Project 863: The fifth Subject

Chapter 38: Back Together Again

~Pearson POV. February 3rd, 2022~

As I stepped out of my room, I caught Matt's voice drifting from his home office. "It's been a couple of days... since the Spire. And I've just been resting, as best I can," he murmured to the camera, his tone weary. "My head's racing all the time, and I'm not sure what's going on. It feels surreal, like I've been asleep for a year."

I leaned against the doorway, listening quietly before interrupting, "Do you want to try going to the office today?" Matt jumped at the sound of my voice. "Geez, kid!" he exclaimed, then chuckled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," I apologized with a grin.

"I'll probably go for a little bit, but first, I need to shave. Clearly, he didn't try to take care of himself," Matt remarked with a self-deprecating laugh. We shared a brief moment of levity before his expression turned serious again. "I sadly missed out on a lot of things. A lot happened while I was away, and that sucks," he admitted.

"Well, you're here now. Just come back strong, despite everything you've missed. I know you want to change the past, but we can't. Let's focus on what we can change for the future," I encouraged him. Matt smiled warmly, "You're a wise kid. I'm glad I have you around," he said, pulling me into a hug.

"And I'm glad to have you around too. After having to deal with Nelson for the past 7 months," I quipped, eliciting a laugh from Matt as he grabbed his shaving kit.

"I'll be honest, there are some things I still need to know. I have these faint glimpses of how it happened. But I know it's not over, it can't be," Matt confessed as we made our way downstairs.

"Because he's not gone yet," I finished his thought, my voice solemn. Matt nodded in agreement. "Wow... he really let this grow out," he remarked, gesturing to his unkempt beard, a brief distraction from the weight of our conversation.

"I don't know why I'm still wearing this," Matt continued, tugging at the pendant around his neck. "All my instincts are telling me to take it off, that it's dangerous. But maybe it wasn't my instinct. Maybe someone told me that while I was under. I don't think it was what was giving him control."

"There's a lot to tell you... or show you, but I think we should wait until we get to the studio," I suggested as we reached the driveway.

"Well, there's something important I want to show you," Matt declared, heading towards his Tesla. I followed, curiosity piqued.

As Matt opened the trunk, I instinctively shouted, "Stop!" My heart raced as I saw two mannequins inside. "What is this about?" I demanded, my mind racing with possibilities.

"Let's go to the studio so we can get rid of this," I said firmly, trying to steady my nerves. Matt closed the trunk, and we climbed into the Tesla, heading towards the studio in tense silence.

***

As we pull up to the studio and step out, Matt and I greet everyone. "Hey!" we say as we walk in. "How are you doing?" Woods asks.

"I'm doing okay. How about you guys?" Matt replies.

"You're gonna get pinched today, for sure. Just letting you know that," Cat remarks.

"Yeah, Sam's all about that function game," Woods adds.

"Okay...?" Matt says, a bit puzzled.

"Those are the consequences for being mind-controlled, you get pinched," Bailey explains. Matt chuckles a little.

"So, Woods, can you help us out with something? There's something in the back of my car that I need some help getting out," Matt asks.

"Okay... is it stuff? I love stuff!" Woods exclaims.