~Chapter Four~
Clyde looked like a cyber-deer in headlights as he watched his computer screen fill with zeroes and ones. Then in huge red letters: "SYSTEM WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN 1 MINUTE." It proved to be enough time to find his Skwak Pad among a pile of papers, contact Eileen on her Skwak Pad upstairs, and have her get the children out. However, it wasn't enough time for Clyde to save himself. Just as he got off the line with his wife, his computer exploded into a mass of flames, blocking the door to his study. Knowing there was no hope of escape now; Clyde backed into a corner and said a prayer that God would protect his family. Just as Clyde finished the last sentence of his prayer, the flames engulfed his body. He was dead…
Eileen heard the explosion and knew instantly what had happened. Unfortunately, she had no time to mourn the loss of her husband. The children however had also heard and could smell the smoke from their rooms.
Melissa awoke immediately and ran for the door, but hesitated upon smelling the fumes coming from down the hallway. Eileen then opened the door, a petrified Marbles standing beside her with his Skwak.
"Melissa!" her mother said with fear trembling in her voice, "Grab your Skwak Pad and come with me. Hurry! The house is on fire!"
Melissa obeyed her mother.
"But what's going on?" Melissa asked as they hurried downstairs, "Where's Dad?"
"There's no time to explain right now darling," Eileen answered, "Right now we need to get out of here before the fire spreads."
The three rushed down the stairs and made it out the front door in time to escape the fire, but were met by another threat. Waiting for them were seven cyborgs, dressed head to toe in black uniforms. Eileen knew instantly who they were. They were a small part of the enemy's army.
"Eileen Benson," replied one cyborg as he removed his mask, "So you and your husband have been found at last!"
"Biff!" Eileen hissed, recognizing the General of Abaddon's army.
"Make that General Biff little lady!" his tone softened into sarcasm, "It's been a long time old friend. I've missed you."
"Old friend!" Eileen laughed just as sarcastically, "YOU ARE A TRAITOR!"
"And it's the best move I've ever made in my life!" the cyborg shouted.
"Mom what's going on?!" Melissa asked, both confused and terrified.
The General laughed. "I see! So you haven't warned the little ones about our plans!"
General Biff turned his gaze to the two trembling children.
"Well I may as well fill you in," the cyborg said, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "These cyborgs and I work for a powerful cyborg by the name of Abaddon. He has been trying to overthrow the current idiot of a leader and declare himself the new ruler of Cyberspace. With him in charge, the whole government will change. But Sir Dummy's assistants and spies have been constantly getting in our way of new cyber-world order, especially your beloved parents."
"So that's what it's been all this time!" Melissa thought to herself as she clang to her mother for protection.
General Biff continued, "So before we can go any further with our plans for cyber-domination, we must eliminate our main problem… And leave no witnesses behind either!"
"Meaning you children are about to die with your parents!" shouted another cyborg.
The General nodded his head and all seven cyborgs took out a large weapon. Melissa & Marbles, being the avid readers they were, knew just as well as Eileen what kind of weapons they were.
"MAGNETITE GUNS!" the six-year old cyborg screamed in terror.
Eileen scooped Marbles up into her arms.
"Come with me Melissa!" she said to her daughter as they attempted to escape into the depths of the Forever Forest. (This whole time, Eileen and Clyde were certain that living in the middle of such a large forest would keep all four of them safe, but they were wrong.)
Before they could get anywhere, the cyborgs had surrounded the mother and her children. Eileen knew now that there was only one way she could save her children. As the first cyborg opened fire on the family, she quickly pushed Melissa and Marbles onto the ground and hovered over them, using her body as a shield.
All cyborgs react negatively to magnetite. Some will only feel a little sick for a while; others will die on the spot. Eileen was one of those cyborgs that didn't react greatly to it. But any cyborg that is taking several shots from all surrounding directions is going to have fatal results.
Melissa and Marbles watched in horror as their mother took one blow after another. Each hit Eileen received was more painful than the last. The wires of her inner circuitry were beginning to spark. She knew she was dying and with Clyde also gone her children would be left defenseless against the army. The eldest child tried to hold back her tears, but they fell regardless. Eileen looked at her two weeping children, then down at her arms and saw that her body was slowly dematerializing.
"Melissa, Marbles," she whispered with the last of her strength, "You must find some way to leave this place once I'm gone." Marbles was about to say something, but then realized what was happening before his young eyes. "Do whatever you must. Just... get away from them," Eileen continued as a single tear ran down her almost transparent cheek.
Another shot of magnetite hit her in the side. With that, Eileen's body vanished and her soul went to join that of her husband's…