J O U R N E Y (Transformers x reader)

Chapter 3

UNEDITED

Mornings were never your forte. Especially icy mornings. You despised the creeping coldness that nipped abhorrently at your shoulders and neck; the nostalgia could whisk you away to the cold unforgiving rooms of the oncology ward. You also hated getting out of bed, your muscles would ache and the warmth of your bed would never feel so addicting.

The first alarm sounded. It screeched dramatically; your phone vibrated and loud obnoxious buzzing was felt within the pillow. With an angry shout building up in your throat, you bit your tongue. Waking up for school had to be the most frustrating chore to do. The alarm just seemed to know how much you hated it. It made you clench a fist and reach up; you frantically tapped the home button, ready to throw the phone to the wall.

Your phone teased you. Clenching your jaw, you muttered lowly with droopy eyes and spammed the home button more, "Shut the fu-"

"Get up."

You froze. Your stepmother was standing still and stern with her eyes dangerously pointed at you. It scared the shit out of you, but turning around, your face sagged and molded into a neutral expression. Her blue eyes watched you closely, calculating your every move. It's not like you'd suddenly gain the energy and motivation to swing a punch at that face – you've been close to it, not going to lie – but with her standing there with a pointed frown and griping your medication slightly provoked your urge; you could take care of yourself but she'd taken the responsibility of monitoring your medication intake. You assumed that she'd placed you on some sly suicide watch that deliberately demoralised you into thinking you were too immature to be your own person.

Tossing your heavy frame over the side of the bed, you slowly snatched the pills from her grip with your eyes aimed submissively to the carpeted floor. Just let her do her shit, your sub conscious whispered lowly. It slunk back to the residing corners of your mind as your stepmother watched you swallow the white pills with a mouthful of water. Her lip curled up. She turns and struts away with a firm grip on the packaging.

You turned towards your wardrobe and shoved your school clothes and shoes on before stomping down the staircase, hoping silently that you'd closed the door after last night's adventure.

"(Name)," Your stepmother acknowledged you austerely, shoving a muesli bar to your chest. "Eat."

You felt compelled to roll your eyes but restrained your impulse. Making that mistake again would mean you would sadistically meet your end. You took the bar and spun on your heels, inhaled it and strutted away to continue your morning routine.

---- Time Skip ----

"Argh!"

"Are you o-"

"Shut up, I'm fine," you scowled and gripped your arm tightly. Pointing your eyes at the girl in front of you and utterly annoyed, you watched her cock a somewhat surprised eyebrow and take a step back. You were unusually feisty today. It was probably not enough sleep from last night. Still, you'd formerly been able to stay up late and still proceed with your day without any fatigue related disturbances. Yet, your arm had begun to release striking episodes of pain after your English class, so your mood had taken a radical U-turn. Sighing, you replied, "Sorry 'bout that... I... didn't get a decent sleep last night."

She smiles. She'd cocked her hip and crossed her arms while glancing to the side. "Y'know," she looks to you. "You're pretty lonely at lunch; you wanna sit with us?"

"Mhm, I hate to break it to you, But, uh, I'm busy doing studies in the library," You sighed and winced as you scratched the back of your neck with your sore arm. Your peer was nice, but you resorted to antisocial behaviour ever since the Big Cancer Joke. Risking it meant meddling with others; the rest of year 6 was spent in the library. Nowadays, being in year 11, you continued visiting your renowned spot, studying, drawing and all that. People fluttered by like bees, only interested in your drawings like nectar sketches smeared onto the petal-paper. You were forgotten; people ignored you like the stiff, boring stem of the flower below.

Worrying your lower lip between your teeth, you ran a sweaty hand down your face. You wanted to say something as the girl turned and walked away with a "Huh," for agreement. You were an idiot.

As you dropped to the cemented ground of the courtyard, nestled away in a corner near the staircase and swinging your bag around to your front, you sighed and rested your heavy head back to the brick wall. The day was going slowly, especially with the increased discomfort in your arm that you assumed was growing pains. The option of not telling your mother was weighed as well. You preferred not to face her wrath.

"Fu- Argh!" Your arm muscles twinged painfully and begun to cramp powerfully. The preteen slut stared as they walked down the staircase. Doubling over and pushing yourself off the ground with your bag dangling over your stiff shoulder, you sprinted to the bathroom; the expression plastered onto your face made you look like a fool. People stared.

The closer you grew to the Ladies, the worse you stumbled. As you scanned your eyes in the reflection of the shiny metal that acted as a shitty mirror when you entered the bathrooms, you leaned over the sink with your hands tightly gripping the ceramic bowl. Sickness washed over in waves as you groaned; there wasn't anyone present in the room, and besides, it was dark so you wouldn't have been able to see anyone even if you wanted.

There was a glow. You couldn't see where it was coming from, but it was obvious it was from you. You stalled. A thick ambience drafted in through the small windows, stiffness corrupted your shoulders; you were left stranded in front of the metal mirror as your eyes flickered over the glowing grooves etched on your forearm. Symmetrical. Metallic. Surreal. The lights pulsated; they reminded you of something.

The rock.

It appeared you had proportioned, indented glowing veins encasing your skin; they were a gentle (F/C), faint but visible. To check you weren't springing a spontaneous hallucination, your grazed your fingertips over them. Your mind was racing. There was a soft buzz as the tips of your fingers traced the geometrical etchings; the atmosphere was ethereal, distant, like you were somehow astral projecting into the world of the unknown.

Captivated, you wiggled your glowing fingers. The biolights radiated a soft light and illuminated the shitty metal mirror before you. There, glancing back was a pair of bright (F/C) irises staring into your soul. Sickness bubbled frantically in your stomach; panic spiked in your racing heart; confusion and bewilderment inundated your mind.

"W-what the hell?" It really started to kick in. This was abnormal. Was this going to kill you? Honestly, who cared? However, if it didn't leave, people may freak – not that they noticed you or anything – But, you refused to become a larger target for the bullies. People these days only cared about appearance and you never met to any of their expectations. Who are you kidding? It seemed you'd signed a contract to be bullied about every minuscule aspect about yourself.

Forcefully rubbing a shaking hand over the lights proved futile to remove them, you were desperate. "Get off!" You shook your arm violently, and, as luck would have it, your arm happened to slam into the ceramic sink bowl. Jolting, no pain was felt as your bright, shocked eyes watched the sink collapse like weak plaster. It crumbled with loud shatters as the shards clattered to the tiled flooring. Pure panic was an understatement; you honestly couldn't describe the feelings that were drugging your blood. So many emotions were welling up; putting your regular used cap on them would be useless.

You wanted to run. And, you did.