Episode 6 – The First Eye Contact
The next morning, Rae Riveira sat at her small editing desk with a cup of cold coffee and tired eyes from staying up all night. The sunlight from the narrow window lit up her laptop screen, which showed the draft of her latest video. She knew the time was right.
With a long, steady breath, Rae opened her streaming app. She typed the title: “Blackwood Dreamland – A Dream or a Disaster?” Without hesitation, she pressed the start button.
“Good morning, guys! I’m Rae, and today I won’t give you fancy footage or dramatic music. I just want to talk to you directly,” she said, looking into the camera.
Behind the screen, the number of viewers started to climb. Comments began to appear one after another.
“Remember West Haven? And the eviction of Wolf Den? Now, Kenny Blackwood is doing something even bigger. Fourteen neighborhoods... will disappear. Guys, can you imagine?All for a project they call a dream, but for many people, this is where the nightmare begins.”
More people kept joining. Donation alerts popped up on the screen.
“I could only give $2, hope it helps the investigation.”
“Keep going, Rae! Just sent $10—we need people like you!”
“Me and my friends pitched in. This is everyone’s fight.”
Rae continued, her voice firm.
“Thank you so much for the support, guys… I’m not saying everything Kenny builds is wrong. But just look at who pays the price. Small communities, regular people. And now, they’re starting from the southern side of the city. They’re calling it: Blackwood Dreamland.”
The comment section exploded. Some were angry. Some supported the project. Many asked for proof.
“I live in one of southern neighborhoods. We haven’t heard a thing. Is this even real? Do you have evidence?”
“AGAIN, IT’S THE POOR WHO GET PUSHED OUT.”
“This pretty girl always makes my brain spin…”
“Do they really think we’ll stay quiet? They crush us every time for the sake of buildings!”
“I know you want proof,” Rae said during the stream. “And I’m working on it. But you deserve to know now. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
The livestream lasted only 14 minutes, but the impact was far beyond what Rae had expected. By morning, the video was trending across platforms.
Several online media outlets rewrote the contents of Rae’s stream, including screenshots of Kenny’s leaked presentation. Some reporters started visiting the project’s rumored location, and a few found new land markers placed quietly on the edges of town.
**
At Blackwood Holdings’ main office, tension filled the air. The legal team was talking loudly in sharp tones, the public relations staff was overwhelmed with media calls, and an emergency meeting was called.
Patrick knocked on Kenny’s office door and entered before getting a reply. “Sir, you need to see this.”
Kenny, who was reading a thick file at his long glass desk, turned his head calmly.
“Rae Riveira,” Patrick said. “She went live this morning. And... it went viral.”
Kenny said nothing. He didn’t respond right away, just turned the tablet screen Patrick handed him. He watched the clip of Rae.
“She knows exactly when to speak,” he murmured.
“Should we take legal action, Sir?” Patrick asked.
Kenny looked out through the large window behind him. “No. Not yet… Actually, this could be a good thing. We need more attention. If people hear about this project, we might get new demands, which means..... new investors.”
Patrick paused. “So, you want to turn this into... a public campaign?”
“Exactly. Schedule an interview. In a public place. A mall, maybe. Rich people like comfort place. Let’s show them the future of this city.”
**
One week later, a giant banner hung in one of the city’s grandest malls: “Exclusive Talk with Kenny Blackwood – The Future of the City in Our Hands.” The place was packed. Journalists, real estate vloggers, lifestyle influencers, and upper-middle-class citizens filled the atrium.
Rae stood in the crowd, wearing a black hoodie but still looked as striking as she did in her videos. She didn’t plan to be seen, but she knew she had to witness for herself how Kenny controlled the public narrative.
Kenny walked onto the stage with a calm smile. He wore a light grey suit and a white shirt, no tie. The wireless mic on his ear made him look like a TED Talk speaker.
“Thank you for coming,everyone.” Kenny said. “Today, I won’t give you promises. I want to give you a vision.”
The room went silent. Cameras were rolling from different angles.
“Our city is growing. And like all growth, there will be things we have to give up. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do it with humanity and dignity. Blackwood Dreamland is not just a project. It is the future.”
Some people clapped. A few even stood up.
Among them, voices started rising. Comments, even small shouts:
“Look at that! The animation is insane!”
“If it really looks like that, I’m buying a unit!”
“Wow… this feels like the future.”
“Oh my God, that corner of Dreamland looks like Santorini!”
“Now this is a real high-class property!”
Kenny continued his presentation. A giant LED screen showed animated visuals of the project.
“We’re going to build education centers, hospitals, green public spaces, Business CBD, and of course, quality housing. Prices will vary. We want everyone from all backgrounds to enjoy this future land.”
Rae almost laughed. She knew exactly what kind of “prices” Kenny meant. And they were nowhere near what the soon to be-evicted families could afford.
But then, something made Rae pause. Her eyes caught a small shift on the stage. Kenny. The man who had been speaking so confidently suddenly turned his head. It wasn’t just a casual glance around the crowd like most presenters do. It was different. He seemed to be looking for something. Or someone.
His gaze moved slowly, left to right, scanning the audience... then stopped at her.
Only three seconds.
But long enough to make Rae feel like her whole body froze.
A second later, his eyes moved back to the screen behind him, and then casually over the rest of the audience, as if nothing had happened. But Rae knew. That moment wasn’t an accident. That stare, it didn’t feel like someone who just recognized her face from the internet. It felt like a hunter, spotting exactly where his target was standing.
“Did he know I was here?” she thought.
She lowered her head slightly, but her chest felt tight. There was something in Kenny’s eyes. Not just recognition… it was something sharper. Like he was watching her. Marking her.
After the event, guests started taking selfies at a booth showing a miniature model of Dreamland. Kenny walked offstage, heading toward the VIP room. But just before he disappeared behind the curtains, he turned back once more.
Rae was still standing in the same spot.
Their eyes met.
Kenny smiled. Not wide, just a small curve at the corner of his mouth. But enough to send a message that stuck in Rae’s mind.
She turned around and walked away.
A strange mix of emotions rose inside her.
She couldn’t even explain why.
**
On her way home, Rae still felt her heart beating fast. She opened the video she had recorded during the event, zooming in on the part where Kenny looked her way.
The look wasn’t just in her head. It was real. A quiet confirmation that he knew who she was.
Across the city, Kenny opened his laptop and played Rae’s livestream from the week before. He stared at the woman’s face in silence.
“You still think you can fight me, Rae?” he whispered.
“I’ll be waiting for your next move.”