173
Driving around, and looking at the surroundings nervously. I wondered if Optimus's new form was recognizable to any of the people. I prayed it wasn't. There were a few looks thrown our way, which made my heart drop to my stomach; I tried to not let those looks bother me. They didn't recognize us. I had to keep telling myself that.
But I also had to find a place to hide Optimus until I found someone who was willing to repair him or until Ratchet came back and was able to fix him.
Where's a good place to hide an Autobot, I thought. I bit my bottom lip. I parked in front of a rundown theater, leaning back in my seat, hoping I'd figure something out.
Climbing out, I walked over to the other side, carefully taking the girls out of the passenger's side. Saoirse stood close to me, looking at her new surroundings with an almost terrified expression. Eden was clinging to me as if her life depended on it. Which, in a way, her life did depend on it.
"I'll find someone to fix Daddy," I murmured. "Don't worry." They didn't say anything, only clung to me tighter. I looked around worriedly. "Where am I going to hide you?" I looked at Optimus helplessly. Sighing, I frowned, hoping I'd have some miraculous idea.
Looking at myself, I sighed. My shirt was covered in blood and I had a bloodied sweat jacket as a sling. Anyone who walked by gave me weird looks.
I'll need new clothes, I thought. So will the girls.
I didn't have any money. I wouldn't have been able to buy any clothes or food, anyway. I had enough money to get materials for the girls and I in Mexico; Rosalyn was nice enough to get me a job. I didn't stand a chance outside of that country. After everything that happened in Mexico City, I didn't stand a chance anywhere.
Looking back at Optimus, I felt my heart breaking. There was nothing I could do to help him. Ratchet and the others were long gone. And didn't Optimus say, a while ago, that new Autobots were on their way to earth? How would they react to finding out their leader was basically in a coma? Optimus hadn't regained consciousness since we escaped, I couldn't figure out how to help him if I didn't know where the damage was. Bullet holes dotted the metal, the windshield was cracked in a few places, dust and dirt had been splattered all over the metal.
"We've certainly gotten ourselves into some trouble," I whispered.
"Mama?" I looked down at Saoirse. "Is Daddy ever gonna wake up?"
Kneeling, I placed Eden down, giving both of them a reassuring smile. "Your father will wake up," I said. "He's just hurt. He's trying to save his energy so when he's better, he'll be OK."
Saoirse's expression looked tired; she nodded slightly.
"Once Daddy wakes up, everything will be a little better. I promise." Holding my pinkie finger up, I gave them a hopeful look. Saoirse wrapped her pinkie finger around mine, Eden mimicking the motion. "I promise," I repeated.
After about an hour of trying to figure out where to hide Optimus, I figured I'd hide him somewhere inside the theater. It was closed down, from what I'd gathered, and seemed to be filled with meaningless garbage anyway.
After climbing back into the driver's side and putting the girls into the passenger's side, I started the engine and pulled out from where I was parked.
Driving around, I found the back of the old theater, near a garbage filled alleyway. Chewing on my bottom lip, I tried to figure out how stuffing Optimus into an old movie theater was a good idea. It wasn't a good idea. It was a terrible idea. But what else was I supposed to do? Leave him out in the open?
I cursed under my breath.
I hated finding myself in situations I couldn't figure out. I rubbed the bridge of my nose, I had to take charge of the situation; I had to be the stronger one for the time being. The girls needed someone to take care of them, to be there for them. Optimus needed someone who would repair him. I had to be that person who took care of the girls and found that someone to help Optimus.
"Girls, after this, we are having a vacation." I looked at my daughters with a tired, lopsided smile. "How does that sound?"
"I don't know," Saoirse said.
"OK, vacation's on hold." I frowned slightly. "But when this is done, we'll have a nice home and you guys will go to school and have a proper education."
A silence hung in the air. My thoughts wandered to what it'd be like to live normally, to not live in fear all the time. Pushing those thoughts down, I put the main focus of the mission as my number one priority.
"We need to figure out how to get Daddy in there," I said to them. "How're we gonna do that?" They didn't say anything. I didn't expect them to really know, I just needed someone to talk to. I'd have gone out of my mind if I didn't have the girls with me. Climbing out, I helped Saoirse and Eden out and thought about, maybe, pushing Optimus into the old theater.
Looking at the back of the theater, I found an opening. It seemed big enough for Optimus to fit through. I looked back at the girls, Saoirse was holding Eden's hand, standing near me.
"You girls stay right here, OK?" I said. "I'll be in and out in no time."
Quickly climbing into the driver's side, I started the engine. I felt dread in the pit of my stomach, clawing its way up. I slowly drove forward, constantly checking the rear view mirror. Saoirse and Eden were out of sight of anyone. I was able to find them, their vibrant blue eyes following.
I managed to make it into the theater in one piece. Quickly looking around, I saw I was in the movie room. There was a lot of garbage, junk and dust littering the whole area. I turned off the engine, after nestling Optimus in a far off spot, placing a lot of the garbage I found on top of him.
"I'll come back," I whispered to the grill, touching the Autobot emblem gently. "I'll come back for you."
When I heard voices and footsteps, I hurriedly left. Peaking around, I saw an elderly man and another man behind him - his son? - inspecting the area I'd just left. Turning, I quietly left, taking the girls and walking as fast as we could to find a safer location.