Save the Escape

Nihilism Makes Me Laugh

I didn't know what exactly to think of the article I'd just read. I held my phone closer to my face, squinting my eyes as I skimmed over the article once again. Much of what was written here was written with a strong and confident tone, like the 'facts' and 'evidence' presented couldn't be refuted. But it was the arrogance that angered me.

"She really believes in what she has written doesn't she," I comment.

"Quite outrageous notions, Mister President." The man in my company agreed wholeheartedly, even as his voice shook and his hands trembled.

I look at him and smile. I couldn't exactly call him cowardly just because he was scared of what a nineteen-year-old like myself would do to him. I've got to give him credit, he hasn't pissed himself despite the two machine guns placed on either side of his head.

The president of Peak View Media (PVM); a privately owned media house that distributed news in all available forms and even made a few TV shows. He was a rich man by all standards but not a powerful one.

"Quite outrageous you say?" I get off my butt and walk back to my desk, "So why then, Mister Ralefy, did you permit dear Miss," I scroll to the top of the article where a name is listed, "Miss Aina Leriva to publish this article?"

I take my seat and spin in it like I was a kid again. Despite intentionally sounding displeased at Mister Ralefy here, I was actually really excited. Perhaps it was the nihilism talking but I was starting to have fun playing this Re-Life game I'd found myself in. To think it only took ten tries.

"Did you believe the article? The editors you hired, did they not bring this to you for approval? It's a very sensitive topic you see, especially in Schelar."

I'm not exactly sure but it seemed that father hadn't been thorough in the manner he kept the media under his thumb. This particular journalist, Aina Leriva, had gone ahead to write and publish an article suggesting her top ten plausible candidates for who would run the state seeing as my Father had passed away.

At the top of her list was the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Matthias Andrianjanaka. An obvious choice anyone with a working brain would make. She continued to list on several nameless representatives and the occasional businessman, I bet this little inclusion flattered them.

Hilariously, she added Luciano as a bonus, citing that his extensive military background and previous, albeit short tenure as President of Seychelles as well as his participation in the formation of what was now Schelar would make him a brilliant candidate. I wondered why then she didn't give him a number.

"They did! They did but I was coerced into allowing it to be published, I swear!" he cries out. The sentence sounded very suspicious to me, there was much more of a story to tell behind that.

"Coerced? You own the company. I don't think anyone can coerce you into such an ill-thought decision." My eyes narrowed at him, suddenly he couldn't look me in the face, as if he'd done something damnable.

Well, I did make it seem like he'd sinned against his maker, but I didn't think he'd turn into a dog who shamefully messed up the carpet so quickly. It had to be something else.

"Are you sleeping with the Miss Leriva?" he flinched at my words, going on to rebuke them as false a moment after.
I laugh. It was genuinely hilarious. A woman's wiles are indeed not to be underestimated.

I beckon to one of the men holding a gun to his head, "Bring her in will you? I'm sure she's waiting outside."
"What? Who is waiting outside?" I glare at him as he began moving. One gun leaves his head and suddenly his life is less in danger?