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Kevin spends three days meticulously creating the accounts. They are not one or two, but dozens, each one a carefully constructed digital ghost. These are not empty profiles, they are fully formed personas with months of plausible activity, followers, and posts about mundane topics like baking, hiking, and complaining about traffic. They look real because Kevin has made them real, having them engage with genuine users and slowly building a foundation of credibility.
“This is the groundwork,” he explains from his command center, the glow of the monitors reflecting in his glasses as he works. “When we make our move, these accounts cannot look new or suspicious. They must appear as if they are just ordinary people who happened to notice something amiss. They need to blend into the background noise of the internet.”
The information we choose to release first is deliberately small, almost trivial in the grand scheme of his deceptions. We focus solely on the charity donation discrepancy, backed by verifiable tax documents found in a public database for non-profit organizations. It is nothing that screams of a coordinated revenge campaign, just a few concerned citizens noticing that the numbers do not add up. I feel a nervous, electric energy coursing through me as I watch Kevin’s network of accounts begin to subtly question Louis’s donation. The approach is a masterclass in subtlety, not aggression. “Hey, did anyone else notice the tax forms for the hospital only show a five-thousand-dollar donation from his foundation?” one account posts on a popular Reddit forum dedicated to influencer gossip. “Not trying to start drama, but the numbers do not seem to match what he claimed in his video,” another comments on a news article praising his philanthropy.
The posts are scattered across different platforms and communities, timed with algorithmic precision to avoid any appearance of coordination. Kevin monitors everything, his screens filled with graphs and charts tracking engagement rates and sentiment analysis in real time. “Wait for it,” he murmurs, his eyes fixed on a graph that is slowly beginning to tick upwards.
Louis’s most ardent fans respond first, a predictable wave of defensive fury. They attack the questioners, calling them jealous haters and insisting there must be a simple, logical explanation. However, others, people who are less emotionally invested in his narrative, begin to examine the evidence for themselves. The conversation slowly grows. While many continue to defend Louis, a vocal minority expresses confusion and doubt. Why would he lie about something so easily verified?
“Now,” Kevin says, and he deploys the second phase of the attack. A short, professionally edited video essay appears on a small but respected commentary channel that focuses on debunking internet hoaxes and verifying viral claims. The essayist presents the charity donation investigation as a genuine curiosity, not an accusation. He simply follows the money trail, notes the discrepancy in the public records, and wonders aloud if there has been a misunderstanding. The video gets enough attention to push the conversation into larger, more mainstream spaces. Louis’s name begins to trend on Twitter, for the first time, in connection with something other than praise.
A flicker of hope, bright and dangerous, ignites in my chest. Then, Louis responds. His video is, as always, a flawless performance of wounded vulnerability. He sits in his tastefully decorated apartment, his expression a mask of sorrowful disbelief as he looks directly into the camera, his voice cracking at just the right moments.
“I cannot believe I have to address this,” he begins, his voice thick with emotion. “I have spent the last year trying to use my platform for good, to make a positive impact on the world. And now, people are questioning my sincerity over a clerical error?” He shows screenshots of alleged hate messages he has received. “This is what happens when you try to do something positive. People will always try to tear you down.” He explains the donation discrepancy as a “processing delay” and becomes emotional while talking about his deep, personal connection to the charity’s work.
“I know where this is coming from,” he says, and my blood runs cold as I realize what he is about to do. “My ex, who has already tried to destroy me once, simply cannot let go. I truly feel sorry for her, but I will not let her bitterness stop me from doing good in the world.” He never says my name. He does not have to.
The comments flood in, thousands of people defending him and attacking the original questioners as my brainwashed pawns. The hashtag #LeaveLouisAlone starts trending. “He turned it around,” I say, the familiar feeling of sickness and despair washing over me. “He made himself the victim again.”
“Of course he did,” Kevin replies, his focus still locked on his screens. “This is his playbook. But look closer.” He highlights several threads of comments. “See the ratio? Ninety percent support, yes, but that ten percent? They are not convinced. Before this, his support was nearly universal. We have created doubt in ten percent of his audience.”
“That is not enough,” I argue, the hope I felt moments ago deflating.
“It is a crack in the foundation,” Kevin insists, his voice calm and certain. “And cracks spread. This was never going to be a knockout punch. This was reconnaissance. We tested his defenses, and we forced him to show his strategy. Now we know exactly how he will respond to a threat.” He is right. To the rest of the world, Louis has won this round decisively. But for a small, growing group of people, a seed of doubt has been planted. It is not victory, but it is a start.