Eilish

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*What you're about to read is my best approximation of what happened to Michael Eilish on September 15th, 1939.* *This account was compiled from a [[box of documents]] relating to the event left behind in Michael's will.* [[Next ->September 15th, 1939.]] (set: $Spoon to "false") (set: $Scar to "false")

In the first few days of September 1939, women and children were evacuated from London under fears of bombing from German forces. Michael was placed on a train and sent to the countryside to reside with strangers, [[Martin and Sally Inslow.]] Staying at the Inslow household with Michael was another evacuee, Margaret Sprink. [[Next ->Margaret Sprink.]]

Michael Eilish, millionaire investor of the [[Cathy virtual assistant]] and owner of the [[Reffin salt mine]] in the north of England, entered his lawyer's office five years ago and changed the terms of his will. In the event of his disappearance, a box of documents were to be given to his family just three days following. Inside were a series of scribbled stories and news headlines relating to a creature Michael believed visited him regularly, all stemming from an event that occurred on September 15th, 1939. [[Next ->September 15th, 1939.]]

Michael bought the Reffin salt mine two years prior to his disappearance. Extraction projects within the eastern section of the mine were ceased immediately, under Michael's orders. Workers from the town of Reffin held a two-week long strike after production slowed to a crawl with the closing of the deepest deposits. Michael never budged, keeping the section closed and cutting his profits with a hefty employee raise and a donation to the town that made up for losses. Since Michael's disappearance, Reffin have fought to gain back access to the area, with a court hearing is set to take place next year. [[Back ->box of documents]]

A search for Martin and Sally Inslow brought me to their graves, side by side. The pair had no children or living relatives to be contacted, but Margaret Sprink's letters home had spoken of them kindly. They died months apart in their 80's. [[Back ->September 15th, 1939.]]

An attempt to find Margaret Sprink led me to her niece in South London who showed me letters from Margaret, sent to her parents during the time she was hosted with Michael at the Inslow household. She wrote that Michael "came with a storm above him." Margaret was three years older than Michael at the time and they shared a room together at the Inslow house. She noted that Michael would venture downstairs each night to sleep in the living room. [[Next ->venture downstairs]]

Margaret wrote about Michael's nightly escapes to the living room throughout their first week of residence with the Inslow's. She said that when Martin discovered that Michael had been sneaking downstairs at night, he got //tense.// He tried to ban Michael from venturing downstairs, but Michael didn't listen. Martin eventually sat the kids down together and warned them about Sally Inslow's supposed sleepwalking. [[Next ->sleepwalking.]]

Martin claimed that of an evening, Sally sometimes took herself to the kitchen in a dreamlike state. She would hunch over the kitchen drawer and count the spoons. This, Martin claimed, was why Michael shouldn't venture downstairs at night. If either of the kids were to hear the sound of spoons lining a counter, stay in your beds and suspect it's just Sally, counting away. [[Next ->counting away.]]

But more importantly, if you happen to find yourself downstairs with her at a moment like this. Do not disturb her. Do not see her. Should you ever fail both, strike a deal. [[Next ->Do not see her.]]

The night of September 15th was recounted in great detail by Michael in his documents. Michael and Margaret were put to bed at 9pm. Margaret, whom Michael thought of fondly, [[snuck a pie]] and a spoon each with her for the pair to share in bed. At 1AM the house was asleep, but Michael was having trouble getting there. He decided to: [[Sneak downstairs]] [[Try and sleep]]

Michael didn't speak of Margaret often in his early writing of the event, but as he got older, he would begin to go into more detail about her. He believed that her bringing snacks to bed was a way to try and help him feel more comfortable. He even confessed to a boyhood crush on the girl in later documents. Her efforts to care for him were not lost on Michael and he wished he had told her that he appreciated it. A small effort to repay Margaret's kindness was to hide the evidence of a night, (text-colour:green)[//sliding the spoons into his pocket//] when they were done so he could return them on his trips downstairs. [[Back ->Do not see her.]] (set: $Spoon to "true")

What the Inslows and Margaret never understood about Michael's trips to the living room was that Michael's "storm above him" was a greater fear than any sleepwalker in the kitchen. Getting caught or encountering Sally of a night was nothing compared to the very real threat of bombs falling from above. Michael would go downstairs to feel safe. [[Next ->go downstairs]]

Michael tossed and turned in his bed, losing track of time and jealously looking at Margaret as she slept peacefully across from him. After what felt like forever, Michael was disturbed by a noise at 2:24AM. [[Next ->2:24AM]]

Michael slowly sat up and slid his feet off the bed, careful not to wake Margaret. He wrapped his duvet around him and made his way to the living room. Curling up on the sofa, Michael would sleep undisturbed until 2:23AM. [[Next ->2:23AM.]]

Footsteps, in the kitchen. Michael knew he would be in trouble if caught, he bit his tongue and stayed still. The sound of a drawer opening alerted Michael to what was happening. Metal scraped against metal before a single //Tink// sound rang out. Sally was sleepwalking, counting spoons on the counter. Michael decided to: [[Stay still]] [[Take a look]] [[Go upstairs]] <audio src="sounds/spoon(1).mp3" autoplay>

The sound of a drawer opening in the kitchen downstairs alerted Michael to a presence in the home. Metal scraped against metal before a //Tink// sound let Michael know what was happening, Sally was sleepwalking, counting spoons on the kitchen counter. Michael listened, and after anumber of //Tink// sounds, the counting had finished. Or so he thought. The sound of footsteps climbing the stairs had him suspect that Sally would be returning to bed. The light seeping under the door darkened, she had stopped outside their bedroom. Michael: [[Hid under the duvet]] [[Woke Margaret ->Wake Margaret]] <audio src="sounds/spoons.mp3" autoplay>

Thinking there was little risk of being caught, Michael decided to cover his head with the duvet and try to drown out the noise of rattling spoons. After a number of //Tink// sounds, the counting had finished. (if: $Spoon is "true")[Footsteps made their way out of the kitchen and into the living room. Michael: [[Faked Sleeping]] [[Looked]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")[Footsteps made their way out of the kitchen and headed upstairs. Michael: [[Slept]] [[Followed]]] <audio src="sounds/spoons.mp3" autoplay>

Creeping his way to the kitchen door, Michael peeked around the corner. Michael saw a woman hunched over the open kitchen drawer, picking up the spoons and placing them on the counter, side by side. Michael was sure of one thing in this instance, this woman was not Sally Inslow. Thinking he had remained unseen, Michael's confidence dropped out of him as a giggle came from the woman counting spoons. "Don't see me" she said playfully. Michael: [[Ran back to the living room]] [[Watched the woman]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

Sneaking past the kitchen doorway, Michael quietly rushed up the staircase, duvet dragging behind him. Returning to his bedroom, Michael got in bed and listened. After a number of //Tink// sounds, the counting had finished. Or so he thought. The sound of footsteps climbing the stairs had him suspect that Sally would be returning to bed. The light seeping under the door darkened, she had stopped outside their bedroom. Michael: [[Hid under the duvet]] [[Woke Margaret ->Wake Margaret]] <audio src="sounds/spoons.mp3" autoplay>

A few moments later, Michael heard a scream. [[Next ->Margaret.]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Sneaking along the hall, Michael followed the woman upstairs. At the top of the hall, Michael noticed that she didn't return to the Inslow bedroom, but walked into the children's room instead. Michael: [[Waited]] [[took a peak]]

Martin Inslow was the lead suspect in the murder of Margaret Sprink but nothing came of it. Found in the children's bedroom was an undiscernible pile of flesh, every bone removed from the body. With no discernible entry wound from which to remove the bones, it was impossible to claim any human had done anything to her. Michael told officers what happened in the night, but his story was dismissed as a fairy tale Martin had told to scare him. The murder remains unsolved. [[Return to start ->start]]

Moments later, Michael heard a scream. [[Next ->Margaret.]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Poking his head around the doorway, Michael saw the woman hunched over the pie dish, picking up the spoons the children had used for their late night snack. Michael was sure of one thing in this instance, this woman was not Sally Inslow. Thinking he had remained unseen, Michael's confidence dropped out of him as a giggle came from the woman counting spoons. "Don't see me" she said playfully. Michael: [[Ran downstairs]] [[watched the figure]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

Quickly exiting, Michael left Margaret behind and ran downstairs. Moments later, Michael heard a scream. [[Next ->Margaret.]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Michael was frozen with fear as the figure slowly stood up. Believing the woman to have her back to him, Michael's bones turned cold as the hunched over lady rose to reveal that she was never hunched at all. She had been bent over backwards. As the pair locked eyes, Margaret opened hers. Spotting the figure above her, Margaret screamed in terror, drawing the creatures attention. Michael: [[Ran]] [[Watched]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Margaret's scream suddenly cut off as Michael rushed his way downstairs. [[Next ->Margaret.]]

Margaret looked towards Michael in the doorway and let out a terrified, confused call for help. "Michael?" was the last thing she said as the creature leapt upon her, the spoons it held flying across the floor and landing at Michael's feet. Michael: [[Did nothing]] [[Attacked]]

Michael jumped on the creature's back to no avail. With a swift motion he was sent flying across the room, landing face first onto the handle of a spoon with such force that it split the skin and slid into his cheek. Standing up, he quickly yanked the spoon from his face as the creature rose above what was left of Margaret. Michael saw that only a pile of flesh remained, the bones removed from her body. The figure turned to look at Michael and the spoon in his hand. Remembering what Martin had told him, Michael struck a deal. [[Next ->Struck a deal]] (set: $Scar to "true")

Rising off of Margaret, Michael saw that only a pile of flesh remained, the bones removed from her body. The figure turned to look at Michael. Remembering what Martin had told him, Michael struck a deal. [[Next ->Struck a deal]]

(if: $Scar is "true")[Michael quickly grabbed the second spoon from the floor and held the bloody handles up to the creature.] (if: $Scar is "false")[Picking up the spoons from the floor, Michael held them up in front on him with his eyes closed.] The creature looked at the spoons, then back at Michael. "Don't kill me, please." he said. [[Next ->"Don't kill me, the spoons are yours"]]

"Eilish. Bones. Die." it said. Michael slowly opened his eyes, keeping them locked to the spoons in his hand, averting her gaze. He nodded: "Eilish bones. when I die. You'll get the Eilish bones." The creature bent down and looked Michael in the eye. A tear ran down his cheek as she reached her dark, clawed fingers towards his face and closed his eyes. She snatched the spoons from his hand and shot past him in a blur. Michael shrunk down and curled himself into a ball on the bedroom floor. The only sound heard for the rest of the night was the dripping of blood from the pile of flesh known as Margaret. [[Next -> Margaret 2]]

Giggling, the creature simply said "Bones." Wanting to add his bones to her collection, Michael held his eyes closed tight. [[Next ->"when I die"]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

Martin Inslow was the lead suspect in the murder of Margaret Sprink but nothing came of it. With no discernible entry wound from which to remove the bones, it was impossible to claim any human had done anything to her. Michael told officers what happened in the night but his story was dismissed as a fairy tale Martin had told to scare him. The Inslows remained silent on the events, leaving Michael to wonder why they hadn't come running when Margaret screamed. (if: $Scar is "true")[Michael had been routinely asked about the scar on his cheek in interviews, often only sharing that it was a "memory of someone he thought of fondly"] Margaret's murder remains unsolved. [[Return to start ->start]]

Rushing back under the covers on the sofa, Michael shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep. (if: $Spoon is "true")[Footsteps made their way out of the kitchen and into the living room. Michael: [[Faked Sleeping]] [[Looked]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")[Footsteps made their way out of the kitchen and headed upstairs. Michael: [[Fake Slept ->Slept]] [[Followed]]]

Michael stood there as the woman slowly raised up to a stand, revealing that she wasn't hunched over at all. She had been bent over backwards, and was now facing him directly. Finding himself face to face with the woman, Michael had done the one thing he was instructed not to. He had seen her. (if: $Spoon is "true")[Michael: [[Tried to run]] [[Struck a deal ->struck a dead 5]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")[ Michael ran. [[Next ->Tried to run]]]

Michael opened his eyes to see the figure of a woman hunching over him, her eyes locked with his. This wasn't Sally Inslow. A scan of her full body revealed to Michael that this woman wasn't just hunched over him, but she was bent over backwards. Her upside down smile creeping just above his face. Remembering what Martin had told him, Michael tried to strike a deal. [[Next ->Strike a deal]]

Michael kept his eyes closed as the figure made her way over to him. Trying his best to fake sleeping, Michael was suddenly unsettled as he felt hands running along the side of his leg under the duvet. A hand reached into his pocket and (text-colour:red)[//removed the spoons//] he had kept from the late night snack. Michael: [[Opened his eyes]] [[Held tight]] (set: $Spoon to "false")

Thinking he had remained unseen, Michael's confidence dropped out of him as a giggle came from the woman hunched over him. "Don't see me" she said playfully. Michael: [[Kept his eyes shut]] [[Opened his eyes]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

(if: $Spoon is "true")[With little time to think, Michael was sure of what the woman wanted. He jammed his hand into hand into his pocket and pulled out the spoons from the midnight snack. He held them in front of his face and said: "Don't kill me, please." [[Next -> endy 2]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")[Little time to think, Michael's eyes darted around the room, locking eyes onto the spoons in the monsters hand. Michael: [[Grabbed at the spoons]] [[Kicked the woman]]]

Giggling, the creature simply said "Bones." Wanting to add his bones to her collection, Michael closed his eyes tight. [[Next -> endy3]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

Reaching for the spoons, Michael had no chance. Michael doesn't remember the next part, I don't think many would. All he remembers next is waking on the floor, his arm burning in agony as Margaret's scream roused him. Michael watched as the woman looming above him span to face Margaret and jumped on top of her, both disappearing out of view as the spoons it held fell to the floor in front of Michael. Michael tried to support himself and stand but quickly fell onto his face. Looking down at his side, Michael found that the arm he reached out to the spoons with was nothing but hanging flesh, the bones inside were gone. Michael grabbed the spoons on the floor with his remaining hand. [[Next ->Grabbed the spoons with his remaining hand]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Trying to knock the woman off balance with a kick, Michael barely had a chance. Michael doesn't remember what happened to his les, I don't think many would. All he remembers next is waking on the floor, his legs burning in agony as Margaret's scream roused him. Michael watched as the woman looming above him span to face Margaret and jumped on top of her, both disappearing out of view as the spoons it held fell to the floor in front of Michael. Michael tried to stand but quickly fell onto his face. Looking down at his legs, Michael found that there was nothing but hanging flesh where his legs used to be, the bones inside were gone. [[Next ->Grabbed the spoons]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

"Eilish. Bones. Die." it said. Michael slowly opened his eyes, keeping them locked to the spoons in his hand, averting her gaze. He nodded: "Eilish bones. when I die. You'll get the Eilish bones." She snatched the spoons from his hand and shot past him in a blur. Michael remained frozen on the sofa for hours, unsure what to make of what happened. The sound of Margaret's voice finally stirred him as daylight crept through the windows. "What happened?" she asked him. Michael didn't reply, he wrapped his duvet tight around him and went upstairs to bed. [[Return to start ->start]]

lying on the ground, Michael didn't see what happened to Margaret, but the quieted scream and the sound of a wet slap let him know that flesh had fallen to the floor. Michael held the spoons up in front on him with his eyes closed as the woman approached him. She looked at the spoons, then back at Michael. "Don't kill me, please." he said. [[Next -> ending 2]]

Giggling, the creature simply said "Bones." Wanting to add his bones to her collection, Michael held his eyes closed tight. [[Next ->ending7]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

"Eilish bones" it said. Michael nodded: "Eilish bones. When I die. You'll get the Eilish bones." The creature snatched the spoons from his hand and shot past him in a blur. Michael lay on the floor in agony for hours, calling to the Inslows for help. They didn't show their face until morning. Martin picked Michael up off the floor, finally allowing Michael to see what had happened to Margaret. [[Next -> Margaret 3]]

Giggling, the creature simply said "Bones." Wanting to add his bones to her collection, Michael held his eyes closed tight. [[Next ->ending7.1]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

Martin Inslow was the lead suspect in the murder of Margaret Sprink and the crippling of Michael but nothing came of it. With no discernible entry wound from which to remove the bones, it was impossible to claim any human had done anything. Michael told officers what happened in the night but his story was dismissed as a fairy tale Martin had told to scare him. The Inslows remained silent on the events, leaving Michael to wonder why they hadn't come to help in the night. Michael had the loose flesh removed and had been routinely asked about his disability in interviews, often only sharing that it was a "memory of someone he thought of fondly" Margaret's murder remains unsolved. [[Return to start ->start]]

Michael locked his eyes tight, long after the woman had left him. He remained frozen on the sofa for hours, unsure what to make of what happened. The sound of Margaret's voice finally stirred him as daylight crept through the windows. "What happened?" she asked him. Michael didn't reply, he wrapped his duvet tight around him and went upstairs to bed. [[Return to start ->start]]

Sprinting as fast as he could, Michael shot up the stairs on all fours. He ran down the hall and used his full force to shove the bedroom door open. Inside, he found the woman waiting for him. Michael: [[Called for help]] [[backed away]]

Pulling the spoons from his pocket, Michael held them up in front of him. The creature looked at the spoons, then back at Michael. "Don't kill me, please." he said. [[Next -> r urs 2]]

Giggling, the creature simply said "Bones." Wanting to add his bones to her collection, Michael held his eyes closed tight. [[Next -> wdie2]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

"Eilish. Bones. Die." it said. Michael slowly opened his eyes, keeping them locked to the spoons in his hand, averting her gaze. He nodded: "Eilish bones. when I die. You'll get the Eilish bones." She snatched the spoons from his hand and shot past him in a blur. Michael shrunk down curled into a ball on the kitchen floor. He remained frozen for hours, unsure what to make of what happened. The sound of Margaret's voice finally stirred him as daylight crept through the windows. "What happened?" she asked him. Michael didn't reply, he grabbed his duvet from the sofa and wrapped it tight around him before heading upstairs to bed. [[Return to start ->start]]

"Margaret!" Michael yelled. Margaret opened her eyes, spotting the figure at the door. (if: $Spoon is "true")["Michael?" was the last thing she said as the creature turned andleapt upon her. Michael: [[Did nothing->DN2]] [[Attacked->A2]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")["Michael?" was the last thing she said as the creature turned andleapt upon her, the force and speed at which the woman moved to Margaret caused the pie dish next to the bed to fall, sending the spoons flying across the floor and landing at Michael's feet. Michael: [[Did nothing]] [[Attacked]]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

As Michael backed out of the room, the woman whispered: "Eilish" Margaret slowly stirred and opened her eyes, taking a moment to spot the figure at the door. "Michael?" was the last thing she said as the creature turned andleapt upon her, the force and speed at which the woman moved to Margaret caused the pie dish next to the bed to fall, sending the spoons flying across the floor and landing at Michael's feet. Michael: [[Did nothing]] [[Attacked]]

Throwing the covers over himself, Michael waited and listened as the bedroom door creaked open. The person at the door crept in and made their way across the room. (if: $Spoon is "true")[Michael stayed still as the figure made her way over to his bed. Trying his best to fake sleeping, Michael was suddenly unsettled as he felt hands running along the side of his leg under the duvet. A hand reached into his pocket and (text-colour:red)[//removed the spoons//] he had placed there from the late-night snack. Michael: [[Remained still ->remained still]] [[Called out to Margaret]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")[Michael listened as the figure made their way over to the bedside table next to Margaret. a slight //chink// sound rang as a spoon tapped the side of the pie dish. "Michael?" he heard Margaret question before suddenly screaming. The sound of spoons falling to the floor at Michael's bedside rang out. Michael: [[Jumped out of bed to help]] [[Remained hidden ->remained hidden]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>] (set: $Spoon to "false")

Michael quickly threw the covers off and went over the Margaret's bed, shaking her awake. "what's wrong?" she asked. "There's someone outside" he whispered. Margaret sat up and saw the shadow seeping under the door. She seemingly considered brushing it off but couldn't ignore the concern on Michael's face. Margaret: [[Went to the door ->Goes to the door]] [[Told Michael to hide ->Tell's Michael to hide]]

Staying as still as possible, the person lurching over him collected the spoons and made their way back towards the bedroom door. The waiting sigh of relief in Michael's chest was cut short as he heard the voice of Margaret. "Michael?" was the last thing she said as the thing shot across the room, the sound of the spoons bouncing against the floor and landing at Michael's bedside. Throwing off the covers, Michael looked over to see a creature hunched over backwards above Margaret. This was not Sally Inslow. Michael: [[Did nothing]] [[Attacked]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Throwing off the covers, Michael looked over to see a creature hunched over backwards above Margaret. This was not Sally Inslow. Michael: [[Did nothing]] [[Attacked]]

Michael kept quiet as he waited for Margaret's screams to stop. A wet //slap// sound left Michael confused as he lay as still as possible. (if: $Spoon is "true")[Michael remained still as the figure made their way over to his bed. Trying his best to fake sleeping, Michael was suddenly unsettled as he felt hands running along the side of his leg under the duvet. A hand reached into his pocket and (text-colour:red)[//removed the spoons//] he had placed there from the late-night snack.] (if: $Spoon is "false")[A sound of metal tapping glass rang out as the person in the room collected the spoons from the pie dish beside Margaret's bed.] Michael waited until he heard the person leave before sitting up in bed to see what had happened. All that remained of Margaret was a pile of flesh. [[Next ->Margaret.]]

"Margaret!" yelled Michael. Moments later, Margaret's screamed as the hands left Michael's side and shot across the room. The sound of spoons falling to the floor at Michael's bedside rang out. Throwing off the covers, Michael looked over to see a creature hunched over backwards above Margaret. This was not Sally Inslow. Michael: [[Did nothing]] [[Attacked]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Heading to the door, Margaret opened it, coming face to face with a woman bent over backwards, her upside down head staring at Margaret with a smile. Both Margaret and Michael jumped at the sight. Margaret was the first to recover, rushing at the creature stood before her. Reaching out, the creature caught Margaret's arm, causing it to suddenly go from a solid to a liquid. The bones in her body appeared to have been ripped from underneath her flesh in an instant, the skin dropping to her side as she yelled out in agony. Falling to the bedroom floor, she turned to Michael and told him to: [["Help me!"]] [["Run!"]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Michael hid under his duvet as Margaret invited Sally into the room. "Come in." he heard her say. The door to the bedroom opened. "Sally?" he heard Margaret question before suddenly letting out a scream. (if: $Spoon is "false")[The sound of spoons hitting the floor rang out as they fell from the pie dish beside Margaret's bedside, she was being attacked.] Michael: [[Jumped out of bed to help]] [[remained hidden]] <audio src="sounds/screammarg.mp3" autoplay>

Michael didn't move, he was too scared. The creature grinned at Margaret as it ripped another bone from her chest. Margaret looked at Michael, searching. (if: $Spoon is "true")[Unable to find anything, Margaret bravely rolled backwards into the hall, pulling the door closed behind her and leaving Michael inside. [[Next ->pulls it closed]]] (if: $Spoon is "false")[She looked beyond Michael, to the back of the room. As the creature ripped bones from her body, she let out a final instruction to Michael as she looks towards the dish behind him. "Make a deal." Her final words spill out as she's turned into a gooey pile of flesh at the foot of the door. [[Next ->Make a deal]]]

Margaret bravely rolled backwards into the hall, pulling the door closed behind her and leaving Michael inside. Michael listened to Margaret's screams as bones cracked out in the hall. Through sputtered coughs of blood, Michael heard Margaret's final words. "Don't hurt Michael." she asked the creature. [[Next ->"Don't hurt Michael Eilish."]]

The creature rushes towards Michael who backs up, too scared to look away. He reaches behind him for the spoons in the pie dish, finding the spoons and holding them up in front of him. "Don't kill me!" he shouts at the creature. [[Next -> ending 99]]

Martin Inslow was the lead suspect in the murder of Margaret Sprink but nothing came of it. With no discernible entry wound from which to remove the bones, it was impossible to claim any human had done anything to her. Michael told officers what happened in the night but his story was dismissed as a fairy tale Martin had told to scare him. The Inslows remained silent on the events, leaving Michael to wonder why they hadn't come to help in the night. Margaret's murder remains unsolved. [[Return to start ->start]]

Finally snapping out of his terror, Michael rushed to the door. The sound of Margaret's screams stopped. He reaches into his pocket and pulled out the spoons he had stashed there earlier. Opening the door slowly, he reached just his hand out with the spoons for the monster. No words are exchanged as the creature rips them from his hand and shoots off. Slowly opening the door, Michael looks at what is left of Margaret. [[Next -> Margaret]]

Giggling, the creature simply said "Bones." Wanting to add his bones to her collection, Michael glanced between Margaret's body and the monster in front of him. "When I die." He offers. [[Next ->ending100]] <audio src="sounds/giggle.mp3" autoplay>

"Eilish. Bones. Die." it said. Michael nodded: "Eilish bones. when I die. You'll get the Eilish bones." The creature carefully studied Michael's face before snatching the spoons from his hand and shooting out of the room in a blur. Michael stood lifeless for what felt like forever. All Margaret did for him. The pile left of her on the floor. He became an equal mix of angry, terrified and heartbroken. Michael: [[Went to Margaret ->Goes to Margaret]] [[Stormed into the Inslow bedroom->Storms into the Inslow bedroom]]

Michael remained by Margaret's side until daybreak, when the Inslows finally emerged as if they had just woken up. Martin Inslow was the lead suspect in the murder of Margaret Sprink but nothing came of it. With no discernible entry wound from which to remove the bones, it was impossible to claim any human had done anything. Michael told officers what happened in the night but his story was dismissed as a fairy tale Martin had told to scare him. The Inslows remained silent on the events, leaving Michael to wonder why they hadn't come to help in the night. Margaret's murder remains unsolved. [[Return to start ->start]]

Michael kicked the bedroom door open. The Inslow couple screamed in unison as he entered, the pair huddled in a corner of the bedroom. Knowing they had been awake throughout, Michael returned to Margaret's body and cried at her side. Both Martin and Sally Inslow remained quiet, not leaving their bedroom until daybreak. [[Next -> Margaret go]]

A deal is struck between Michael and the creature soon after Margaret's death. In exchange for the remaining spoons, Michael Eilish will get to keep his life. But when he eventually passes, the creatue will be able to claim the Eilish bones. Michael wouldn't realise until years later that the deal struck wasn't just for his own bones, but those of every Eilish, living or dead. [[Return to start ->start]]

Martin Inslow was the lead suspect in the murder of Margaret Sprink but nothing came of it. With no discernible entry wound from which to remove the bones, it was impossible to claim any human had done anything her. Michael told officers what happened in the night but his story was dismissed as a fairy tale Martin had told to scare him. The Inslows remained silent on the events, with Michael returning to London the very next day. Margaret's murder remains unsolved. [[Return to start ->start]]

Michael jumped on the creature's back to no avail. With a swift motion he was sent flying across the room, landing on his side as a sharp pain shot through his leg, the metal spoons. Standing up, he quickly yanked the spoons from his pocket as the creature rose above what was left of Margaret. Michael saw that only a pile of flesh remained, the bones removed from her body. The figure turned to look at Michael and the spoons in his hand. Remembering what Martin had told him, Michael struck a deal. [[Next ->Struck a dealsyyy]]

The Cathy virtual assistant began as a therapeutic support AI for crewmembers aboard long-haul vessels with limited contact home. A limited version of the AI was released commercially, taking over the virtual assistant market due to its comprehensive mental health capability. [[Back ->box of documents]]

Thinking fast, Michael yanked the spoons from his pocket and held them up in front of his face. The creature looked at the spoons, then back at Michael. "Don't kill me, please." he said. [[Next ->"Don't kill me, the spoons are yours"]]

Michael held the spoons up in front of his face. The creature looked at the spoons, then back at Michael. "Don't kill me, please." he said. [[Next ->"Don't kill me, the spoons are yours"]]

[[<img src="images/cover.png">|Eilish]]