Chapter 01

So many eyes tracking her every step on stage, yet the air in the room holds still.

Glancing at the sea of heads, she finds herself stifling her breaths as she steadies herself between the lectern, swallowing to clear the bolus of discomfort in her throat.

A click and a flash make her wince, no help to her trembling fingers and quivering lips. The paper in her hand scrunched and stretched thin from furious deliberation – she has no idea how to deliver the words scribbled in pen.

“Mrs President, what is the situation with the East?” a stern voice breaks the silence.

“Mrs President, is it true they have launched nuclear weapons our way?” two men rise from the sea, one with a microphone and another with a videocam sitting on his shoulder.

“Mrs President, how much time do we –”

“The end is near.” Her eyes close as the splutter of frenzied questions dissolve into an audible silence. Her hands still spreading the paper thin; her next words imbue the room with fear. “The East have launched a full-scale nuclear war. Go home to your loved ones.”

“But, Mrs President, what does that mean –”

“Mrs President, which areas are they attacking?”

“Mrs President, how did this happen –”

“Ladies and gentleman, there is no time to explain. We will release an official statement soon,” Her voice breaks, as a tear chromatographs the words inked beneath her, “Go home, please.”