"I was created by a former ally of Hacker; thanks to a portion of Matt's DNA found and Cyberspace technology." Max started. "And yes, I have traveled between this world and mines several times, but not as a hunter. My initial mission was to spy on you until you found out how to get back to Cyberspace. Now, the game has changed."
"What do you mean?" Inez demanded. Max glared at her.
"It means I have to kill you." His glanced turn to Matt. He took another step as Matt tensed.
"You should've stop snooping around trying to go back. Now Hacker knows. We've tried to stop him for the past four Earth years." Max snarled at him. "And now he knows you Earthlings are back; everything went to the Bin."
"Everything?" Slyder asked.
"Almost." Max said.
Matt knew the Bin referred to Cyberhell. Everything to be thrown away and deleted forever.
"That stupid bird tried...he's probably still stuck in the Bin." Max said.
"Digit? You know where Digit is?" Jackie asked.
"Tell us!" Matt demanded. Max cackled. And his face become serious.
"You're crazy if you think I'm going to tell you anything. Stay in your place and don't come back to Cyberspace. No Digit, No Dr. Marbles, No Motherboard, nothing. Or I will kill you." Max's hand transformed into a gun aiming at Matt's head. Matt couldn't move at all staring at the gun pointed at him. Then he flinched gaining his old confidence again.
"No. I will do something; because Dr. Marbles told me we had to. We're the only ones." As Matt flashed the SWAK watch, Max flinched. "Our world and yours are entwined and we're trying to help prevent it from spiraling to inevitable chaos in the future.
"I don't believe it...he gave you those..." Max's metallic hand retreated to a normal hand. He stared down at the wall. "He shouldn't have. That fool."
"Dr. Marbles is not a fool! He gave these to us for a reason!" Jackie stepped in. Max just laughed. The gang heard the doors unlocked and open.
"You're all..." His face changed, "Persistent fools." Max started to head back upstairs slowly, "Your fates are engraved in the depths of the Bin. It's not pretty...not at all. But it's easily avoidable if you just stay your place and leave it to the natives of Cyberspace."
"Why are you telling me this? Aren't you going to kill me?" Matt gripped the railing. Max stopped and stared him down.
"Maybe still, but I have a feeling if I do that...things will be less fun." Max smirked. "Please insist on risking your lives. You'll have to anyway...for our own stakes " As he disappeared upstairs. The bell rang shortly after that the squad still standing in one place.
"Guys...my place... after-school." Slyder said in a hush as he held Jackie's hand as they rushed to their next class. Matt and Inez were left alone. They made their way to the next class; unavoidable silence between them.
"This is too much...to take in." Inez gripped her sides. Matt said nothing.
"What are you going to do Matt? This lunatic just exposed us and...for all we know he's working for Hacker." Inez said as they stood in front of the class.
"He's not. He wouldn't be telling us about all of those things about the future; our fates? No,...I have a feeling he's been trying to mortally wound me because he's trying to save us." Matt said. He looked at Inez. "But we can't just not do anything and watch the world fall into the hands of Hacker. Things...aren't going to end well."
"Matt? Matt...no. Stop talking like that...What are you saying?" Inez gripped his arm. He sighed.
"I'll tell you later." Matt promised. "But,...let's go to class first." As they walked in before the teacher closed the door.
/
Matt knew he said too much by telling Inez that things weren't going to end well. He knew she knew he was referring to himself.
I think I know I'm going to die.
Matt sat in his English class, frustrated with himself as Inez couldn't look at him. His teacher, Mrs. Harton walked over by him; clearly studying his expression.
"Matthew, is something the matter?" She asked. Matt brushed off his boiling anger as he gripped the pencil.
"Nothing ma'm." He said tight-lipped. The teacher flinched.
"I can't honestly believe that when you just broke your pencil like that." Ms. Harton indicated as Matt looked down at the splinter pieces of his pencil on his desk and hands. He sighed.
"Just stress. I'll be okay honestly." He wished the teacher will go away. Thankfully she did, retreating to her desk glancing once more at Matt. He threw the pencil aside and grabbed another one so he could finish his short essay.
At the bell he walked with Inez as usual, but there was little to no talking. It was too hurtful to utter a word from one or the other. Matt didn't like this uneasy return of heartache as the more he walked in silence beside Inez; the more it hurt and brought back the anger he buried deep within.
"Inez." He started as they got outside. They stopped on the steps, his hands in his pockets.
"Are you going to tell me?" Her voice was low and almost fragile; like she didn't want to hear the truth.
"You're the only true friend I know and can at least tell before all the others. I...want you to know." Matt said. Inez raised her glance, her deep chocolate eyes making Matt melt. He averted his gazed and walked ahead on the bike. They both got on.
"It would be better if it was somewhere we can talk alone actually...before we, head over to Slyder's..." Matt pedaled as Inez held on his waist. "Are you sure about this?"
Inez sighed, "I'm not sure. I have a feeling...but,...to actually hear it might weigh on the truth more than the myth..." They fell silent as Matt took a shortcut downhill to the park. He halted to a stop as they both got off. They walked towards the playground; far enough so they could watch the kids play under sun and sit in the shade.
"Inez..." Matt puffed as he braced against the tree. "If I can tell you this; I can tell you anything."
Inez closed her eyes, "Really?"
Matt held his breath, watching a relax Inez sit in the wind with her neck tilted up slightly like the wind was caressing her jaw.
"Yeah." Matt said.
"Tell me then." Inez insisted. Matt tried to readied himself; feeling the need to tell her rapidly retreated and immediately tell him to say no and never mind. If he was going to die, he wanted to let Inez know he...really liked her.
"Inez." Matt started. "When I was having recurring dreams, I had this one dream that was not like the others... I felt I was really there. I saw Dr. Marbles. And besides all the things he told me to tell you guys...he said something else...about my fate."
"What was it?" She insisted. He grabbed a fistful of grass.
"...and I couldn't help but relate it to my condition, what Max said that might actually be true and slowly come to a firm conclusion: I just might die." Matt began to rub his temple as he felt a slight headache come on. "There are signs everywhere..."
"No...don't...don't say that." Inez drew back shortly after trying to reach out. "That...isn't right. How could that happen? Split us up? No...it won't."
"Inez." Matt felt bad; creating a distraught Inez. He didn't know what to do; how to calm her. Even holding her hand didn't help. But he couldn't help it lead him to the one life choice he wanted to make that would change things.
"And what about Jackie? Slyder?" Inez went on, feeling frustrated, "How can you say that so casually? Does it mean nothing-"
Inez was stumped when Matt interrupted her ranting with a swift movement of kissing her on the lips.
"It means everything...you mean everything." Matt stared at her.