***
{Outside The Projection}
"Ah... man."
A somber voice rang out over the murmurs and whispers of the crowd.
The projection had paused yet the heat of the burning village still lingered in their minds.
"A kid's gonna die again."
The words hung heavy, like a curse spoken too many times.
This... it was an established formula, wasn't it?
Introduce someone to Malik, make him attached, and then end that 'someone' in the most gut-wrenching way possible.
It worked.
It always worked.
Malik seemed to have realized that, thinking of himself as a jinx.
He wasn't the only one to think that.
As unfortunate as it was, that was the truth.
A pitiful one. A sickening one. But a truth nonetheless.
Once was happenstance. Twice was coincidence. Three times was enemy action.
This enemy was fate.
"Of course she will... Every damn time."
A nervous chuckle broke through the grim atmosphere.
"That's fucked up, man. Think it but don't say it."
Someone else nodded slowly.
