Chapter 4

Two weeks had passed in the theme park. Alexis began to enter into the rhythm of life there, as well as meeting new people. She and Charlie had spent three days carrying out a bizarre but fun task - they had scoured the theme park for the huge soft toys which could be found on display across the dozens of hook-a-duck games. Most of the toys were as big as she was: dolphins, tigers, cuddly dogs. They had collected them up and tossed them into the tunnel, so that there was a thick layer of them. Then they spent a happy afternoon jumping around on them, shrieking and pillow-fighting. Going to bed involved running and jumping into the pile, snuggling down in hundreds of soft characters. Cold nights were a thing of the past, on top of that, spring showed definite signs of arriving. Although it was still cold, daffodils emerged from the soil. Decepticons ruled, but there were still daffodils to take pleasure in. As well as that, they had set up rain-water collection, hunted for food, plundered the souvenir shops for soft hoodies, hats and shoes.

A couple of times when she was alone, Alexis had turned on her phone again. It was useless as a phone, of course, no signal, but she had scrolled through the strange symbols on the screen, turning the phone this way and that, but they were no less baffling. Anyway, her mind had been made up her first night here, and nothing had changed. No more poking around. She had taken Charlie's advice and not mentioned her mechanical skills again. If people asked, she told them she had just finished studying art.

One day they both headed to the run-down house from which Alton Towers had got it's name. They headed through the gardens because they provided cover, and merged with others who had taken refuge in the park.

"I found out from Dan last night that a whole load of new people arrived," said Charlie. "May as well go along and see if there's anyone we know. I know the odds are small, but…"

Alexis nodded. Charlie's family had been killed, just after the invasion, their house demolished. By the helicopter robot- Alexis wondered if it was the same one she had seen above that town last winter. Probably. Charlie was hoping to find her neighbours, or anyone she recognised.

They reached the house, and entered the courtyard, where a huddle of people were gathered. Alexis could see why Charlie didn't like it here, it was open, there were not many trees and the house gaped up at the sky, roofless.

She saw a middle-aged man sitting on the ground, he was holding a baby and trying to struggle out his wet clothing- it had rained the night before.

"Here, let me help, if you'll allow..." she said. She pulled off her hoodie and handed it to the man. "It should fit, it's a mens, size XL, nice and roomy."

"I didn't think people shared anything any more" the man smiled his thanks gratefully. Alexis jiggled the baby whilst he pulled the soft sweater over his head.

"No worries, I've got loads." She held out a finger to the baby, who cooed and dribbled.

"Hello gorgeous one, hello… what's her name?"

"I don't know." The man pulled the hood over his head. "We found her, in one of the villages."

Alexis handed her back sadly. He took her and smiled.

"And who am I thanking?"

"Alexis." She shook his free hand. "Alexis Garner."

"Ben Grayling."

"Cool, I'll see you around, Ben. Maybe I can think of a name for this little lady?"

As he smiled again and moved off, Alexis glanced around the courtyard for Charlie. She was on the far side, talking excitedly to a woman. As Alexis watched, they embraced ecstatically. She smiled. It looked like she had found someone.

Just then someone touched her sleeve. She turned to see a tall man, wrapped up well against the cold.

"I'm sorry to bother you, miss. Did… you say your name was Alexis? Alexis Garner?"

"Yes," she answered frowning. She didn't recognise him… she scanned his face carefully, to be sure.

His features lit up and his put his hands on her shoulders. "Oh... this is wonderful… I've been looking for you everywhere…"

"Erm…"

Then her breath caught in her throat as a certainty gripped her. "Have… do you know my dad? Is that it? Is he alright?"

"Yes!" the man nodded furiously. "Not just alright, he's nearby! He asked me to give you a message, if any of us should find you…"

Alexis' heart thundered in her chest. Her dad was alive, he was back in Britain... she was going to see him again… Everything was going to be alright…

"Are you OK?" the man asked concernedly as she wiped the tears away.

"Yes," she gasped, "Sorry, this is the best news of my entire life…"

"My name's Stephen, by the way. Can we go somewhere quieter? This needs to be private."

"Of course." She followed him down a track, hardly daring to believe it. Nothing mattered now except seeing Dad again, hugging him, breathing in his familiar scent…

They reached a rough gravel area, Alexis vaguely recognised it as being near to the entrance of the park. Some feet away a group of men loitered. Alexis squinted- was any of those her dad? No…"

"Great." The man peered over Alexis' shoulder down the track. "Did anyone follow us?"

She glanced behind her. "No."

He nodded, slowly. "Good, good," he said. Then he punched her hard in the face.

Alexis fell to the ground, blood pouring from over her eye. The pain wrenched the breath from her. As someone grabbed her shoulders and pulled her upright, she was aware of other hands clasping her… she yelled and started to kick frantically. That earned her a kick in the side and she fell again, gasping. The kicking continued and she curled up tight in the foetal position- pain was blossoming everywhere, someone- was it her?- was screaming at them to stop. Then there was a rumble on the gravel and a sleek black car was pulling in… as she was carried towards it, she saw it had no driver. The world span like a rollercoaster, and darkness pulled her under.

She awoke. Only one eye would open. She raised a shaking hand to her face- sticky blood coated one side of it and ran down her neck. Her ribs were bruised, everything was bruised. The car was moving slowly now across tarmac. The sun was setting- how long had they been driving?

The engine stopped, and people were getting out of the car. Hands pulled her out and she staggered onto the ground, almost falling.

"Whoa, come on. This way."

Stephen supported her and led her towards a massive structure. It wasn't earth design, and she gasped in spite of herself as they walked inside the colossal doorway that yawned at the front. So now they were building here on earth. Everywhere was metal, and concrete. Behind them the black car pulled away, sleek and silent.

Now Stephen was talking. She was so bent on trying to see out of only one eye, and trying to ignore the pain all over her body, that she didn't immediately hear him.

"… nothing personal, you understand."

Bet you say that to all the girls you drag into cars, you bastard, she thought. Ignore him. Don't speak.

"This is the first time he's ever specifically requested a person though," Stephen continued thoughtfully. "Normally it's just skilled workers he wants."

He continued to march her into the structure. Behind them, huge doors started to close, shutting them in.

Specifically requested… Alexis' heart dropped like a stone. Oh shit. Oh shit…

"Starscream," she whispered.

Stephen glanced at her. "So, you do know him," he muttered. His grip on her arm increased. "What's so special about you then?" When she made no reply, he continued. "Well, if it's you he wants, who am I to argue? Life has been, shall we say, pretty nasty since these things arrived. We've lost everything, haven't we? But if they get what they want, we just might get what we want. Freedom. Peace. They might just go back to whatever god-forsaken place they came from."

She couldn't stop herself then. "You actually believe that they'll leave when they get me?"

"Why not?" he retorted, as she staggered alongside him, struggling to keep pace in her discomfort. "I'll certainly get a nice reward, that's for sure. They're going to grant me unlimited access to food stores, and I'll be allowed to drive, and…"

"You're deluded," she gasped. "They don't exchange. They lie, and murder, and…"

"Shut up."

They had arrived in a vast room, like an air hangar, but much bigger. Mounted on the wall was a colossal screen, and what looked like a computer with a vast control panel, although it was too high up for Alexis to see. At her level she scanned the room. There were people, scurrying about in the distance, busying themselves with tools and parts.

Just then the black car roared into the hangar, and transformed. He was shorter then Starscream, but with the same cold expression and mean eyes that were difficult to meet. The people in the hangar tensed, and bent low over whatever they were doing. The black robot stood to attention by the door.

"Here he comes," breathed Stephen, rocking slightly on the balls of his feet. He was still gripping Alexis by the arm. She stared at him. He's actually enjoying this…

But her gaze was wrenched back to the large doorway, as footsteps could be heard, coming closer, vibrating slightly through her own shoes.