The years passed like a blur as Cory progressed in this backwards world. It was now 1787 and the nation was on the verge of dying. Ever since its creation, the United States had been living under the articles of confederation, but now it seemed these articles were failing. Many sections of the articles were revolutionary, but impractical. There needed to be change. So now, in 1787, another meeting of the founding fathers (at least the ones who weren't in France) was called. A meeting to create the constitution of the United States.

Cory entered independence hall once again, 11 years after his original journey. To him, it seemed like it was only a few years, he didn't feel 11 years older. Nonetheless, the gang was all there. At the helm stood George Washington, looking mighty fine in a colonial suit and a wig. Cory wasn't gay, but yeah, George. Next to him sat none other than Thomas Jeff- wait, where was Jefferson? In his place sat James Madison, sitting smug.

Cory was about to confront the man when he saw a familiar face sitting in the back corner.

"Hancock!" Cory shouted as he approached the man.

"Shh, no I do not go by that name anymore," he said in hushed tones, "Hancock *wink* is sickly ill in his manor."

"Ah! So who are you now?" Cory asked, curious.

"I am John Lansing Jr of the great state of New York, at your service lad."

"Woah, I went to New York a few months ago!"

"Really? I have not seen you there, that is indeed strange."

"Oh, maybe it was longer, anyway where is Tom?"

"Tom? What? Oh Thomas Jefferson? He is in France. He will be mad when he gets back, but this needed to be done."

Cory nodded, just agreeing with the man. George Washington called the meeting to order and Cory sat down in the front row. John Madison turned to look at him and gave him a weird look.

"Whatever reason is this boy doing here? He did nothing for the last meeting and has no reason to be here," Madison said, waving his quill around.

"On the contrary, my friend, he is the one who named this great country, lest you forget," Washington said, privately.

"Whatever, just do not mess my caligraphy up, boy."

"I call this meeting to order, the writing of the constitution of the United States will commence, I am George Washington of Virginia next to James Madison, our scribe."

"I prefer the term 'decorative calligrapher' thank you very much."

"That's enough Madison, let us begin, first issue…"

Cory began to fall asleep. Politics were not his strong suit and he didn't see any problem in the current government. Sure the world around him was falling apart, but at least there was order, in a way. The sounds of these men's voices bored him to death. No. He couldn't fall asleep in front of the mighty George Washington! He needed to stay strong. The voices went on and on, every one turning into a single tone. This tone played at a constant frequency in his head, repeating on to infinity.

He fell asleep and no one even noticed, the meeting went on without the boy.

"...type of leader in charge?" Washington's voice pierced the boys dreams.

"The United States should have a president that is checked by both an Judicial and Legislative branch who each have checks for each other. The president should be more of a figurehead and less of a king in order to prevent the complete domination of the nation," Cory said, his patriotic brainwashing breaking through for a the only conscious sentence he had ever stated.

Everyone was taken aback. Once again, this boy had stated what everyone was thinking. Even Washington was shocked, "...write it down, Madison."

Reluctantly, Madison wrote that down, and thus created the constitution.

One by one the people of the convention went up to write their signatures on the paper. This time, though, it would need to be ratified by at least nine states in order to pass. They would need to wait in order to put this into practice.

After the meeting, Cory began walking back to Ben Franklin's house when a hand grabbed him from behind and turned him around.

"What do you think you are doing making us all look illiterate, boy! WE are the founding fathers, WE know what is best!" James Madison said, noticeably angry.

"I just knew what you were going to write down, sir. It is what would happen!"

Madison rolled his eyes, "you are just like my worthless son."

"Oh, you have a son can I meet him?"

"No you-" then a brilliant idea came to Madison, "Actually yes, come with me and I'll take you to my home."

So the two travelled back to the world of Virginia to the manor of James Madison. It was a brown brick building with many white columns in front of it. As they approached the building, a woman approached them and walked beside them.

"Status?" she asked.

"Finalized, in circulation."

"Excellent. Next plan?"

"Rehabilitate son with boy."

"Sounds good."

"Why are you guys talking like that?" Cory asked. They stopped walking and stared at him.

"Must you ruin everything? That was swell!" Madison yelled.

"OK, where is your son?"

"Probably in a trench passed out drunk."

"What is drunk?"

Madison rolled his eyes and continued walking, his wife following just behind and Cory trailing behind further.

They approached the house and entered the fields behind where many people were working. They searched for a few hours until they found the man sitting by a creek passed out.

"Here's my son, kid now fix him," with that, he left.

"Um… Madison's son… wake up…" Cory said, shaking the man.

"I'm already awake… I just didn't want to talk to him…" the man said, staring down on the creek.

"Why not? He's your dad! My dad was great he-"

"He is not my father."

"Oh um why not?"

The man turned to Cory, "you wouldn't understand my pain."

Cory gasped. Pain. Payne. "Is your name Payne?"

"It might as well be. It is my birth last name, but of course my fake father had to give me his name when my mother remarried."

Cory began to back away, "you're dangerous, you are a terrorist."

"I have no desire to do anything, I just want death now. Release from this pain."

Cory sighed, of course this wasn't the same person. Payne stood up, his long hair falling onto his face.

"You really want to hear my pain, kid? It won't be easy."

"Um I-I will listen, Payne," Cory said, still feeling like he was talking to the enemy.

Payne waved his hand, telling Cory to follow.

"I was born many years ago in a small house in the country. My father and brother were hardworking and strong, great role models. But that only added to the pain. Long story short, they died. Yellow fever stole their lives away and took with it my childhood innocence. We struggled for many years on the streets until one day, one horrible day, HE came along. I protected my mother for many years and helped her along the way. Nobody else. Me. Then he came along and stole my mother away. I was useless. He hated me, didn't even give me the chance. Stole my mother. Ruined my life. I am now stuck forever in this life of false luxury, acting as if I was a sick drunk, living in constant punishment."

"B-but it can't be that bad…"

"You wouldn't understand, kid."

"M-my dad died too, was murdered actually."

"Hm," he simply said, continuing to walk through the gardens.

"Wait," Cory said, suddenly remembering something, "your father- fake father just helped pass a new form of government! It isn't that bad!"

Payne stopped and turned around, "You really think a simple paper will fix this world? Look around you," he pointed to the slaves in the field, "this world is corrupt, and there is no way to cure it of its darkness."

Darkness. Did he know?

Payne began walking again, sighing, "Not everyone is made of darkness, I know that is true. Good can be done, even by rulers." he closed his eyes and turned to Cory, suddenly looking more like a prophet than a drunk loser, "Though there is so much fundamentally broken about our world, that even the average person is corrupted on a spiritual level by the darkness of their leaders."

Cory began to think, he needed to win this debate and this man- this monster, was the one who was doing all the talking, "B-but look at George Washington! He is a good person!"

Payne shook his head, gesturing once again to the slaves, "Not even the Romans had slaves like these. George Washington is a facade of lies that is a figurehead for government. We are supposed to worship the man because of what he has done."

"We should worship him! He is a hero!"

"You are too far gone to save. Not even he would condone worshipping leaders. Tell me, why do you have so much trust in our government?"

"I trust the United States because it keeps us safe!"

"Safe from what?"

Cory had to think for a second, "Outside countries!"

"But if the United States did not exist, then no one would target it."

Cory wouldn't let him win, he had to prove that Payne wasn't as intelligent as he appeared. He was about to speak, when the man began to talk once more, "but what do I know? Why do my morals transcend others? This… darkness, it isn't real, at least I don't think. Just an explanation of the evils of humanity."

Cory couldn't take this anymore, "But the darkness is real! The darkness is the rival of the Egyptian god Kek, who is the light in this world! The darkness corrupts people and turns them even worse. The United States isn't corrupted! Darkness is not here!"

Payne rolled his eyes, but began to ponder. He remembered reading a book before by an Egyptian priest who claimed to be Thoth, the god of knowledge. The book claimed that a god known as Zaluut, who was the rival of Kek. When he read it, he assumed it was just another urban myth, a false story written in modern times, but now this boy was repeating the same story, but using a different term for the god. He decided to press on.

"Does the name Zaluut ring a bell to you?" Payne asked.

Cory began to think, but couldn't think of anything related to that, "nope."

"Hm," Payne said, continuing to walk onward to nowhere in particular. Cory got bored of this seemingly incoherent man and walked away without saying another word.

Cory returned back to his home in Philadelphia later that day. Ben Franklin had left for Paris so now he was alone. He didn't think about Payne or anything that happened today because that man was wrong. Cory held onto his beliefs. He stayed strong. Soon George Washington will be president and the country will become orderly. Payne will soon be proven wrong.

"How sad," Payne reminisced back in Madison's manor, "The boy is completely brainwashed into thinking he's some sort of hero."

Payne walked into his room and rummaged through his books until he discovered the one he was searching for, 'Thoth's book of truths and spells.' Dramatic music begins to play as Payne flips through the pages, searching for answers. As if by fate, he stops on the page labelled 'six paths of pain.'

He took a deep breath, "If I'm going to do this, if I'm going to make a difference…" He grabbed his book and put it into a sack along with clothes and other necessities. As if he had any other choice. This was his destiny. He would bring light to this world. No matter how much pain it brought him.