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MePhone

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"A... Hot air balloon?" I cower back behind my 'safety bush'. Why are they using a hot air balloon? Don't tell me they're going to Meeple Headquarters!

"I hate this," I grumble, "I can't even eat a cookie without their sound detectors picking it up!"

"Voice identified," a robotic voice says. I slap my hand over my mouth, mentally scolding myself. The MePhones' arms transform into small lasers.

What? Why don't I have a built-in laser?! I grunt at the thought. Those contestants better hurry up.

I sigh and sit quietly behind the bush. As long as I didn't make a sound, the MePhones wouldn't detect me.

Then, something extremely shiny caught my eye. Is that... A cookie?!

I check my surroundings before dashing to grab that beautiful pastry. Ooh, it's a chocolate chip cookie! My favorite!

As quietly as possible, I pick up the small pastry. Perfect timing, I'm so hungry!

The cookie ends up making a loud beeping noise, causing me to jump in surprise.

"Target located," a robotic voice says. My eyes widen and I sprint as fast as possible. This time, though, the MePhones were hot on my trail.

"Oh god... Cobs is here for me..." I generate all sorts of obstacles to obstruct the MePhones, from couches to shower curtains. Nothing seemed to phase them.

"Do not resist," one of the MePhones say, "This will be much easier for the both of us if you would comply."

"As if!" I dodge one of the neon-red bullets.

"Suit yourself, MePhone4. There is no way your outdated technology will be able to take on all of us."

Though I knew it wasn't wrong, I wasn't going to go down just yet. I generate a shield to deflect one of their laser attacks. Bad idea.

The laser immediately disarms my shield, causing it to go into a short-circuit. The shield glitches rapidly before disappearing completely.

I suck in a breath and attempt to generate more defensive items. I can't go down just yet... I just can't!

"You are surrounded, MePhone4," MePhoneX says, "Surrender and we won't fire."

"No...," I mumble, "I'm not going down just yet."

The MePhoneX raises its weapon. "Last chance."

I close my eyes in attempt to clear my mind. I just need to find an opening... I just need to hold the MePhoneXs off long enough for the contestants to go through with the plan.

The ground rumbles. The MePhones seem unfazed by this. They walk closer and closer, slowly trapping me within the small circle they've created.

"Cobs," I hiss, "If you want me so badly, why don't you come grab me yourself?"

The screen of the leading MePhoneX flickers for a few moments before revealing none other than Cobs himself.

"MePhone4."

My stomach felt sick. Just looking at him and hearing his voice made my whole system numb.

"I think it's long past due that you retire your role as the host of Inanimate Insanity," he says, "After all, you're pretty much ancient technology."

I was unable to respond. My whole body felt paralyzed— just seeing him again made me feel weak in the knees.

"Speechless?" He chuckles bitterly. "Don't worry, I'll have fun deactivating you later. For now, I'm curious as to how long you'll last. Maybe we should find out? Our views may go up!"

"Y-You..." Taking my chance to escape, I shove past the momentarily frozen MePhones and dash into the forest.

"MePhone4," Cobs shouts, "You may run, but you'll come to see that all your efforts are futile!"

~

I ran, and ran, and ran. I kept running, even after the sound of footsteps became inaudible. I couldn't face him. I can't face him.

What's wrong with me? I really am a coward! I try my hardest to block out these intrusive thoughts, focusing on running. I didn't care where I'd end up— I just wanted to be far away from Cobs. For once in my life, I wanted to be in a place where he couldn't reach me. In a place where no one could find me.

My energy starts to run low, forcing me to stop running. I place myself onto the soft grass below.

"Then, I guess... What am I doing here, then?"

"M-MistaPhone..."

"What if he was taken by Cobs?!"

"Please."

"I think that we should just have trust in each other to get through this! Right? Right, MePhone?"

"Cobs."

Trust? Trust? Trust?

"DONT!"

The whole world spun around like an endless carousel. I couldn't breathe no matter how hard I tried.

Then, everything froze.

"I found it, sir," a voice behind me says, "I found MePhone4."

~