me at my side, watching.

"Maybe I shouldn't leave just yet…" He whispered.

I shook my head. "No, no, I'm fine, Bee. Really. I'll be okay."

He twisted his lip and looked down. "If you say so."

"I'm sure." His arm wrapped around my middle, his fingers stroking my side.

"Well, I'll be back in a few hours," he cooed in my ear. His lips pressed against my cheek in a quick kiss and he rose to his normal six and a half feet. I lifted my hand to him and he took it, squeezing it, me doing the same in return as a, "goodbye." Throwing a lazy wave, I watched him walk to the door and out to the hall, shutting it quietly behind him. I sighed. I hated being alone without him.

I heard his sneakered feet descend down the stairwell quickly and soon, the front door shut. I shakily rose to my feet and dashed to my bedroom window, gazing outside to see him transform into an eighteen foot tall giant robot, then back into his Camaro 2009 form. Thank God no one saw him. At least, I don't think anyone did. Who could be watching?

Like a little kid, I put my hands against the glass and waved. He honked, revved his engine twice, and drove away. I turned and once again, faced the heavy silence of my room and the blood stains that trailed the carpet. I shuffled over to my bed and plopped down. Turning onto my back, I wrapped my arms around my stomach and raised my knees, tensing at the pains that stung on my every wound. I swallowed and turned my head to a side.

In a few hours, it'd all be over.

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Thirty Minutes Later…

I crept down the hall, my eyes darting left and right for any sign of my mother. I froze, and then sighed a quiet breath thankfully, hearing her talking loudly on the phone downstairs. Biting my lower lip, I tiptoed oh-so-silently into my father's room. I swallowed and stood straighter.

"D-Dad?" I whispered.

He turned over in his bed as I neared his side, and he smiled at me. I smiled back.

My father, a nice sized guy with unmistakable rich brown hair, even being in his forties, it'd stayed the same for a long time. He had blue eyes like mine and a wonderful smile of an angel. His face had wrinkles, because of the smoking he was so addicted to, and a few hairs of what once was a beard around his chin. Right now, he looked very sick because the problems he had from the drugs. His eyes didn't sparkle like they'd always do, and there was something about his smile. It almost looked like it was hard for him to grin.

"What's up, son?" He greeted me in his cigarette thick voice, lifting a hand to pat my side roughly. "Need somethin'?"

I shook my head. "N-No, umm…" I paused. I couldn't tell him I was leaving. Maybe he didn't have to know after all. "I just wanted to talk." I shrugged. "We haven't done that in a while."

He coughed a couple times while patting a spot next to him. I sat slowly, squinting my eyes in concern as he kept coughing. I used a hand to pat his back quickly.

"You okay, Dad?" My eyes looked to his.

He coughed about three more times before looking at me. "Y-Yeah, I'm good."

"Want some water? I could go getcha some real quick, Dad."

He waved a hand. "N-Nah, it's okay." He blinked at me, then pointed. "Wh-What's that?"

I lifted my hand to where he pointed, wincing as I pressed on my temple's scar. "Oh, it's nothing…" I said, dropping my gaze. "I-I just…"

"Mom gave that to ya didn't she, son…"

My eyes widened and looked at him. The tears rose. I didn't answer, just looked away again.

"Darren, did she?"

"Yes, Dad. She did, okay?" I nearly yelled at him. I clenched my hands into fists. "You know she hurts me. Why don't you do anything about it?" My eyes filled with tears. I couldn't see through the blurs.

My dad looked away to his window.

"WHY DON'T YOU DO ANYTHING?!" I screamed suddenly, pounding my fists on the bed.

He shot me a look. "Calm down, Darren." He said coolly. "Just breathe."

I started sobbing, shaking, fuming. "Dad, why don't you do anything to make her stop?" My voice shook.

No response again.

"D-Dad…" I choked out. "D-Dad, answer me, please…"

He sighed. "Just c'mere, Darren." I just sat there, crying hard, shutting my eyes. I felt unfamiliar arms wrap around me and pull me to a body I hadn't felt against my own in years. I shivered and he held me tighter, just like he would if I were a little boy again after having a nightmare.

"I-I just don't get it, Dad…" I whined softly.

"Shh, Darren, that's enough talk about that," he told me in a firm voice.

I shook my head.

I told him, "I love you, Dad," and got nothing in reply.

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10: 42pm

Rough hands grabbed my legs hard and shook me back and forth forcefully, waking me immediately from my peaceful sleep and dreaming. My eyes fluttered open quickly and I turned, looking angrily to how had shaken me awake. I groaned as the pain in my wounds throbbed, and then let my vision slowly sharpen. I gasped at who I saw.

"Bumblebee?!" I whispered loudly, blinking to make sure it really was him. "What are you doing here so early? It's not even eleven yet!"

Every feature of his face was highlighted in worry and even fear, his eyes a sharp lightning blue that stung into my own. He swallowed hard, and I furrowed my brow. I heard him breathing quickly, his chest rising and falling speedily.

What was wrong?

"Darren, you have to get up," he said urgently, tugging my arm forcibly. "C'mon! There's no time to explain!"

I jumped out of bed without hesitating, though everything inside me wanted to relax in sleep again. I hurriedly grabbed an old tee shirt off the floor and slipped it over my head, then, still putting the shirt on, I slipped up my backpack from off the floor. Possibilities darted through my mind like bullets in war. What the hell was going on?!

"Bumblebee, what is it?!" I asked desperately. He tugged me forward and out of my room, dashing down the stairs without answering my question. I nearly tripped down, struggling to keep up with him. He threw open the front door and gestured for me to go.

"Go! C'mon!" He ordered. I ran out and he followed. Taking my hand, he led me around my house and into the woods behind it. I stumbled over sticks and stones, gripping his hand harder. I followed him to deeper into the forest, my mind a collection of buzzing questions longing to be answered.

He came to a skidding halt behind a tree. I stopped next to him. We were both breathing hard. I coughed and bit my lip. I had to sit down. I could barely stand with the pain shooting through me.

"Bee, what is it, man?" I asked through uneasy breaths. I clutched my stomach.

His antennae rose and he crouched down, scanning the area like a lion. I kneeled next to him, trying to ignore my discomfort.

"Someone saw me leaving your house when I was heading for the base a couple hours ago," he said, tired. "They were following me here…I think I've lost them." Those things in his eyes turned as he scanned the woods. He made a sound I hadn't heard him make before. He hissed and clicked his tongue, narrowing his eyes.

I blinked. "Did you walk here just now?"

"No, I drove. That's how they followed me," he answered. "I don't think they'll recognize me in my human form."

I swallowed and eased closer to him. His hand squeezed mine tighter.

"Wh-Who was it?" I trembled out.

Silence for a moment.

"Barricade," He answered lowly.

I didn't need to know who that was.

Just the name made me shudder.