The Park (Evenstad Media Presents Book 1) (3 page)

JOURNAL 06RITA

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/7/2074

Hello again, you lovely Evenstad Media people. How are the ratings
on the new show? They should have gone up after that kid got shot, right? I
admit, despite my intense belief that the wealthy have unlimited capacity for
evil, I wasn't entirely sure you would go through and actually kill someone, if
it came down to it. Kudos, I suppose. I have to admire your commitment to this
project. But you've also confirmed to me that you are indeed horrible people.
That kid wasn't even thirty, and you just shot him down dead.

But I guess it's all about horrible people for you. That's
what this show will make us all into, by the end. Horrible murderous people, or
the victims of horrible murderous people.

And, if you ever wanted a review in writing, I'll be nice:
your little medallion energy things are wonderful. I managed to filch the kid's
medallion when those two guys weren't paying attention. It seems like it might
come in pretty handy.

Here I am, playing into your hands, stealing from the dead
to get ahead in your twisted little competition. I just hope you got that on
footage. Lord only knows what that could do to your ratings. Juicy shit, there.
You're welcome.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 04JUSTICE

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/7/2074

I'm fucking tired of being all alone. So I'm out. I'm
looking around for someone. I know it's a God damn idiot move, but they can't
all be ready to gut me. Even I don't believe that shit. People are generally
good, in spite of what it looks like ninety percent of the time. Probably the
only time I'll ever admit to it, and no one's going to be seeing it. That doesn't
mean I'm not ready to defend myself, though. My fire medallion thing may be
useless as long as I have shelter and electricity, but I can sure as hell use
it to put some fear in anyone who tries to mess with me. Not what I necessarily
want to do. I mean, I'd be pretty fucking happy if I didn't have to touch the
thing the whole rest of the time I'm here. But I doubt any of us will get that
lucky.

ENTRY END

Famous Blogger Krax Dead

1/11/2074 at 8:18 a.m. EST

Famous journalist, blogger, and internet personality Leah
Redmann, better known by the pseudonym Krax, was found dead on the Cynwyd
Heritage Trail in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania early this morning. Family and
local law enforcement are declining comment. We will update this article as
more information is made available to us here at The Cruise.

UPDATE: 1/11/2074 2:22 p.m. EST: Police have released a
statement claiming a drug overdose as the cause of death.

UPDATE: 1/11/2074 9:06 p.m. EST: Inside sources reveal that
Mrs. Redmann did have a prescription for hydrocodone/APAP (Vicodin). Our source
tells us that all of the bottles found in Mrs. Redmann's home were empty.

JOURNAL 09TINA

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/8/2074

This paranoia is getting the better of me. I had to trek all
the way across the trailer park today. I got scared of some sound outside the
window. It was probably just a tree or a bush scratching or the walls settling.
But I heard it and I freaked and aimed the medallion. So no more wall and no
more privacy. It was so loud, my ears rang for a good two hours after the
blast. I don't really know what it is this thing does, but I wouldn't want to
be on the receiving end of it. Got to make sure I don't lose it.

I wish they would turn on some lights. That's all I really
need is light. But it's also really the last thing I need. It's enough that I
have the lights on in this house. Light is too noticeable to get too attached
to it. I hate it, but it's true. If someone finds me, I'd rather they be just
as blind as I am. It'll give me a chance to escape.

I'm wondering how big this whole place is, too. I went quite
a ways and didn't see another single person. The twelve of us could go a long
time and never see each other. I just hope it works out that way.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 10MANFRED

ENTRY 003

DATE: 1/9/2074

I can tell that David is not fully comfortable with me. I
cannot blame him for feeling that way. It is the nature of the situation in
which we have been inserted. But to his credit, he has done a wonderful job of
making me feel as welcome with him as he can, under the circumstances. We talk,
and I feel myself falling into a sense of security. I feel as though he would
protect me, and I believe that I would do the same for him, as best I could.
Perhaps I am wrong and he only wishes to gain my trust so I do not see his
attack coming. I can't worry about those things, now. It would be pointless to
focus on such negativity. What I know is that I have someone to share a meal
with when we are hungry, and someone to share words with.

We talk about many things. He is a schoolteacher. Grammar
school. He is divorced with no children. We do not delve deep into the subject
of our lives. I think it is too painful to go into the true joys and the true
sorrows, the things that one or both of us shall never know again. So we touch
only the very surface. I am content with having things this way.

The two of us have finally broken down. He, like I, had
refused to use the strange medallions, even for the purposes of
experimentation. But we both agree that we can't afford not to know any longer,
with things as they are.

When David pressed his button, the medallion released a gas.
I have never been attacked with pepper spray, but I imagine it would be
something similar. The burn lasted in my lungs for at least an hour after he
used it. My eyes watered, and I failed to choke back vomit.

As for my own, it proved somewhat less subtle. Like
lightning, directed forward. The trailer I aimed at is still smoldering, some
hours later. I do not like possessing such power, but I will not turn it down.
It is too useful for that. I will simply pray that I never need that
usefulness.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 03BLAKE

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/9/2074

So far, everything's cool. I mean, okay, it's not, because
this is all fucked up, but it's cool for being as fucked up as it is. I mean, I
know this is totally stupid, and I wouldn't write it if I thought anyone but me
would see this journal, but it's kind of exciting. It's like a video game, sort
of. They even put powerups around the trailer park, apparently. Not that I've
found any, yet, but that's what our letter told us. It's a good thing, because
I don't know how useful just mine is going to be. It's better than nothing, but
all it does is shoot out a spray of these little energy ball things. Kind of
like a shotgun. And it takes probably ten seconds to fully recharge. Those
little balls leave decent dents in the ground, but I don't know what it would
do to a person.

God, I sound, like, sadistic or sociopathic or some shit. I
don't want to hurt anyone. That's not what it's about. But I might have to. If
I do, I want to make sure that I hurt them well enough that they don't hurt me
back.

When I was a kid, I always kind of liked the idea of living
in a video game. Who didn't think about it at some point, really? But it's not
like I thought it would be. No one gave me any rules for this game. And it's
not fun. It sucks ass.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 08DESIREE

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/9/2074

God, You in all Your wisdom have given me another gift. When
I went to the windows to look at what was causing that noise, I was using the
medallion to make myself invisible, in case anyone wanted to hurt me. And
something told me that I should let it go and reveal myself.

Well, when I did, I found him. You sent me a companion to
make my time here less lonely. A handsome young man named Justice. He was
getting just as lonely as I was, and You made sure that we found each other.

He's a little foul-mouthed, but I accept it as another part
of him. You knew all of this about him when You chose to send him to me, and I
do not question Your endless wisdom. Perhaps I can even fix that fault.

I have prayed for a man to enter my life for many years, and
wondered at times if my prayer was being ignored. But now I see how foolish
that was. I should never doubt Your glory. This is never what I expected or
even imagined, but I know You have a reason for doing things the way You have.

So I thank You for bringing us together. Together, with Your
guidance, we will be able to survive all our trials.

Amen.

ENTRY END

TO: Dr. Matilda Grand

FROM: Niels Evenstad

SUBJECT: RE: Psychology: The Park

SENT 11/12/2071 AT 2:23 p.m. EST

Dr. Grand,

I have looked over your review of the psychological impact
of our social experiment, and I am very pleased with your work. It was very
thorough. I will be presenting it to the rest of the board here at Evenstad
Media this coming Friday, and I would be very appreciative if you would join
us. It would lend a certain credence to your conclusions that I alone would not
be able to bring to the table.

If you choose to attend this meeting, please let me know as
soon as possible. The company would cover your airfare, room, board, and any
other expenses you may incur.

Hoping to hear from you soon,

Niels Evenstad

Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media

—

TO: Niels Evenstad

FROM: Dr. Matilda Grand

SUBJECT: RE: Psychology: The Park

SENT 11/12/2071 AT: 4:03 p.m. EST

Mr. Evenstad,

I would be happy to take part in such a meeting. Although
I'm not certain how you intend to make these people believe that they are
killing each other, the possibilities are very exciting. This is a part of
human nature that psychologists rarely have a chance to delve into.

In fact, I was hoping that I might be able to obtain your
permission to release a paper on the experiment, when everything is over and
done. We can talk about it in more detail when I see you tomorrow.

Dr. Matilda Grand

Head of Psychology, Evenstad University

—

TO: Dr. Matilda Grand

FROM: Niels Evenstad

SUBJECT: RE: Psychology: The Park

SENT: 11/12/2071 AT 4:39 p.m. EST

Dr. Grand,

Your flight will leave at 10 a.m. tomorrow. I hope that's
not too short of notice. I doubt I have to tell you, but business attire will
be required.

As for the paper, I can see no issue with it. It will, of
course, have to pass by the rest of the board members, but approval seems
likely.

I will also warn you now that you will have to sign a
non-disclosure agreement. We can't have anyone involved with the project in its
inception reveal anything before the program has aired. I'm sure you
understand.

A driver will be there to pick you up tomorrow morning.

Niels Evenstad

Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media

JOURNAL 05CRAIG

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/9/2074

I've been trying to get into this CESU, see what makes it
tick. Hell, if I'm being honest, I'm hoping that there's a way to get out of
here, if I can just find it. And my Master's in electrical engineering says
that, if anyone here can, I can. Unless I'm not the only one here who's
qualified. Still haven't met anyone else, yet. I guess it's possible that
everyone here could be an electrical engineer. If that's the case, all the more
reason to start in on it now, before someone else does the work.

At least, that was the thought. My main hurdle is the lack
of any kind of tools. Food, I have. Water, electricity, heat, shelter, light.
All of that's good. But there aren't any tools anywhere in this house, or the
houses around it. Without tools, I'm kind of at a stopping point. I tried
tearing up the walls, hoping to get something I could use, but everything
broke. Hell, I don't even know if regular tools would work on this thing. I
might need pneumatics. Which I really highly doubt whoever put us here would
leave lying around.

But I really don't have anything else to do. So, I'm taking
a bed sheet full of food, just in case something goes wrong, and I'm going
looking, starting tomorrow. Maybe I can find something, anything.

ENTRY END

TO: Board Members

FROM: Niels Evenstad

SUBJECT: Tomorrow's Meeting

SENT 11/12/2071 AT 5:06 p.m. EST

This is in regards to the meeting of the board tomorrow. Dr.
Matilda Grand will be in attendance. She is a psychologist, and has given a
favorable enough review of The Park's psychological impact on the players that
we should be able to push the program through without too much issue. However,
she is under the impression that the contestant deaths will be somehow
fabricated. It is important that she continue to believe this, so no slips of
the tongue.

I will see you all tomorrow,

Niels Evenstad

Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media

JOURNAL 07JULIA

ENTRY 002

DATE: 1/11/2074

I'm writing this down, because if I don't somehow get it on
record, I don't think it's going to count. I need to make sure that I remember
this and that it's going to stick.

I'm not cut out for this. I mean, I don't know if anyone's
really cut out for this. You can't live like this, always wondering when you're
going to be attacked, or when some mysterious kidnapper is going to come back
and throw your whole life into chaos, again.

So I'm just going to go back to the way things were. I'm a line
cook, and I haven't been to work in over a week. So this morning was sausage
and some canned biscuits I found in the fridge. Just cooking like that and
eating food that I actually put something of myself into, I feel better. I
don't have any cleaning supplies, but there's a mop and some water. I'm going
to do the best I can.

Dinner's already in the oven. There were some chicken
breasts and canned potatoes, so I'm letting them roast.

This place is weird. It's like they just pulled all the
people out of a trailer park, then stuck us in and closed it off. Everything's
still here. But I know that's not true. All the bags and boxes and everything
are full and unopened. But these Evenstad people went to a lot of trouble to
make it feel like the real thing.

Enough of that. I'm not staying on track already. Cooking,
cleaning, sleeping. Those are three things I know I can do.

As a final reminder to myself, in case I need it, the
medallion is in the drawer in the nightstand. I'm not going to keep wearing it.
It'll just remind me that I'm not actually at home even more.

ENTRY END