The City Was Already on a Timer

“Not random people,” Elias said. “Someone is feeding the algorithm lies before the facts can catch up.” He held the screen toward her. A local viral clip showed the fireworks lifting over the harbor, but the caption said: *This is going to be a massacre. Stay away from the harbor.* The comments were already out of control. Somebody claimed hazmat containers were on a truck. Somebody else said foreign terrorists. Somebody else said the city had staged the whole thing and lost control. People began running home. More people, seeing the rumors, headed straight toward the waterfront out of curiosity. Grace’s face drained of color. “That brings more people in.” “Yes,” Elias said. “Panic is the weapon.”