Zinnia Broadstone

Mimoko stared in confusion as Iori began to scowl.

"Had a feeling that was the case, but here's the crazy part; I remember seeing some headline a few years back about some political influencer named Zinnia Broadstone being murdered. So was that fabricated?"

"Yes and no. There truly was an attempt on my life, and a life very dear to me was lost. But it was because of witness protection that my survival was hidden... I suppose I should start from the beginning. When I was in college, I was forced into joining the political club at the insistence of my mother. To put it bluntly, it was hell. The bitch in charge, an evil Pewler sycophant named Imelda Berrinche, did everything to beat me into shape. She kicked all my teeth out, burned me with her cigarette butts, forced me to watch non-stop videos of Pewler, all to corrupt me into the ideal politician my family wanted me to become. After such cruel torture, it was only a matter of time before I succumbed to it, and before I knew it, I was a corrupted politically obsessed idiot. Suddenly my unruly hair was straight and mature, my playful eyes now glaring and soulless, and my mischievous smile, now a disgruntled scowl. It was like I was mirroring my aunt and mother. Though I think I still held on to some form of sanity, or perhaps insanity as every day after acting like a soulless political robot, repeating the drivel like a broken record, I'd break down and smash my head repeatedly into my dresser mirror. If my hair wasn't naturally crimson red, folks probably would have realized what I was doing, but no one ever found out. I stayed like this until my final year of college, when I met Pewler in the flesh. Thanks to the brainwashing, I believed he was some mythical savior, but a part of the real me still remained, telling me he was nothing but a piece of shit. He was even worse than that!"

"What happened?"

"He offered to make me his secretary, but I refused, and as a result, he forced me to watch a demonstration...

...

Carol anxiously followed Pewler down the hall towards a large metal door. After entering the keycode, the door opened, revealing an interrogation chamber of sorts. Multiple smaller rooms were present, and inside one was a woman Carol didn't recognize.

"This woman is Leshana Berrinche, she's the older sister of the Imelda Berrinche I'm sure you're well acquainted with. She's the polar opposite of her though, which is why I've decided to show her the ways of compassion... MY way of compassion, that is," Pewler sneered as he activated his DESPER."

...

"What happened to her?" Mimoko asked.

"Pewler decimated her, and captured all her pieces to boot. And after he won, that poor woman was turned into a sheepblossom."

"A 'sheepblossom'?"

"Have you heard of the Dystopian novel, Glasstone?"

Mimoko shook her head while Iori tried to remember if she had or hadn't.

As soon as Carol finished giving a summary of the book, Iori realized what was going on. "That ponytailed fuck began using that book as blueprint."

"Yes, and sadly he’s making it more non-fiction by the day. Just like in the book, the city of Tombstone, Arizona has been razed to the ground and rebuilt as a metropolis filled with glass buildings and skyscrapers. He also renamed the town to Glasstone and hailed the achievement as 'humanity's rejection of its neanderthal past, and commitment to evolution', just like Kon Iving in the book. Picking up where I left off, after turning that poor woman into a sheepblossum, Pewler threatened to turn me into one too if I stepped out of line, but told me I didn't have to be his secretary and allowed me to leave. It was terrifying. He hadn't laid a hand on me, yet I was more terrified than I had ever been in my life. Worse, there was no out. I couldn't just say I supported some of his positions, as he made it so that you were either all-in on everything, or heartless trash lying about your support. It really ate at me for various reasons. Even if the political brainwashing never happened, there were some party positions I truly supported, but then Pewler stuck his thumb on the scale and put his own monkey's paw spin on them, and worse everyone within the Misericordia party just cheered him on with no question. It was honestly like I was staring a deadly ravine in the face, but as I was walking home from that meeting, I ran into Christian."

"Christian?"

"My boyfriend- Well, guess he wasn't my boyfriend yet at the time. He had stuck up for me on my 1st day at school when I ended up getting my teeth kicked out for not following the Misericordia- No, the Pewler code of conduct that bitch Imelda and her ilk idolized. And as a result of sticking up for me, he was expelled. When I met him again, all I remember was crying. Crying, just crying into his chest. Next thing I remember I was at his place. Everything was warm and cozy, and after a cup of warm milk, I finally broke free of the shackles binding me and decided I'd go my own way, but first I felt I had to at least speak out against Pewler, so I kept my "mature" persona intact just a bit longer. Though that was only because I wanted to seem more credible to the Misericordia party faithful. Guess you could say it was now just a mask, as I had freed myself from its husk. Anyway, I dropped out of school and began living with Christian and making videos exposing Pewler. I tried to just direct everything at him and not the policies, but I had forgotten that he was now the party. Speaking out against him, meant you were speaking out against the Misericordia party and everything it stood for. And just like those that spoke out against Kon Iving in Glasstone, I was quickly demonized and silenced."

Mimoko recoiled in horror. "Then when you said you were attacked-"

"Yes, it started with his sycophants at the press running hit pieces on me in order to generate hate. I decided to tough it out though, but then I got doxxed and an angry mob came to the house. As the mob began breaking in, Christian shoved me into a hidden passage under the floor while he called the police and stayed behind to ensure I could escape. I naturally refused to leave without him, even when he locked the door shut. Since there was a peep hole, I stayed behind and watched, hoping he'd be ok, but instead I bore witness to his horrific execution. Those monsters jeered and laughed as he screamed in pain, worse I recognized many of the folks within that mob, as a good chunk of them were from the college, including that bitch that gave me so much hell. Christian really was an idiot, trying to save the girl he loved by sacrificing himself... Idiot."

Tears began to pour out of Carol's eyes as her hand began trembling.

"Mimo-chan, I think we got the gist of things. No need to press anymore. Now let's think of what we do now," Iori nodded.

"Iori-chan... It's rare to see you so serious. Did her story remind you a bit about yourself?" Mimoko asked.

"Yeah, we both had our lives upended by shitty politicians in more ways than one."

Once Carol calmed down, the three discussed their gameplan. They were on the second floor, so they couldn't climb out through the window, but the door was seemingly unlocked.

The girls opened and cautiously made their way through the manor, eerily finding no sign of life as they went. While it wasn't unusual for her aunt and mother to be away, the fact that there wasn't a single servant present was ominous. They made their way into the foyer where portraits of 4 nearly identical women were displayed.

Carol identified them as portraits of her mother and aunts, explaining that they were all born identical quadruplets. She even revealed that she herself had an older twin brother, prompting Mimoko to inquire about him.

"Oh, he's not here. Rather, he's at the Broadstone mansion... likely suffering."

Before anyone could ask Carol to elaborate further, the sound of a door creaking open echoed, causing everyone to make a dash for the front. Once outside, they noticed a large Rolls Royce was parked outside the now open gate. No one appeared to be inside the car, giving the girls a chance to run, however, a man suddenly popped up from the other side of the car.

Everyone skidded to a halt as Carol went pale at the sight of him. "That's Mick Leopard, the Broadstone family chauffeur."

"And? It's three on one," Iori grinned.

"I got THIS though," Mick sneered as he pulled out a gun.

"Oh fuck, we're in America."

Mimoko, however, stepped forth, causing Mick to scowl. "Oh I see. Smart. I can't hurt you with this cuz of that blessing or something. Those two are a different story, but you... Heh. Seems I gotta go with my other little friend," he chuckled as he sheathed his gun.

He then put his hand in his pocket and slowly walked around the car as the girls began huddling together. Mick scanned the three before zeroing in on Iori and pulling out a DESPER.

Before anyone could react, Mick and Iori vanished, leaving Mimoko and Carol alone.

However, there was actually one other person present on the grounds, watching the two from the house.

"Zinnia, your little rebellion nearly stunted my aspirations, but now, everything will play out perfectly, and come tomorrow or the day after, I WILL be president."