Project

4.3: A Familiar Face

Sam, 20:02pm.

As the car lights disappeared into the fog, I slowly began to close the door, stopping heat from escaping the house. Yet, I stopped when I realised a figure standing at the other side of the street. A woman based on the outline. Something seemed so familiar, like I had met her once...

In a dream...

"Hey! It's pretty cold outside, shouldn't you be indoors?" I yell to her, but she just stares at me. She seems all too familiar, and yet I can't think of any memories that involve her. She begins to walk towards me, and yet I don't feel at all afraid. Something about her stance, her walk, all seems...

Optimistic.

She finally arrives at my doorstep, soaked from head to toe. That's when I recognise her.

Even though her wavy hair gets flattened by the downpour of rain, it still has that deep brown colour to it. Her round face still with a smile after so many years of challenges and battles. Her brown eyes, with a slight green tint to them, still looking just as curious to the world as ever. Yet something about her made me want to scream. Not our past, not her personality, but the item by her side. "Hey! I would say 'long time, no see', but I think you finally know who I was after all these months, huh?" She calmly stated, still holding a genuine smile, even though the rain makes it seem like she had been crying for years.

"So, you're O, then." I say, getting straight to the point. This time I'm not going to be vague or be confusingly cryptic; I've had enough of being the guy to hide his knowledge, his understanding. I want answers now, more than I ever wished for.

She nods slightly, "Yeah, I know that may seem bad, but it's for a good cause! Besides, you know Project, they picked us for a reason."

"Yeah..." My voice trails off, unable to understand why she roped herself into this. Why you? I wish to scream, Why you of everyone? You can't do this!

"May I come in? As I've told you, we need to talk about your situation."

"And as I've told you, no one could be out to get me! You should know that as well as anyone if you truly are Optimist!"

"But then so should you! You're also one of us, and that's the problem!" She argues back. I don't know why, but I step back, feeling shot. I mean, I did help, but not because I want to, or because I have to. Instead, I just...

I mean... I need to.

I am the Shell of the group, after all; I am bound to keep everyone together and forged to listen and solve. I am born to bind friends and made to destroy tension. I am the one to save the sanity of the group I am a part of, whilst spending the remaining sanity I have. I-

"Are you monologue-ing to yourself again?" Willow breaks me out of my thoughts. I can't help but give a light chuckle; after all this time, she's finally understanding my thought process. Well, she's also apparently had the benefit of hearing me away from the group, if what I didn't wish to believe was true.

I reluctantly let her in, knowing that I can't leave her in the cold. We enter the living room, and she stands by the heater, "Now, you need to go to France."

If I had a cup of tea, I would've spat it out immediately, "Wait, what?! I can't go to France! I'm meant to be here, and if I go to France, then I will be in danger!"

"Look, Project has long since forgiven what you did, okay? Leaving a forged note to an anonymous officer, telling them to bring two people, and only two, to one location, you were pretty idiotic doing that, but they realise that now it's worked for the better. They're not going to hunt you for breaking our truce of not forcing our hand, but Pessimist found some info from Mystery about you, and isn't happy."