Transformers Rise of the Beasts

Chapter 15: Alex

"And...this is it."

The taxi cab drives away leaving Elena and I standing in front of a dual door-split house.

Fishing the key out of her pocket, Elena hurried up the stairs. She unlocked the door and opened it. "Welcome."

I timidly followed Elena inside the house. I was still kind of shy around Elena. She was smart and very independent-almost reminding me of her sister. But I was still adjusting to being in this whole new world-in a whole other time-where the autobots were actually real.

Elena switched the lights on as she walked into the small kitchenette slash dining table. A black cat was sitting in the sink, licking its paws.

"Toby!" Elena scolded. "Get out of there!"

The cat ignored her, not so much as even glancing up. This made me chuckle. "I don't think he's gonna move."

"Oh he will," Elena smirked. She reached forward and switched the sink on. Water sprayed out of the faucet. There was a loud screeching from Toby. He sprung up out of the sink and jumping to the ground, he ran out of the room.

"Would you like a snack or anything?" Now Elena had her head stuck in the pantry. She glanced at me. "A granola bar or something?"

Shyness still had a grip on me. "Sure," I responded quietly.

I was startled as Elena threw a granola bar across the room at me. Reaching my left hand up, I easily caught it.

"Nice catch," she smiled shyly. "Have you ever thought about playing baseball?"

"Yeah," I shrugged. "In college."

"College?" Elena raised an eyebrow. "I thought you already went-I mean you are working at the lab and all."

Shoot, I messed up. Hastily I stammered a reply. "Well I-uh got the job here as an internship this summer, then I go to college in the fall." I hastily changed the subject, "what about you?"

"Hmm...."  Elena was quiet for a moment as she glanced me over. Than she shrugged. "I grew up in this house-though I just started my job at the Musuem this past fall."

I had a feeling Elena knew I was hiding something from the expressionless face she now wore.

With a sigh, Elena turned and waved me down the hall. "We should change clothes before we go."

I glanced down at my outfit-my pants had been torn at the knees and my shirt was burnt from where some flames had barely licked it during the explosion.

"I don't have a change of clothes," Sheepishly I said, rubbing my hand across the back of my neck.

Elena was thoughtful for a moment. "I might have something for you," she motioned for me to follow her inside the room. Boxes were stacked about neatly and I realized it was some sort of storage spot.

"My dad used to live here with me," Elena explained. "When he passed away, I packed all his stuff up," she said sorrowfully. "But I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it."

I nodded sympathetically. I knew what it was like to lose a close family member.

"Anyway," Elena cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. She began digging through an old trunk. "I think some of his old clothes might fit you."

She pulled out a brown short sleeve shirt and held it up in front of me. "It might be a little big, but it should work." The young woman also grabbed out a pair of brown khaki pants and even a pair of yellow work boots.

"Thank you," I said softly, taking the clothes. I realized that they were special-a way she remembered her father. "But it's okay I can wear my own, I don't want to take your dad's..."

"It's okay," Elena was smiling, though I could sense the pain behind the mask on her face. "They are just sitting around getting dusty."

She showed me to the bathroom and then went off to change her own clothes.

My mind was whirling as I discarded my old worn clothes and pulled on the new. The shirt was a little baggy on my frame due to it being large.

But if I rolled up the bottoms a little the pants fit and miraculously the shoes were only a little loose. Upon a second glance, I decided to keep my red sports jacket. I wiped the dust off as best as I could.

Then I washed the grim off my face with the water from the sink. Making sure the bathroom was clean, I then stepped back into the main room.

Elena entered the kitchen the same time as me. She was dressed in a fresh pair of light blue denim jeans as well as a red flannel and yellow tank top. Her curly brown hair was slightly damp and I knew she must have rinsed the ashes out of it.

She asked, pulling her red jacket off the wall. She slipped it on and then grabbed her bag off the table. She slipped her notebook inside it and slung the backpack over her back. "You ready?"

"Yeah," I nodded. The two of us exited the apartment and stood outside. Once the bus arrived we would be taking it to the power grids at the edge of the city where the others were all meeting.

For a few seconds we were silent as we sat down on the curb. Then I spoke up. "What did your Dad do?"

"He was an archaeologist," Elena explained, her eyes having a far off look. "He loved to help to find artifacts for the museums," she hugged her arms together and sighed. "It was fitting that he passed away doing what he loved."

She bit her lip. "..There was a cave in," Now her voice was choked and I could feel the pain swelling within her. "He and the others," she shook her head and began to openly cry. "They had no chance."

I did not know what to say. In a way, she reminded me of Amy-the pained look in her eyes, the expression on her face; the way she had helped me out at the lab.

So I tried to help her like I helped Amy. A little shyly at first, I reached out and began rubbing her back. We sat there for a few minutes, her sobbing, I comforting. Then slowly just like with Amy, her sobs began to lessen.

"It's okay," Elena sniffed, wiping her eyes. She smiled at me. "You know, your older sister is lucky to have a brother like you."

Titling my head, I said with a shy smile. "I can be your brother if you'd like too."

"Yes," giving me a sisterly hug, Elena nodded. "I'd like that."