by Z. M. Wilmot
***
Katherine was awoken by a call at 7:02 AM the next morning. She turned on her phone’s speaker as she answered it, not even sitting up in bed. “Who is it?” she asked, her voice still slightly slurred by sleep.
“Randy Morgan! How the hell did you know?”
“Know what?”
“About the Sudanese riots! No one else knew about them! We were the first ones – and they happened only two hours ago – wait a second! You reported on that before it happened! What did you do? Instigate them yourself?”
Katherine was awake now. “What?!”
“The riots! Sudanese rebels are laying siege to government buildings in Khartoum! For the exact reasons you said! How did you know?”
“I-” For the first time in her life, Katherine Bendecker was speechless. Something interesting is happening! And… I predicted it? But I just made something up!
What does it matter? said the voice in the back of her head. You are the face of the news. Whatever you say is reality for the people watching you. You are in charge.
Katherine smiled. I am, aren’t I?
Go get ‘em, girl.
“I just had a feeling that it would happen… so I said it. Apparently I was right.”
“Well, if you could do it again, that would be marvelous!” Following the riots, viewership started to soar! Hell, we almost had more people watching us yesterday than were watching Channel 76!”
Katherine almost smiled. So the invaders have found that perhaps their conquest is more valuable than their original territory. Hah.
“I’ll do my best. Can I go to sleep now?”
“Oh! Certainly, certainly – see if you can dream something else happening!”
“Alright. Bye.”
“Bye!”
Katherine hung up and tried to go back to sleep, but found that she couldn’t. She felt exalted, and at the same time, terrified. I can’t do that again. It was just coincidence! What will they say if I can’t predict something again?
I’m sure you’ll manage, her head-voice said. Coincidences have a habit of grouping together.
