Her Last Missive
4997 Words
I spent the next twenty minutes working up the nerve to read the journal at the small oak table in Derek’s kitchen. This journal may contain secrets about why Sarah was murdered and why they came back after the crime… was it for me? If so, why? What secret could result in this much chaos? There was a whirlwind of questions swirling in my mind, and I, desperately, needed some answers. Why me? Why her? Why us?
Taking a deep breath, I pull the journal toward me and turn to the front cover, where the name Jenny Griffin is displayed in what I have come to know as Sarah’s elegant cursive. Shaking my head as I consider just how little I knew about the woman I called my mother. If this was, in fact, her journal, I didn't even know her real name. I open the cover and stare at the crispness of the letter that has managed to fall out this journal the last couple of times I picked the book up. Almost as if it demanded to be read.
I pick up the pristine white envelope with my name written on it. It was just as the first time I saw it... except for the b****y fingerprints from when I picked it up as I ran out of the house when those guys showed up. An eyesore to an otherwise perfect envelope.
With slow trembling hands, I pop open the sealed envelope and pull out the handwritten letter. Opening the tab upward and the second downward, the letter causes a hitch in my breathing as my vision blurs with unshed tears and the acceptance that this is all that’s left of her.
Dear Arielle,
I hope I am there when you’re reading this, but if I’m not, I want you to know I am so sorry you had to find out alone. I am guessing that if you are alone with this letter, then I must be dead. I hope to God that it was some accident, but if it was murder… they have found you, and you need to run… Now would be too late. We should have moved years ago, but you were happy, and you had the life you deserved. I couldn’t bring myself to disrupt the life you had carved out for yourself. But I would be lying if I told you that it was all for you. I had a life here too, and it was one I couldn’t find the strength to run from.
The truth is… you are different. Sold into science by your birth mother. You were experimented on. Some people are born with a special gene. With the right cocktail, special individuals were able to develop abilities. It worked best in the ages of children between just born and the age of five. Any older and the abilities would not develop. And if it did develop, the power would kill the child or drive them mad.
Arielle, you have one of these abilities. You are one of the few that survived the experiment termination process.
YOUR POWERS… They are tied to your emotions, and you were given yearly shots to block that gene. We wanted you to be safe. Being safe meant that you could not be allowed to accidentally use these abilities in case the disturbances were picked up by the people who did this to you.
But now that you are eighteen, there is nothing left that we can do to block your abilities. SO, YOU MUST BE CAREFUL! They make you easier to find.
And your memories before you were seven? They were repressed by the d**g as well. I can't be sure that those will come back, or if your current life will be all that you remember.
Yes! I know this is a lot to take in, my dear Ari.
You use to tell me about this dream... about a fire when you were younger. You haven’t told me about it in a while but I hear you wake up and become restless some nights; so, I guess you still have those dreams. Well, those dreams are real!! It has happened. I was there… and… so were you. This is one of your memories. It may be that the others will start to break through in this way too.
Me and six others managed to get you and five other kids away before all the kids were hideously killed. They were all gunned down while they slept. It was horrible, but we couldn’t save anyone if we were to try to save everyone. So, we each were tasked with saving our own subjects, the experiments. You never had a name in the experiments, but know that I LOVED YOU nonetheless.
It was a couple weeks before I met subjects, and even longer before they trusted me with what we were actually studying. No. That’s not right. They didn’t trust me or tell me. I found out on my own through some dangerous means. By then, I was too invested in the well-being of the children. I couldn’t just leave. There were only a handful of us that thought treating kids the way they did was wrong, Only a handful of kids, six children, made it through the ordeal. They are the only ones that survived.
In order to protect ourselves, contact was kept minimum. Only one man’s information was shared with us… in case something was to happen. None of it was written down on the chance they found one of us. Well, I wrote it down. I needed you to know... just in case. We couldn’t risk leading them to the others. The main contact moves frequently, So, we have no address. He also changes his name, and I can only provide the information I was last given. This was three years ago.
In Freedom Park in Vermont.
Ironic, uh? He has used the following aliases.
Kennedy Buck
Mick Chance
John Smith
Chuck Willis
Fred Hun
Last one* Dave Lars
He moves every few years; so, he has definitely changed location, but he fell out of touch. I was supposed to get news two years ago. You’re smart, and I am sure you can find him! =) I don’t want to scare you, but YOU have to find him… and the others. Now that you are 18, you must learn to use your powers. You will be stronger with others like you.
Don’t use cards! ALWAYS cash! There is a locker at a local train station. There is a black duffel with 10,000 in cash. Take it and find the others. Each of us should have an amount close to that… but don’t depend on it. Our lives are too unpredictable now.
Move on from your life here. It is not safe for you or your friends.
Remember… you carry my love with you! Be strong! Be careful! Be a leader!
With love,
Sarah
Also known as
Jenny Griffin
P.S. Read the journal! It will tell you my journey and allow you to take me with you.
After finishing the letter, I found myself staring at the wall in confusion and a feeling of crushing despair as I comprehend the overwhelming mess that is my life. Torn between a feeling of loss and confusion and a pressing interest in a part of my life I barely remember. Shaking my head, I look at the journal to my left and pull it across the table to me.
Day 1 – First Day on Job
Today is my first day at Scien-o-tics, a hidden gem of employment opportunities. At the ripe ole age of 25, I graduated with a Master’s in the Genetic and Engineering Science. It was hard finding a job until I came across Scien-o-tics with its rigorous interviewing process. Of course, I’m starting in an entry-level position, compiling data collected the previous week and graphing all data for subjects in Quadrant A-E. Each day is spent graphing data for a different group. There are 5 of us; each one with 5 letters of the alphabet. The one to finish and do the last set gets a 500 dollar bonus each week! Talk about giving people incentive to go above-and-beyond.
Peace out
From Jenny G.
Day 5
I have officially been with Scien-o-tics for a week. I don’t mind compiling and graphing data… but damn, it gets tedious plotting points, or missing a point and having to start all over again. To make matters worse, I work with the most isolating group ever. There is no talking, no socializing, no camaraderie, and no community. We eat at our desks at the same time. Talk about completely lame. Everyone is all business – all the time. And our supervisor… sits at her desk, monitoring us. We are watched constantly, which is odd but whatever. Maybe they don’t want to risk leaks to competing companies.
Cheers to the Weekend,
Jenny G.
Day 14
Something has changed. I was pulled from collecting and graphing data. The CEO pulled me aside at the end of my shift today. He said I was recommended for a special unit designed to interact with our test subjects. He requested my presence tomorrow in order to meet my subjects. I am excited and nervous too. What could have possibly resulted in such upward mobility in the workplace? Not that it matters. You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth after all.
Sincerely,
Jenny G.
Day 15
KIDS! MY subjects are children. The oldest is a five-year-old girl. There are six kids in the unit. One boy is five; the other four children are all range from three to four-years-old.
I was surprised. I thought we worked with adults for some reason. I am not sure how I feel with kids stuck in labs, but I hid this. Instead, I asked for more information on the subjects… to stay and sound objective.
The children were never named other than the word subject and an identifying number. My unit subjects are named subject 110, 111, 205, 206, 207, and 208. Apparently, numbers were issued based on when they were brought into the study, indicating a large number of subjects introduced into the study over the years. Some were included when they were babies, and others were brought in later for whatever reasons.
The study tries to maintain fifty subjects at any given time. Often times, subjects are released if they don’t show the desired results. The ones released are replaced with new subjects, and the study starts over… only continuing for those who have shown results previously as a part of their own cohort, which explains differences in numbers and ages.
My job is to monitor her vitals. Easy Peasy.
Sincerely,
Jenny G.
Day 22
It’s been a week since I’ve started working in my new position. The other six members of my unit are a much better fit than my last set of co-workers. They laugh and enjoy lunch together. There are five others and me that work with our subjects. Our unit leader is there to supervise and answer any questions. Our unit is made up of one old guy- the unit leader, three women and three men.
Sincerely,
Jenny G.
Day 23
They started a new mentorship program. Each person in the unit was assigned a subject. I was assigned the oldest girl, subject 110. The goal of the program is to socialize the children with each other and to provide an adult they can trust. Other than the adults in each unit, the children really have little to do with each other. The hope is to encourage the subjects to share things with someone that they normally wouldn’t – like with one trusted adult or a group of other children while also having staff close enough to observe changes in subject – whether slight or major.
Sincerely,
Jenny G.
Day 33
Things have been busy but good. My unit and I have been getting to know our assigned subjects. We even met as a group for an hour after shift to discuss what we have learned about each of them. We also had our first real chance to learn about each other.
DAVID is our unit leader and is more understanding about concerns than anyone else I have met here. He wants us to look out for children and monitor their well-being. The scientists who complete the tests often fail to consider the individual. He joined the team to be sure they were treated humanely.
My turn! MY subject is 110. She is a quiet and reserved five-year-old. She struggles to interact with others. Her story is tragic. She has been here since the day she was born after being sold into the study by a teenage mother, who was knocked up by an absentee college student. David even understands my pain that none of these children have real names. Yet, we both understand that we can’t give them one and must maintain the scientific boundaries. They may fire us if they feel we are too attached, and then, we can’t protect our subjects. Yet, everyone agrees that something is incredibly strange with the way things are done.
KENT is the mentor for subject 111, who came in at approximately the same time as 110. He describes the kiddo as fit and interested in sports of all kinds. His story is just as sad as 110’s. His mother died during childbirth, and his father was overseas with the Army. The child was taken and sold to the study. His father was told that the baby died at birth, and so, he never bothered looking.
SAM is the mentor for subject 205. His charge is a four-year-old male, who prefers video games and television. He was brought in two groups later. He was taken from his house in the middle of the night and sold on the black market.
SARAH is mentoring a shy three-year-old girl who hides behind her leg. The girl just sits and stares at people but doesn’t speak. She was found at an orphanage and brought to the group, but specifics are still unknown.
CHAD is working with another male who loves technology. He always wants to know how things work. He has wondered out of area numerous times and was found in a machine-filled room. His mom was a junkie, and his father was a dealer. He was found at the scene of his parents hit-and-run.
NATALIE is mentor to the last of our group, a sweet and quiet girl. She was the youngest child of six. At one-year-old, her mom called panicked about her unfaithful husband and her own ability to care for six children as a single mother. She did not want to be a mother any longer. That day, she sold her six kids into the experiment.
David never told us how he figured this stuff out, but it solidified our need to protect these children. There is something so inhumane and unethical about using young children that were stolen… Urr, I mean, kidn*pped and sold into the experiment. All of us were on alert. Something was seriously wrong here.
With Love,
Jenny G.
Day 48
Things have been strange lately. I witnessed a bunch of scientists and burly men running toward the kitchen as water pooled beneath the door. Within moments, the water pulsed and rippled as blue lights sparked on the other side of the swinging kitchen doors. There was a lot of screaming about avoiding the water. Men came running down the hall with tranquilizer guns. Why would they need those? Well, let me tell you. I had walked over and stood just outside the puddle of water. Through the circular window in the swinging door, I see men on counters. Looking closely, I see two teenage girls. Both are dressed in fishnet stockings and short skirts with tank tops. Both look very agitated with hands up to ward off the approaching group. Suddenly, I heard the soft pop pop as two darts were released. Almost immediately, the water stopped flowing and its charged ripples stilled as both girls fell forward as two men came forward and caught them. They were carried out and placed on two stretchers that had appeared during the commotion. Standing off to the side, a man notices me and says that one turned on all the faucets blocked the drains while the other made sure open wires were touching the water. I nod, but I know things are not as they seem. They never removed the “wires” from the water after tranquilizing the girls and no one was electrocuted.
With Love,
Jenny G.
Day 60
Since my last entry, those girls have not been seen, which is weird since there are only fifty subjects. When asked, higher ups say they are in isolation after the incidence due to their poor actions. Yet, I think there is more to it. First, I don’t think we have isolation. Now, there are more places in the building than what I have been permitted to explore, but still… isolation is a bit cruel, no?
But that whole incident brings me back to why I am writing. The kids are special. Since this day, I have been more observant. The kids have abilities. I am still not 100% sure how this happened. But I watched one kid go under water for 30 minutes before coming up. Another girl changed her hair color running her hands over it.
As for my own mentee, she changes the weather based on her emotions. I noticed when she fell down and cried. It started raining… inside.
The others in my unit mentioned similar observations with their own mentees.
Jenny G.
Day 61
These kids are more powerful than we even knew. The five-year-old boy, 111, kicked a door while playing with a younger kid in our unit, 207, who took his block. Not such a big deal! Right? Except the door was snapped off its hinges. Whoa! Just whoa! 110 was playing with another girl and got mad and struck a chair with lightning. So… yeah. That happened.
Jenny G.
Day 62
Kent and I were talking about 111 today. His strength is astounding. He was tested by Kent secretly. He was able to lift an incredible amount of weight… at least three times his 65 pounds. He lifted a table, a bed, and Kent!! It can only be assumed that by the time he is 18, he will be lifted six times his own weight.
Jenny G.
Day 63
Sam is working with 205 and was beyond excited about what he saw. 205 has telekinesis. The child can move small objects across the table without touching it. He can also shake a table, but is only because he can’t, yet, fully lift it. The things he will eventually be able to life with just his mind…!
Jenny G.
Day 64
Sarah was talking about 206 today. 206 has a knack for reading emotions, but more than that, she has demonstrated the ability to calm down others. More is needed to prove this is an ability and not personality.
Jenny G.
Day 65
Chad is working with 207. Chad was telling me how he told Chad about the incident with those two girls in the kitchen two days before it happened. That’s not all, 207 is convinced that the girls from the incident weren’t released, but in his words, “terminated,” since they were uncontrollable successes. Note to self-check on that because they haven’t been seen since.
Jenny G.
Day 66
The final kid was the most surprisingly. 208 has the ability of transmutation. She likes to change parts of herself to animal parts to make the others laugh. I saw her sprout a fox’s tail, a peacock’s beak, and dog’s bark. Eventually, she may be able to change into different people, but for now, Natalie says she only does animal transmutation.
Jenny G.
Day 100
Things have been really busy the last several weeks. Shortly after, Chad told me what 207 said about those two girls, I went to the higher ups and asked to see them. They blew me off and said they were undergoing a series of high clearance tests and that I was not permitted to speak to them. Suspicious, right? The day after that, they started having me work 16-hour days split between subject 110 and data graphing for my unit.
So, I did a thing. I heard rumors of a subject that could hack any computer, a subject who just happened to be left in my care while his mentor has his monthly evaluation. Once in the secured site, I had him find any news about the incident from months ago, instead, he stumbled upon a list… a list of subjects past and present, some of which were marked as in baseline, in treatment, success, rehabilitated, and the scariest one, terminated, next to the picture and subject number of each subject. Both of the girls were marked terminated. It was about then that the mentor came back and gathered his mentee. I am not particularly worried about him telling. Part of his testing is to hack into different parts of a site, but as a four-year-old, he won’t be able to understand it.
Jenny G.
Day 119
Things are going wrong. Many subjects have been losing control of their abilities. In the last couple of days, several mentors have ended up in the infirmary with injuries from trying to subdue irate mentees. My unit has been pretty docile, but the rest are in absolute chaos. As far as I know, there have been no deaths but they wouldn’t tell me if there was because they hide mistakes or wrongdoings like we are national security. I’m still waiting for someone to find out what I did but nothing yet.
Jenny G.
Day 120
FIRE! Several mentors and mentees were gathered in a common area when a man came running in… on fire! As some ran and scream in fear and shock, others are attempting to put him out. I stand still, which is the only reason I see the young girl standing outside the door as she blends into the shadows that surround her. Within minutes, several men came with a stretcher and carried out the gravely injured man who had since been put out. The girl still stands in the shadows watching until a woman comes up to her, talks in hushed tones, and they walk away together. After getting all mentees quiet, I noticed a secret meeting behind closed doors.
Jenny G.
Day 121
The next morning, my own unit met behind closed doors. David called us together to discuss his concerns. After calling him about that secret meeting, I saw that he immediately sent out an email about an early meeting.
He told us that after I called, a memo was sent out informing all supervisors that the program was being terminated. Considering what these kids can do, David is convinced that the kids are being terminated as well. There is a plan to meet tonight to discuss how this affects us.
Jenny G.
Day 122
We’ve run last night, we met in the wood at the edge of the property. David was waiting with a few of the other mentors and mentees when 110 and I arrived. The plan was to protect the kids by running. He had us whisper destinations in his ear because it is too dangerous to stay together. He pressed folded papers into our hands just as the first shots were fired. Being in the middle of nowhere, they weren’t worried about being heard… just fixing their mistakes. The sounds of terrified screaming could be heard as the fire alarm blares. The continuous sounds of bullets are barely heard over the alarm and the shouts. One guy comes flying through a window from the common area. I was too far away but I could see a pooling behind him… blood. David taps my shoulder, and I know it’s time to go. It is only a matter of time before kids run or the guys with guns disperse and act like this place never existed. We don’t want to be here when either of those happen. NOT TO MENTION … when they do that head count.
Jenny G.
Day 125
After three days of moving from place to place, we ended up in Detroit, Chicago… the location I whispered to David several days ago. A large city with lots of bodies to get lost in. Finding a hotel, we check in, and finally, I read the folded paper handed to me. It read that when you reach your destination go to the local train station – 11001 contains 10,000 in cash and is on the run money if you ever need to up and leave. Code 1101. Change code immediately. You will also find the deed to a house. Stay here. Find a game plan—BUT always keep moving. Don’t stay anywhere more than I couple of months.
The names you will now use – Sarah Chapman and Arielle Chapman. You have birth certificates and identification. Last thing, when you have to run, use cash. Never cards. Your cards are in your new name and will be fine since no one knows but me.
Don’t ask how I got the money for all of this, but I definitely stole it from the company because they don’t want police involved, but this means I will move frequently and send updates every year. I wanted to meet but this is far too dangerous… and we are too spread out! Be safe!
Jenny G.
Day 250
It’s been three months since first found ourselves in Chicago. Since then, we moved into the house.
Day 362
I made one last move… Meridian, Maine. It was a small town with lots of escape routes. We need a place to start a life. Ari deserves it, but more importantly, I cannot expect a 5-year-old to live like this. That would be more suspicious if she moved every couple of months.
It was not that hard to move considering we had no belongings. Taking some of the runaway cash, I furnished the house.
My Bedroom - DONE
Arielle Chapman – DONE
Living Room – DONE
Kitchen – DONE
Bathroom 1 – DONE
Bathroom 2 – DONE
Dining Area x NOT DONE
Upstairs Common Area x NOT DONE
It took half the runaway cash to ensure no questions were raised about why we have no stuff. Couches, television, pans, plates, cups, dressers, arm chairs, beds, and clothes. I also got a job to earn income to care for us. Using this income, I will restock the runaway cash and help build good lives here. Hiding in plain sight.
Jenny G.
Day 490
It’s the first update from David since the separation a year ago. Short and sweet. I couldn't help but be surprised that he knew I had left Chicago, but we still had the same names... which I guess was the point. No return address:
All is well.
All have reached destinations.
More updates in a year.
Jenny G.
Day 855
Another update received today.
Changed my name – Kennedy Buck. All children are enrolled in school. Well done on blending. No news if they know they didn’t get all kids or not. Burn this.
Send another message in a year.
I never burned it; instead, I am compiling it all here for the future in case something happened to me.
Jenny G.
Day 1,220
Another update.
Children are unable to control their abilities. They are having trouble blending as a result. This makes it dangerous for them.
A package came with 10 needles. Ari is seven now. Give her one a year. It is an inhibitior that blocks the gene that allows one to develop abilities. Every year until 18. It will no longer work at 18-years old. I gave it to her today, three days before she enters the second grade. I had home-schooled before this. Not yet ready to send her into the world.
Jenny G.
Day 1600
It has been four years since separation. Time for fourth update, but first, I am working as a professor at a local college. Arielle is in the second grade and has made friends. Her best friend is Maddie. The other update is:
Name changed to Mick Chance. 208 used ability in school. They found her. Natalie and 208 are dead. They’re looking for us. Lay low and be careful.
Jenny G.
Year Five (since separation)
Nothing new. Changed name to John Smith.
Sarah C.
Year Six
Nothing new. Changed name to Chuck Willis.
Sarah C.
Year Seven
Changed name to Fred Hun. They caught up to 110. His mentor is dead. He is safe, but I lost track of him. Searching! Watch out for you and yours! I got the others.
Sarah C.
Year Eight
Changed name to Dave Lars. Found 110. He is in the system. Name changed for him. He is hidden in foster care. I’m on the move. Freedom Park in Vermont. They’re closing in; this is just in case it is time to run, they will need place to go!
Sarah C.
Year Nine
All good.
Sarah C.
Year Ten
Still nothing. I have to assume he is dead. I really need to get us somewhere new.
Sarah C.
Year Eleven
She has grown into a beautiful girl. I couldn’t be prouder. Still no update. I still need to get us out of here.
Sarah C.
Year Twelve
She turns 18 tonight. I am too late. I haven’t had a chance to tell her. THEY FOUND US! I saw them in town.
OH NO. A knock on the door. I love you ARIELLE!
Sarah C.
- Writer
