Chapter Three - The Bait

Matt Wu, a 12 year old boy with powers unknown to most human beings, walked quickly down the hall to a door at the end. On the opposite side lay death- the worst teacher in the school- Mrs. Ellen Briggs. She was the meanest teacher in the world- some say that she gives out F's without reading the papers. Mrs. Briggs taught the only elective that Matt thought was interesting: tech. His father was once a brilliant engineer, constructing and fixing cars for minimum wage. Eventually, he quit and started a new company called AutoFix. Now, he works as a computer software maker- making chips almost everyday.

So, when Matt signed up, he thought he made a good choice. WRONG! The moment he stepped in Mrs. Briggs's classroom, the moment he regretted it. Matt wished that he was in Blake's class in electives. He picked computers, which turned out to be good because the teacher was Mr. Tempron. He never gives out homework and always looks for effort, not finishing things.

Blake is a wimpy 7th grader who amazingly turned out to be Matt's best friend a couple years ago. They met at a place called Baltin Rohin- an ice cream store. They realized that they were in the same school... they talked and then a couple of minutes later they wanted a "play date." Recently, Blake has became a bit more stronger when he tackled the King of the Creatures with a water sprayer. The King was a fire bender, so that meant that he could shoot fire, but also means that he can die of water. The creatures that he was king of were dim-witted water benders. They were so amazingly dumb that they had no idea that the King could be at their mercy.

Another evil man, Dr. Vick, tried to take Matt's lightning ability so he could hatch the only remaining dinosaur egg. He was also a fire bender, but eventually died along with the others. Matt got his lightning powers from his ancestors, but to test his ability to handle it, he was struck by lightning when he placed his sneaker on a red X mark. Then, he got an explanation from the first ancestor of the lightning people- Bonette. According to her, there are about 100 or so of the lightning benders in Albany. Matt then got into some weird positions with lightning. In the first few days, he learned some serious attacks.

It is now nighttime and Matt was getting in bed. It was a warm day, about 70 degrees- one of the hottest days so far in the month of December. Winter Break started today, so Matt was looking foreward to Christmas. He really wanted a Bungento Jii- a Japanese Game System with wireless controls. The games were awesome- Jii Sports, Jii Play, and Jii Chess. Then, he would buy Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

The wind was rattling now, for the temprature dangerously dropped 50 degrees. The sound of branches hitting the windows of the other parts of the house made Matt stir in his sleep. Suddenly, a crash was heard, followed by a scream. Matt jolted from the bed and put his ear to the wall that was right next to his parent's room. His dad was on a business trip to Portland, and won't be back for another 2 weeks. There was the scream again- more closer now. It was definently mom, but Matt wasn't going to bother. She was probably watching a scary movie. December was the time to watch scary movies for Mrs. Wu.

Matt got back in his bed and looked at the ceiling above. A big lightning symbol looked back. Matt, in Thanksgiving, asked to paint lighting symbols all over, since he "loved" lightning so much. This time, a thump was heard and another scream followed. Laughter was then heard- a men's voice. "MOM!" Matt shouted.

He rushed out and flew to the double doors that was the entrance to her room. Instead of kicking it open, he reached for the knob and sent a small current to the lock that was on the opposite side. He then opened the door ever so slighty to see what was going on. His mother was on a chair, with a machine over her head. Two men in dark cloacks were watching her. One of them had a remote in its hand.

Matt looked at their faces... they were shrunken and ghost-like. "We are going to ask you again...," one of them said, "Where is the lightning source?"

"I d...don't know any lightning source. What are you talking about?" Mrs. Wu said.

"Where is the Lightning Source?" The other said.

"Maybe if I knew what the "lightning source" standed for..." Mrs. Wu began.

"Do not play games with me..." The first said. He pushed the button on the remote. A small static rushed to her head. She screamed yet again.

"Alright... " the one without the remote said, "the lightning source is a code name for your son, Matt Wu!"

"Why did you tell her that, Fred?" The one with the remote said.

"I don't really think she knew what it meant, Greg." Fred replied.

"What do you mean about Matt," Mrs. Wu said.

"Shut up." Fred replied.

Matt kicked the door open and said, "Here I am."

Fred and Greg both replied at the same time, "Come with us or she goes."

Matt looked at his mother and smiled. "Take me."

The two men eyed each other, shrugged, and advanced. As soon as they walked away from Mrs. Wu, he jumped into action and eyed balled them both in the chest. No effect.

Fred shot a purple beam at Matt's nose. He immediately smelled it. Matt fell to the floor, and fainted.

Fred and Greg caught Matt and put him in their hands. "So long Mrs. Wu," Fred said.

Mrs. Wu started to cry. The two had no sympathy, though.

In a flash, the two disappeared with Matt, leaving the sobbing Mrs. Wu tied up to a chair, a light detector electrifier tightly rooted onto her head.

Chapter Nine - Surprise

Matt Wu shook his head slowly as the guards advanced slowly. Bonette was out cold, on the ground. Matt knew that he could easily beat up these people, but he wanted to remain his power a secret, for now. Then, one of the guards, the leader, said to the others, "Leave him...Fred told us to get Bonette only."

Matt gasped quietly at what he said. "Fine, take her. She's right there. Leave me here, I'm useless."
"Quite right, " The leader replied modestly. "Come on you guys, help me lift her."
Surprisingly, everybody got up to help lift her up. While their backs were turned, Matt shot a weak but sturdy energy ball at the nearest one. "AARG!" The guard replied, fainting. The leader turned and smiled at Matt with glowing eyes.

"Your powers are back aren't they?" He said, in terror. The leader pulled out a Pistol, firing a single shot at Matt's head. Matt narrowly missed the oncoming target, and shot a plasma beam of energy at the Leader.
"NO!" One of the guards shouted and jumped into the Energy's path, killing him.
All the guards pulled out their rocket launchers, while the Leader held on to the Pistol. "Give up?" The leader shouted.

Matt didn't answer, for he was quickly turning over the bed as a shield. Matt then started firing jolts like crazy, hiding under the bed occasionally. The jolts were 50% accurate, with little energy. The leader started to shoot the bed with his pistol, making gaping holes as they hit. "Do not use the rocket launchers...they will kill us all." The Leader said, throwing pistols to the other guards. Matt did his duck and cover routine for quite a few minutes, killing only three people.

The leader, now frustrated, started to kick Bonette into a bin. Once in, he instructed a few others to help push. "You other people stay and fight to the death." The leader whispered, so Matt couldn't hear.

Meanwhile, Matt was busy charging up his ultimate attack. He glanced over the bed and saw only a handful of guards left. Bonette was missing. "Darn." Matt replied, realizing their plan. Matt had no choice but to charge up fully. Once he did, he leaped into the open air, blasted his energy ball, and ducked into the bed once more. Everybody in its path was disintegrated into mist.

Matt ran out of the shield and put his hand over his heart. "Truce." He replied, in a cunning voice.
There were only two guards remaining, so they shook their head.
Matt shot an eye-beam, while both guards shot their pistols. The three attacks collided with one-another, causing a deafening BOOM. Matt was thrown back against the wall, as the two guards were shot out of the room. A second later, they were back, holding their rocket launchers.

"If you shoot, you'll kill us all." Matt said, scared out of his wits.
"Exactly." Both guards replied. There was a boom, two rockets, a scream, and a fall.
Everything was destroyed. The bed was turned over, the shelf was thrown over, and more importantly, the guards were dead. Matt stirred and smiled once he got up. His plan worked.

"Thank you bed." Matt said, patting the demolished pillow. In a second, Matt was gone....on his way to save Bonette.


"Let me go." Bonette replied, struggling in the bin.
"We'll let you go once we get to the Headquarters." The leader replied, now annoyed. They had been walking for at least thirty minutes, and even he was getting restless.
"Sir," One of the guards said to the leader.
"What?" He snapped, holding Bonette and the bin firmly.
"What do you think happened to _ _ _ _?" The guard replied.
"Whose that?" Bonette replied, trying to use her powers.
"It's no use." The leader said, "You can't use your powers.
Bonette knew that, but she wasn't using them. She was using telepathy.

Matt felt something in his brain, and let it respond. Bonette was calling Matt, telling him where she was. "On it." Matt replied, sending her a message.
Bonette smiled miles away and listened to the others speak.

"He's probably you know.." The leader said, glancing at Bonette while he spoke.
One of the guards immediately turned around and shot a rocket into the sky. "Matt." He said, waving his hand.
The leader groaned and took out the grenade launcher.

Matt saw incoming projectiles heading his way. In incredible ease, he steered away from them. Matt could scarcely see the bunch miles below. He could make out the bin, where Bonette was being held. In careful aim, he shot a single beam of energy.

"Incoming!" The guard replied. "Energy blast heading out way!"
The leader and the two guards ducked behind a shrub, waiting for the impact. Instead, there was a crack, and the bin broke. Bonette stood up and cracked her knuckles.

Matt sighed in delight and zoomed down to Earth, wanting to get a few answers. Bonette was raising her hands, preparing for the kill. "NO!" Matt said, rushing into the path.
"What are you doing?" Bonette said, "we need to kill them."
"Not until we get some answers straight." Matt said.

Matt addressed the leader when he spoke. "Who are you?"
"Jack Held, leader of the guards, servant for the Two Greapers." The leader said.
"Who are the Greapers?" Matt said.
"Fred and Greg." Jack Held said, struggling to move from Bonette's electrical whip.
"Why doesn't my mom remember me?" Matt said, bringing back that memory.
"We poisoned her with acid." Jack said, smiling viciously.

Matt screamed and shot a blast of plasma, burning the three alive. "My masters will live!!" Jack said in his dying breath. "So will....Skiz...Forelli!" Jack fell to the ground, burned.
The two guards, who weren't burned as much, started to run away.
"I got them." Bonette said, taking out a whip of electricity. She pulled them together and brought them close. "We need them alive...in case." Bonette said.

Matt and Bonette smiled and knew what was coming up. "We have to save the world from them."
"And fast," Bonette replied, sad.
"We need help though." Matt said. "We're completely outnumbered."

Bonette nodded in agreement and said, "All in good time, Matt."
The two started to raise, as they flew back to the house, getting a plan ready.

Back at the Headquarters, Greg was treating Forelli, while Fred and Skiz were talking. "Once Forelli is fine again, we will go about out satellite plan." Fred said to Greg, who nodded.

"We are close. Dr. Vick's dream will not perish. He will live in us." Fred said, getting up.
Skiz roared in delight and walked away, tired.

While both parties of people were creating their plans, another party was rising. The lunar eclipse was beginning...

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter Eight - The Battle At Nenen

Matt walked past the gates, holding his only source of light: a flashlight. He heard the sounds of owls and rats that ran across the sidewalk. He put his hands on the doorknob. A sudden burst of icy coldness rushed to his heart at the touch of the frigid knob. He pushed the door open, but to no success. He burst through the door, electricity flowing within him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Vick was in his jeep, shouting at Dennis about the proper way to drive. “I told you, hold down the handles when braking, you snot monkey!”
“Yes Vick, but your car is smashed from the battle at Matt’s house.”
“Then fix it when we get Matt’s lightning. And brush your teeth; you smell like a baboon’s butt! Jeesh, do you ever brush?”
“Once in a while, sir.” Dennis said.
“Just concentrate, we are almost there.”

Matt glanced around his surroundings. He was in a dim room. He could barely see two feet ahead of him, partially because of cobwebs and because of dust. He could see a small spiral staircase just ahead of him. Not bothering to stay in the not seeable room, he quietly ascended the stairs, forgetting to fly. At the top was a single hallway, and at the end of it was a closed door. Who knew what lay on the other side…
Now flying, Matt reached the door. A small note that was written probably in blood was perched on the door:

To those who are reading.
Heed my warning,
Do not open the door
Death awaits on the other side
Beware,
You will never see light again
Leave now while you have the chance,
Or face your doom!

Matt re-read it two times before making up his mind. Obviously, the note is there to just fool people into not coming. Clearly, what ever is on the other side is something of a remarkable value…

“You idiot, you missed the haunted mansion driveway!” Vick said in a huffy puff voice.
“Sorry sir. Did not see.”
“Did NOT SEE WHAT? THE BIG MANSION THAT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR PUPILS. You need GLASSES!!!”
“I’m growing deaf from your shouting.” Dennis said unhappily.

Matt opened the door and quickly turned on the flashlight. He shined it in the room. All there was in the room was a bed. On the bed was a boy under the blankets. “Blake.” Matt whispered. He rushed to the bed and pried Blake into his hands. Good thing Blake was not heavy. He opened the window that was next to the bed. He was about to fly out with Blake when a voice behind him dropped Blake in a startled confusion.
“DDropp, za boyy. Noww!” A voice said behind him. A small pinch was injected into Matt’s back. He fell unconscious, loosing sight of Blake and seeing a creature with sharp claws…

Matt woke up on a small coffin. He reacted by standing up quickly and glancing at his surroundings. He was in a tool shed. Chainsaws, knives, and screwdrivers were placed along a workbench. He noticed that someone was breathing on him. Looking behind, he saw Blake, sleeping peacefully on the ground. Matt picked him up, and turned to the door that was on the opposite wall. He destroyed the ceiling and flew out with Blake. Good thing he did not exit by the door, because there was a trap right in front. He started to fly back to his house, when a water ball splashed onto Matt.
He was short-circuiting. Temporarily losing his powers, Matt started to fall. He fell on the roof of the mansion, with Blake next to him. A creature jumped onto the roof, having a water ball in his hand. He shot another water ball at Matt, who again was losing energy. All of a sudden, a bullet streaked out of nowhere, and smacked the water creature in the head.
Water splattered everywhere, as the creature fell dead. Matt looked to see who saved and wished he didn’t.

There stood Dr. Vick, his eyes gleaming and his lightning device saying, “MATCH FOUND!”
“We meet again Matt,” Vick said in a mean and grim voice. His face was in a grimace expression, full of hatred and fear. “You now why I need you. I need your lightning to hatch a dinosaur egg, which will help me take over the world. However, the egg is located in a tightly guarded area, and to reach there, I need some sort of power and that is lightning. If I were to use my fire power, the people guarding the egg could extinguish it with water.”
“What do ya mean, your fire?” Matt said perplexed.
Vick chuckled and said, “Better not get burned.” He moved his arms in a weird motion. All of a sudden, a fire blast erupted out of his hand and crashed onto the roof.
Matt had just barely moved himself and Blake out of the way before the fire ball hit the rooftop. Matt, after putting Blake in a safe place, shot a lighting wave at Vick’s hand. Vick, however, blocked off the shot by using fire. Matt volt tackled the man on the back, sending him to the ground. Using that split second, Matt shot yet another ball to tackle Vick. Vick sprang up, and created a fire beam that blasted Matt into a side gate, knocking him down. Vick said, “I will give you one last chance. Surrender, or face the consequences, M-” He was interrupted by a lightning shot that smacked his stomach.
Vick could not move, for he was paralyzed. Matt took the advantage and blasted a lighting beam at the lightning detector, smashing it into bits. “There, Vick. Now you will never be able to find me!”
Vick struggled to move. He was paralyzed, he could not move. Then he struggled to move his hands. He successfully was able to shot a fire ball, which not only disabled his paralyzes, but also knocked Matt to the ground.
A fierce battle emerged between them. Vick was shooting fire balls and Matt was concentrated on lightning balls. All of a sudden, a lighting ray shot out of Matt’s eyeball. The ray blast Vick through the heart, sending him spiraling to death. Matt froze with terror. He killed Vick, single-handedly.

Dennis who saw this was screaming in terror. In a sudden outrage of fury, Dennis smacked Matt to the ground. Matt got up and shot another eye ray that smashed Dennis to the ground, temporarily unconscious. Using that time, Matt picked up Blake and flew out of the mansion.
Vick’s dinosaur dream was done. Matt had earned his day’s rest.

Chapter Seven - The Haunted Mansion

Matt walked past his mother’s room, double checking to make sure that she was sound asleep; she was. Quietly so not even the motion detector can hear his vibrations, Matt slipped out of the house into the cold barren night. He seldom ever went out in the night, around 12:00. The gale wind whipped Matt in the cheeks as he slowly walked down to the house of the Tecks family.

He heard a cat prowling around, looking at Matt with its big, yellow eyes. No way he was going to use lightning to get to his friend’s house. It was too risky for someone one might see him flying in the cold night.

Meanwhile, back in the lab, Dr. Vick was strumming his beard.
“Dennis,” Vick cried.
“Y…Yes Mr. Vick, sir.” Dennis said fumbling into view.
“I need a diabolical plan to get rid of the boy.”
“What boy?”
“You IDIOT!” Vick roared, “the lightning boy, Matt Wu. I need a plan to get his powers. I need his powers to steal the dinosaur egg and unleash it.”
“But…-”
“Shut up, I got a plan.” Vick’s eyes gleamed like fire. “A vigorous plan!”

Matt arrived at his destination. With his knuckles, he knocked on the wood door. He then rang the doorbell. DING-DONG!
Mrs. Tecks arrived at the door, looking depressed and somewhat mad. “Hi, Matt. Remember?, Blake is not…”
“Here, I know that. Listen, I wanna go on the quest to the mansion, confront who ever, and save my friend.”
“Matt,” Mrs. Tecks said in a mournful voice, “you are jus’ a kid.”
“Let me try.” Matt said.
“I cannot say no, can I?” Mrs. Tecks said.
“Nope.” The door closed and Matt, with a triumph expression, briskly walked down to the street of Nenen. The night seemed to be going by quickly; if it became daytime, then everyone would see Matt using his powers. He did not want that to happen. The sign said that Nenen was ½ mile away. He was almost to his arrival spot: The Haunted Mansion. He then saw a laboratory that was coming up ahead.
He then somehow thought if Dr. Vick would be following him. He glanced back. No one was there. “Phew.” Matt quickened his pace; two hours until 7:30, the time that most people wake up at. Then, he saw it.

The Haunted Mansion stood, up ahead, looking tall and…ugly. It was covered with filth and dust. There were cobwebs under the roof, and spiders dangling on the windows. Not a good place to sleep in, he thought. Shrugging to himself, Matt walked up the steps to the gate that led to the door of the mansion. He had to somehow get through the gate. How? Could he barge the gate open with his fists, or maybe use lightning to smack down the hinges, causing the gate to collapse…
Matt double checked to make sure no one was looking. He then smacked the gate with a lightning blast that burned the gate to almost ashes. Thinking no one saw him, Matt walked to the door.

Indeed, no one did see Matt using lightning. However, some one realized that Matt used lightning. Dr. Vick was squealing, “Matt did lightning. Yeah, now I know where Matt is: On Nenen Street, on his way to the Haunted Mansion. Hey Dennis, get your fat buttocks up, we are going to the mansion!”
“Yes Sir.”
“Matt is going to have a little surprise when he gets to the mansion.” Vick said laughing. “Matt Wu, you are going down!!”

Chapter Six - Dr. Vick's Evil Plot

   Dr. Vick stood at the chemistry table, peering at the test tubes with a frowned expression. “One of these test tubes contains iodine, and one has sugar. If I can just find them, I can create Sulyturz acid, which possibly can convince the scientists to hand me the last dinosaur egg on Reshna. Then, I will burn the egg, forcing the dinosaur to hatch. Then, I’ll add growth acid on it, and make it a real adult dinosaur. Then, I can…”

   “Dr. Vick,” said Vick’s assistant Dennis. “I have the l…”

   “Shut up and bring me the device.” Dr. Vick beamed with excitement as he tasted iodine and sugar. It had a dulcet smell, which made him even more excited. He took the iodine and carefully tipped the element into the sugar. A sizzling sound was heard and the sugar dissolved into the iodine, which became liquid. He tipped some mercury into the solution and added some poison liquid. He then put the experiment into the freezer. He looked back and saw Dennis walking with the device crammed into his hands.

    “Here it is.” Dennis said, “The lightning device.”
   “The device that will help me locate sources of lightning. My device says that it found someone who is holding a huge amount of lightning. RECORD PLAY!”
   The device said, “11:34 p.m., lightning blast caused by 11 year old Matt Wu, who lives on Neckraw Street.”

    Dr. Vick smiled viciously and laughed. “My lightning machine works! If I can harness this power, I can not only have a dinosaur, but I can kill all the people who called me names. Know what this means, Dennis?”
    “What?”
    “My god, how dumb are you? REVENGE, Dennis, REVENGE!” Vick walked to a large dinosaur drawing. “You will be mine, Matt Wu. Dennis, turn on the jeep. Our expedition begins now. Matt, you’re going DOWN.” Vick went in the jeep and laughed.

    The jeep turned onto the road and started moving. Dennis said, “Tell me where to go.”
    “Make a right on Gazeer Road.” The jeep headed ninety degrees right, causing Dr. Vick to shout at Dennis, for he had veered right to quickly. “Left on Seam Way.” The car went again in a sharp turn. “You bamboozle, can’t you drive properly?”
    “Sorry.”
    The car went in another series of sharp turns, which made Dr. Vick shout again. Finally, they arrived…

    Matt was on his bed, reading a magazine called Lightning. Then he heard the sound of a car stopping on the driveway. Matt looked at the window and saw two guys staring right at him. One of them smiled and cracked his knuckles. “AAGH!” Matt said, hoping that no one heard him. He quickly loped down to the backyard, and looked again. The men were still looking at Matt’s window. “Bad Guys,” he murmured. He shot a small lightning bolt, which shattered the front glass of Vick’s car.
    “Damn, MY CAR! I…” Vick stopped, because his lightning detector was beeping. “Lightning nearby,” he said. “Matt.” Vick stepped out, holding a gun like device.

    Matt flew behind a tall pine tree, and shot a small ball of energy. Vick dodged, spotted Matt, and shot a bullet from his gun. It missed by an inch. Matt shot a bolt, and Vick shot a bullet. The two objects collided, forming a bomb that exploded into the sky. Both the humans were not hurt. Matt shot a huge energy bolt that missed Vick, but hit Dennis. He fell.
    “YOU KILLED MY ASSISTANT, YOU ID…AARG!” An electric ball smacked him to the ground. Blood gushed out of him, as he said, “ASTA LA VISTA...” He fell.

    Matt stared. He killed two people. He gasped and ran back in the house, after hiding the blood and the men. What he failed to see was that Dr. Vick’s hands were still moving, and Dennis’s heart was still beating…

    As soon as Matt reached his room, the phone rang. “Hello?”
“Please press 1 to hear this record.” Matt pressed 5. “This is Mrs. Tecks. We are offering one hundred dollars for anyone who can find Blake.” The line went dead.
“I’ll do it.” He said, and left.