Chapter 7: The Rebellion’s Spark

This time, I don’t put my faith in the President. Joe Fields—my old comrade from the Savannah campaign—is in the capital. If I don’t fight back, I’ll never break the loop.

"Councilman, have a cup of coffee before you go," I say to Charles, voice steady. The cup is poisoned. Charles slumps over, and I rush to Joe’s house.

Joe’s eyes widen when he sees me. "Senator Knox, what brings you here?"

"The First Lady sent Councilman Harris to kill me, and I killed the Councilman," I say. The coffee mug in his hand shatters on the linoleum floor.

"You must be kidding?" he says, voice cracking. But I just shake my head. He slumps against the wall, panic flooding his features.

"We’ll wait for the President to return. He’ll sort this out," he mutters.

I cut him off. "Joe, we can’t wait. Louise will know something’s up. We only have one shot."

Joe’s voice drops. "You want to rebel?"

"It’s to clean up the President’s side," I say, forcing a sneer. If I told him I was going against the President, he’d never listen. I can only use Louise as cover.

The lamp flickers. Joe pulls me to the back room. Shadows flicker on the frosted window, a child’s laughter drifting in from the TV next door.

"You and I aren’t the same—I have a family," he says, hoarse.

"That’s why you should join me," I whisper fiercely.

He grabs my wrist. "Is someone trying to harm me?"

I toss out a manila folder—the last name inside is Joe Fields. "Joe, you remember what happened to Paul Young. Louise doesn’t forgive. She erases. Everyone on this list—she wants them gone."

The folder is forged, but Joe is already trembling. "The President is out fighting an uprising, and the First Lady does whatever she wants?"

He stands, hands shaking. "Tonight I’ll mobilize the National Guard, clean up the President’s side, and take down Louise!"

"At midnight, North Gate. I’ll bring the Guards," I say.

Joe hesitates. "Only General Carter can mobilize the Guards, and he’s not in the city. How can you move them?"

I smile. "Don’t worry, Joe. I have my ways."

I need the Guard’s badge from Lucy. This time, I’ll play it differently—offer her a deal she can’t refuse.