The Mall (Evenstad Media Presents Book 2)
Page 2
ENTRY END
TO: Edward Andel
FROM: Niels Evenstad
SUBJECT: The Mall Launch
SENT 1/1/2075 AT 8:15 p.m. EST
The game has started. I hope I don't need to remind you of this, but it is absolutely necessary that you watch what's happening as it happens, as much as possible. I realize there are many cameras to monitor in the arena, but there's no better way for you to learn what to look for than to simply look for it. I expect, at the end of this week, and every week until you hear otherwise, a report of which scenes you would include in the final cut of the week's episode. I don't mean to be so strict about all of this, but our time is limited. I have quite a lot to teach you, and only a small amount of time in which to do it. I chose you because I thought you could handle it, and I’ve jumped through a lot of hoops for you. I expect it to be worth my trouble.
If you have any truly untenable issues, you have my personal phone number. Use it sparingly, please. Anything that can wait until later, email to me. I'll respond when possible.
Remember what’s on the line for you in all of this. Your family needs you to make better money, and I admit that influenced my decision. But only once. If I see fit to fire you, I will. I don’t want it to come to that, but I do want to make that clear. I’m mentoring you for a reason, and I don’t intend to waste time doing it.
Niels Evenstad,
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media
JOURNAL 07NED
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/4/2075
Well, I've already puked twice. They made a real great choice when they threw me in here. I watched about thirty minutes of the first episode of this show last year, just to see what it was all about. I had to turn it off or I would have thrown up then, too. I didn't even make it all the way to the end, which was where someone actually died, apparently. It made a list of the year's biggest TV moments, or I wouldn't know about it. I really wish I didn’t know about it.
I'm in a pet supply store, and it's just morning. I can see red sunlight coming in through the windows. I guess it could be sunset, too. I’m not sure which way I’m oriented to tell which side’s west and which side’s east.
All the windows have bars on them. The doors don't, but I can see the guards standing out there with guns. So I'm definitely trapped in this place until they decide to let me out.
I've seen lots of people running around, and they've seen me. But no one's tried to kill me, yet. Which is pretty good, I guess. Gives me some faith in humanity. Nobody's starting out wanting to kill anyone else. But I wouldn’t think anyone wanted to do it in the first season, either. Still ended up with eleven people dead in a trailer park. Sticking it in a mall probably won't make that big of a difference, I don’t think.
I've thought about doing it, already. I could be the first one to go out there and get things started. Maybe it would make me seem like a bigger threat than I am. You know, something more than just a stupid pet store clerk from BFE, Nebraska. There's enough stuff in the store I could use to do it. Some of the antlers they sell as dog chews are pretty heavy.
But when I think about it, I can't. I mean, that's what's been making me puke. Well, not the first time, but definitely the second time. Even the idea that I might go and end someone's life is enough to get my stomach flipping. I just can't do it. I even have a good opportunity for it. There's a men's wear shop across the mall, and there's this old lady in there. She's not hiding very well, and she looks real frail. Physically, it probably wouldn't be hard to do it. But I can't. I'd probably get over there and just throw up all over myself. And her. Which would be the opposite of the image I'm trying to build up.
So I guess I'm just going to sit around and wait for something else to happen. I'd like to think it's never going to happen, but Evenstad's letter said there were other opponents, and that they'll use lethal force. So eventually, someone's going to die, and it won't be from old age. Honestly, I don’t know if it would be better to get killed here, or just live so long in this place that you die of natural causes. Neither option is particularly appealing, if you ask me.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 05EVAN
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/4/2075
I feel like I should be more surprised about this than I am. More upset. But really, it makes a weird sort of sense that I would end up here. Life sucks, and for some people it sucks worse than others. Some days suck worse than other days, too. And when a person whose life sucks gets a sucky day, it just stacks on top of itself.
When I was young, I was idealistic. I mean, who wasn’t at one point or another. But I can see now that it was just life setting me up to make the fall even worse. That's why I'm stuck cleaning up a stupid high school after the little brats go home. I've had a few days like this before, where all the bad lines up to screw you over, and they seem to get worse every single time. This is just another step down. Probably the last step down. I can't see myself walking out of here with twenty-million bucks. And if I somehow did, I'd probably lose it all somewhere along the way or get hit crossing the street after I picked up the check.
But I guess there's some kind of silver lining in it all. My mind feels a lot freer. I kind of just feel freer in general. Morally freer. Emotionally freer. Everyone thinks about killing someone, at least once. I believe that. Anyone who says they've never considered it is a liar.
I don't like the idea of killing anyone, necessarily. But it just seems like it doesn't matter, anymore, like whoever I kill is probably going to die anyway, since they’re in here. Assuming I actually do it. I might not. I don't know, yet. I'm up in a little knife shop here, so I've got the means. I think I have the stomach for it. If it turns out I don't, then I guess I don't. Really, it doesn't make any difference to me. But I'd like to give it a try, while I have a chance.
That'll probably just end badly for me, too.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 02LIA
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/4/2075
Well, this is pretty much just fucked up. Seriously fucked up. But I think I have things under control, at least a little bit. As under control as this kind of thing can get. This kind of thing. Right. As though there's a whole lot of precedent for locking a dozen people in a mall to have them kill each other. Happens all the time, I’m sure.
Right off the bat, I took to the high ground. It just seemed like it made more sense. I won't say that nobody can sneak up on me because of it, but I can make a safe bet that this is better than hanging out on the ground floor, waiting for something to happen to me like all the other idiots. I mean, there's a big hole up here. If someone either finds a gun or has a good arm or something, they can look right over the railing and wait, then just pick people off. Unless, you know, somebody kills them while they're trying to aim.
It's hard to think like that, and not just because it sounds totally insane. Things have been pretty peaceful, so far. It's a really weird thing to say, given the situation, but it's true. I haven't seen anybody die, and this place is so small, I can pretty much keep eyes on everybody.
I took what I'm hoping is going to be a good stance. There was a sort of sexy shop. Not sort of sexy. It’s a fucking sex store. The kind of stuff they have to block out with a big black bar before they can put it on TV. I think they do, anyway. Doesn't matter. I'm off on a tangent. The point is that it's going to keep people away. I hope. If they're too uncomfortable to handle dildos, then I'm pretty safe. And most people are, in my experience, which makes this an awesome spot for me to try and stay alive. Other than the fact that I'm not going to be able to really fight anyone off with the stuff they've got around here. But I'll trade the slight inconvenience of having to leave my home base behind to find weapons for the protection I'll get out of it. Well, the protection I’m hoping to get out of it, if everything goes the way I hope it does. Plus some of this stuff is technically edible, if it comes down to the wire. There's a food
court on the other side that might have something still in there. I'm going to check it out today but, if it's empty, or I can't make it that far without someone wising up and trying to attack me, I guess I'll find out how long I can survive on edible panties. My guess? Not very long.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 08QUINN
ENTRY 002
DATE: 1/5/2075
It's already been five days. I've been waiting for people to pass out for the night, then I go around and scope shit out. I've got this whole place pretty well figured, now. But I've also been seen. The big guy I saw in the beginning, before he got conscious again. I don't know if he just sleeps during the day or what, but he's always there, and he’s always watching me. He's the only one right now who really unnerves me. He's over in the big Mitchell's they've got as an anchor store, and I think he's the only one there. The other ten are all accounted for. The fact that he's in Mitchell's is probably the most concerning thing about it. He's got what he needs, so long as he can hold it down. They've got a little bit of everything.
Aside from him, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of threats. I haven't seen these other opponents the letter talked about yet, but I'm sure I will eventually. Unless it was a bluff to make everyone worry. Somehow, that doesn't seem very likely. The letter laid out how everything was going to work and, best as I've seen so far, it was honest. No reason to have just a single lie in there, and not one so tame, if they were going to have one.
The lady in the sex shop across from me went out last night and dragged some stuff back from the food court. Looked like it was mostly buns and other bread kind of stuff, but whatever. If I run short and I can't make it all the way over, I know where to go to keep myself fed. I'm pretty sure I can take her, if need be. I've got myself armed pretty well with all the hunting gear. No guns, but that's probably intentional. I've still got some good knives and a bow and arrow. Not that I'm any kind of good shot with a bow and arrow, but I'd rather have it than leave it for somebody who actually knows how to use it.
I'm going to go into the food court tonight. It's the only place I haven’t sort of scoped out, yet. Aside from the Mitchell's, that is, and I don’t think I'm going to get the chance to look around there. Not unless that guy gets taken out of the picture. I might have training on my side but, even if he doesn't, he's a beast. He’s got about a foot on me, maybe more, and he’s muscular. I’d be a smear on the wall if I got on the wrong side of him.
Still, even with him there, I think I’ve got things handled pretty well. Unfortunately, that’s when everything always seems to go to shit.
ENTRY END
Buy ALL the Things! Evenstad Enterprises Wants Your Money
Posted 1/4/2075
So, with only a few days left until The Mall, the sequel to Evenstad's hit infomercial, The Park, I can't help but wonder what the plan is this time around. I mean, I think it's pretty well considered a fact at this point that The Park was only made to sell Evenstad Tech's newest, shiniest toys. For now, we'll leave the fact that they killed eleven people just to prove how good those stupid little medallions were.
I'd rather focus on the fact that, with the launch of season two, there's got to be something going on behind the scenes. Now, I'm not one of the conspiracy nutters who think that Evenstad was doing this to start a war in Egypt and get farmland. Yeah, people really believe that. They think Evenstad’s trying to monopolize the food industry and blah blah blah.
I don't think they're all that evil. But I definitely think there's going to be a money-making angle. We've already received word that their MMORPG, The Park: Live and Breathe, is getting an update in the next few weeks to include the new elements and players from The Mall. Yeah, I admit to being a pretty active player on there. Sue me. That part, at least, isn't getting people killed.
So again, I'm going to watch this play out, just like I did last season. But the difference is that I'll know the signs. I'll be able to tell when they're trying to just cram some new product down our collective throats. And then I'll let you know so we can all have a good laugh. Because I can almost guarantee that it's going to be just as heavy-handed as it was with the CESUs last season.
Love and kisses,
Sugar
JOURNAL 11KIM
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/7/2075
This isn't like how I thought it was going to be. Last year, when I was watching the Park, I thought I could do this. I sat there rooting for Rita the whole time. Bitch was fierce, and I was damn positive I could be just as fierce as her and get through all this. I figured it wasn’t really that hard, once you were in the middle of it. Survival instinct would kick in and that would be that.
Damn it if I wasn't as wrong as I could possibly be. I've been sleeping maybe an hour or two at a time. I keep telling myself I need to move upstairs, get out of the makeup shop and try to find some higher ground. But then I think about what that means and I just go back and hide behind the counter again. Got some good makeup here, though. It’s a distraction, but it’s one I’m giving in to. At least until it doesn’t work anymore. It’s way better than the stuff I schlep around door to door back home, I can tell you that much. Maybe if I win this, they'll let me take some home.
Like I'm really going to be the one to get out of here.
I did take a little trip out, just once. A jaunt upstairs at night, just to look. If I ran really fast, I could make it to the food court, and then just pray there's something over there and it's not just one giant trap to try and get me killed.
But I've had a week to think about things. There are going to be other people out and around, and it sounds like they're going to jump right on killing us. Probably there to speed everything along. I watched the show, and I stuck with it, but six months was a long-ass time to make a weekly commitment, especially for me.
But since we didn't get those fancy little medals that they got last year, I'm pretty sure we're all fucked. I sure as hell am, since I decided a makeup shop was my best choice. There's not even any food here. Which is another wrinkle they didn't have to iron out last season. I guess they really want us to start dropping off, this time. Most bang for their buck, there.
ENTRY END
TO: Niels Evenstad
FROM: Frederick Evenstad
SUBJECT: The Mall Preparations
SENT 12/18/2075 AT 11:26 a.m. EST
Brother,
I've had Veronica send word already, but I thought I would let you know personally: I've just approved the final shipment to the set of The Mall. So far as everyone can tell, things are working just fine. I have people en route to meet them and adjust programming for the security systems. Everything should be working just fine by the time you launch the competition.
On the subject of the launch, I have to wonder why you can’t delegate more of this. You’ve taken quite a lot of stress onto yourself, and it’s starting to have a negative effect on you. I can practically see you deteriorating, when I get to see you at all. Rarely, since this all started. I think you need to find ways to cut some of your tension back. Otherwise, I worry this whole thing might kill you.
I know that you won't talk to me about any of this, but I wish you would. And I hope you know that you can. We run a business, and we may have grown distant, but you are my brother, and I worry when I see something like this happening. Marta's worried, as well, and I suspect the others are, too, though they haven't voiced any concerns to me of yet.
At any rate, things are taken care of, so you can at least stop worrying about that.
Frederick Evenstad,
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Technologies
—
TO: Frederick Evenstad
FROM: Niels Evenstad
SUBJECT: The Mall Preparations
SENT 12/19/2075 AT 12:03 a.m. EST
I had just received word from my secretary that the shipment
left your warehouses when I got your email. But thank you for informing me all the same. If it’s at all possible, while your team is there, have them do a final sweep for batteries, or anything else that holds a significant charge that they can safely remove. I want to eliminate the risk of a system short if we get someone as smart as Craig was last year. I shudder to think what he could have done in this situation.
You may be right about me needing a break. Marta told me that as well. Perhaps we should celebrate what promises to be yet another highly successful collaboration. Just the two of us. I realize it's taken me a while to respond. I've been excessively busy lately. But I've made dinner reservations for us at Martinson's tonight at seven. This stress really isn't good for my health, and I know that.
I look forward to tonight, Brother. I hope you can make it.
Niels Evenstad,
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media
JOURNAL 03BILL
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/7/2075
This is very different from The Park. I watched The Park. I enjoyed The Park, when I didn't think about it too much. If I just pretended that it was a movie, that meant no one was actually dying. And that made it all okay for me. I can't pretend that anymore, but I have to keep going and doing this thing no matter what. I guess it's kind of good that I watched the first show, now, even though where they're doing it this time makes it really different, I think. The lights are on a timer in this place, so they stay on for hours at a time. Probably however long the mall would be open. They've taken away all the clocks, though. I can tell they used to be there. I can see the outlines, because there's clean circles on the walls. I tried to guess what time it might be and set one of the clock radios I found in the aisles, but I can't know for sure how close I got.