CLASSIFIED 2013 preview

An old woman with half-moon glasses sits in a big chair with silk drapes and purple cloth, which looks like a throne. She smiles, humming to herself, looking out at her penthouse suite as if it were a bright painting to admire.

After a moment, she stands up and walks down a staircase off of tall platform and walks to her living room. She approaches a large mirror nailed crudely to the wall.

“Good morning,” she tells her reflection. The reflection doesn’t move, but continues smiling.

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall,” she continues, her reflection still unmoving, “remind me again, who is the brightest of them all?”

The reflection in the mirror speaks. “You are, m’lady.”

“Who is the wealthiest of them all?”

“You are.”

“And who shall one day take her place as the queen of the world, Mirror?”

The reflection’s grin widens as it lowers its head a little, looking at its twin over its glasses.

“You shall, m’lady. But there is one thing to get out of the way first.”

“Oh? Another?” The woman asks, crestfallen.

“Yes, unfortunately,” the reflection answers as she removes a photograph from her purse. It is a bust photo of a young man wearing a business suit and an annoying smirk. The reflection holds it up, her hand passing through the mirror’s surface like rippling water.

“Marcus Smith. As long he is alive, he is a danger to your future empire. Make sure he does not survive the end of the week.”

“And then we will be ready, at last?” asked the old woman.

The reflection smiled again. “We shall be ready at last, m’lady.”