The headlines spread faster than we could respond.
Shadow Network. Secret Influence. Unaccountable Power.
Everywhere I looked, people were asking questions that sounded reasonable until I read between the lines. They weren't looking for answers. They were planting doubt.
The following morning, we gathered around the conference table at the foundation. The atmosphere was tense. Maya paced restlessly, Zara scrolled through article after article, and Elias sketched furiously, creating bold images that told our story without needing a single word.
“They're making us look like the new Circle,” Zara said, pushing her tablet towards us. “They're using the same accusations they once used against Silas. If we argue, we'll look defensive. If we remain silent, they'll call us guilty. It's a trap.
