Chapter 355.Unexpected Promotion
Thomas was a serial offender of sorts.
He was a short video creator who would often do weird things to stay in the limelight. That was his business model.
In the past, he had crashed celebrity parties, award show functions and done a lot of crazy things. It was safe to say that there wasn't much reason as to why he did that.
Doing something unexpected to celebrities with a lot of followers was just the way for him to get more views on the internet. It being right or wrong was never in his mind.
After all, more views meant more money and followers.
Currently, one of the most trending topics on the internet was Aiden and his bet with Arno.
Even in the content creator community, people were discussing who was going to win the bet between these two. Whether [The Black Saint] is really that good for Aiden to feel like it would earn that much.
When he had gotten to know that Aiden was going to appear in 'The Rory Chambers show', he knew that this was his chance.
So, Thomas had made a plan to disrupt his interview with Rory Chambers. In his mind, all of it was worth it even if he ended up in jail or banned from entering the talk show.
Originally, if Aiden had gotten angry with him, his plan would have succeeded.
Thomas was wearing a secret camera on him that was recording everything. So, he just needed a rash reaction from him.
The best scenario was still Aiden punching him like a certain black celebrity. He would be an internet sensation with people sympathising with him.
Thomas was half expecting that when Aiden called him up on the stage.
But the reality was very different.
"So, why don't I act out a scene from [The Black Saint] right here. Everyone can judge for themselves like that."
At first, Thomas wanted to reject it. But a huge cheer went up from the audience.
He looked at the people who seemed to be excited about the prospect. He was pretty sure that a lot of them were thinking that all this was staged.
'I don't have a choice now.'
Thomas thought in his mind and nodded towards Aiden.
"Okay, then sit down."
Aiden gestured towards the seat of Rory and the host quickly stepped away, giving way for Thomas to sit on it.
Aiden sat in front of him and took a deep breath.
"Don't be scared no matter what. This is just an act." Aiden said, looking straight at him and Thomas wanted to snort for a second.
"I won't be."
He wondered how one would be scared with just acting like this. At least, he was someone who would rarely get scared by even horror movies.
'He looks confident. Let's hope he can take it.'
Aiden thought and closed his eyes.
In the next second, he activated the skill 'Domination'. He had tried out the skill a couple of times before and had found out that he could direct it at one person or a lot of people depending on what he wants.
The power was more if he only directed it at one person.
A sharp and heavy aura filled with negative energy came out of Aiden suddenly, blind to everyone who was watching.
The aura went towards Thomas and suddenly, he felt like someone was grabbing his heart. He let out a surprised voice as Aiden looked at him, his black eyes staring into his soul.
In a second, sweat had started forming on his face.
Giving off the iconic smile of Kai, Aiden opened his mouth.
"Thomas, do you like the colour red?"
"Ah… yeah."
"I like it too. There's peace in it. Much sharper and brighter than other colours and it's easy to stand out wearing red. There's a reason why dead bodies look the best in a pool of dark, red blood."
Thomas gulped hearing that. Fear was on his face and his legs were suddenly shaking.
Aiden was speaking to him in a very soft voice but it looked like the most dangerous voice to him. The sharp aura enveloping him made it worse but the audience had no clue about it.
They were all mesmerised by Aiden's acting.
Only Rory who was still on the stage felt a different kind of pressure. But it wasn't at the same wavelength as Thomas who felt like he would pass out soon.
His whole body had started to shake now as Aiden continued his words.
"Imagine you are just laying down in your home in a pool of red. A knife plunged in your chest, going as deep as it could. What will you feel? Will you think that you have lived a good enough life or will you think that your life has been full of regrets?"
"I… don't know." Thomas managed to stutter out.
"Then, how about you think about who plunged the knife in you? Your wife? Your friend? Or was it just a random person? What do you think? Though, will it matter who killed you if you are already dead?"
Aiden asked, looking at him as innocent as he could. But that look was just creepy to Thomas.
He was already imagining a devil in front of him instead of Aiden. 'Domination' and Aiden's acting was too fatal to him.
"I'm…"
Thomas's words never left his mouth and he suddenly passed away from all the pressure. Rory, who was standing on the side, quickly caught him as Aiden quickly retracted the skill and all the pressure disappeared.
Thomas felt a pressure lift his chest and he got a bit better.
"Is he okay?"
Aiden asked as he quickly checked up on him.
"He's breathing. I will get a doctor to look at him." Rory said. "But going by how his legs were shaking, he passed out due to fear. He wasn't able to take your act."
Rory let out a sigh and wondered how big of a monster Aiden was. His portrayal was bone chilling and even he had felt it.
He wasn't surprised that Thomas had passed out.
'I should go and check out the movie.'
Rory thought in his mind. As a host, his job was only to interview people and although he liked movies, he wouldn't watch every movie that celebrities came to promote on his talk show.
But this time, Rory felt an urge to go check out [The Black Saint] on the first day of its release.
Apparently, most people in the crowd were also thinking the same.
"Man, that was chilling."
"I know right. I felt like I would pass out or run away too. I was genuinely feeling so scared. Who said that Aiden can't play a villain?"
"The one who said that already passed out."
"Let's go watch [The Black Saint]. I want to watch the movie if I get more of it."
"Yeah, it's been so long since I have seen a good, crazy villain on the screen. Let me check if there are tickets available."
"If this was all staged, then this is the perfect marketing I have seen of any movie. I got sold in an instant."
Although it was unexpected, luck favoured Aiden. Seeing the reactions around him, he quickly walked up to Rory.
"Can we have this in the episode? I don't want you to cut it out."
"I understand." Rory said, taking a look around. He understood where Aiden was coming from. "Though, even if I want to take it out, I doubt the producer will let me."
He laughed.
"These types of things are unexpected but they sometimes make the best part of an episode. Only an idiot won't let it broadcast."
***
After the shooting for the episode, Aiden didn't have much to do aside from a few more events where he promoted the movie.
Day by day, the interest in the movie was just increasing.
Aiden knew that after the broadcast of the next episode of 'The Rory Chambers show', the interest would blow up.
And exactly that happened.
No one was expecting it, so when the episode broadcasted a week before the release of the movie, a lot of people were shocked to see Aiden acting as Kai.
Thomas fainting was just cherry on top as it provided the best dramatic effect.
A lot of media articles came up right after the episode.