Chương 23: When Shadows Speak, Agents Listen

It took all of Regina's self-control not to punch the wall inside the elevator. It was bad enough she had to deal with that madman but now she had the light, melodic sounds of the easy-listening music to drive her deeper into madness. The sound was like nails on a chalkboard right now. She looked up at the speaker…

'The blue skies on the harbor, glimmering in your eyes, Makes me feel so lucky, baby — lucky that you're mine. You are the greatest of the greatest, everything a woman should be, You do whatever I tell you, never daring to question me. You know your place so perfectly; you greet me every day, With slippers in your hands — and that quiet smile that never fades away.'

"What the hell… are we talking about a partner or a pet?" she grumbled.

'I love you now because you do the things I say, Let's keep it going, baby, in our very special way. Please don't make me angry — you know I hate to see you cry, My fists of fury know no bounds; with us, it's do or die. You know we're in this together — always do or die.' She absently reached for where her sidearm should be, then found she was incredibly grateful it was not there. Regina, you know discharging a firearm in an elevator would be bad, really bad. She chastised herself before folding her arms.

It was bad enough to have to listen to the misogynistic bullshit that came out of Blackwood's mouth, but this crap, disguised as music? You can put anything to a melody, even propaganda I suppose. How did this schmuck end up in office… AGAIN? she asked herself, as the elevator doors finally opened. She stormed off down the hall, her mind replaying what happened upstairs. Her blood pressure was running dangerously high; she could feel it with every beat of her heart.

She barely registered the new set of slogan posters hanging up in the elevator vestibule. Follow the leader! It's not just a game anymore, it's the law! Love your leader, more than you love your mother! Blackwood Industries: Your Salvation! Don't Question It! Just Do It!

"We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring breaking news from High Chancellor Mordak Blackwood's office." A stern voice blared through the overhead monitor. Regina rolled her eyes. For crying out loud, now what? she asked herself, turning toward the screen. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Momentarily we will be hearing from Karalyn Glintspire, the Proportioned Press Determination Office Secretary, with an important news bulletin." Regina watched as a young woman stepped onto the stage making her way to the podium. The room erupted into a series of murmurs and camera flashes as Karalyn looked down at her notes.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," she began, then paused, signaling the room that she was ready to begin.

"It is my great honor that our High Chancellor has once again succeeded where no High Chancellor has before. You will be happy to know that he heard the public outcry, and by executive order he has achieved what no one thought he could." The crowd turned, murmuring to one another, unaware that there was anything brewing behind the scenes.

"By executive order, the spelling of baby will now and forever be B-A-E-B-Y as it should have been until his predecessor knowingly and willingly demanded it be B-A-B-Y. That kind of liberal thinking is what is destroying the very fabric of our great nation. Radical left-wing extremists have opposed the legislation time and time again to prevent the word baby from being spelled the way it should have been spelled all along."

"Ms. Glintspire!" A man in the crowd called out.

"Cardiff Montana from the Goblin Free Press. Is it true that High Chancellor Blackwood will be changing the spelling of other words as well?"

"Well, Mr. Montana, I am sure that when and if the time comes, High Chancellor Blackwood will make the right decision to save us all the trouble." The group looked at one another, confused.

"Can you elaborate on that, please? I am a little confused, save us the trouble of what?" Another voice called from the gallery.

"If the people demand, as they did with the word baby, for a spelling to be changed, then Mr. Blackwood…" Regina turned away, having heard enough.

"The people demanded nothing, you sycophantic sociopath. The asshat couldn't spell baby, so he changed it," she grumbled, heading down the hall. In a bold act of rebellion, Regina began to wave at the surveillance camera carefully perched on the wall above a vacant office.

"Hi Bert! How's the wife and kids?" she called out. She knew they were watching. It was not a well-kept secret. Everyone in the building knew. It was to the point now where you couldn't pull a wedgie out of your ass unnoticed.

"Psst… Regina?" a voice called from the shadows. Regina stopped suddenly and looked around. She knew she heard a female voice. The walls are talking back now. That's different.

"Over here," the voice called out softly. Regina's eyes quickly turned to where she was sure she had heard the voice as a hand popped out of the shadows, beckoning her toward it. Very clever. The only blind spot for the camera. Well played, my unseen friend.

"Come on, quickly," the voice urged. Regina quickly scanned the halls for anyone before apprehensively heading in the direction of the mysterious voice. Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed Regina, pulling her into the empty office.

"There isn't much time," the voice said, closing the door to the pitch-black room.

"Take this," the voice said, shoving something into her hand.

"Someone will be in touch." Regina reached out to grab the stranger, but all she felt was empty space.

"Who are you?" she called out to the darkness. She reached around blindly for the light switch on the wall. Finding it, she flipped it on and quickly scanned the room for the mysterious stranger… but found herself alone. She looked down at the device in her hand and stuffed it into her pocket. The door burst open.

"Ma'am, you don't belong here," a voice called from the doorway. Regina turned to the security guard.

"I'm sorry. The light was on. I just came in here to shut it off. Like Mordak says, "Spend money like it was mine, because it is, and I hate to spend!" The security guard looked at her, perplexed.

"What?"

"Oh, I don't know, it was something like that." She waved him off.

"What do I know? I am just a silly woman," she said, as she gave him a smile before walking toward him.

"Well, I'll be a donkey's niece! There's that silly old light switch. I walked right past it," she giggled.

"Alright, I guess I will be heading home then."

"I think that's a really good idea. It's kind of late. Should I call your husband or something to come retrieve you? I wouldn't want you to get lost in the dark?"

"Thank you, but no. My travel pod is in the garage, and it has auto-drive so I should be fine." The security guard held the door open for her.

"Don't worry about the light, I've got it."

"Why, thank you," Regina said, walking past him.