Ensconce Transformers Prime AU (Book 2) (Wattys 2017)

Chapter Seven

"No!" Bumblebee yelled angrily and punched him hard in the face. Megatron grunted and fell back.

Bumblebee got up and punched him repeatedly then jumped up and ran to the living room. Megatron tackled him and banged his head into the side of the table. He got up then grabbed the two children and ran out of the house.

"Peri! Orion!" Bumblebee cried and stumbled to his feet as he gave chase. "Don't hurt them!" He shouted as tears filled his eyes. He couldn't let him take the children away.

Bumblebee followed him to the streets of Kaon and into the maze. He looked around frantically for them as he clenched his fists tightly. He heard someone crying and followed the noise. He saw Peris stuffed bear and picked it up. He continued to run as he tried to find them.

Soundwave came out of the alleyway and watched him quietly. He followed him as he cocked a gun silently. Bumblebee continued to run and try to find the children. He could hear them crying and wanted to find them. He had to hurry before Megatron harmed either of them.

He turned a corner and saw the two sitting in the alley as they hugged each other tightly. He grinned happily as tears filled his eyes again.

"Orion! Peri!" He shouted as he ran towards them. He crouched by them and hugged them tightly.

He heard someone coming and jumped up then told them to hide. He walked a little ways but didn't see anything. He needed to get them back home. He headed back towards the children and smiled a little.

"It's going to be okay. I promise-" a gunshot suddenly rang through the alleyway.

Bumblebees eyes widened and he grunted in pain. He crumpled to the ground and gasped in pain as he stared at the sky. Soundwave walked over and stared at him blankly. He dropped the gun on the ground then grabbed the two children and walked away. They screamed and sobbed uncontrollably as they tried to get free. Bumblebee could only watch as tears or rage and pain ran down his face.

"No.... don't..." he rasped weakly as he tried to move to save them. He couldn't though and just reached for the children. He heard footsteps and looked towards the alleyway entrance.

He gasped in pain and his breathing quickened as he tried not to panic. Megatron came into view and smiled wickedly as he stood over him. He listened to the young man wheeze and choke. He chuckled darkly and crouched by his side.

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" He asked as he cocked his head to the side. Bumblebee gasped and choked again as he tried to answer, blood leaked from his mouth.

"You're hallucinating. Every time you see me... it's a hallucination." He sneered and looked at the building. "You can't survive a bullet to the heart. Well at least not in real life." He said and laughed darkly. Bumblebee furrowed his brow in confusion and watched him.

The buildings slowly faded and turned into trees. Megatron's laughter continued and echoed around him. The mafia leader himself simply faded away. Bumblebee blinked a couple times and stared at the trees tops above his head.

He didn't feel any pain but tasted blood. He sat up and spat out the taste. He realized he had busted his lip somehow. He figured he must had tripped and winded himself. He looked around in utter confusion and rubbed his arm. He heard someone calling his name in the distance. He realized it was dark and he frowned again.

"Bumblebee!" Smokescreen shouted from far away. "Hey where are you?!" He yelled. The young man wiped his mouth and shook his head. What was happening to him? He slowly started to zone out.

"Bee!" Bulkhead called, he sounded closer than his other brother. Miko frowned and kept going then gasped when she saw him just sitting against tree. He didn't move and seemed empty.

"Over here!" She yelled and ran to her uncles side. "Bee?" She asked as she shook his shoulder. He didn't respond and just sat there as he shivered from the cold. Bulkhead knelt by his brother and put his huge coat around him.

"Bumblebee... hey." He muttered and ruffled his hair. He blinked slowly and looked at him as Arcee and Smokescreen ran over. His sister knelt in front of him and gripped his face between her hands.

"You're so pale..." she whispered and looked at the other two. "What the heck is going on?" She asked as she glared darkly.

"How should I know?" Smokescreen asked as he glared back. "He was doing just fine. I don't even know why he's out here!" He said seriously.

"Well your supposed know these things. I can't be here and Bulkhead is busy with Miko." She snapped angrily.

"Maybe if you-"

"Stop it!" Bulkhead yelled angrily and looked at them. "None of us know what's going on, so stop blaming each other." He growled and rubbed his face tiredly. They went silent and looked at the youngest brother. He was still staring blankly.

"Megatron...." he mumbled and blinked tiredly as he swayed a little. "He's... in my head..." he mumbled. Bulkhead gently gripped his shoulder and Arcee hugged him tightly.

"No he's not... it's okay." She whispered quietly and rubbed his back soothingly. "Megatron died years ago." She said seriously.

"He's in my head...." he mumbled and closed his eyes. "In my head...." he rasped weakly as he faded to sleep. "Help.... get him... out..." he mumbled again and went limp in their arms. They were silent for a few minutes as they looked at each other.

"You... said he was seeing a doctor?" She asked quietly. Bulkhead nodded slowly and sighed forcefully.

"I'll give him a call... maybe he can help him." He muttered and looked at Smokescreen. Arcee nodded slowly and rested her head against Bees.

"I hope so..." she whispered quietly and just held him close for a moment. Miko watched quietly and looked at Bulkhead as she thought.

Was her uncle really crazy?