Chapter 21 – river

Time Of Dying
By Three Days Grace

On the ground I lay,
Motionless in pain.
I can see my life,
Flashing before my eyes.

Armageddon's POV

A few relatively uneventful (and HOT) days after I caught up with my other friends, apart from Bumblebee and Bulkhead being mentally scarred for life multiple times, I had another random thought. Rather, Voice told me. I was full of those. First we had to go shopping, then we had to go for a long drive, but then we could chill. The random thingy would be fun!

I dragged Sparkles along with me. It's awesome having a platinum card. Because the 'Bots were saving the world practically every week and now had the cyborg droids, the government was paying them for protection.

We got back, gave them the stuff we bought, told them to put it on, threw some more stuff together, and told them that we were going for a long drive that would be worth it.

We headed down to the docks, the guys asking what we were doing. We said we were going to cool off. It was almost 40 degrees, in late autumn, so yeah, what we had in mind should be good. We got on a large tour boat and went north out of Lake Eire, into the Detroit River. The day was so hot that clouds started to form. Big ones.

The water spray felt good, especially when coupled with the air whipping past me. I sat down on the very front of the vessel. After a while, arms circled around my shoulders, pulling me gently back on a bare, solid chest. I closed my eyes and leaned into it, peace spreading through me.

"I love you, Ratchet," I murmured.

"Uhh... I'm not Ratchet."

My eyes snapped open and I whirled around. I hissed, "What the hell do you think you're doing, Prowl?!"

Although I must say, he looked hotter than the day without his shirt on...

"Just experimenting," he mumbled, "y'know... last night—"

"I'm insane," I growled, "I'm messed up in the head. I do crazy stuff all the time and I don't mean any of it. What, did you think I was serious?!"

'Remember the deal. Don't you dare tell him about me.'

I've kept you secret all these years. What makes you think I'll tell him now?

"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I just wanted to know what it was like."

"Like what is like?"

He leaned down, catching my lips in his. One hand held my chin so I couldn't turn away, the other arm wrapped around my waist so I couldn't get away. Much as I didn't want to, I melted against him, kissing him back. After a while we had to pull away for air.

"Oh. My. God."

I looked in the direction and saw Grim standing there, shock written all over her face.

'Busted.'

"...Crap."

"Crap is right, Army—"

"Don't call me that. Ever."

'Yeah, that's my nickname for you.'

"Whatever. You're cheating on Ratchet already? You switch guys faster than you switch clothes."

"It means nothing. Tell anyone and you die."

"I won't. But Ratchet will either be pissed or broken if he finds you two."

We stood up abruptly, not standing right next to each other. It was just awkward now.

"So what do we do now? Can't have Ryan Van De Rhee finding out I kissed Peter O'Connor." His human name. Rhee is pronounced ray.

She grinned evilly, "I think I know a way. The ship is only so big, you two together at all will look suspicious, and since you've been found out, you'll give it away. So..."

"Are you saying what I think you're about to say what I might say you're saying if you don't say it first? Say..."

"Yep."

I looked over the edge of the ship. I sighed; she was right. I climbed over the rail and stood on the side, holding on tightly.

"Armageddon, what are you doing?" Prowl asked.

I looked around at him, "You coming?"

I jumped.

The water was cold when I dived in, stunning me for a split second. My head broke the surface and was even colder with the wind.

"Come on in, ninja!" I shouted, "YOU OWE ME 20 BUCKS WHEN I GET BACK OUT! IT'S FUCKING FREEZING!!" Grim just laughed her head off and I went back under.

The water was warming up, maybe because I was swimming. It was clean, and I could open my eyes without hurting them. There was a splash above me, silvery bubbles floating to the surface way above my head. I saw Prowl dive down and I grinned, swimming away from him, teasing him.

He wasn't as experienced a swimmer as I, but I was a bit slow. A hand closed around my ankle and I thought it was him, but it was slimy. The water became so muddy that I couldn't see my own nose. I twisted around. Where was Prowl. There were fast black figures all around. Something wrapped around my gut. All my breath escaped me.

More hands grabbed my arms and legs. I couldn't kick. Ice spread through me. I began to freeze from the inside out. Needles of ice raked my arms. My blood mixed with the water. Was it still water? I tried to scream, but that was impossible.

The things started dragging me down.

My legs were the first to go numb. Then my torso. Then my arms. Only my head had any feeling. But that was fading. Fast. My lungs were burning with snowy fire. I tried to suck in air. My lungs only filled with water.

I was pulled down and the water got darker. I was absolutely terrified. I was definitely going to die. Did these things attack boats? Were my friends safe? Was anyone on the whole river safe? Prowl might die. Did they have him? Could he escape?

... Could he save me, let alone himself?

'No, it's illogical."

The dark brown turned even darker. A pure black figure descended on me.

I gave up.

oOo

It was still cold and black. But I wasn't numb anymore. Was I dead? Probably. The idea of death sounded good. No more stress. No more pain. No more Chatterbox. Just peace and easiness.

I was drifting in a place between life and death, somewhere I had been a lot before. Before me was something peaceful and easy. Death. Behind me was something hard and challenging. Life.

Which one?

I wanted death, I wanted death so badly, but there was a vacuum-like wind behind me, pulling me towards life. I didn't even fight it, as I knew I would come back here again, possibly soon, and I would have another chance then.

But that didn't stop me from asking the nothingness: What could life want with an insane slut like me?

How can I be of any help to the world?

Why won't you end it?

Aren't I useless?

oOo

Slowly, very slowly, feeling returned to me. Colours and shapes flashed across my vision so fast I had no chance of seeing them. Sounds, muffled and incomprehensible, mixed together.

All of a sudden, I could hear birds, rustling leaves, and waves slapping stone. I became aware that I was lying in someone's arms, warmth emanating from them like they were the sun itself, although they did nothing to melt the ice in my veins. My eyes opened and the first thing I saw was a pair of gold eyes like sunshine.

Prowl's eyes.

"C-care to ela-aborate?" I stuttered through chattering teeth. I wasn't shaking though. Weird.

He stroked my face, holding me closer, almost protectively, "I never found the water cold, and couldn't help but laugh when you yelled about it being 'fucking freezing' and that Grim owed you '20 bucks'. Those... things that took you under didn't attack me for some odd reason. You were unconscious when I got you, and brought you to the surface. I swam to the nearest land, which just happened to be this island. I think it's called Peche Island, and sometimes Peach Island. I called out and scanned the area, but there's no-one on this whole island, and, apparently, no-one has been for a while. Couldn't imagine why; it's so beautiful here."

I looked around. We were on a picturesque olden-day-looking bridge, made of stone. It stretched over a (somehow, oddly enough) deep canal, man made by the looks of it, with a stone wall on either side, the top meeting the ground. The grass was emerald and trees, ferns and heaps of other plants were all over the place, the trees forming a green, orange and crimson canopy, letting through dappled gold light, so like his eyes—

'Snap out of it, Army.'

You got a problem with me saying his eyes are gold?

'No, I got a problem with you falling for him.'Whatever.

'Seriously.'

I know when I'm falling for someone, and I'm not falling.

'Not even for Ratchet?'

Shut—

'You know I'm right.'

No, you're not.

'I always am, you've said it before.'

No-one is right 100% of the time, not even a teen.

'Perhaps. Look at him.'

I turned my gaze away from the stream and looked at Prowl. His shaggy hair streaked with gold, like the real thing not blonde, ruffled in the gentle breeze, framing a tanned face. His suns for eyes shone with awe and wonder at the world around him. Damnit, his gold goatee was so hot—

'I heard that! You say he's hot, you know you love him! Say goodbye to Ratchet—'

I'd had enough.

"SHUT UP!!" I roared, punching the bridge so hard that I broke my fist, but I didn't notice as I was too damn mad, "SHUT UP YOU SON OF A BITCH!!! YOU DON'T KNOW THE FIRST FUCKING THING ABOUT ME! GET OUT OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW!!! GET OUT!!!! I swear if you don't get out RIGHT NOW, I'm gonna crack my skull and fucking dig you out!!!"

Prowl was freaked. He backed up, hands up, saying softly, "What did I do? Army—"

I turned to him, and I knew that my eyes were burning with rage, "never call me that FUCKING name AGAIN!"

'Remember the threat—'

"TO HELL with the GODDAMN threat! It means NOTHING! You hear me?! NOTHING!! You're nothing! Your words are nothing to me! I'll kill you right now if you don't GET OUT NOW!!!"

'You can't kill me.'

"Watch me," I growled, dangerously low.

Then I screamed. It was nothing I had ever thought I could've done. It was loud and animalistic, something that should belong to a demon of some sick kind. It scared the birds right out of the trees.

I brought out the knife.

'NO!'

Before Prowl had a chance to stop me, before anything else in the world happened, I stabbed myself in the gut. Surreally slowly, I fell to the ground. My own blood pooled around me, dripping into the stream. I heard something bubbling, like boiling water, and hissing, like a pissed off snake. There was cracking, and the bridge moved.

Prowl rushed over to me, gathering me up in his arms. The old stone crumbled beneath his feet as he ran with me across the falling bridge. When he reached the other side, he turned around and I saw it fall into the water.

The whole stream turned muddy as many, many somethings churned the water.

Everything man made in the area crumbled to dust.

Every single living thing began to die.

Prowl ignored it and turned his attention to me. He put me gently down, and as my broken hand touched the ground, I gritted my teeth and hissed in pain. He bit his bottom lip, and his gaze flickered to the knife still embedded in my stomach.

"Take it out," I breathed.

He hesitated.

"Do it!" I snapped.

He touched it, snatching his hand back as I grunted in pain. He faltered before he grasped the hilt and wrenched it out. I cried out, trying to keep back a scream. He pressed a hand over the freely bleeding wound, murmuring, "No, don't leave me, Armageddon. Not now, not like this... please."

It hurt so bad, but at least pressure helped a little. My breaths were coming in ragged and shallow, and I started shivering violently. It was then I noticed all the sunshine had been cut off.

"Cold..."

Prowl pressed his other index finger to his temple, activating the comm. link, "Autobots, Autobots! Armageddon's been stabbed and she's shaking real bad. It's hot, I know, but I think she's shivering from cold. We're on Peche Island. Get an ambulance, now! Not Ratchet; she needs treatment ASAP."

He cut the link and caressed my cheek, whispering directly in my ear, "Don't worry, everything will be alright. The others will get an ambulance and you're going to hospital. They'll take care of you, but for now, I guess I'll have to do."

He tore a long strip off his shorts, going around and around so as to get the most fabric. He wound it around my middle, over my wound, making sure it was tight enough to keep in the blood. He gathered me up in his arms, holding me protectively and walking along the canal, moving downstream. He pushed through the rapidly rotting plant 'life' and we found ourselves standing on the edge of the island, which was rimmed with lots of grey dust. That must be what was left of the stones.

I looked up and saw that a big storm was gathering. The sky was black with heavy clouds, and winds were whipping up the river water, capping the waves with white foam. The water was a rich blue when we were on the boat, but now it was dark grey. Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and fat drops of rain fell on our heads. In moments, it was a steady downpour, drenching us, the biting wind making me turn to ice.

Prowl hunched his shoulders, feebly trying to shield me from the rain. He huddled under a large tree, which was leaning perilously and seemed about to collapse, attempting to protect me from the rain and wind and cold. He failed miserably. The trees began falling, deteriorating in front of our eyes.

Nevertheless, I buried my head in his chest, seeking warmth I knew I could never acquire again. It was a false comfort, as I would most likely die before the storm was out.

It was all my fault.

oOo

Etrius' POV

We were sent out in an ambo and then speedboat to find the victim and bring them back to hospital. Whoever they were, they were on Peche Island. Strange, no-one went to Peche Island – it was cursed, everyone knew that, and anyone who tried to use it for anything was screwed.

It took us a while to find them, as we had to battle the wind and the waves. We finally found them. By then the rain was torrential, gradually washing away the sinking, rotten island. How was that possible? How did it happen? They were soaked to the bone, the wounded one was weak and unconscious, and the other was still as a statue, hunched over the unconscious one with her in his lap. I think I saw his tears mixing with the rain.

He turned to look at us as we pulled up, dull gold eyes filled with woe, mostly black hair plastered to his dripping wet face. He looked like he had lost all hope for his comrade. We got out of the boat, and as I carried the unconscious one back to the boat, my heart stopped and I stared, open mouthed.

She was my aunt, the exact same as the day she disappeared, all those years ago.

oOo

Armageddon's POV

I was back in the black place. The peace was pulling stronger, and I wanted so badly to go there, but there was a deep pulling towards the life. Then I heard something I never wanted to hear again.

'I will never leave you. Screw the threat, you say? Here's just a taste of how I will punish you.'

Pure evil touched me, and I screamed far worse than I had just before I stabbed myself. It burned me from the inside out worse than all the fire in the world. I writhed and twisted like a live wire. My bones were burning and cracking like twigs in an inferno. My blood turned to lava and melted my muscles and veins, spilling out of my skin and destroying it with sizzling hisses.

My eyes snapped open without seeing and I screamed louder, trying to run, but found that my wrists, ankles and middle were bound. There was weight on my shoulders like thousands of hands, and I was sure they would crush me. I thrashed more violently than before, jumbled noises and voices ringing in my ears.

My eyes focused and I saw Ratchet's worried face.

'You are a monster. Your blood destroys everything it touches, including you. You are a traitor. You deserve to die. And I can make sure of that.'

I wept bitterly.