The sound of rabid cheers greets me the second I open the door. I flatten the ruffles of my baby blue dress, smoothing out my frilly hair. The wind carries the heat from the crowd and the sickly scent of sweat. I take a few calming breaths, collecting myself as the sun becomes clearer and clearer. As I maneuver my way up the stairs I try to maintain my usual sense of confidence, charisma, and vigor. Everyone would expect me to look that way. To be excited, but in a way that they can sense the embers of a so-called long extinguished struggle. Normal human emotions are hard to fake, but over the years, I'd become a master.

"Are you ready to go up?" Asks my assistant.

Without a second thought, I nod, and he unclips the rope. I take my first few steps towards the podium. My eyes and lips flash the crowd a smile. They turn wild in response, camera lights flash, and my grin widens.

These people are no more than putty in my hands.

"My, aren't we excited!"

My voice sounds clear and calm as it bursts from the microphone and up through the large speakers. The cheering takes a good two minutes to stop. As they roar and roar, I stare down at the gleaming, thin piece of metal. My Achelois chip, their utter destruction.

"Well, well," I say as I tap the mic with the tip of my finger. "It's so great to have such a wonderful and welcoming audience! And we haven't even gotten to the good part yet!"

More applause. An even wider smile, my teeth now showing.

"I can't lie to you; I absolutely love the energy in this room, but it's time to get serious for a moment."

I fake a look of concern, turning the brightness in my eyes down. The crowd falls into a hush, the flashes fading in turn. How pathetically easy, as if I'd flipped off a switch without a second thought. What a misguided crowd, falling right into my hands. These people are so vulnerable, so weak, so unlike my unusual mind.

"Our planet is plagued by evil. And evil has horrible, cursed consequences. Sickness. Suffering. Loneliness. Pain. Death. These are things that, up until this moment today, are constants. But it doesn't have to be this way, at least not anymore."

I take a long breath, allowing my words to truly sink in. They hang on like a fish on a hook, unable to be free and ignorant to their true fate.

"Before I announce our cure, I'd like to tell you about someone very close to me; My little sister, Angelica," I force tears to stir in my eyes. "She was so young, so pure, so innocent. But, tormented by that little voice in her head, the pain of the earth and those around her only making it worse. We tried everything, believe me, we did. Therapy, medicine, but nothing helped. All I could think about for days on end was her. Whether or not she'd get better, how I could help. Updates on her health were...disheartening, to say the least. And eventually, she...she did, in fact, try to take her life."

The crowds eyes turn somber. It's all I can do to not burst out laughing with glee. I compose a thick mask, mirroring their emotions.

"Fortunately, this is her now."

I gesture towards the screen behind me, which now lights up, and shows a happy, smiling young woman.

"Angelica, now age 23 and depression-free. What I bring now is freedom from your dark thoughts, from the inescapable pain. No longer is my sister in bondage, no longer does she suffer. And so, with great pride, I'd like to introduce the Achelois chip."

I speak with thunder, now holding up the invention. The crowd erupts, standing up and offering unending waves of applause. My lips tremble a little, mask cracking. My urge to laugh knocks again. I want to start laughing until my throat burns and my face turns blue from exhaustion. The words that I'm about to say are nothing more than carefully crafted lies woven with bits of half truths.

"This chip has the ability to save people from their very own minds. With this chip, I can grant everyone and anyone eternal glee. You will forever be in a state of happiness, and no matter how bad things may get, you will never feel anxious. Life may through its curve balls, but you will always be able to take them. Thanks to this euphoria, we will have no more wars, no more suicidal kids who just couldn't take it anymore. We will live better, and happiness will live forever!"

I smile widely, raising my arms in a triumphant stance. They're now on their feet, screaming praise. Some even jump up and down, they're so excited, so ready for my great invention. I suppose my claims are somewhat true. People will look happy. Humans will no longer be able to express discomfort, express pain. Those who can afford my implant will be thrown into a state of pure agony. I will set their souls ablaze and keep the red-hot flames burning until they're nothing but a charred shell of their original being. I will melt a permanent smile, dissolve the pain in their eyes and scorch a look of joy as radiant as the stars. Their pain will be delightful, their unraveling divine, their deaths ravishing, and my revenge upon humanity...beautiful.

I allow myself a small giggle.

This will be beautiful.