As the bright lights smacked against Charles Winters face, his supporters fell silent. His mere appearance at a poor, local public school was enough to bring the whole community to watch. Not that any of them actually enjoyed hearing him speak, but it was extremely difficult to see him so everyone gathered for this occasion. The smell of recent disinfectant plagued the school and made a normally friendly setting into a formal one just as Charles liked it. Nothing informal around him. Charles’ thinning white hair, and pale gray undertones gave him the look of someone near their death, but the reality is he is only 55. The silence wasn’t because his charisma, but for the lack there of. A deep, heavy grunt left his dry hole of a mouth as he gave the signal that he was about to speak.
“Good morning everyone,” he started and a painful smile escaped his lips. “It’s my pleasure to announce that I will be running for your president this year, 2032. I know many of you have rallied for this, and it is with great honor that I accept your nomination. I have heard your cries and I am here to become the man of the people. I hope you will come with me on my journey because now that I have your support, I would like to keep it. Thank you” His breath lingered through the speakers before the audience broke into a respectable applause.
The year was 2032, and the presidential campaign itself hadn’t changed but the people involved did. In New York, where both Charles Winter and his rival, Peter Athene lived, the city itself seems relatively normal. Under the surface, however, corruption is brewing at all times. Scandals arose one after the other and after a while the candidates simply became better at hiding their greed and basic need for power.
Mr. Winter knew that tomorrow his opponent, Peter Athene, would be taking the same stand tomorrow and making a much similar statement. Charles knew that as soon as that happened, they would be on Peter’s side and he couldn’t have that. Peter was Charles’ opposite in not only every political sense, but every physical sense as well. Petter was 45 but his rosy complexion told you otherwise. His frame, although larger, did not strike intimidation in the people around him. Unlike Charles, who named himself the man of the people, Peter was the actual man of the people. He knew where they came from and took their opinions into serious consideration. If you asked a middle aged woman what she liked about him, her first response would be the word “charming”. Charles hated him for all of those reasons, and he was sure that he would beat him in the next race if he didn’t do anything to stop it.
A musty fragrance filled Charles Winter’s office, and he switched on the TV. Sure enough there it was, Peter Athene announcing his campaign. Revolutionary, inspiring, those were just a few of the words countless reporters had to say about him.
“Christ,” Charles huffed and groaned, “this guy thinks he can pull this. A day after I announce my campaign. The nerve.”
Angrily he kept watching, and started to devise a plan. There had to be some “soft spot” Mr. Athene had, right? He wasn’t just all charm and giggles, there had to be something he could expose to ruin his campaign. During his deep thought a package was left by his office door. Sweat dripped from his pores as he paced across his office, the sight becoming more grim and greedy with every step. His heart raced and he placed one hand over his chest as if it would somehow control it. Piles and piles of green, thin, money ran through his thoughts. A stale wafer thin aroma filled his nose, and then it hit him. Sabotage. The easiest trick in the book, how come he hadn’t thought of it before? Finally he had a plan, and he would send someone else out to complete it.
Plant a prostitute in Peter Athene’s house
Set up police to catch him with her
Watch as his career is ruined
Charles sent one of his best henchmen,Steve. Steve was a small nondescript man with an extremely identifiable smell. The smell of money. An evil smile crept across Charles’ face as he realized his child that was his plan, was finally set in motion and he never had to leave his office. Steve was sent out with a GoPro, only since the times had changed it was much more than a simple GoPro. It was smaller, more discreet, a little bit like Steve.
When he opened the small brown box that was delivered during his genius, inside lay 5 warm brownies. He could smell the delicious decadent flavor immediately. A usually annoying and informal gesture pleased him.
“I’ll wait until my big moment to eat these.” Charles decided. He wanted to spoil his appetite while simultaneously spoiling Peter’s campaign. A malevolent smirk ran across his face as he watched Steve get set up on the big screen plastered in his office. As he was beginning to take a bite of one of the brownies, Charles’ heart began to race and his body began to feel numb. Quickly his breath shortened and his discomfort increased.
Holy Christ, am I going to die?! Is this it?! At least that pathetic Athene’s will be out of this race with me Charles’ thought before he collapsed on the floor.
Meanwhile on the screen Steve was setting up for the heist. The woman was in place inside Peter Athene’s mansion, and Steve had the police ready on call. He should be home in minutes. Minutes became hours and hours became a few, Peter still didn’t show. The cold breeze of the night drifted in and Steve took the hired woman and left.
“At least I got paid for this ----.” He groaned
When Steve got back to Charles’ office he saw him lying on the floor stiff as a board. He ran over to him, shook him, and realized he was a couple hours too late.
The night of the announcement of the new president
Peter sat anxiously surrounded by his friends, families, and supporters. Their quiet whispers filled the room with pleasant thoughts about whatever the outcome was, it’s been a good run. The minutes dragged on when finally over the surround sound a voice said,
“Congratulations to your 2032 president, Peter Athene!”
The crowd erupted with noise, and Peter hugged his family and friends. None of them mentioned what had happened to poor Charles Winter, and its not like any of them cared either.