Inkblot 2019 Summer

xenophobic plans. He proposed laws targeting
specific ethnic groups for the purpose of water
“conservation”. In such a divided time, Dan
knew that Joseph had made one of the worst
decisions possible – and yet, he was powerless.
Dan did not have the authority to end Joseph’s
plots.
As he escorted Joseph to the podium
where he would speak, a sleek woman in red
stepped into their path.
“Rose,” Joseph said.
“Hello, Joseph,” Rose responded.
She directed a grim glare towards Joseph.
That man, she thought, is the true definition
of evil. Inside his emotionless husk was a
flourishing sadist. To him, humans were simply
tools for him to manipulate.
“I am eager to listen to what you have
to say today,” Rose said.
A deafening silence.
Though the woman had extraordinarily
lustrous hair and exquisite features, she was not
recognized for her appearance – rather, it was
her bold influence as an activist who trusted in
the people that made her one to watch.
“You know I won’t hesitate to ruin your
business if you step in the wrong direction,” she
warned.
This wasn’t the first time Rose had tried
to scare Joseph. They had physically met only
seven months earlier, at a similar conference.
After hearing Joseph’s first, horrific rant against
the refugees of the world, Rose had been incandescent
with fury. He stood for everything that
she fought against. She saw him as a cruel businessman
who was crafting a world of chaos and
hatred, neglecting entire populations in need.
She had approached him right after his speech.
“And who are you?” Joseph had asked,
clearly irritated.
“My name is Rose Lane, from the Life
Fountain Foundation.”
“I see. I presume you’re another one
of those people who want change? What is it
that you so desperately, like every other public
speaker, foundation leader, progressive thinker,
have to say?”
Stunned, Rose had begun to shout.
“You are a monster. What is wrong with
you? There are people in need, and you, with
all your money and power, choose to abandon
them?”
“Before you st – ”
“I don’t care what you have to say. I
want you to understand. Your choices will only
tear our world apart. As someone with your
stature in power, you should take responsibility
in your decisions. They affect the world, not
only your filthy bank account! You are depriving
the people of their fundamental needs. To
neglect the world around you like this is truly
selfish, and I have nothing but contempt for that
kind of attitude. You are disgusting.”
Joseph had seemed shocked. For a
while, he was silent, processing what he had
just heard. And then, he stared into Rose’s eyes
with a zeal she had not noticed before.
“Listen, you are nothing to me. How
dare you even interrupt me? I know that you
will do nothing to me. People like you are
worthless, constantly throwing empty threats of
justice and equality. I doubt you have any idea
of what you’re even talking about. Your little
plans will not sprout into anything. I would like
to see you try to stand up against me.”
Rose’s teeth ground together, and her
hands curled into tight fists. She took a controlled
step towards Joseph.
“You are underestimating, Joseph,”
Rose told him. “Not me, not the cause, but the
people. You are underestimating the power of
the people. The love and the compassion that
runs through us. The people will stop you. Never
underestimate the power of the people. Never
underestimate us.”
Joseph had just laughed.
Since those seven months, Joseph had
turned his back on Rose with a cold implacability,
and she hated it.
“Joseph, don’t underestimate the
power of the people,” Rose said.
“I haven’t forgotten, Rose.”
-
29