The Mall (Evenstad Media Presents Book 2) Read online

  But the other one is marked employees only, which normally means a back room or something like that. And if they're guarding it… well, I don't know exactly what might be back there, but obviously something they don't want anyone getting to. The kind of stuff a mall wouldn’t want everyday customers having access to, either. I guess it could be a red herring, but I just don't see a TV company wasting money guarding something that doesn't need guarding. Especially not as expensive as this shit probably is already. No, I'm pretty sure there's something back there.

  I want to find out what.

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 09YESENIA

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/10/2075

  I've been thinking about that guy, and how he got killed. It wouldn’t have hurt. The first bullet would have been the end of it. Maybe half a second of burning before it got through his brain, but I don’t think so. But science doesn't know exactly. We don't have dead people to interview and find out what it feels like, but that's the prevailing theory. His death could have been much worse. A punctured lung, or stomach. Both would have taken much longer. It could have been better, though. He could have not died. A hit in the arm or the leg, as long as it missed anything important. Still could have bled out from it, or gotten some kind of nasty infection, I guess. I think most of the ways to die in this place are pretty bad and pretty slow. No good way to die anywhere, really, but that guy was as lucky as he could have been, with just a few shots through the head. I'd much prefer that to a lot of the other options.

  So far, I’ve only seen the one guy get shot by these guards. It’s not any information to go on. Not really. But something definitely stuck out as odd to me, watching it happen. The guards did it all very strangely. Anyone could have seen him coming. I would assume they’re supposed to defend themselves, and it was pretty obvious he was heading over to them with the intent to do some serious damage. But they waited. They stood stock freaking still until he got closer.

  I could be focusing on stupid crap, but it just doesn’t make sense. It’s a little thing, but it tells me there might be something else going on. I don’t know what, but something.

  ENTRY END

  WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE MALL?

  POLL 1

  1: Bill (54%)

  2: Quinn (23%)

  3: Alexa (8%)

  4: Lia (3%)

  5: Yesenia (2%)

  6: Evan (2%)

  7: Marcus (2%)

  8: Imran (2%)

  9: Dana (1%)

  10: Tess (1%)

  11: Kim (1%)

  12: Ned (1%)

  (Information collected by The Cruise)

  TO: Edward Andel

  FROM: Niels Evenstad

  SUBJECT: Last Week's Work

  SENT 1/11/2075 AT 7:49 a.m. EST

  Edward.

  I saw the composition notes you made on the footage so far. I realize you were having issues with some of the material in The Mall, but given all that, you made some very intelligent choices. Filming directly from Ned's back when he was shot was incredibly wise. It will, of course, look as though he's been killed, but the angle will leave a second or two of doubt for the viewers. I liked it so much, I've decided to use it in the coming episode. I feel it will be dramatic enough to make a real impact.

  I also would like to apologize if I was dismissive of your feelings. Believe me, it wasn't the first choice on my list, making this particular show, but it was so original and such a risk I couldn't help but try. It turned out well for me, but it easily could not have. I want you to take those risks, even when they look horrible. I'm not a murderous man, but I eventually chose my family’s well-being and security over those discomforts. I will understand if you would rather back out of this because of the content of The Mall, but I sincerely hope you won't. It’s not likely I’ll find another candidate for this position with a degree in social psychology, or one who is so in need of this money. I want to help you, I truly do, Edward.

  Just consider all options, and know that I won't hold leaving against you.

  Niels Evenstad,

  Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media

  —

  TO: Niels Evenstad

  FROM: Edward Andel

  SUBJECT: Last Week's Work

  SENT 1/11/2075 AT 8:23 a.m. EST

  I have a lot of things to consider. Until I've decided, I'll stay and do the work. Chances are good I'll stay around, but I can't technically know for sure. So just treat it as though everything is normal unless you hear otherwise.

  JOURNAL 02LIA

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/12/2075

  I just about killed my first person. I heard footsteps and I grabbed a box knife. It was really the only thing I could find. Not the ideal weapons, but it would have done the job better than a vibrator. I was ready to have right at whoever was coming for me, and I found in that moment just how capable of murder I was. Well, how capable of defending myself, really. Murder makes it sound so bad. Self-defense.

  I stopped when I saw him, though. He had a baseball bat, but his hands were up in the air and he just asked me to listen. I'm glad I did. His name's Bill, and it sounds like he's got a pretty solid plan for how we can last this game out. I'm all for that, assuming it actually works.

  Basically, it comes down to storming over to the other side. It's a lot of risk, and it’s not a very delicate plan, but he looks like he can keep me pretty safe through the whole mess. He's a big guy, over six feet for sure, and he looks pretty strong. I think it might be okay. With that baseball bat, he was intimidating enough to scare me, so I'm hoping it works the same way on everyone else.

  Bill's big plan is to get to the food court on the other end of the mall. It would have been a lot easier if we'd done this before the guards showed up, but I still think it's completely worth it to at least try. If we can get to the food court, then really all we have to do is wait for everyone else to starve out, if that's what we want. Other than watching for the guards, we could stop being proactive. The fact we’d have to watch out for the guard guys at all means there’s probably food there, I think. Otherwise they wouldn’t have them patrolling it.

  If it works out, then yeah, it would be down to two instead of one when it came around to the very end, but a guy so imposing isn't going to think much of me as a threat. If I did it fast, I could take him out.

  God, I don't want to think like that. Not unless I have to. The problem is that I'm really hoping I have to. I'm really hoping Bill's plan works, and that I get the chance to kill him for real, because that means I’ll get out. And let me tell you, I want to be the one who gets out.

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 01MARCUS

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/12/2075

  That poor man's just laying there on the floor. He's been dead a few days now, and he's still just… there. A constant reminder of what's truly at stake in all of this. But that's not why I want to do something with the body. The gunmen we all have to worry about are reminder enough of the lethality of this so-called game. I just feel a man deserves more dignity than lying dead on a tile floor, broadcast for the whole world to watch his humiliation. That doesn't sit well with me. Not at all.

  Especially not when there's something I can do about it.

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 05EVAN

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/12/2075

  Death is a part of our cruel reality. There is no escape from it, nothing that can be done to ward it off. We can postpone it for a while, take drugs and vitamins and such, diet and exercise, only take part in low-risk activities. All of these things can give us more time to wait for the reaper, but he will come eventually. I've accepted that fact, accepted it a long time ago. Sometimes, I welcome death. But not today. I've come to another conclusion, today.

  I have to take a more active role. Not in my own death, but in the deaths of those a
round me. It's either that, or I wait for someone else to reach the same conclusion. I'd rather not do that. I'm a coward, and I'd rather cling to what life I may have left, however shitty it is, than let it all simply end. It's my burden to deal with, but I can't overcome it.

  I can overcome my own inaction, though. It’s high-risk, but given the way things are now, I believe high-risk might be the best chance for buying more life.

  ENTRY END

  TO: Marta Evenstad

  FROM: Frederick Evenstad

  SUBJECT: Niels

  SENT 12/27/2074 AT 4:22 p.m. EST

  Marta,

  I know you've been worried about Niels. I want you to know that you're not the only one worried about him. I am, and so are Stian and a lot of the other cousins. There's something causing him harm, but of course he won't tell any of us what it is. I don't think any of us expect him to let us know what the problem is. Whatever it is, I doubt the stress is making it any better on him, assuming it's not just the stress causing these problems.

  I realize this isn't comforting. We'd both like to find some solution to this, or at least some kind of an answer, if nothing else. But that's not currently an option, I fear. At this point, all we can do is wait. Either it will all resolve itself, or he'll eventually tell us what the problem is. Hopefully both, but I would take either at this point, and I’m sure you would as well.

  He needs to get better. I don’t want to see someone else come in and take over for him, of course. It would be awful, particularly if Uncle Magnus decided to resume his position there. But I would take that if it meant Niels wouldn’t die. Right now, I’m afraid that’s what’s happening, and we both just have to do our best and be ready to help, if he ever lets us, I suppose.

  I’m sorry for sending such a depressing email. I just wanted you to know you weren’t alone in your worries. Stay well, Sister.

  Frederick Evenstad,

  Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Technology

  Family of The Mall Victim Hold Vigil

  Posted 1/12/2075

  This week, Ray and Gina Phillips are holding a vigil for the death of their son, Ned Phillips, during the course of Evenstad Media's newest reality show, The Mall. In a statement this morning, the 53 year old father said "The vigil isn't just for our son. It's for everyone who will suffer or has suffered because of this company and their show." Gina Phillips was not available for comment.

  Already, they've received word of over four dozen similar vigils all across the world.

  JOURNAL 11KIM

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/13/2075

  There's something, like, really weird about those guys that came in. I figured I had to find a way to run and get food and stuff, since I was already running pretty damn low on it. But, like, I didn't want to get shot. So I stuck really close to the walls, right up by the shops, and just snuck my way in. They looked at me, but nobody fired or even really moved. So I guess they're on orders not to shoot until you cross a certain line or something? I don't really know what it is, but I've done it a couple times already and been totally fine.

  The problem is that I don't know, for sure. I mean, it works right now, but they didn't even show up until, like, a week into this whole mess. How can I say this isn't going to change again after another damn week? What I really need is someone who can help keep me safe, but that's not an option around here. I don't have anyone to keep me safe, and I won't. At least I can get food, for the time being. I won’t die of starvation, just of a bullet or something.

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 06TESS

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/13/2075

  I finally got tired of having to just sit here and look at that dead guy out there in the hall. Him and those damned guards, standing around just holding their guns, ready to shoot at any one of us, no God-damned rhyme or reason I’m seeing. I just couldn't do it anymore. I moved up all the racks and stuff with the clothes to make a wall in front of the door. It sucks for protection, but at least I don't have to watch what's going on. It means I can't see what's going on if I need to either, but it's a price I can pay to try to keep my own head about me.

  I'm basically just washing my hands of all of this. I can't see myself lasting long if I try to think about what all's going on around me. Really, I'll die if I don't. Of course, I'll probably die anyway, but at least now I'll be more peaceful when it happens. That’s been a goal for me for a long time. When I die, I don’t want drama. I just want it to happen.

  ENTRY END

  TO: Gina Phillips

  FROM: Laurie

  SUBJECT: The Mall

  SENT 1/11/2075 AT 7: 21 a.m. EST

  You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. I’m truly sorry for your loss. What happened to your son should never have occurred, and I hope it never does again. I normally wouldn’t email someone at a time like this, but I wanted to do it now, before the vigils got underway. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your mourning. Know that I’ll light a candle for Ned as well.

  There are a lot of people unhappy with Evenstad after The Park, and now The Mall. You’ve seen that already, with the others joining in around the world to mourn alongside you, but there are so many more than just that. So many of them. Of us. And some of us are angry enough to start doing something. We can’t manage much, but we’re doing what we can.

  You have reason to be angry. I don’t want to feed that, or introduce it if it’s not there, so stop reading now if you’re already on the path to finding peace. All I’ll do to that is redirect you somewhere darker. It’s not my goal to breed anger, just harness what already exists.

  But if you’re already there, and you need an outlet, we can use any help available. The handful of us willing to act against Evenstad right now are seeking to open the world’s eyes to their evils, a little at a time, and every voice is important in that. Chances are good we’ll do very little, in the end, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t bother.

  If you can accept all that, and you’re willing to help, I’d be glad to have you. We all would. I won’t expect a response any time soon. Your son is more important than any of this.

  Please take care of yourself through everything, no matter what you decide to do, Gina. There’s no way to bring Ned back, but I’m sure he wouldn’t have wanted you mired in sorrow the rest of your life.

  JOURNAL 10ALEXA

  ENTRY 003

  DATE: 1/13/2075

  The big guy who's been living over in the Mitchell's at the end of the mall came out of hiding. I'd seen glimpses of him once or twice, but nothing more than that. He's big. Really big. And he's over with some woman in an adult store up here. I don't know why they’re together. It could be just happenstance, or one of them wanting to kill the other. But if they are working together, then I think a lot of us might be fucked, myself included. Two of them working together aren't good news, as far as I'm concerned. No matter who they are. It's probably more than twice as dangerous as either of them would have been alone.

  I'm just going to stay tucked away in here until the threat looks less. It won't be less, and I know that, but I'd like to lie to myself about it, if I can.

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 12IMRAN

  ENTRY 002

  DATE: 1/13/2075

  I saw something very odd and had to document it. It's still happening. I hope I can type to keep up with it. Two people ran past my shop, toward the stairs. A man and a woman went by, and the guards were tracking them, but not firing. No. Wait. Guns up. They both stopped. They’ll die, I’m sure of it.

  He pushed her. The man pushed her toward the guards and ran into the shop across the way from me. And of course she died. I wish I could unsee it. But more, I wish I could undo it. I wouldn't wish death on anyone, no matter their crimes, and here we are all victims, not criminals. Even the man who murdered her, though I would say he walks a fine line.
>
  I hope there is peace for her, if any afterlife exists.

  ENTRY END

  10

  JOURNAL 03BILL

  ENTRY 003

  DATE: 1/13/2075

  I scared the guy I was trying to get on my side. The little Asian-looking one. But only a first. Once I explained, he got it. Or decided that I was too scary to mess with. It probably looked like that, the way I threw Lia off to the guards. But it worked. It was like we hit a switch and they turned their attention to us, so I tossed her away. They focused on her and I ran my ass into the makeup shop.

  It's kind of weird that I don't feel worse about getting her killed. I figured I would. I'm more upset that I don't feel bad than I am about her dying. Guess that's something I can deal with later, once I get out of here. I can get a good therapist with twenty million bucks to play with.

  This guy, Kim. I made a good choice. He's definitely gay, and he's coming onto me, which I didn't necessarily expect. But that's going to make it easier for me to use him, and to get him out of the way when the time comes. Both of which are good things for me. I'm planning to keep him around until the very end, but we'll see how well that all goes. If I have to get rid of him early, I'll go back at my plans a different way.