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“Are you ready? It's a large crowd today.”
Callie adjusts her bow, letting out a quiet sigh as she stares at herself in the mirror. She rubs at the scar over her eye with her finger. Her ears droop slightly.
“Do you think they’ll notice?” Callie whispers. “We’re supposed to be perfect.”
“It’ll get covered up,” Marie replies calmly.
Callie’s throat goes tight. She swallows and reaches for the clunky black visor sitting next to her. It sits heavily in her hands as she rubs her thumb against the front of it.
“I know what it reminds you of, but please, do as she requires,” Marie murmurs as she gives a small smile. “This is for the good of everybody. Even you.”
Callie takes a deep breath in and places the visor over her eyes. It feels awkward and heavy, and it slightly pinches against her temples. These things always give her a headache. Marie never seems to complain about it.
She can hear the crowd outside as she stands and gives Marie a small smile in return. She's right, this is for the good of everyone.
At the same time, she can't help but feel they’re using something they shouldn't against everybody.
“It’s time,” a short Inkling in a round, red-eyed mask says from the doorway behind them.
Callie straightens herself out and holds her head up high, tilting her chin up slightly as she holds her hands behind her back.
Marie moves to stand behind her, posing herself in the same way as she waits for Callie to walk out on stage. It feels like their old concerts in a way, only more sinister.
Her mind feels foggy. No, no. It’s for the greater good. It’s what she orders.
Callie takes another deep breath as she walks out on stage, waving to the crowd as they get louder. Her feet practically glide on stage as she gives everybody a soft smile.
Among the crowd and in front of the stage are masked Inkfish, all dressed in off-white clothing. They're all staring up at her with those piercing red eyes. She can't even tell what they're thinking behind the masks.
There's a low droning noise in her ears from the speakers next to her. It quickly drowns out the crowd as she motions for them to quiet down. Despite the crowd being so large, they all seem to go quiet without any hesitation.
This’ll be an easy crowd. Already so orderly.
“Thank you all for coming,” Callie says calmly. “The Manifest would be proud that her words are being heard by so many.”
Marie gives the crowd a smile. “Yes. She’d be pleased.”
Callie points a finger at the crowd, slowly sweeping it along as she speaks. “When I look at you all, I see people who have all been affected by the chaotic uncertainty of the world. You have all experienced negative change in your lives.”
Marie nods. “We understand your pain. We realize that chaos and uncertainty plague this city.”
“It is why we’ve come to spread the word of the Manifest,” Callie says as she stands up straighter. “She speaks of an orderly world, one where you have no worries. You will feel safe and happy knowing that there are people looking out for you.”
Callie feels sick to her stomach. A part of her feels like she's lying to these people. Her words leave a bitter taste on her tongue. None of this sounds right.
This world of order is bland.
It’s a safe, unchanging world.
There's no freedom.
You’ve never been better.
“We are all one under the Manifest,” Marie locks her fingers together. “You will forever be with friends and family. Change will no longer destroy your lives.”
Various voices shout above the crowd. Despite the seemingly orderly crowd, there's always a few outliers. They’ve dealt with worse before.
“How do you know what it's like?!”
“You’re both rich! You’ve probably never struggled a day in your lives!”
“Why should we listen to you?!”
Marie motions for them all to calm down as she calmly walks to the center of the stage. “I know these words might not seem like much coming from a celebrity, but we’re doing this because we care.”
“We know what it's like for change to rip us apart,” Callie says. “My acting career left me overworked and unhappy. It strained my relationship with Marie.”
“We fought a lot,” Marie says. “We never felt so distant. The Manifest saved us and showed us a world where we no longer had to worry about all of that. Now…”
“We’re better than ever,” Callie and Marie say in unison.
Callie's gone through that same spiel over and over. She hates having to use what she went through as a way to lure people into this trap. That's all this is. It’s a trap.
Her head aches.
She wants out of this trap.
You're no traitor. Look at how happy she is. Do you want to ruin that?
She can't stand to see Marie like this.
She's been shown the right way. Order is the right way. Follow her lead.
Callie can feel Marie lightly squeeze her hand as the crowd roars in her ears. They sound even louder than before. She feels overwhelmed despite something forcefully calming her nerves.
The droning in the speakers gets louder as screens flicker on behind her, illuminating both of them and making them stand out like silhouettes on stage. The crowd goes silent once more.
“Follow the words of the Manifest and she will help you as she helped us,” Callie says. “Live free of worry in a world of certainty.”
Callie and Marie bow as the crowd picks up in volume again. They exchange glances as they wait there for a sign they're free to leave the stage.
One of the masked Inkfish nods at them from over their shoulder. Time to go.
The two of them exit the stage as the crowd becomes drowned out behind them. Callie’s ears still feel like they're ringing, and yet she feels completely relaxed.
She hates feeling like this. Her brain feels all foggy, and no matter how hard she tries to feel nervous, scared, or angry, she just feels calm.
“Are you alright, Callie?” Marie asks quietly.
Callie’s throat feels like it sticks together as she swallows the growing lump in it. “Do you ever wish for freedom again, Marie?”
Marie’s brow visibly creases from behind her visor. “What do you mean? We are free.”
Callie stares for a moment before she sharply inhales, giving an uncertain smile. “You’re right… I-I don't know what I’m saying. I must be a bit scatterbrained.”
“Do you feel okay?” Marie asks softly.
“I feel better than ever,” Callie replies. “Please don't tell the Manifest of this mistake. It won't happen again.”
Marie is silent for an uncomfortably long time, before she softly smiles and adjusts Callie’s bow. It was starting to become undone.
“We won't tell her. She’ll only know of the success of this crowd. She’ll be proud of us both.”