One In A Billion | Transformers Prime [1]

𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟕

My eyelids fluttered, a heavy weight dragging them upward as if they were resisting the command to wake. Slowly, the world around me seeped into my consciousness, a disjointed collage of blurred shapes and muffled sounds. The air felt strangely sterile against my skin, and the faint scent of antiseptic assaulted my senses. Where am I? What happened? 

I shifted, trying to sit up, only to realize I was lying on something hard and uncomfortable. I made out metal rails on each side, panic starting to clog my lungs and strap me of air. A gland of sweat rolled down my cheek as my breathing came in rapid gaits. My brain wasn't registering anything and I felt the need to smack myself because my brain wasn't receiving enough oxygen.

Don't blink. Don't move. Don't breathe. Don't think. Just...fight.

Okay, Ember, calm. Calm down.

A gurney. The realization hit me like a sudden jolt, and I sucked in a shallow breath, my chest tightening with anxiety. I need to take my medicine.

My eyes snapped fully open, the world coming into sharp focus as I registered the sterile white walls surrounding me. Panic surged anew, threatening to overwhelm me, but I forced it back, noticing people in my line of vision. You're okay.

"She's opening her eyes," a voice jolted me out of my stupor.

Who is that? I couldn't feel myself turning, but somehow my gaze landed on a girl. Target. Was she a threat? My thoughts went on overdrive, the girl shifting in and out of focus.

TargetTargetTargetTargetTargetTargettargetTargetTargetTargetTargettargetThreatthreatthreatthreatkillherkillherkillherkillherkillherkillerkillherkillherIneedmymedicine

I tried to push myself into a sitting position, but a sharp pang shot through my head, followed by a dull ache pulsating in my left arm. I winced, gritting my teeth against the pain, my fingers trembling as I reached up to touch the source of the throbbing sensation.

Medicinemedicinemedicinemedicinemedicinemedicinemedicine...

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Miko yelled as I was sitting up.

"Ember, are you okay?" Ms. Darby hovered over me, a worried look plastered on her face.

It took me a moment to register what everyone was saying, but when I did, blood rolled down my tongue. "Fine," I caught myself looking at Raf and when we locked eyes, he averted his gaze to the ground, looking at the floor like it did something to him. Guilt crawled up my throat, but I swallowed it away. You choked him.

"What happened back there?" Ratchet asked. I realized I was back at base.

"Nothing happened,"

I was met with an optic ridge rising heavenward.

"Don't listen to what she's saying, she's lying," Miko countered.

Wheeljack shot me a blank stare. "Again?"

"What do you mean again?" I glared back at him, at Miko. "Nothing happened-"

"Ember, you fainted on the third floor of your house, right by the stairs," Miko cut me off, "and you were screaming."

Suddenly, it felt like my brain was rebooting with information. I remembered everything—the brain-splitting headache, the screams, the voice. I didn't know what to say to that, so I said nothing. Being in this base felt so wrong, especially after running the risk of being exposed to my secret. I could tell most people here felt unsure whether or not to believe Megatron about the fact that I was extraordinary.

The deeper I took a trip down memory lane, the more I cringed retrospectively.

"You don't remember anything?" Ratchet asked after a beat of silence. There was an acerbity to his voice.