Transformers chapter 1

Transformers

Chapter 1

'I know Mom always told me to never take a shortcut through this part of town,' I thought,  'but she'll be even more angry if I show up late.'

I clutched my backpack tightly to my shoulder. I took a deep breath and detoured from my usual route and started heading through the part of town where it is said they have a new crime every week. I didn't really believe it but the place looked like it's role.

The place looked like a ghost town. Houses were brown and to the point of falling apart. Windows shattered on the houses and abandoned vehicles that were scattered around. And yet not a soul in sight.

         'I can't believe I'm doing this,' I thought. I stepped lightly as if not to draw attention to myself. I constantly looked around to see if anyone was watching me. No one, so far. All the creepier.

I was going home after spending some after school time with some friends. I told them I would walk home but I miscalculated the time walking home.

'The quicker, the better,' I thought to myself. I began to quicken my pace. Not quite running, just fast walking.

But something caught my eye. It looked out of place among all the worn buildings and vehicles.. It was a bright pink, shiny new motorcycle. It was parked in front of this house that had been reduced to it's supports. I thought that odd. Why would anyone leave a brand new motorcycle in the middle of the worst possible place? Wouldn't someone try to steal it?

'Not my problem.' I drew my attention away from the motorcycle. I had to get back on task and get home, or else Mom would have a cow. I walked away, careful not to step on broken glass, or torn out car parts.

Suddenly, I felt someone grab my shoulder. I froze instantly with fear.

"What's a girly like you doing out here all by yourself, eh?" asked a very sinister voice. I was afraid to turn around and see who grabbed me. Instead I just stood there.

"Why don't you drop that bag, there and empty your pockets, eh?"

"Okay, fine," I said, my voice shaking. "Just please, don't kill me!" A large, hairy arm wrapped around my neck. I could still breathe, but I couldn't escape.

"Now, why would I hurt a cute girly like you, eh?" The man whispered in my ear making me shudder. "Just do what I say, and you'll be fine."

'I'm dead!' I thought. 'I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead!' I wished I had listened to Mom. My heart was thumping so loudly. What would my Mom think if I got killed just because I didn't listen to her?? I didn't actually believe the man when he said he wouldn't hurt me.

The man began pulling me toward a nearby ally. I couldn't do anything to stop him. I was just a kid!

The ally was dark. There was a dumpster and some car parts there. The man made me drop my backpack. He kept a good grip on my arm while he patted my pockets. He managed to snag my cell phone and a couple bucks.

He then shoved me up against the dumpster.

"Any regrets?" He asked.  
"Hey, I thought you said you wouldn't hurt me!" The man suddenly smiled widely.

"I lied."                     

I was too scared. My mind was racing around wondering what to do. If I didn't do anything I would never make it home and Mom would be alone.

Suddenly, we heard the loud rumbling of a motorcycle engine. It sounded close so both of us looked. It was coming from the end of the ally we came though.

We were blinded by a single headlight.

"What in the --??"

When the vehicle got closer, I could see it was a bike. A pink bike. And there was no driver.

The bike stopped a few feet from us. It stood there for a moment almost menacingly. Then, somehow, it began to change. It made a mechanical whir as it unfolded. The twisted metal sprouted legs, arms, and a head. It turned into a thirteen-foot tall robot. Its arm grew something that looked like a small glowing cannon. It aimed it right at the man.

"Leave the child be," It said in a mechanical voice, a metal sheet where a mouth would have been splitting and moving accordingly. I gulped. I could've sworn the man was screaming like a girl. He began to run off like the devil was after him. While running away he dropped all of my stuff on the ground.

I, on the other hand, couldn't move. I was too scared. It may have seemed like this thing was on my side, but it was a freaking giant robot! My knees shook under my weight as I stared at it.

The robot knelt down to eye level with me. I could feel the blood rushing from my face.

"Are you alright?" it asked. I couldn't say anything. I was too scared to even name a sound.

Finally, I got enough feeling to be able to move my legs. I turned and started to bolt, but I didn't get too far. A giant metal hand had grabbed me around the waist and lifted me up from the ground. The robot turned me to see my face.

"Don't worry, little one," it said in an almost soothing voice. "I will not harm you. What is your name?" I felt like my heart was in my throat.

"E-Ellie," I managed.

"And I will give you mine in return," the robot said. "My name is Arcee." I nodded

"N-nice to meet you," I said nervously. I still wasn't entirely sure if I was okay.

"Indeed," Arcee replied. "I'm terribly sorry you had to go through that ordeal."

"Oh, no, it wasn't your fault!" I said quickly. "I just wasn't paying attention." I breathed to calm myself.

I looked at the Arcee and realized I had a question. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but are you a girl?"

Suddenly, Arcee began to make a sound from her audio processors that sounded like laughing.

"Why, of course I'm a girl!" she said. "What would make you think different?" I didn't answer. She bent over, while still cradling me in her arm and picked up my backpack and my phone. She handed them to me. "Now, let us go." I stared up at her.

"Go? Go where?" I asked confused.

"Why, I'm taking you home," Arcee said with a slight laugh. "That is, assuming, you know where you live."

"Well, of course I do," I said quickly. "I just wasn't really expecting a ride from a giant robot!"

"Don't worry yourself," Arcee assured me. "I will not be seen in this form." She set me down on my feet. "As you have seen, I can easily blend in." She crouched down and shrunk back into the pink motorcycle. "We must hurry. Your family is probably missing you."

"So, you're just gonna let me go?" I asked. "Just drop me at home and zoom off?"

"Well, not ‘zoom off,’ per se,” Arcee replied. “I, of course will be keeping a close eye on you. You’ve seen me and I can’t just let that pass.” I gulped nervously. “We try to keep our state a secret but we act when we must.” I stared at her surprised.

“So, you put your position at stake for me?” I asked. The front of the motorcycle rose and fell as if nodding.

“Yes,” Arcee replied quietly. “I can’t stand it when another is in danger.” She straightened herself up. “Well, hop on. We haven’t got all night.” I stared at her for a moment, wondering if I should take her offer.
 
           Finally, I sighed and slung my backpack over my shoulder. I slid into the motorcycle seat and gripped the handle bars.

“Hold on tight, Ellie,” Arcee said excitedly. “This could get rough. Now, what’s your address?”

She sat quietly for the brief moment to hear where I lived.

When I finished she said,“ Hang on! Here we go!”

The tires screeched in place for a bit and we zoomed off. I’ve always hated riding in motorcycles, but I figured that Arcee knew what she was doing. As long as it’s not anything too dangerous.

We zoomed through the broken up neighborhood, dodging random items on the road. I thought I might die if she didn’t slow down. We flew past signs, other cars, and around turns. I thought we might crash. She narrowly missed a black and white police car coming from the other direction.

Finally, we stopped in front of a familiar house. I slid off the seat and almost fell on the ground because I was so shaken from the ride.

“Careful, there,” Arcee said. “Don’t want you passing out now.” I looked toward her nervously. I thought about asking her what she was thinking but decided against it.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said still shaking.

“You be careful, now,” Arcee said. “I’ll come by soon to see how you are doing. And please, don’t tell anyone.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” I assured her, surprised that she would think I would do such a thing. “I’ll never tell a soul.”

Arcee was quiet for a bit, as if deciding whether I was telling the truth or not.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“I’m just wondering how our leader will take this news,” Arcee replied quietly.

I patted the seat of the motorcycle and said, “I’m free tomorrow, if you want to tell him then. It’s Saturday.”

“Very well,” Arcee said, though she still didn’t sound certain. “Good night’s rest. I’ll come and get you sometime in the morning.”

“Okay,” I replied nervously. “See ya.” I turned toward my house. I heard Arcee’s motorcycle engine as she sped away. I looked back to watch her leave but she was gone. I walked up the path to my front porch. This was almost unbelievable. I was robbed, saved by a robot, and hitched a ride on that robot home.

I sighed and opened my front door. It was quiet except I could hear the TV on in the living room. Mom was probably watching something.

“Mom, I’m home,” I called out.

“Welcome home,” Mom replied from the other room. “Dinner’s in the fridge.”

“Thanks,” I said. I wasn’t late.

I set my stuff on the table and sat down. After what happened, I wasn’t really that hungry. Too much stuff had happened for my mind to comprehend. At least I had managed to escape my Mom’s wrath.
 
          I dug into my backpack. I didn’t have much homework because it was the weekend (not like that stops teachers from dishing it out). I got annoyed because I couldn’t concentrate on the work. Trying to be normal after an experience like that wasn’t really going to work out well, I could tell. I slammed the book closed in frustration.

'Why did I disobey Mom??' I thought to myself angrily. 'Am I stupid??'

“Ellie, is something wrong?” Mom asked from the other room. I heard her get up and walk towards the kitchen.

“I’m fine,” I called back. “This work is just hard.” Mom peered into the room.

“Well, do you want help with it?” she asked.

“No, no, no,” I said quickly. “I’ll do it. It’s fine. You need to watch TV.” Mom stared at me for a moment uncertainly.

“You sure?” she asked.

“Oh, yes,” I tried to assure her. “Just go watch whatever. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay...” Mom turned and went back to the living room. I lay my head on the mathbook.

'Idiot,' I thought. 'I’m such an idiot.'

I put down my pencil. I had the whole weekend to work on homework, I reasoned. It wasn’t due till Monday. I needed to clear my mind.

I stood up and walked to the cupboard. I took out a glass and filled it with water at the sink. My mind was racing with meeting Arcee. The whole idea seemed totally improbable and yet it happened.

Then I realized something. I was going to meet her again. Tomorrow we were going to go see her leader. I almost choked on my water realizing that. If there was a leader then there were probably more of them.

“Hon, you alright?” I froze for half a second.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Mom,” I answered breathlessly. “Just got water down the wrong tube.”

I grabbed a dish towel from the stove and wiped my face. I went back to my backpack. I shoved my books back in and pulled out my notebook. I opened it to a blank page, took out my pencil, and began doodling.

I didn’t know what to do. I was fidgeting so much and I had to keep my hands busy. My experience had left me clueless.

“That’s a nice robot.” I jumped at the sound of Mom’s voice being right behind me. I looked at my paper. I had somehow unknowingly drawn Arcee.

“Eh, thanks,” I said quietly. I closed my notebook and picked up my backpack. “I’m going to work on my homework in my room.”

“All right,” Mom said. “Go to bed at nine, okay?” I waved to show I heard as I left the room.

I climbed up the stairs and opened the door to my room. I tossed my bag on the bed and walked over to the window and stuck my head out. I set my palm on my chin as I looked at the sky. The stars were beginning to come out. I began to wonder which one Arcee and her kind came from.

I grabbed a chair and set it by the window. I got my notebook and sat down. I pulled out my pencil and added more details to Arcee’s picture. For some reason, I was interested in her kind and I wanted to know more.

'This either could be lucky or really bad,' I thought. But either way, it happened. I’ve met Arcee and was opened to a new view of things. Might as well make the best of it.