– The Warning Flame
Chris Blackwood's POV
So… she finally made her move.
Skylar. The woman I once trusted to be my eyes and voice when I wasn't watching. Now she's decided she has something to say—on behalf of the people, no less.
I sat alone in my chamber, surrounded by screens and silence. One feed showed her press conference replaying endlessly. Another showed Christiana's live feed from inside the People's Agency.
She was right to snitch.
Skylar's plan was bold. Brilliant, even. But it was flawed—because she forgot who gave her that voice. She forgot whose empire this was.
I stood up and spoke to the room, even though no one was there.
"Skylar, Skylar… you want to be their savior? Then feel their pain."
With a flick of my fingers, the orders were given.
A soft ping echoed in the chamber as an alert flashed:
"Operation Flicker – Activated"
It was subtle. Calculated. I didn't need to destroy her little agency. No—if I crushed it now, she'd become a martyr. Instead, I'd let her win. Let her get comfortable. Let her dance in the light she thinks she earned.
And then I'd extinguish it.
One of my lieutenants walked in, bowing low. "Sir, shall we begin freezing her funding?"
"No," I replied coldly. "Double it."
He blinked. Confused. "Sir?"
I smirked. "Let the world believe I'm funding the People's Agency. Let her shine. Give her every tool. Every connection. Let her think she's outgrowing me."
I turned toward the screen, watching Skylar shake hands with a group of Sector 42 delegates, smiling like a queen.
"And when she's reached the peak…"
I closed my fist.
"I'll remind her that even queens serve the throne."
—
Meanwhile…
Across the city, Skylar's agency headquarters hummed with activity. The people were hopeful, energized. But somewhere, deep in the shadows, Chris's plan was already weaving itself through the cracks—building trust just to tear it apart later.
Skylar had the people's hearts.
But I had their souls.
End of Scene.
—