Round Two

By: Starath

She sat up straight. That had not come from inside her head. Her gaze went across the room. Rampage was leaning on the opposite wall with arms crossed over his chest. Somehow she hadn’t seen him there before. He eyed her with a sparkle of amusement in his emerald optics.

“Had a good nap, Christine?”

She couldn’t speak. He chuckled.

“You must not be awake yet. I can wait.”

Christine finally managed to find her voice. “And why would you care?”

He stopped chuckling and the amused glint faded out of his optics. “That’s right. I don’t. Because it’s time to play a game.”

“A game?”

“Oh yes. It’s quite fun. You know it. It’s called ‘tag’.”

The sinking feeling in her chest told her she wasn’t the one who was ‘it’. She tried to keep the shaking in her voice steady. “I’d rather not, thank you. Maybe some other time.”

“That’s too bad. I’m eager to play. After all, what better place than this? It’s just you and I, finally alone, after all this time.”

Her heart jumped into her throat. “What?”

“You know what I mean. You’ve hoped and prayed for so long. I heard you. I came.” When she didn’t reply, he asked, “What’s the matter? Not happy to see me?”

“Well DUH, you’re a friggin’ homicidal maniac!” Her eyes widened and she slapped her hand over her mouth, scared that she might have made him angry. To her surprise, Rampage started to laugh. His shoulders shuddered so hard they rattled the claws on his back, scraping the wall behind him.

“Come now, don’t let minor details like that get you down. This’ll be fun!” He shrugged and pushed himself away from the wall. “Enough talk. Let’s play. I’ll be ‘it’ first. I suggest you run…”

She couldn’t move. She simply stared at him as he walked to where she sat. She saw him but she couldn’t quite believe. I’m just imagining things. He’s not real. I was talking to myself. I do it all the time. There is NO WAY he could be real. Christine squinted her eyes shut. I’m just imagining things, I’m just imagining things, I’m just imagining things---

He walked closer. The ground shook.

He’s not real, I’m just imagining him, I’m just imagining this, my mind’s doing this to me, he’s not real, not real, not real, not real---

Closer. The floor under her feet trembled with the footsteps of a giant.

Not real not realnotrealnotrealnot---

So close that the chair she sat in quivered. Her eyes flew open. Not even two feet away. He reached for her---

“Holy shit!” Christine tried to back up and her momentum threw the chair backwards with such force that she tumbled out head over heels. She scrambled upright and stumbled, her vision dizzied from her roll. She took off in a frenzied run to a flight of stairs at the end of the building. Behind her Rampage laughed triumphantly.

“Yes, yes that’s it! Run! I knew you knew how to play this game! OhohohahHAHAHA!”

Her boots slipped on the stone stairs and she grabbed the railing just in time to prevent herself from falling, and instead slid down to the bottom. She dashed into the hallway, switching her frantic gaze between the lunchroom entrance and the doors leading outside. Tough choice. Kicking the door open she ran outside and disappeared into the building next door.

Several blurred seconds later Christine found herself crammed underneath one of the study desks at the back of the library near the corner, gasping for breath and wiping at tear-stained cheeks. She tried to slow her breathing but couldn’t, overwhelmed by the need for air and gulping sobs.

“T-this can’t be happening!”

She was crying. God, how she hated it when she cried. It was so shameful, but usually a result when she was scared too badly. Trembling, she curled up and tried to hide in her green winter coat. A loud clunk made her hold her breath, only to relax when she realized it was the heater in the wall beside her. She was safe. This part of the building was underground. He couldn’t get her here unless he came inside. If he came inside.

When he came inside.

Yes, it was definitely a when possibility. Christine took a shaky breath, wiping her eyes on her coat sleeve. Or was it? She spent a few minutes calming herself down and getting her thoughts in order. Maybe not. Rampage liked a hunt, but he wouldn’t chase her down directly. He’d lay a trap of some kind or just wait until she made herself vulnerable. And hiding was pointless. If she wasn’t crunched into a ball she would have kicked herself. You can’t hide from an empath, stupid. He’s going to know exactly where I am no matter where I go. She sighed and then shook her head. Wait a minute… am I really believing he’s real? Given what just happened, what more proof did she need? He was exactly the way she imagined him- massive, dominant, and just plain scary. His calm voice had a dangerous edge when he spoke. The intelligence in his optics chilled her. There was no kindness there. He had the look of someone who had killed before and would do so again. It was all a game to him. He WAS real.

Okay, so he wanted to play a game? Fine. First she needed to make some rules so she didn’t screw herself over. First rule: don’t bother hiding. With that decision she crawled out from under the desk and dusted herself off. The massive bookshelves in front of her blocked her from seeing the library’s entrance. She moved until she could see it but also kept herself out of view from the windows at the front of the building. No sense in giving him a clear shot. Okay, rule number two: Don’t be anywhere with only one exit from the building. He might be able to disappear whenever he wanted to, but she doubted that he was talented enough to be in two places at once. Then she realized that she was somewhere with only one exit.

“Dammit…”

Christine crept along the rows of bookcases, trying to figure out how to make a dignified escape. But should she? He might be waiting for her outside… Rule number three: Don’t go outside for very long. There’s WAY too much open space for him outside. And rule number four: Don’t go on the second floor of any building unless there’s a way OUT of the second floor. Otherwise he could trap her somewhere where she couldn’t get out. What a comforting thought. She needed some chocolate. Yeah. That would help calm her nerves. She had a pack of M&Ms in her backpack….

Backpack?

“Gol’ DAMMIT!” She screamed, punching a bookshelf. Books clattered to the floor. She’d left it in the lounge room when Rampage came after her! Sorely pissed, she kicked at the books, sending one flying down the aisle. She hadn’t seen any librarians earlier, so she didn’t care. How could she have been so stupid, just leaving it?

Well, at least she knew now what he’d use for baiting a trap.

“Okay fine. Calmness, calmness please…” Christine paced in a small circle, smiling when she realized she’d quoted her favorite Predacon. Where was Megatron when she needed him? And Depth Charge for that matter? She had imagined those two more than Rampage, but they weren’t here. Heck, she’d even take Landray Depth Charge right now, but he didn’t belong to her. For a fleeting moment she considered calling his owner.

“Hello, Morgan? Can I borrow Landray? And could you make him real for me? Why? Oh, I have a giant crab chasing me…”

Yeah, as if her friends didn’t already consider her halfway insane. She shook her head, smiling. Don’t get distracted. Think. What am I going to do? Do I wait for him to come get me, or do I go to him? She preferred the thought of going to him. She’d be a fool, but she’d be a fool in charge. Sort of. She hated waiting around for the other ball bearing to drop. And then what? Could she fight him? Yeah right! Once he has me, that’s it, I’m done. She shivered and tried not to think of what he might do to her. No, she wouldn’t go there and get herself all wound up. She could make herself paranoid much too easily and have herself jumping at shadows.

“Well, I’m not getting any younger,” Christine said to some old library books, “I might as well try to get off campus.” Did she really want to try that? “Or,” she checked her watch, “survive for an hour and a half until dad gets here. Terrific.”

She stepped to the end of the bookcases. She had to risk walking through the open area of the library, right in front of the windows. The sidewalk outside was empty except for the lingering morning fog. She tried to keep her pace steady and unrushed, not willing to give Rampage the visual satisfaction that she was scared in case he was watching. All she had to do was go back to the College Center building, go back up the stairs and rush out the doors that lead to the parking lot. There was a highway down the road. If she could somehow reach it…

Passing between buildings was uneventful. She crept through the door and got ready to dash up the stairs. A sight through the lunchroom doors made her pause. There, on one of the tables, was her red backpack.

It was a trap.

She tiptoed to the end of the hall and peeked around the corner to scan the long hallway that ran past the lunchroom. Empty.

It was a trap.

She went back to the lunchroom entrance and slowly made her way through the first room and then next to the café area. Empty too.

It was a trap.

She poked her head into the main lunchroom and looked around. Also empty.

It smelled, screamed and flashed like a trap.

What the hell.

Christine walked to the middle of the room and picked up her backpack, strapping it over both shoulders as she kept her eyes and ears focused for anything unusual. It couldn’t be this easy…. There had to be a catch….

A loud crunch from above snapped her attention to the ledge of the second floor just before Rampage jumped down from it. The impact he made on the ground made her knees buckle. She screamed and bolted to one of the doors leading outside.

WHY the hell do fools never think to look UP when walking into a trap?

Somehow she got outside and ran to the building across the main walkway through the fog. Glass shattered behind her as Rampage plowed through the lunchroom windows.

“What’s the matter, don’t you want to play, Christine?” He taunted with a malicious laugh.

“Go AWAY!” She shrieked and pulled open the doors, slamming them behind her. His thunderous footsteps slowed, then stopped. She turned to look at him through the door’s window. He judged the size of the doorway, glaring at her. Even if he forced his way in, the area inside was too small. When Christine reached the same conclusion she stuck her tongue out at him. His glare turned into a smirk as he walked away out of her sight.

“Oh great…” She needed to leave before he could do something. Like spring another trap he’d most likely set. She liked to think that she had the advantage since she knew the school’s layout, but she knew better than to dismiss the intelligence he had. Already she realized she’d made a mistake. She was on the opposite side of the campus, away from the parking lots and nearby highway.

“Dammit!”

Christine kicked the doorframe and then leaned on it, her gaze going to the flight of stairs in front of her. If she went upstairs she could get to the neighboring building, which then would lead her to the next one, which had a parking lot next to the highway. Yeah, that could work. But what if he was expecting that? She couldn’t afford to make another mistake. That last attack had given her minor heart trauma. Wonderful… Well, she couldn’t think of anything else to do, and if she could get to the Activities Building she might find somebody to help her, or a weapon… Yes Rampage, fear me and my puny baseball bat! She giggled a high-pitched nervous giggle that bounced around in the empty lobby and came back to her. When it did, a low, sinister laugh had joined it.

She quickly went up the stairs.

The dash between buildings was short and quick. Christine stopped just inside the doorway to take a glance outside. The view was a small part of the main walkway still shrouded in fog. She didn’t see him. She turned her attention to the long hallway ahead and the staircase on its right side. Now all she had to do was go down three flights of stairs and get to the ground-level tunnel that connected this building to the Activities Building. Simple, right?

Somehow she doubted Rampage would let it stay that way.

Her biggest worry was the lobby on the second floor. Its entrance came straight from the main walkway and the doors were big enough for him to get in if he wanted to. Cautiously she approached the staircase and started creeping down the stairs. When she got low enough she dropped to a crouch. She swept the lobby with her eyes. Nothing. She strained her ears. The only thing she could hear was the gurgle of the fish tank where a small-mouthed bass lived near one of the science lab classrooms. Was he standing in the hallway on the other side of the stairs where she couldn’t see? She arose and continued down the stairs until her feet touched the green polished tile of the lobby. For several tense seconds she stood there, her hand resting on the banister, waiting for something to happen. The fish tank sputtered down the hall, startling her.

“Calm down, it’s just the stupid fish tank… not a giant homicidal crab…”

A cold red hand engulfed hers, pinning it down. Christine’s head shot up and she found herself staring into Rampage’s emerald optics.

“No, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he asked with a malicious grin.

“Let GO!” She screamed, trying to pull her hand free. The pressure increased. She felt bones and tendons pop, which spurned her to pull harder. “Damn you Rampage, LET GO!”

“But don’t you like this? Feeling your terror GROW with each moment…? Will you get it out before something breaks? Will you be able to escape me? And the PAIN! Will it ever stop?”

“SHUT UP! Let go! You’re hurting me!” She was starting to get the tingly feeling of lost circulation in her hand, numbing the pain. She swung her left hand to punch his wrist, only to have it trapped under his hand with the right when he snagged it. Tears burned her eyes. “Rampage!”

His smile grew wider until his optics brightened as he remembered something. “Oh yes, that’s right! Tag, you’re it!”

The complete disregard he had for her pain made her furious. She tried to kick him, only to have the toe of her boot jam into the stair banister. Her balance shifted backwards and to her horror she realized the only thing keeping her from falling down the stairs was Rampage’s grip on her hands. Their eyes met.

“I suppose I should let you go now so you can catch me,” he said.

Panic swept through her. “No, wait!” He was already pulling away. “Rampage, please don’t let me fall!”

He paused to look at her. “First you wanted me to let go, now you want me to stay. Make up your mind, girl.”

“You know what I mean!” She cried. “If… if I fall, then I’ll get hurt and won’t be able to play anymore!” When she saw him consider the fact, she said again in desperation, “Please!”

Rampage made a face and a sound of disgust. “I thought you had more guts than this.” She gasped when he abruptly let go, only to have herself spun sideways so she landed on the tile. He nudged her boot loose of the metal banister. She sat at his feet, sobbing in relief.

“T-thank you…”

“Spare me your gratitude,” he growled, “I don’t need it. Next time I’ll let you fall. Or worse. Don’t ruin the game for me again.”

The raw anger in his voice made her look up at him, igniting her own temper.

“Yeah, you and your damned games! Who cares if I could have broken my fucking neck, you just want to keep playing! Mind games, killing games, torture games, you do it all! You’re never serious!”

She arose to her feet to glare at him even though he was well over twice her size. Arguing with him could mean suicide, but she was so angry she didn’t care. Her temper flared higher when he started laughing. The harsh sound grated in her ears.

“What’s so damn funny!” She demanded. He took a step towards her and tipped her chin up with a finger so they could see eye-to-eye. She tried to flinch away but he wouldn’t let her.

“That’s more like it,” he said with a chuckle, “I knew you had it in you. But let me tell you something, little one: You don’t WANT me to be serious.”

He let her chin drop and walked away, still laughing.

Christine stood at the top of the stairs for a long time shaking in anger. Eventually her drained mind and body had to let it go and misery set in. She felt trapped in some freakish nightmare that she couldn’t wake up from. Tears welled up and a lump formed in her throat as she tried to force herself not to cry. She looked at her hands, flexing them so the circulation would return. They were very sore but seemed okay. His fingers had left imprints pressed into her skin. She rubbed at the marks to make them disappear but they remained. She stared at the lobby entrance doors through a veil of hot tears. Now what was she supposed to do? Her escape plan was ruined. He would be expecting her to come after him now; he’d know if she tried to get away. Was she going to play his game?

Despite the warmth of her winter jacket she shivered, suddenly aware she was drenched in cold sweat. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Did she have a choice? Pulling back her coat sleeve she checked her watch. Her father would be picking her up in about forty-five minutes, provided he got here true to his prediction. Could she ‘put off’ finding Rampage for that long? And then she could go home, leaving him behind…

What if he followed her home?

“Shit….”

She had to do something about him here and now. She didn’t need this nightmare plaguing her at home too. There she would truly be trapped. What could she possibly do? Christine leaned on the banister, looking down the stairs. Could she beat him at his own game? Yeah right… Screw this. I am OUT of here… With that she bounded downstairs.

The ground-level tunnel connecting the buildings had windows to let the light in. She saw the sky outside and cringed. It was dusk, the sun already halfway from sight. She cursed early Minnesota winter nights. The last thing she wanted to do was face Rampage at night, when he had shadows and the natural paranoia she had of the dark to aid him. She entered a hallway that ran alongside the gymnasium floor. The lights were on now and loud music blasted out of speakers hanging from the walls. She was grateful for the music but at the same time felt annoyed by it. With so much background noise she could hardly hear herself think, not to mention any sounds a giant robotic crab might make. Still, the gym always had someone around.

She poked her head through the gym doors. Its vast expanse was empty. She bit back another curse, then reminded herself that there might be people in the weight rooms too. Although both rooms were lit, she saw no one. Panic raced through her body, making her tremble. There had to be someone around! She passed by an open door that was cracked open. The storage room! Pushing her way inside she looked for the softball equipment. She spotted the fabric pouch where the softball bats were kept.

“Thank you God…”

She yanked one out and tested its weight. This had been a bat she’d used during softball class. Giving it a few half-swings she immediately felt bolder. Sure, using this against Rampage would be like poking a tank with a toothpick but it was the concept that mattered. She had a weapon now.

“Okay.” Christine let the softball bat rest on her right shoulder, turning to leave the storage room. “Now I just have to figure out how to get outta here without getting caught.”

Did she dare just walk outside and go to the parking lot where her father would eventually arrive? In the meantime should she pretend like she was looking for Rampage? With night setting in she didn’t want to try to cross the large parking lot to get to the highway, so that plan was shot.

“Looks like it’s the waiting game…”

The air outside was crisp and cold, biting at the exposed skin of her face. The fog finally began to retreat into the sky but left the world gloomy, an eerie shade of grey in the fading sunlight. Luckily the campus lights had turned on, banishing the dark away. Christine kept weary watch on the pockets of shadows left over, trying to pay attention to every sound. Her grip on the softball bat tightened. She passed by silent evergreen bushes. In a sudden flurry of wings and feathers, sparrows darted out overhead in a storm of fierce chirping. She yelped, jumping back with the bat raised. When they were gone she lowered the bat, pressing it into the ground so she could lean on it.

“Stupid birds…”

Another sound caught the edge of her hearing range. She stiffened, straining to hear it. After a long moment she dismissed it, deciding it was the roar of far-off traffic. Shivering, she stared across the walkway at the fenced construction area. It was too cold out here. It’s not like she wanted to find Rampage…

There. That sound again. From behind?

She spun around. The yellow lights of the Activities Building blinked at her. Nothing else. Christine let her breath out slowly, calming her racing heart. She banged the bat against the ground to make a satisfying clang of metal against concrete, as if to scare away the unknown noise. The clang echoed around the buildings that surrounded her, leaving the air empty when it faded away. Pleased, she smiled, hefting the bat back onto her shoulder and turned to walk down the main walkway. He wasn’t out here…

Maniacal laughter erupted out of the dark to her right.

Christine let out a scream and faced the source… only to see nothing. Then she heard the laughter behind her. When she looked she saw nothing. Laughter didn’t come from thin air! Frustration blended with fear and soaked her trembling body. She tried to settle her frayed nerves but they had become hypersensitive to every noise and passing shadow. Dammit, calm DOWN. He’s just trying to psych me out…

“It won’t work, Rampage! I’m already psycho!”

Silence met her declaration. The wind blew chilling cold down the opening of her jacket, turning sweat to ice. Something shifted to her right, sliding across the ground. A massive black shadow towered over her, reaching out to grab her in its dark embrace.

She squealed, backing away, dropping the bat from nerveless hands that covered her face. Her back ran into the chain link fence, the shock of it making her hands fly open. With another startled yell she jumped away from it, still fixed on the black shadow before her. It didn’t come towards her but kept swaying back and forth with the wind. Puzzlement wormed up out of her fear, allowing herself to clearly look at the source of the shadow.

The evergreen bush she’d been standing next to.

Christine choked, trying to get her breathing under control. The winter air threatened to freeze her lungs, burning her throat. It was just a stupid bush. Just a stupid bush next to the stupid building that had nearly given her a stupid heart attack. ‘Christine the Brave-hearted’ she was not. She wiped at the tears running down her cheeks before they could turn into ice droplets. Enough of scaring herself! She wanted the warmth of indoors now.

“I wanna go home,” she whimpered, bending down to reach for the fallen softball bat.

“I just… don’t… care anymore!”

A quiet, mocking chuckle came from the black hole behind her. Emerald optics appeared, peering up at the fence.

“Poor child…”

She gasped, turning to run. There was the shifting sound of metal, the crunching sound of dirt.

“You do… otherwise, why would I be here?”

“No!” wailed Christine, heading for the building closest to her, the one that held the lunchroom where this nightmare began. “Leave me alone!”

Rampage grunted as he launched himself out of the hole and into the air, landing with a thunderous thud on the concrete in front of her. Christine screamed and skidded to a halt, nearly running into him.

“What’s the matter, don’t want to play anymore?” His voice dripped in sarcasm as he feinted hurt. “But I like playing with you…”

“Go AWAY!” She swung the bat at him. He caught it effortlessly and hung on, not allowing her to pull it back.

“Now now, no need to get violent…” Rampage ripped it from her hands. Metal shrieked when he smashed the bat flat, bending it with his thumb before tossing it away. “That’s MY job…”

She stared at her empty hands, her frightened mind barely registering what had happened. She glanced at the softball bat lying on the ground. Ruined. That was all she had… wait… why did the bat look just fine? No, she was just imagining things. Rampage stepped in front of her, blocking the view. Christine backed away from him, managing to summon up some defiance.

“What is it you want with me? You’ve succeeded in scaring me halfway to my grave, isn’t that enough? Why don’t you go bother Depth Charge or terrorize someone else?”

He paused, then gave a shrug, his optics burning into her. “Why should I?”

“Because that’s what you do! You torment Depth Charge, you plot against Megatron for stealing your spark, you think about ways to kill the others!”

“You think you know me. You don’t. And for the record, little one…” his gaze brightened when his face twisted up in an evil smirk, “I have my spark.”

Her heart forgot to beat. “Wh-what? How could you have it?” She tried to get away from him, dodging around his right side, attempting to line up a straight run for the door. His smirk grew wider.

“It is what you most fear. Me, unstoppable, utterly immortal. I will never die.”

“But that’s not right!” Her voice shook terribly, matching the tremor in her legs. Even if she had the opportunity to run, her legs may not carry her….

“Isn’t it? I certainly approve of it.”

“But you’re not even supposed to be REAL!” Christine could see the lunchroom doors now. She saw the windowed wall and inside to the long rows of tables and chairs. Warmth and safety was there. Despite her terror she stopped, looking at the windows. At the windows. She looked back up at Rampage.

“You… you crashed right through those!” she cried, pointing. “I heard you!”

“Did I?” He shrugged again. “So?”

“They’re… they’re fine! Untouched!” Christine boldly took a step up to him. “That means you’re not real!”

The rumbling laugh he replied with wilted her regained courage. The mocking contempt in his optics made them sparkle in an unkind light.

“You haven’t figured it out yet?”

“Wh-what?” She demanded, her temper automatically rising as his laugh grew in volume.

“Child,” he gently chided, “I’m as real as you want me to be.”

For a moment the meaning of his words sank in. She almost couldn’t believe it; so willing was she to believe he WAS real…. But as much as she wished he could exist, reality intruded. He couldn’t. He was all in her head, a mind game of her imagination.

“No…” She took another step to him, reaching out, now more afraid of losing him than dealing with him. “Rampage…”

He snapped his arm away, growling. “Don’t ruin the game for me again.”

“But—”

Grabbing her by the front of her jacket, he hauled her up and pinned her to the chain-link fence. “I am NOT your friend! I can STILL make you fear me!”

She choked, frantically pulling on his hand. She began crying. “Then leave!”

“You don’t want that,” He snarled, giving her a vicious shake. “You WANT me to stay, to explain all the things that you fear! I AM what you fear! Without fear there is no comfort. You KNOW that!”

“No! Go away! Leave me alone!”

“That’s not what you believe! You want me to live, to hunt you, to terrorize you—”

“Leave me alone, Rampage!” she sobbed, “You don’t exist!”

He went silent, staring at her. The fury in his optics gave way to defeat. He released her coat, turned, and disappeared in the night’s fog.

For an endless amount of time Christine sat on the ground, crying, huddled against the cold winter wind. Relief told her it was good she had vanquished the demon but she couldn’t help feeling a sense of tremendous loss. She hadn’t wanted to say that. But she had to. He was supposed to live in the heart of all human nature and she had denied him. Without fear there was no comfort. A restless emptiness had been left instead. She should feel peace. Why did she feel like she had just killed her best friend?

Hurried footsteps made her look up through a haze of tears and windblown hair. She couldn’t see but she knew by the sound of his footsteps who it was. Christine’s father stopped when he came near her.

“Christine?” He stood over her, then kneeled. “What’s wrong?” He pushed her hair from her face. “Why aren’t you inside? I’ve been looking for you.”

“Daddy…” She hugged him. “I wanna go home.”

“Alright.” He sounded worried. He helped stand her up, offering a hand. “Want me to take your backpack?”

She sniffled, wiping her nose on her coat sleeve. “Uh huh.” She struggled to get out of it and eventually managed to get it off. He took it and firmly grasped her hand.

“Let’s get to the van, it’s colder than tarnation out here.”

“Yeah, I know…” She shivered, looking at the fog bank over her shoulder as they walked away, hoping for some glimpse….

“I’m as real as you want me to be”, he had said. That meant she could banish him when she needed to, but that also meant…. She had wanted him to be there in the first place….

Rampage winked at her through the fog.

---

Well, there you have it! I’ve never written anything scary/suspenseful before. Was it any good? Should I stick to comedies? Please let me know! --Starath