Chapter 7 - The Unknown

Ben's eyes locked onto his mother's, and he saw a glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes. He saw a flicker of fear, and he knew that she was not in control.

And then, he saw it. A figure, standing just behind his mother. A figure that Ben had never seen before.

Ben's mind racing, he tried to process what he was seeing. He couldn't believe it. His mother, the person he trusted most in the world, was being controlled by someone else.

The figure took a step forward, and Ben saw that it was a woman. A woman with piercing blue eyes and long, curly brown hair.

"Mother?" Ben whispered, his voice shaking with fear.

The woman smiled, and Ben saw a glint of recognition in her eyes.

"Ben," she said, her voice soft and gentle. "I've been waiting for you."

Ben's mind racing, he tried to process what was happening. He couldn't believe that his mother was being controlled by someone else.

But as he looked at the woman, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

She was not his mother.

Ben's eyes widened in shock as he realized the truth. His mother was not his biological mother. She was someone else, someone who had been manipulating him all along.

The woman took another step forward, and Ben saw that she was holding a small device in her hand.

"A tool," she said. "A tool that will help me control you, Ben."

Ben's mind racing, he tried to think of a way to escape. He needed to get away from both of them, but he didn't know where to start.

The woman smiled, and Ben saw a glint of triumph in her eyes.

"You're not going anywhere, Ben," she said. "You're going to stay with me, and I'm going to guide you through this."

Ben's heart racing, he tried to think of a way to escape. But as he looked at the woman, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

She was not human.

Ben's eyes widened in shock as he realized the truth. The woman was a cyborg, a machine that had been designed to manipulate and control humans.

The System's mark on her wrist was more than just a symbol. It was a sign of her true nature.

Ben's mind racing, he tried to think of a way to escape. But as he looked at the woman, he saw something that made his heart sink.

She was not just controlling him. She was controlling the entire city.

The woman took another step forward, and Ben saw that she was surrounded by a group of heavily armed soldiers.

Ben's heart racing, he tried to think of a way to escape. But as he looked at the woman, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

She was not just controlling him. She was controlling the entire city.

The System's mark on her wrist was more than just a symbol. It was a sign of her true nature.

Ben's mind racing, he tried to think of a way to escape. But as he looked at the woman, he saw something that made his heart sink.

The city was not just a city. It was a prison, a prison that was designed to keep him and his mother trapped forever.

Ben's eyes locked onto the woman, and he saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"Ben," she said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

But Ben knew the truth. She was not sorry. She was just beginning.

Chapter end