Chapter 8

Later that day, Daniel is eating dinner with his Dad. "So, what were you lying about, earlier today?" says Dr Anderson. Daniel looked up and says: "What are you talking about?" "I can tell when you're lying to me, even when the lie detector wasn't working properly." "I wasn't lying Dad. I swear." Dr Anderson then holds up Daniel's phone and says: "Oh really?"

Daniel's face lit up and he tried to snatch his phone back; but his Dad pulled it away. Dr Anderson looked through Daniel's phone, then he finds a photo of Mal0 and shows it to Daniel. "The fuck is this then?!" he says to Daniel. "You told me you wouldn't download it, but you still did it anyway!" Daniel looked down and says: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Sorry, is not going to cut it! If the Foundation found out, you could lose your life. Literally!" Daniel then took his phone back and said: "But they don't suspect a thing. They think it was all Dr Segal; which it was technically." Dr Anderson looked at Daniel angrily, then he said: "Well actually, you were an accomplice to the whole thing! I should tell them what you did; but I won't."

Daniel looked confused and says: "Really?" "Yes. But tell me this: why was it hugging you?!" Daniel looked away before saying: "Because it thinks I'm it's friend. But I'm just a poor soul, that downloaded a shady app and got something bad out of it." Dr Anderson folded his arms and said: "Are you telling me the truth?" "Yes, I am. One hundred percent this time."

Daniel then ran upstairs to his room. He slammed the door and sat on his bed. Daniel then got a message, he checked it and it was from Mal0. "I'm not your friend?" she said. Daniel gulped as he realised, she can see and hear him wherever he goes. He then turned to his side and saw Mal0 standing next to him. Daniel quickly stood up and said: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Oh, do you mean: "I'm a poor soul, I downloaded a shady app and I got something bad?" Mal0 said whilst approaching Daniel. Meanwhile, Dr Clef stood outside Daniel's bedroom window and looked inside. He held the camera and when Daniel got into frame, he took a picture. As the picture printed out, Dr Clef hid behind a tree. He then picked up the picture and stared at it.

On the picture Daniel is staring at Mal0; but she was staring at Dr Clef. As soon as he saw Mal0, Dr Clef pulled out a gun and ran to the front of the house. He then pulled out a button and pushed it. Meanwhile at the Foundation, a scientist was observing a screen when saw Dr Clef's signal. "Sir! Dr Clef's emergency beacon just turned on!" he shouted out loud.

"Where is he?!" says another scientist. "It says he's outside Dr Anderson's house." "Good. I'll contact a strike team and send them over there immediately." Back at the house, Dr Clef knocked on the door and Dr Anderson opens it. "Dr Clef?" he says. "Dr Anderson! Your son's in danger!" "What?! What are you talking about?!" Dr Clef hands the picture over and runs upstairs.

Dr Anderson looks at the picture and says: "Oh shit." Dr Clef bursts through the bedroom door and points his gun at Daniel. "Whoa! Dude, what are you doing?!" says Daniel. "Don't "dude" me! I saw 1471 next to you! Where is it?!" Dr Clef shouts at Daniel. "What are you talking about?! There isn't anything here!" "Don't lie to me kid! I know you lied to the Foundation about Dr Segal!"

Outside the bedroom, Dr Anderson stands outside and watches them. "I said that Dr Segal put my phone in the machine, and he did! That's what happened!" Daniel says. "Yes, but you missed the part that you downloaded the app; not him!" shouts Dr Clef. Dr Anderson then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Dr Clef. "Drop it!" he shouts at Dr Clef.

Dr Clef spun around, he pointed his gun at Dr Anderson and shouts: "So you knew?! Why didn't you tell anyone?!" "Because he literally just told me minutes ago! Now put the gun down, or else I'll shoot you!" Dr Anderson shouts back. Dr Clef smiled and says: "It's too late. I activated my beacon. The Foundation will be here soon. And when they do, I'll tell them everything about Mr Anderson and his "friend."

Suddenly, the door slammed shut and the light flickered. Mal0 then appeared behind Dr Anderson and pushed him out of the way. She then grabbed Dr Clef's hands so he couldn't shoot his gun. "Let go you bitch! Literally!" Dr Clef shouts at Mal0. She then snatched the gun away and threw it next to Daniel. Mal0 then puts her hands around Dr Clef's neck and squeezes it.

Dr Anderson jumped up and pointed his gun at Mal0. "Let him go!" he shouts at Mal0. "Let go or I'll shoot!" Daniel shouts back: "No don't! You'll just make it worse!" Dr Anderson pulls the trigger and hits Mal0 in the shoulder. Black blood splattered the wall and Mal0 turned around. But as she lets go of Dr Clef, one of her claws cuts his neck and it bleeds.

Dr Clef falls to the floor whilst holding his neck. Mal0 then holds her shoulder and disappears. Dr Anderson runs over to help Dr Clef, he gasps as a lot of blood seeps out of the wound. "Oh shit! He's gonna die, unless help comes quicker!" he shouts at Daniel. Suddenly, Mal0 appeared behind Dr Anderson again and grabbed his neck. He tried to shoot, but Mal0 grabbed his gun and threw it out the window.

Daniel, in complete shock grabs Dr Clef's gun, and points it at Mal0 before saying: "Mal0?! I'm sorry for what I said! But please let my Dad go!" Mal0 tilted her head slowly, then she hears a voice from behind her. "Don't move!" Mal0 spun around to see a bunch of soldiers standing behind her. "Let him go, or we'll shoot!" Daniel then says: "Mal0? Please let him go? It doesn't have to end like this."

Mal0 looks over to Daniel, he was still pointing a gun and then she started to cry. "I'm sorry friend," says Mal0. She then lets go of Dr Anderson and disappears again.