The celebrations continued long after sunrise. Across Valenridge, people poured into streets, parks, cafés, and public squares. Some had stayed awake for nearly two days. Others had fallen asleep in front of televisions and woken up to the news they had been hoping for.
Sebastian Ravenscroft had won.
Officially. The numbers had been verified.
The election was over. For the first time in years, the country had chosen a new direction. And now everyone wanted to know what came next.
Inside campaign headquarters, however, the atmosphere was very different from the scenes outside. The cheering had faded.
The celebrations had quieted. Reality was settling in. Winning an election was one thing. Leading a nation was another.
Sebastian stood alone near a window overlooking the city. The classified file still rested on the table behind him. Unopened.
For now.
His reflection stared back from the glass.
President-elect.
The title still felt strange.
