Here We Go

Here We Go Part 24

Part 24

He clearly needed to hold their hand. They needed to find it.

Okay. Let's make this obvious.

He painted the first arrow. He slowly made his way around all of Red Base, leading them to the room.

I have patience, but these people are beginning to stretch it thin.

He tried to think of a good clue, so they could have a rough idea on what they were looking for. Then, he remembered a rather famous work of literature. Something haunting, and would give them the exact idea they needed to make the discovery.

Do YOu FAncY me MAD?

Edgar Allen Poe. An author that was utterly creepy, but did provide the very clue he needed. He nodded, pleased with his work, and prayed this would send them in the right direction this time. He faded away to a more comfortable spot, still in Red Base, just in case they came through.

[Later]

He heard voices. He brought himself out of his faded state, and watched them open the door.

Sam: Oh..

Matt: Okay.

He watched them follow the arrows, trying to figure out where he was leading them. If he could've made sound, he would've laughed at the discovery of the arrow over the server room "door".

That's no mere coincidence, children. That's no coincidence.

He followed them to the other set of stairs, listening to what they were saying about him.

Bailey: Like, why does it have to be so vague?

Matt: Yeah, like, the 'help me'. Could've written a little smaller and elaborated a bit. Maybe then we'd know how to 'help' you.

The others laughed, but he didn't find it funny.

Look, if I was allowed to give you more information at once, I would! But I can't, okay?! Jeesh, cut me some slack! I might be dead, but I'm still human!

Sam: Whoa!

He smiled, they found the next arrow. They slowly made their way up the stairs, and Matt turned into the room.

Matt: Okay, well... I think I found it.

They started going in.

Sam: Nope!

Yep! Sorry, Sam. But you guys are not out of this Project quite that easily. I got somethin' else for you to solve.

He went through the wall, and watched their faces as they saw his latest writing.

Bailey: What does that mean?

Matt: 'Do you fancy me mad?'

Woods: Dude must be British, or something.

He shook his head.

Not quite, Woodland. Come on, y'all are smart. If you guys don't get this, hopefully your audience will, or at least guide you to the answer. Jeez, Louise. You wouldn't think it would be this hard!

Then, he remembered. One very important factor.

You're dead. They aren't. Of course that changes things.

He watched them leave, confused by his words. He had a feeling they were going to talk to Subject 4, try and figure out his meaning. He sighed. It seemed that he had forgotten how slow the living could be, compared to the knowledge after... He shoved the thoughts aside. When he had lived, he never liked thinking about death, or ghosts, or anything else like that. And yet, now look where he was. He smirked, then faded into the floor. Waiting.

He thought back to all that had happened. Syntec, 863, his life, and everything else. But his main thoughts were 'will they find what needs to be found?'

Relax. They will. Remember they were chosen for the fact that they were able to do this kind of stuff. It may take them some time, but they will figure it out.

[20 minutes later]

He heard noises. He pulled himself out of his fadedness, and found them coming up the stairs. He smiled. They found the answer. He watched them, hovering between Samantha and Bailey. Matt tapped the chisel into the floor with the hammer, pulling away the planks, revealing... A body outline.

Sam: Shut up! Just, shut up!

He felt sorry for them. Even though they could be slow at times, he did feel pity for them.

If I could do this myself, I would. But I'm dead.

He watched and listened to them discuss, trying to guess what this was about, and who had been...killed.

Matt: Let's ask John Doe.

Ah! The police officer! Yes! Tell him! Tell him!

He couldn't have been more pleased. He didn't know for certain if John Doe knew, there were some things from the living side of things that he just couldn't remember or process sometimes. But, either way, it was good for him to know. Shed some light on something dark. He smiled.

I may be dead, but Project: 863 isn't.