Part I

“Joining us today to discuss the one-year anniversary of the Galleria Massacre is Jamie Fisher—official spokesperson for Luminhale and author of Medical Falsehoods: A Guide to Pushing Back Against Conspiracies Within Medicine,” Harrison Barr announced from behind his desk. The screen split, revealing Jamie’s poised expression.

“Jamie, thanks for joining us.”

“Glad to be here,” Jamie said, flashing her best smile at the webcam.

Harrison leaned forward slightly, voice weighted with manufactured gravitas. "As our viewers know, it's been a year since Ian Kerry took the lives of twenty-eight innocent people at the Galleria Mall, livestreaming the atrocity as the nation watched in horror. Although the original video was removed, clips continue to circulate online, fueling speculation. More disturbing, this massacre was just the first in a series of mass killings now infamously dubbed the Clown Murders, as each perpetrator was dressed as a clown before committing their crimes. Jamie, are these merely copycat crimes, or is something more sinister at play?"

Jamie nodded, her expression calibrated for sincerity. “Like everyone else, I was horrified by the Galleria Massacre and the tragedies that followed. These events are an indictment of the violence saturating our culture and a stark reminder of our nation’s mental health crisis. Since the perpetrators were all killed in their attacks, we may never fully understand their motives, but what we do know is that untreated mental illness remains a serious issue. My hope is that people seek the help they need before they reach such a tragic breaking point.”

She softened her gaze, as if appealing directly to troubled viewers. “Don’t go down that path. Help is out there.”

Harrison nodded along. “Many of our viewers share your concern. However, since you mentioned treatment, there is a growing belief online that the very drugs meant to help could be contributing to these tragedies. As I’m sure you’re aware, it was later confirmed that all of the perpetrators had been prescribed Luminhale.” He glanced at the camera, letting the statement settle. “A recent poll of our audience found that twenty-nine percent suspect medication may be partly to blame. What would you say to them?”

Jamie had been prepared for this. The number gnawed at her—twenty-nine percent. And growing. But she exhaled, keeping her voice measured.

“I understand where they’re coming from,” she began, offering the olive branch first. “In times of crisis, we search for answers wherever we can, even in places that aren’t credible. That’s why I wrote Medical Falsehoods and why I’m here today. The truth is, over sixty percent of American adults were diagnosed with depression last year, and many were prescribed Luminhale. But correlation isn’t causation. A staggering number of these individuals either never filled their prescriptions or failed to take them as directed. Just because these perpetrators had prescriptions doesn’t mean they were actually taking their medication. If they had followed their doctors' guidance, their lives could have improved—they might even still be here today.”

Jamie paused, then delivered her final strike. “That’s why medical misinformation is so dangerous. It doesn’t just harm those who need help. It endangers everyone.”

Harrison nodded, ever the agreeable host. Why wouldn’t he be? Luminhale had poured millions into advertising on his network, with additional "investments" flowing in since the Galleria incident. His job wasn’t to challenge Jamie. It was to keep the money flowing.

“Your book does an excellent job debunking this misinformation,” he said smoothly. “Unfortunately, most people don’t have time to sift through data. What do you think can be done to help the average working American sort fact from fiction?”

Jamie let out a practiced laugh. “Well, I’m an author, not a policymaker.”

Harrison chuckled along. “Of course. But given your expertise, I feel your insight is valuable.”

Jamie tilted her head just slightly, as if considering. “At Luminhale, we believe in treating the root cause, not just the symptoms. When it comes to misinformation, the burden shouldn’t fall solely on the public. Social media platforms need to take responsibility for the content they allow to spread.” She carefully avoided the word censor. Public sentiment was against it. Policing worked better. It suggested self-regulation. Control without overt control.

“With enough public pressure,” she continued, “our legislators will have the motivation to act.”

Harrison turned back to the camera, stacking his papers with finality. “You heard her. We all have a voice. Let your representatives know—we want action. Jamie, thank you again for joining us. I can’t recommend your book highly enough.”

“Thank you, Harrison,” she said, flashing a last smile. “I can say the same for your show.”

She waved at her webcam. Her hand was steady. She had done well.

The feed cut out, but the ghost of Harrison’s voice lingered in her ears longer than it should have.

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