Phase I: The Bleeding, Part 1: Red Sores
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
-Albert Einstein
Processing…processing, damage acquired…attempting reboot system…system launched.
It began a normal day, at least it would have, had not been for Eustace's constant complaining about "these dern sores" covering his arms and legs. It was just a little unusual because there was no evidence in what would cause such irritation on his skin; he bathed regularly (thank goodness) and had adequate oral hygiene, but the days went by and his sores grew more noticeably worse, then it was not before long that Muriel had an outbreak of her own.
Courage grew worried, he himself did not outbreak into sores, much to his relief, but knew that Eustace and Muriel did, with his worry overpowering him he rushed upstairs to the attic to get information from a somewhat helpful resource.
"What is it now, you twit?" Courage sighed as he was greeted the usual manner by his British speaking computer, wasting no time he typed the words "sores, body, overnight"
"Don't bother me; something very important is going to happen."
Courage was rather offended that his request was denied at such a rude fashion.
"Hey, Muriel and the farmer have these red things all over them, at least give me something to work with!"
But the computer once again scoffed at Courage.
"If the twits have red sores all over them it's because they've became part of the process."
"Huh…what are you talking about?"
"Stay up tonight…and you'll see…hehehe."
Courage, having given up, decided to stay up and just see what his computer was talking about, about 8:00 p.m. Muriel and Eustace fell asleep (they had trouble due to the sores) and Courage kept an eye open for any activity he was warned about.
Hours passed and his one open eye began swelling and growing a puffy light red from irritation, still he continued to find out what was causing the unwanted sores, and then suddenly he heard a noise coming from beneath the cracks in the wooden floor below.
Then in a snake coiling fashion, Courage beheld a single strand of red wire, as it danced right below Eustace and Muriel, it sprouted numerous thin copper wires from its opening and pierced their skin.
Courage's jaw froze in horror as the wire suddenly began to bleed and blood was extracted from the couple, then as silently as it came it left, leaving nothing more than a thin, dotted blood trail of its path.