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墨書 Inktalez
The dust settled, and Rain was elected with overwhelming support.
As the last batch of votes froze on the projection screen, Rain's vote count far surpassed that of his competitors. This election battle had not experienced a fierce tug-of-war; instead, it was a clear-cut suppression.
The supporters on-site went wild, as if they were part of a historic victory.
The crowd erupted, cheers deafening. Some shouted Rain's name, others embraced each other in excitement, and some shed tears of joy, as if this was not just a victory in an election but a triumph of a revolution.
Flags, support banners, and campaign paraphernalia were held high in the air, creating a sea of enthusiasm. Rain's smile was printed on every flag, overlapping with the face on the projection screen that had just confirmed his victory, becoming the sole "deity" in this jubilant scene.
On stage, Rain stood under the spotlight, straightening his back and holding his head high like a general who had just conquered the battlefield.
He picked up the microphone, his voice booming with passion: "We did it!"
The crowd below erupted in fervent response, their voices so loud they nearly shook the entire city center.
Rain continued with his victory speech, thanking supporters, his team, and everyone who had worked hard for this campaign—his words were passionate and carefully crafted, making everyone feel like they were part of this victory.
"This is not just my victory; it is a victory for all of us!"
As soon as these words were spoken, thunderous applause erupted once again, with some excitedly shouting: "Rain! Rain!"
That night belonged to Rain and the "myth" he had created.
Yet amidst this celebration, Carter did not stand among the crowd; he remained backstage, quietly observing the tide of victory.
He felt no pride in this triumph, no excitement, and not even a hint of belonging.
This was not his victory; it wasn't even a true victory—merely a meticulously orchestrated manipulation, a deception that packaged the hopes and dreams of countless people into a theatrical performance.
Yet he said nothing. He simply stood backstage, quietly watching Rain, the man glowing with glory, reveling in his "crowning moment."
At that moment, Carter heard a familiar sound of footsteps.
He turned his head to see Keisha rushing toward him, her face alight with joy, her eyes sparkling with pure excitement, like someone who had just witnessed history.
"We won!"
She laughed, excitedly embracing Carter, her tone filled with pride and joy. She truly believed this was "their victory," that it was "the people's victory."
Carter froze for a moment. His hand lifted slightly, wanting to respond to the embrace, but ultimately it just hung awkwardly in the air before slowly dropping down.
He didn't speak; he couldn't speak.
He merely stood there, feeling Keisha's warmth, sensing her excitement and happiness, while inside him lay a desolate wilderness of silence.
He knew she still believed this victory was real, and he couldn't bring himself to tell her—it was nothing more than a carefully arranged deception.
Keisha looked at Carter, her brow slightly furrowed as if she sensed something amiss.
"Is something wrong?" she tilted her head, her voice tinged with confusion.
On this victorious night, everyone was so excited they could almost leap into the air, cheers rising and falling like an unending celebration. Yet Carter stood there like a solitary rock isolated from the waves, devoid of excitement, devoid of fervor, not even a trace of joy.
Carter paused for a moment, then forced a smile, as if trying hard to appear "normal."
"It's nothing, just a bit tired..." His voice sounded relaxed, but the tone was weighed down by something heavy.
"And with Rain's approval ratings so high, it seems inevitable that he will win."
Keisha stared at him, as if searching for some clue.
She wasn't foolish; she could sense that Carter had changed.
During this time, he had become more silent, and the light in his eyes had dimmed significantly, like a lamp on the verge of extinguishing.
"Are you really okay?"
Her voice softened, laced with concern.
"Your dark circles have deepened a lot..."
Her gaze swept over Carter's face and noticed that his skin looked more haggard, the shadows under his eyes resembling the marks left by prolonged insomnia and fatigue.
She said softly, "You really need to take care of yourself. I was almost scared to death when you got attacked by the Street Racers..."
There was a tremor in her tone, as if she had genuinely worried and feared for him.
Carter felt a slight jolt in his heart.
He lowered his head, looking at the woman before him. She was still the same pure and idealistic person, still believing that the victory of this Election was something to be proud of, still believing that Rain would bring change, still… caring about him.
Suddenly, he felt a pang of reluctance to let those eyes see the dirtiness of the world.
So, he smiled again, this time his smile was a bit more natural than before.
“Don’t worry, Keisha, I’m fine.”
As night fell, the city lights cast a warm orange glow over the streets. Neon signs flickered, and the sounds of traffic mixed with the chatter of the crowd and the melodies from street musicians, creating a unique nighttime symphony for the city.
Carter stood at the corner, watching Keisha approach him from a distance, her face lit up with a radiant smile, her steps light as if the fatigue of the day had no effect on her.
“Have you been waiting long?” she asked playfully.
“Not really,” Carter shrugged, offering a faint smile.
The two walked side by side down the street, their pace leisurely as if the city's hustle and bustle had nothing to do with them.
Keisha was clearly in high spirits; she chatted non-stop about today’s events, Rain’s future plans, and the impact of this Election on the city, her tone filled with hope and anticipation.
“Once Rain officially takes office, he will definitely reform social welfare to improve conditions for veterans and laborers. He has also mentioned addressing Housing Prices… and about income inequality; he said he wants to redistribute resources so that life won’t be so hard for those at the bottom!”
“This city is finally going to get better, Carter. Don’t you think?”
Her voice was full of hope, her eyes sparkling with an almost naive light, as if she truly believed that miracles were about to happen.
However, as Carter listened to these words, he felt nothing but a sense of turmoil, like a needle repeatedly pricking at his nerves.
He had once believed in these words, even more firmly than anyone else.
But now?
He had seen Rain's true colors; he knew that all of this was merely rhetoric, just the sugar coating of a power game. No matter how beautifully it was said, behind it lay dirty deals and compromises.
He didn't want this annoying thought to ruin their dinner, so he decided to change the subject and quietly asked, "What about you? Will you continue being a Volunteer, or go back to working at the supermarket?"
Keisha paused slightly, clearly taken aback by Carter's sudden question.
After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, "Actually... I haven't figured it out yet."
"This election made me feel like I could do more than just stay at the supermarket... but I also don't know what to do."
She looked at Carter, her eyes filled with a hint of expectation. "What do you think?"
Carter pressed his lips together, not answering immediately.
He didn't know how to respond because he wasn't even sure if this "ideal" was worth Keisha continuing to pursue.
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