Page 4 of Stars and Scars

“We are the Aegis Order. We have usurped this insipid video to deliver a warning. Our social-media driven culture has led to a death of intellectualism and a rise in rampant consumerism.”

“Well sonofabitch. Is this some kinda joke?” Leslie says, showing me her phone. “I’ve got the same thing on mine.”

Steve comes over and peers over her shoulder. His face goes pale.

“It’s not a joke! I’ve heard about these people, some kind of hacktivist group.”

“Like Anonymous?” I ask.

“Way worse than Anonymous. Anonymous just leaks data. The Order makes threats.”

“Why are they cutting intomyfeed, though? Shouldn’t they be screwing with a Kardashian or something?”

I start to feel panicky. This is going to ruin my chances with Etsy.

The video switches to scenes of people at shopping malls, online purchasing sites, and stacks of money being counted.

“Social Media Influencers are destroying the very fabric of our society. People without talent or creativity are making ludicrous amounts of money and winning awards they don’t deserve.”

The video cuts to a headline with my picture next to the Points of Brightness award.

“We have chosen Charlotte Gilroy, AKA CharlottesVille4-Ever, to be an example to others. If Charlotte does not stop posting content online, there will be consequences.”

“Wait a minute,” I say, gripping my phone with white knuckle intensity. “These are the same guys who sent me that creepy direct message last week. They told me to stop posting or face consequences, and then there was a skull and crossbones emoji…”

Leslie gasps. “Did you call the police?”

“No.”

“Why the Hell not?”

I sigh. “Leslie, I get at least a half dozen death threats per week. They used to scare me, but now I just accept it as part of the price of being an influencer.”

Steve clucks his tongue. “Well, you’d better take these guys seriously. They’re looking to build a reputation, trust me. And for some reason they’re fixated on you.”

“Shh,” I say, putting my finger to my lips. “They’re talking again.”

“The Aegis Order will save humanity from itself, no matter the cost. No one listens, unless there is pain. No one cares, unless there is blood. Nobody changes, unless there is…”

The image changes to one of me, my eyes crossed out with red x’s and a red slash on my throat drawn in with marker.

“...death.”

I nearly drop the phone, my hands are shaking so bad. Leslie takes it out of my nerveless grasp and I settle onto a stone bench, unable to speak.

“Now we definitely have to call the police,” Leslie says. “I’m calling them right now.”

Steve shakes his head. “What are the police going to do? It’s not like they’re going to assign protection twenty four hours a day. Charlotte’s not that famous. No offense.”

“None taken.”

Then I get an idea. I take my phone back from Leslie and start typing in the search bar.

“What are you doing?” Leslie asks.

“There’s this security agency I follow, one that’s been used by Easton Ross herself. It’s all a bunch of ex-military and spy type of guys who run it…what was the name?”

The website comes up and I smile.

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