Weapon

 

Sophie had always written with fire. As a journalist, her words aimed to reveal the truth. What she didn’t know was that her writing could do more than inform… it could alter reality.

It began with a factory fire. She needed to have the story ready for print immediately, so she typed: The fire was quickly contained, and no one was hurt. Hours later, the fire chief confirmed no injuries, all under control.

Strange coincidence, she thought. But good for the paper not printing incorrect information.

The tipping point came during a chat with her sister Amy, who mentioned a random bird sighting downtown. It was a rare species, out of season. Curious, Sophie typed a column for the sidebar: An unseasonal migration of starlings has taken over the skyline, drawing crowds and scientists alike.

The next morning, the city skyline was filled with birds. News vans lined the streets. Her editor called in a frenzy to say Sophie had scooped the phenomenon! Their article was going viral.

Sophie was shaken. Her words were shaping reality. What started as discovery felt more like manipulation. Creation. Power.

Then came the visitor.

A man in a sharp black suit entered her office uninvited. “We’ve been watching you,” he said. “I’m Victor Harrow. I represent the Syndicate. We govern people like you, whom we call Wordsmiths.”

Sophie backed away. “I won’t be controlled.”

Victor smiled coldly. “You already are. Join us, and shape the world. Resist, and risk everything.”

Sophie thought of Amy, her friends, and her future. The temptation to fix the world warred with the fear of losing herself.

“I won’t join you,” she said, trembling.

Victor’s smile faltered. “Then you’ve made yourself a target. You’ve been warned.”

He disappeared.

Now Sophie writes with caution. Every word could manifest. Every sentence could twist the world in ways she can’t predict.

She once sought the truth. Now, she is the truth, and her words are her greatest weapon.

The only question left: how will she use them?

***

335 words

Do you remember the show Early Edition? I watched it a bit as a kid and wonder if that's where Sophie works. Honestly, the idea came to me because I've written two short stories (years ago) that kind of came true in ways. Thankfully ALL of my stories don't, but those two were enough to make me wonder.