Project

7.?: Unknown Change

"What disadvantages were there?" Bruce asked.

"Multiple things, fears mainly. They always had this sense of urgency, this constant fear that what they did wasn't enough. It ran them into the ground, and soon enough took a toll on us. They slowly let go of their music, and their association with animals. They stopped their own mind from being philosophical, and had begun to stop deducing what they knew about others and ways they would act. That is, until..."

"Until what?" Mark asked...

???

I began to make my way towards my exit, when the next thing I know, a lone sheet of paper found its way under my step, and I fell to the ground.

"Hello~? Who is out in the void today?" The Mad Man asked, after finishing his deed.

I went to get up and ran, but a hand clutched the back of my shirt, and dragged me back to the ground. The man in the shadows looked like a true monster, his smile being the only thing that shone in the pitch black; his wide, white, insane, smile.

"Now, now, we cannot have any witnesses, can we?"

A blade swung towards my head...

*    *    *

Wynter continued, "Well, Project was very adamant on keeping peace, and despised conflicts, arguments, the lot. We all said that was their one and only opinion of preference. Yet, one day, with weather like it was a couple days ago, Project had finally ran into the one thing they were powerless to stop: A fight.

"From what I heard from others at the scene, two of Project's old friends had gotten into a frenzy and showed no signs of stopping until one of them was on the floor for good. Project went in to intervene, but..."

"But as they're not a fighter, they couldn't do anything." Bruce finished.

Wynter nodded, "They got hit in the head when they intervened, and then were knocked out for the rest of the fight. When they woke up, police had arrived, and a body was covered."

"Jesus..." Mark commented, unsure as to how he would react in that situation.

"Soon after, Project couldn't bear with themselves, and even other people were calling them weak. I tried to help them out, but they just pushed us all away. They didn't believe that they were meant to help anymore, they didn't believe that they were strong enough to help others. Soon enough, even their family saw little of them." Wynter allowed her breathing to steady, as the memory of her conversations with the Pessimist Project came through the gates of her conscience and overfill her head...

*    *    *

I guess I'm meant to live a little longer, as one thoughtful insect went right to his eye. With him screaming in pain, I loosen his grip and run as fast as I can, as far as I can.

It doesn't take much time until I hear the slamming of the door behind me being swung open, and the ever-growing footsteps of the mad man behind me. I know my way around the place, and so don't get trapped by the endless stops and twists that this hidden place now has. Yet he also knows his way, and so his laugh always finds me.

I get to the front door, and rush outside, still running even though my heart rate was now off the scales. I soon hear him, however, "You can't escape your demise!" followed by his crazed laugh.

*    *    *

She eventually continued, "That was when they had run into someone that changed their mind. I don't know who this guy is, but they were able to persuade Project to keep going, more than Sam or I could ever do. It was surprising to hear this, but I didn't know how dangerous this was now becoming."

"Wait, so Project was saved by someone?" Bruce asked, thinking his own mind was tricking him. Wynter shook her head, "Not saved, every part of him was eradicated, and a new Project was born from the remains. This person wasn't a saviour, they were a bringer of My TRUE Finale."

"What?!" Mark stammered, "But Spencer's letter! That said-"

"That was My Finale, something different, though just as concerning. No, this person was the causation of The Incident that left Project missing, and began all of this." Wynter corrected. "Whoever this guy is, they saw potential in Project for the wrong reasons, and used them as a pawn all whilst still making it seem like it was Project's own idea." Wynter knew Project, and knew their concerns and fears that overwhelmed them, but now whenever she thought of them, she only hoped that the Project she knew was still inside, trapped and not dead.

"Do you know who this person is?" Mark asked, hoping for a name.

"I know that they travelled with Project most times, but other than that, I've only got what I believe is some boastful nickname."

"What's that?" Bruce asked...

"I am your King! You cannot go against my plans! I will save those Project has misled! I will reveal to you all the truth of the person you once knew as 'friend'!" The mad man spewed, "I am the burning Phoenix that will forever live in all of your minds!"

Bruce immediately left for the door, with Mark having to abruptly apologise for the sudden rudeness of his friend, and joined him in the car.

"What was that about? You didn't even say thanks!" Mark questioned.

"I know who Pessimist is, and I know where to find them."

"Wait, how?" Mark asked, confused.

"Because that nickname isn't a nickname at all: King Phoenix is who they are. If we hurry, we can finish this, find Project, save them, and be home for tea. However, I need you to trust that I know what I'm, doing, and follow my lead, okay?" Bruce asked, a stern, serious expression on his face.

Though Mark may not have known what Bruce was talking about, he trusted him with his life. He hasn't messed up badly so far, and has taken most of the tough punches, so why should he doubt him now?

"Alright"Mark responded, "Let's end this."