Insouciant (The Billionaire With A Choice)

Escape

Escape

I keep reading. I'm at about Entry 45.

Dad's been here for a couple of days. Whenever he is here, he's a bit warmer. I am not falling for his bullshit. He's watching me. He's torn up my room. I think he is onto her letters. It's like he tried searching for this book. I hid it in Cedric's getaway room. There has been a glitch in the security system. There are more guards. This is a good thing. Cameras can sense movement so easily. Humans have doubts. I've been trying to finish this damn map. The building is identical from the 1st to 5th floor and 14th to 21st floor. They are all classrooms. The sixth is a courtyard. From the seventh to the 12th are dorms, dining hall. Storm shelter. Storage rooms. And gyms. The top floor. The 22nd floor. I've never been there. But I overheard dad saying that's the control centre. So they probably have the cameras replay up there. The only difference I've discovered is that the Southeast side of the building has stairs through every floor. They have the garbage and laundry shoots. It has the largest air vents. As if they want us to escape.

47

It's a test. It's all a test. Look at all the graduates! Have you ever heard of them out of here? I spent so much time in the library I had my opportunities limited. They know I'm onto them. The teachers don't care about me. They suck up to the twins. I'm only here during the summer, winter and March break. They've put me in my own room, thinking I'm putting ideas into Nathaniel and Cedric's heads. When in reality, I haven't seen much of them. Nathaniel won't say a thing, but he has night terrors. He answers questions in his sleep, sometimes speaking different languages. At that, I immediately knew... whatever they are doing to him. She could be going through the same thing. Cedric stopped talking altogether. He'd smile. It wouldn't reach his eyes unless someone pointed out cars. He started wearing more clothing. He looked pale. And his face grew thin. No thirteen-year-old should look like that. But he still smiled. It was scary. I'd stop by his getaway room. He's been sleeping in there. I'd bring him fatty foods. He needs to be attentive. And he's not. I began leaving him notes as well. I know he's not focusing on school. The administration will not stand for a single student to drop the grade average. I watched the behaviours of other students. They walk the same. Talk the same. I've spoken to legacy students. They didn't even know their siblings or parents enrolled here. Something is up. I went to the library once more. I analyze the room. People are rarely in here, making it the perfect place for information. I grab past yearbooks. My father's class. At age five, these people were smiles ear to ear. Then graduation. Every face is monotone. 25% graduated back then. But now? Right now, you either pass or receive punishment. I don't know any of these graduates. I go two years before the grad pics. I see a familiar face. His face is on billboards everywhere. Kenzo Steels... Just Tendo, leading in the makeup industry. Went here too. Mary Shrew, Lineth Opal, Nav Sou-

It just cuts there. Did someone catch him?

I walk out and drag the boys in here.

"Your dad went here, right?" I ask them.

They nod.

"Did he graduate?"

They both blank.

"Well, I'd assume he graduated. I've never seen a certificate. Graduation picture-"

"But he's successful," I say.

And they agree.

"Miss Baylor, what's your point?"

"You guys read his journal. Did you think nothing suspicious of it just cutting off in one entry and not continuing in the next?" I show them it.

"I assumed it was too risky for him to continue. That was like one of the last entries about this place. Everything else was what he could infer from his standpoint at home."