Chapter 14: The Mystery of the Camaro

The drive home from the dealership was exhilarating for Sam Witwicky. The feeling of owning his first car was a moment he had dreamed of for years, and the beat-up **yellow Camaro** had somehow captured his attention in a way he couldn't explain. It wasn't just about the car's rusty exterior or the peeling paint. There was something else—something that felt almost alive.

As they pulled into the quiet suburban street where Sam and **Saber** lived, Sam couldn't help but glance at the Camaro in his rearview mirror. It had been smooth on the drive back, the engine purring like a much newer car, and yet there were odd moments—flickers of something that didn't quite fit.

"Man, I can't wait to show this off at school," Sam said, pulling into his driveway with a grin. "Maybe I'll finally impress Mikaela."

Saber smiled from behind the wheel of **Tempest**, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The Camaro... there was something about it that didn't sit right with him. The hum of energy he had felt at the dealership hadn't gone away. If anything, it had grown stronger during the ride home.

As Sam parked the Camaro, Saber pulled up alongside him in Tempest. The muscle car hummed softly beneath him, and Saber could feel Tempest's awareness through their bond. Tempest wasn't just a car—he was a transformer, created from Saber's own magic during a moment of desperation. But even Tempest seemed... different today. On edge.

"You sure this car's okay?" Saber asked, glancing over at the Camaro.

Sam laughed, hopping out of the driver's seat and running his hand over the rusty hood. "It's perfect! I mean, it's seen better days, sure, but I'm telling you, it's a classic. Once I clean it up, it'll be awesome."

Saber nodded, though he wasn't convinced. Something about the Camaro made his magic hum softly, like it was responding to a presence he couldn't quite identify. He looked back at Tempest, who remained still, watching the Camaro with what felt like quiet suspicion.

"If anything weird happens," Saber said, his voice low, "let me know."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "You and your feelings about cars, man. You're lucky I don't take that personally."

Saber chuckled but kept his tone serious. "Just... be careful. Cars like that have a way of surprising you."

Sam waved him off, still grinning. "I'll be fine. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Saber drove Tempest back to **Howler Manor**, but the tension never left. As he parked Tempest in the garage, the car hummed softly in the quiet darkness.

"What do you think?" Saber asked, speaking aloud to Tempest.

Tempest's engine gave a faint rumble, a sign that he, too, felt something unusual about Sam's Camaro. But for now, neither of them knew what it meant.

---

**The next morning**, Sam couldn't wait to drive his new Camaro to school. He threw on his jacket, grabbed his backpack, and dashed outside, his excitement bubbling over. As he climbed into the driver's seat, he noticed something odd—**the seat** was further back than it had been the day before, as if someone else had been sitting in the car overnight.

"Huh," Sam muttered, adjusting the seat. "That's weird."

He didn't think much of it, though, and soon enough, he was on the road, the Camaro's engine roaring to life as they sped toward school. Sam felt like a king, his confidence soaring as he imagined the looks he'd get when he pulled into the parking lot.

But the closer he got to school, the stranger things became.

The **radio** kept switching channels on its own, flipping through static before landing on songs that seemed to match Sam's thoughts. When he thought about impressing Mikaela, the radio cut to a romantic song. When he thought about freedom, the station switched to a rebellious rock tune.

"Okay, this is starting to get creepy," Sam muttered, glancing at the dashboard. He reached out to switch the channel manually, but before his hand even touched the dial, the radio shifted again.

Sam blinked in confusion. "Is this thing... reading my mind?"

He shook his head, laughing it off nervously. "Nah, I'm just imagining things."

But as he pulled into the school parking lot, Sam couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the car. He parked the Camaro in one of the empty spaces, stepping out just in time to see **Mikaela Banes** walking toward the school.

Sam's heart leapt into his throat. Mikaela—the girl he'd had a crush on for what felt like forever—was just a few feet away, her long dark hair catching the sunlight as she laughed with her friends. This was his chance to finally make an impression.

"Hey, Mikaela!" Sam called out, trying to sound casual as he leaned against the hood of the Camaro.

Mikaela glanced over, her eyes landing on Sam and then shifting to the car behind him. "Is that yours?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sam's chest swelled with pride. "Yeah! Just got it yesterday."

Mikaela nodded, walking over to get a closer look. "Not bad. It's a classic... even if it's a little rusty."

Sam chuckled nervously, his mind racing for something cool to say. But before he could speak, the Camaro's **radio** flipped on again, blaring a romantic song that made Sam's face flush with embarrassment.

Mikaela smirked, raising an eyebrow at the sudden music. "You really like your tunes, huh?"

Sam scrambled to shut the radio off, his fingers fumbling with the controls. "Uh, yeah! Just... you know, setting the mood."

Mikaela laughed, clearly amused by the whole situation. "Right. Well, see you around, Sam."

As she walked away, Sam let out a deep breath, leaning against the car with his hands on his head. "What is wrong with you?" he muttered, glaring at the dashboard as if the car itself had betrayed him.

The Camaro's engine gave a soft, almost apologetic purr.

Sam stared at the car, his suspicion growing. "Okay, this is officially weird."

---

That afternoon, after a long day of classes, Sam was more than ready to drive home and forget about the strange events of the morning. But the ride back wasn't any less bizarre. The **radio** continued to switch channels on its own, and there were moments when the **steering wheel** seemed to tug slightly in different directions, as if the car had a mind of its own.

By the time Sam pulled into his driveway, he was thoroughly creeped out. He stepped out of the car, staring at it as if it might suddenly come to life.

"Alright, what's your deal?" Sam asked aloud, his hands on his hips. "You're not... normal."

The Camaro remained perfectly still, its engine silent.

Sam shook his head and turned to go inside, deciding that he'd had enough weirdness for one day. He was halfway to the door when he heard a faint click behind him.

Turning around, Sam's eyes widened in disbelief. The **driver's door** of the Camaro had opened—on its own.

His heart raced as he stared at the car, the door hanging open as if inviting him back inside. For a long moment, Sam just stood there, frozen in place.

"Okay, I've seen enough," he muttered, turning on his heel and heading into the house. "You can stay out here and be weird all you want."

As the door closed behind him, the Camaro's door slowly creaked shut, its headlights flashing briefly before going dark.

---

Back at **Howler Manor**, Saber stood in the garage, his hand resting on **Tempest's** roof. The muscle car had been restless ever since they'd returned from the dealership, and Saber could feel the tension growing between them.

"What is it?" Saber whispered, sensing the unease in his creation.

Tempest's engine gave a low rumble, and through their bond, Saber felt a sharp awareness—a sense that something was coming. Something big.

The yellow Camaro. It wasn't just a car.

Saber's eyes narrowed as he leaned against Tempest. "We'll figure it out."

The air around them felt heavy, like the calm before a storm. And deep down, Saber knew that whatever was happening, it was only just beginning.