Redemption Prep - Samuel Miller Page 0,57

his journal from his bag and starting to flip through it.

“Why would they even put a fence two miles into the forest?” Peter asked. “If you’re trying to keep animals out, why not make it closer to the school?”

“Maybe it’s somebody else’s fence?” Aiden guessed.

“It doesn’t really matter at this point,” Neesha said. “It’s here. Either Emma got over it, or she didn’t. I’m climbing to the other side—you guys can stay here and have a tea party, I don’t care. I’m finding her.”

“I’m not letting you hurt yourself!” Zaza grabbed for her arm, but she swung wildly, fighting him off and jerking her body away from him. As her arms swung back, her right arm caught inside Evan’s sling, yanking it forward and throwing his journal out of his hands and toward the fence. The leather binding met the chain with a light tap, but as it connected, it began to sizzle. Sparks exploded off the impact and steam released up the fence line. The journal landed on the ground in front of them with a thud.

Neesha leaned over slowly and picked it up by the part that still resembled leather. The other half had melted, warping its shape, and still sizzled with the burn of electricity.

All of them stared at the fence. “That’s . . . a very extreme charge,” Neesha said. Her heart began to beat warm and loud in her ears.

“The whole thing is electrified?” Zaza asked breathlessly.

On top of the fence, bright red and yellow siren lights started to spin.

Part V.

Recruits.

Testimonial: Emmalynn Donahue.

Year 1995–1996. Day 33.

I don’t have a home in this world anymore.

Sinful girl.

I didn’t know my mother was capable of saying something like that about anyone. I guess I was twelve the last time we were in the same room. I probably know the censored version of her. The version that was trying to raise a gentle daughter.

I wonder what the last four years have been for her. I wonder who she talks to, if not to me. I wonder if my dad gives her any support. I can understand how she thinks I’ve abandoned her, but this.

Sinful girl.

Wicked girl.

Abandoned her family for a life of excess.

She says it to a video camera. That’s the worst part; someone offers her a chance to record an opinion of her daughter, and this is how she responds. I left her behind; I did it to her. I don’t love her and that’s for the better, because she doesn’t need me anyway.

She’s drinking. I can tell she’s been drinking even if she isn’t holding anything in the video. My dad isn’t in the video. Maybe he’s the one recording, but I doubt it. He’s probably laid up in bed.

For four years I was able to swim, knowing that no matter how far out I got, there was always a shore to return to. But at an exact point between them, the Atlantic becomes the Pacific, which means you could enter an entirely new ocean, and you wouldn’t know until you came up to look for shore.

I knew we talked less and less. I wanted to tell her more, but I knew it was painful for her to hear what I was doing. I knew we talked about nothing, and eventually there was nothing to talk about.

I had the money. That’s the worst part; we always said we didn’t talk because we couldn’t afford it, but for three months, I’ve been rich. I could have called her whenever. I could have saved our relationship but I didn’t.

Wicked girl.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Understand her needs. She needs to be comfortable where she is. She needs to be okay with her life. She needs to take care of my dad.

I control where I stand. I can forgive her. I can care for her.

But how can I care for her if I can’t come home.

Might as well not come home. Like she wanted me to hear it.

She did want me to hear it. That’s why she’s talking to a camera. This is her telling me. I don’t have a home in this world anymore.

emma donahue investigation.

ahmad galbia—year 4.

transcription by MONKEY voice-to-text software.

YANIS (School Administration) _ Please speak your full name aloud.

AHMAD GALBIA (Student) _ Ahmad Galbia.

Y _ Zaza right.

AG _ Right.

Y _ Okay Zaza. Simple question. Why did you go into the woods last night.

AG _ Honestly. I have no idea.

emma donahue investigation.

neesha shah—year 4.

transcription by MONKEY voice-to-text software.

NS _ We were on a walk.

Y _ Two and