REPLICA-GAME

<7> Conspiracy

"In this life, there can only be a few things we are certain about. One such thing is time. It never stops, it won't speed up. Paired with death, they are quite possibly the most fairist things anyone can experience in this short life. Death delivers us equally to the same place, the only difference being the times it does so. Be it a poor person, the most wretched individual, a bum, even the richest and most powerful man alive."

"Ignoring all worldly possessions and status, we are all the same creature with the same basic desire. But our need to give things value and own things is what changes us. The outer appearance is what we make up for ourselves. You are either born a male or female. Course in this time when common sense in humans is becoming more and more rare, we change our outer appearance to fit our feelings. But then force that delusion onto others."

"Some demand the masses change their world views just to validate themselves. They want the masses to praise them, shower them with gifts and special treatment, but once a single person refuses to align with their insane delusion, they'll move mountains to break that one person. As such with those with fragile ego. It's quite comparable to a dictatorship."

"However, the human body is nothing more than a husk. The true source of consciousness and individuality is the soul. Our bodies are to us what shells are to hermit crabs. By abandoning the shells we inhabit, we may return our souls to the primordial soup, collect every human consciousness and merge them into a single one. A single collective consciousness that lacks physical form. Living as only your own memory in a void where all can only do the same is truly an ideal way to find that true equality."

"The 'incident', as the police and media call it, ws only a small taste of that. Those who killed themselves have become my proof of this ideal form of living. An absolute perfect world of complete stillness."

"This is the only true way to live an eternal life. This is the will of New World, the will of Chatterbox."

[11.20.2021]

"At nine thirty-five this morning, police had discovered thirty more bodies along the northern side of the park. This has brought the current number of victims to one-hundred sixty-two. However, it is still unclear if all the bodies have been found yet as police are still searching for more."

"From the way the bodies appeared and with no external injuries, it's believed these new thirty victims had also died by suicide."

A woman sitting alone in a rectangular room muted the TV as two police officers entered the room. Immediately, she stood up and faced the two men, "We're sorry to make you wait like this." One said, "And also to make you come down here and help in the investigation. But our resources have been stretched kinda thin at the moment."

"It's no problem. I'm happy to be of assistance in any way." The woman reached into her jacket pocket and revealed her I.D. and badge, "Detective Judy Martinez at your service."

Judy Martinez, she was a woman who looked to be in her mid thirties. With a fair, almost pale skin tone, her long platinum hair had been tied into a ponytail and her eyes were in a shade of a dull green that almost appeared gray.

One of the men looked down at a few of the papers in his hand, seeing Judy's name on the list. The other man looked at him and he gave a simple nod before they turned their attention back to Judy, "Yes, of course. Well, you've seen what we're dealing with, right?"

Judy looked at the TV before looking back at the two men, "Yes, but what I'd like to know is why it's all being kept under wraps. Why keep vital information out of the public? That's what I'd like to know."

"You and me both."

"Anyway, now with Grayson murdered, that adds even more to our already full plate, so it's really a good thing you arrived when you did Judy. I'd like for you to join with Grayson's partner, well, ex partner, I should say."