I Am The Truth II

Chapter XXVII: Whiskey

Abbigail had been in a wheelchair for the past two days, for she still felt slightly off-balance whenever she stood. However, it hardly stopped her from continuing her campaign, now with great success. The failed assassination had indeed given her a great boost, even though she had almost never inquired about who the shooter was.

That is, until now.

"Sapphire," Abbigail began from the wheelchair as the two surveyed a mining operation in a large hole below. "Who do you think was behind the shooting?"

"It took you some time to ask this," Sapphire admitted. "But I think you are better off asking Igneous or Onyx."

"And what did they see?"

"They were the ones who interrogated the Felina," Sapphire said casually. "It was almost a personal matter for them. When they left for Ataraxia, they were rather stricken about the matter."

"Surely it couldn't be that bad?" Abbigail blurted before quickly catching herself. "I meant that it can't be too hard to know who was behind all this, right?"

"We will eventually find out," Sapphire replied. "But till then, I say you and I continue spending the bulk of our efforts on keeping up the splendid performance we have thus far."

So far, the ballots cast have caused great tension throughout all four coalition members. Conchord was already wracked with continuous unrest due to its enormous diversity, and now Crown Peak (the nation, not the city) was seeing the possibility of a defeat for the incumbent administration in its southernmost district.

On the last televised interview, Sam Racher was damn near shitting his pants. 

"It doesn't matter!" He squealed desperately, his face sweating like an ice cube in the heat of summer. "Corrupted ideals aren't justified by a sudden attempt on your life. And I sympathize for Abbigail's injury, but it doesn't change what she stands for."

"And yet, reports have shown a rather significant swing in public opinion?" A reporter asked.

"She is manipulating them!" Sam nearly exploded, the two guards at his side almost tempted to step forward and hold him back. "She's a human as well, that too one that came out of nowhere from some poverty-stricken logging town. What does she have that I don't that appeases the nonhuman races?"

"But she also has support among the human laborers-"

Sam promptly stepped down off the podium and stormed out.

"Well then," Sapphire said, a tint of satisfaction in his voice as he turned the television off.

" I mean, he isn't wrong," Abbigail admitted.

"Some things are best not to be questioned," Sapphire only said. "I'm sure you'd understand."

"Yeah, I suppose."

After all, she didn't have the same knack for opportunism that Rendor had.

But it only mattered so much; Abbigail now had an entire city's worth of people guarding her. The police had been seen more frequently around Sapphire's residence, all of them staring without a blink when Abbigail was visible outside. But that was all they could do, for Abbiail was now confident in one thing.

They wouldn't dare arrest her.

"I think it is best you return home soon," Sapphire advised. "Before violence erupts, it would be reassuring to see you far from danger."

"More pressing is that apart from Denny, I haven't spoken to my other party compatriots in some time," Abbigail. "Tomorrow, I will embark for Conchord."