Still in the backyard, Irene stopped her pacing. Her vision swam, it was getting harder to focus on things. Her head was pounding, like she got it caught in a steel press. It was getting harder to think, let alone keep moving. Curling into a fetal position, Irene waited for the sensation to be over.
Memories started to fade: What she had for dinner yesterday? Gone. That new recipe she had wanted to try? Gone. The day her son graduated from middle school? Gone. The day she gave birth to that same son? Gone. Her husband's face? Gone. The only thing that the creature held onto during the pain and fading light was a name. Irene
After some time, a noise caused the resting creature to stir. The neighbor's dog, Sir Barkly, was chained up in their backyard, and proving that he was aptly named. The small terrier had no idea what the thing in the next yard over was, but he did know it was his sacred duty to protect his territory. The creature that was Irene hissed back at the canine, hoping a threat display would quiet it. Instead, her hiss just caused the dog to bark more and more, raising in tone and volume. The beast snarled, and lunged at the poor dog. A quick flick of her lower two arms, a short whimper, and Sir Barkly had moved on from this world. Irene then felt hunger, and, deciding that this animal would do well enough, dug in.
As all that happened, Jeff watched in growing horror at what just transpired. His mother never liked the Petersons' dog, true, but she would never have killed it. Jeff looked back to the Chronivac, and started to make his way to reverse the changes, when he tripped and fell, making a loud bang when he collided with the floor. From the backyard, he heard an inquisitive noise, and then felt his window shatter behind him as Irene jumped from the yard into his room. Looking back at his former mother, Jeff wondered what was about to occur...