Complex Robotics

Holforms

Chapter Four: Holoforms

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I froze, my mouth wide open but the words stuck in my throat. I didn't answer, my mind racing again, and a throbbing feeling was starting to appear at the back of my head. Ugh, a headache...just freakin' peachy. Should I stay? Or should I run back to Sideswipe and tell him to drive far away and as fast as possible? Hmm...the second one sounds far more appealing.

A loud gasp interrupted my thoughts and brought me back to reality. It was my mom who gasped, her blue-green eyes wide with horror as she stared at me for a few seconds before running towards me, looking over my shredded and stained clothing.

"Charlotte! What happened to you?! Why are your clothes shredded-oh, my, are you bleeding?! Honey, what's wrong? What happened? That's it! No one hurts my sweet baby girl and gets away with it! I'm calling the police, who did this to you?!" The words seemed to endlessly flow from her mouth, and I vaguely wondered how she could talk so fast without breathing.

"Mom," I said calmly, once she was done ranting, "It's fine, alright? No one hurt me...I just...I fell, really badly."

She shot me a doubtful look, "You fell?"

Past her through the window that displayed our driveway, I saw Sideswipe roll up beside the sidewalk, his headlights flashing. I sighed internally. What does he want now?

"Charlie," Mom said sternly and my eyes rested on her again, "I said, how did you fall so badly?"

"Um..." I said, quickly thinking of an excuse, "Well, there was a really good engine piece at the top of one of the junk piles, I had to get it! It would be perfect, and I... I accidentally sliced myself when I tripped. Yeah, I just came back from the hospital and all, that's why I was so late."

That worried look was back, "But if you were in the hospital, then why didn't Dave tell us that? He said you've been gone for hours. And why are you still in bloody clothing?"

Crap. She was good.

I bit down on my lip, trying to come up with another one. "Uh, that's because... he left early! Yeah, I told him I was gonna go get that engine part and when I fell and sliced myself, I rushed to the hospital. They disinfected the wounds and gave me medication and after that, I left. Look mom, I really don't see what the huge deal is. Dad cut himself in the leg when chopping wood and you didn't freak out at all. It's no big deal, I just need to put on fresh bandages and take a nice long nap."

My mother stared at me for a few more seconds, her expression looked deep in thought as she processed the false information I gave her and decided on whether she should believe me or not. And after a few minutes of suffocating silence, she finally nodded her head. I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding in.

"Alright, " She said, before pointing her index finger at me, "Get cleaned up, but this conversation isn't over with."

I sighed. At least it bought me more time to come up with a more thorough excuse. I noticed that Sideswipe's headlights flashed again. A warm and loving smile curled on to  my mom's lips as she carefully wrapped me in a hug.

"I'm just glad you're safe." She whispered. A small smile appeared at the edges of my mouth as her scent wafted under my nose. 

The smell of lilac.

 I loved lilacs, especially since she wore that scent a lot. I always liked my mom's hugs; warm and filled with lilac scent. Eventually, I had to loosen her grip on me and motioned to my clothes again.