Project Ex
The fight day came and went, leaving everyone exhausted. Dan and Phil collapsed on top of each other and nearly passed out.
"'Night," Phil said shortly, starting to snore.
"'Night, Philly," Dan said, making Phil smile in his sleep. The two had become even more inseparable, not leaving the other's side for a moment.
Of course, this would change.
.o0o.
Training became harder and more intense, but more rewarding. Instead of muscles tearing and bones breaking, their muscles ached pleasantly and Dan began to understand why some people ran for pleasure.
"You've got another fight tonight," Ben said, "They've... changed it up a bit."
"What?" Tyler asked.
"Only half of you will advance." Ben grimaced, "You will be pitted against your roommate." Everyone looked at their partners with desperation- except Louise. Everyone knew then that Louise might have had something going for her; by not building bonds she would never have to tear them apart. She would be going against another Level Six.
"What happens to the ones who lose?" Anthony asked, voice barely a whisper.
"I- I don't know," Ben said, "Downsides to not being in Brant's personal circle." He smiled regretfully.
Everyone knew they'd have two choices- start a revolution or suffer the fate of losing their partner, for how long they didn't know.
.o0o.
The day went by in a blur- dinner was a rush of tears and empty promises. Nobody had made up their minds. Even Anthony, who could guess exactly when and where a punch could hit, was no match for Ian's basic ability to essentially control someone else's will.
"I'll miss you," Dan said, wrapping Phil into a tight hug. They knew it- this would be the fight of the century.
Dinner became almost silent after that.
"Has anybody else stopped considering themselves a YouTuber?" Joey asked out of curiosity. He was usually pretty quiet, so everyone was a bit surprised that he'd even posed the question at all, but they all answered "Yes,"
"Well then, we'll need something to define ourselves by," Joey suggested. It was Tyler who offered a solution.
"Y'know, Ben attends meetings. In one of our first days we were talking and he mentioned a Project Crossroads," Tyler shrugged, "Sounds pretty badass."
"That's their name, though," Dan pointed out, "Wouldn't you rather be different? Not follow their lead on just one thing?"
"How about Project X?" Mark butted in, "I mean, I know it's been over-used, but things are over-used for a reason. It's short, sweet, and to the point."
"Okay," Shane said, "Any other ideas?"
"The Yin Yang?" Phil suggested.
"That can be Dan and your thing," Anthony said, "I like the idea of Project X, but not because it's been over-used. I like it because it could stand for Project Escape, Project Ex."
"That actually makes sense," Ian said, "Yeah, I like that idea too." It seemed like everyone agreed, and so their group was dubbed Project Ex.
.o0o.
They had almost forgotten about the fight, but there was only one other participant, there to fight Louise. They, of course, went first. Louise had them out and on the ground in no time.
"I'm sorry," She said, healing him and stepping back. Next went Jon and Mark, who stood face-to-face and honestly both tried their best, Mark winning as Jon couldn't move living things. Mark apologized to Jon constantly as the two backed away, and Jon was walked into the corridor. Desert creatures followed Mark, almost to see if he was okay. A lizard even poked at Mark with its snout until Mark picked it up and placed it on his shoulder.
"Someone took 'King of the Squirrels' a bit too seriously," Dan said, reminiscing about the first few days they'd spent out in the field. Hannah and Ingrid were called up next, Ingrid nearly bawling as she kissed Hannah and stepped into the ring.
"I've named him Cecil." Mark said, pointing to the lizard and distracting himself and everyone else from the fight.
"You've named it?" Honestly, I don't even know what Shane was expecting.
"He's my friend." Mark said, petting Cecil as if he were a cat. It was strangely soothing.
"Okay then," Shane said, wincing when he and Joey were called into the ring. Being really fast and invisible each had their perks, but Shane had more experience than Joey, so he easily threw the other man out of the ring. Shane flickered back into view with a bloody nose and a broken rib, and Joey knew he'd have a bruise on his side the next day. Unfortunately, the guards led Joey away before Louise could heal him.
After Shane was healed, Ian and Anthony stepped up to the ring. They both stepped in, Anthony knowing what was about to happen.
"Well?" He asked, "Do it!"
"What? Mind-control you?" Ian's voice sounded slightly dead, "I won't." He stood there, waiting for Anthony to throw a punch and knock him out of the ring. Each sent pleading looks to the other to just get it over with, Dear God, but neither would hurt the other.
"I'm sorry," Anthony was the one to break the silence, pushing Ian as gently as possible out of the ring- not that Ian put up much of a fight. The two didn't break their gaze until the doors closed behind Ian's back and Louise pulled Anthony out of the ring.
Tyler and Troye were next, and faced the same situation. Tyler knew that Troye outmatched him in ability, and Troye knew that Tyler outmatched him in physical power. It was a battle of wits.
"Please don't make me do this," Troye warned. Tyler cast him a sad look.
"You know I have to," His voice was barely a whisper, "I'm stronger than you. I'll survive."
"And I won't? Michael Tyler Oakley, I'm offended!" Troye said, chuckling lightly. Tears started to drip down his cheeks sometime around here- he wasn't sure. Tyler approached him and cupped his cheek, bringing him closer and kissing his lips before whispering, "Please."
"The sunset's longer, where I am from. Where dreams go to die, while having fun," Troye's voice broke, but Tyler became entranced immediately. Troye didn't have to keep singing to move Tyler out of the ring, and away.
"Ty- wait!" Troye was sobbing now, and he didn't even get to say what he wanted to.
"I- I never-" He felt someone pull him into a hug- later he would realize it was Phil- and he felt warm. Not uncomfortable, but the kind of warmth on a sunny day that fills you with happiness. He almost whimpered when it was gone, and Dan and Phil had to face each other.
"I won't hurt you," Were the first words they both said, unanimously.
"I won't hurt you," Dan said, "Phil, don't make me hurt you. You know this is going to end with one of us getting hurt- it has to be me."
"Would you stop it with this martyr bullshit?" Phil asked, getting angry. His eyes flashed black, and Dan's white.
"Only if you do," Dan snarled. He reached out with his shadow and Phil with the light, and the two powers collided in the middle, a show of sparks and the absence of light.
"Stop!" They both cried, "Push me out! I won't do anything to you!"
"Phil," Dan had tears running down his cheeks, "Don't- I can't- I can't do this." He increased the power surge.
"Phil," The attacks were noiseless, so they could hear each other just fine.
"I love you,"
"I'm sorry."
Dan pushed Phil out of the circle, and Phil was lead away. There would be a lot of crying that night- a lot of realizing how lonely they really were- a lot of realizing what it would really be like to lose someone they loved as much as they loved life.
.o0o.
The room seemed different without Phil. It was a different room, after all. At Level Seven, they had their own showers. They had comfortable beds with pillows and sheets.
The room was dark and devoid of the little stars Phil loved to make with his energy, which Dan cloaked in darkness, just like a miniature sun.
"Phil..." Dan grabbed a pillow from the other side of the bed and pretended that it was Phil's. If he tried hard enough he could pretend he smelled Phil's scent on the pillow, feel Phil's presence in the room.
Dan had a nightmare that night.
.o0o.
This time, Dan had been the one to lead Phil away, the one to watch as he was kicked and bitten and as the flames and darkness consumed him.
He had laughed.
Laughed as Phil screamed, as Phil cried out for Dan to help him- and suddenly he realized this is what he'd become.
He'd sacrificed his best friend- his 'something more'- for a power rank. To be above the teacher who'd ordered the first whip to Phil's abdomen.
A sense of resolve settled in his chest, and the question Tyler asked a long time ago- it felt so long, like aeons- had finally been answered.
"Is it even worth escaping?"
Worth every life. Every penny. Every single soldier that may fall.
To get Phil back.