The Park (Evenstad Media Presents Book 1)
Read The Park (Evenstad Media Presents Book 1) Online
Authors: Voss Foster
Evenstad Media Presents
THE PARK
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places,
and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used
fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is entirely
coincidental or beyond the intent of the author.
The Park © Voss Foster 2015
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the
reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is
forbidden without the written permission of the author.
Requests to use the material will be considered and may be
directed to:
Voss Foster at: [email protected]
For
my mother, who believed in me when I couldn't.
Sir or Madam,
You are receiving this letter because you have been selected
by Evenstad Media to fill one of twelve exclusive roles in season one of our
new reality show, The Park. You have already been collected, your information
processed, and delivered to the set. Please do not attempt to leave the arena
without explicit permission.
Your goal during your engagement at The Park is simple:
survive. There is no time limit. Furnishings have been provided, as well as an
ample food supply. However, the food supply will not be replenished. Use it
wisely.
Around your neck, you will find a golden medallion. This
medallion is a Controlled Energy Storage Unit from Evenstad Technologies. They
were created specifically for your usage during your stay at The Park. Depress
the button on the side to release the stored energy. When the energy is
depleted, the light on the back of the medallion will turn red. When the energy
has replenished, the light on the back of the medallion will turn green. The
energy from the medallion cannot be released until the light has turned green.
There are other Energy Storage Units hidden around the arena to aid you in your
survival.
The arena will be monitored fully at all times in order to
capture the true essence of game play for the viewers. Further details of
recording and broadcast were explained in your release clauses.
No criminal charges shall be filed against any action(s)
performed during the duration of your participation in The Park. All city,
county, state, federal, and/or international laws are to be considered
suspended during your time here.
The arena will remain closed until only a single player
remains alive. The winner will receive twenty million (20,000,000) dollars (USD).
The families of the losers will be provided for.
In your pocket, you will find a tablet and detachable
keyboard for you to keep a journal. While this is not required by the rules of
The Park, it is recommended. Extended periods of time spent in the arena may
cause psychological trauma. Our experts believe that writing a journal may help
to keep the mind sharp and stave off the possible ill effects of your stay.
No other information will be provided, so as to protect the
integrity of game play.
We wish you the best of luck,
Evenstad Media
Channel 696: THE PARK: 9 p.m. EST: A daring new game show.
Twelve contestants. No laws. Only one rule: survive.
JOURNAL 04JUSTICE
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/1/2074
Don't know where the hell I am. I remember going to bed last
night. When I woke up, I was laying on the grass in a trailer park with a
letter pinned to my chest. Apparently I'm playing some kind of fucking game. I
know I sure as hell didn't sign up for any reality show. Date on this tablet
says January first. Happy fucking New Year to me, I guess.
If I thought they had the means, I'd have guessed it was
Nina and Dan playing another joke on me. Wouldn't have been the first time
they'd dragged me out of bed and left me lying around. But one: this wasn't New
York and two: the medallion thing around my neck. I did what the letter said
and pressed the button. It made fire. Not like a lighter, more like a bonfire
in my hand. Couldn't guess how that works.
But if that was true, can I take any chances second-guessing
anything else in that crazy ass letter? So I found somewhere to stay. I found
an empty trailer, got inside, and locked the door. There's food, water, and
power. I don't see where surviving's going to be all that hard like this. Makes
a handheld bonfire pretty fucking useless, though.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 05CRAIG
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/1/2074
This is big time stuff. I've been kidnapped, best as I can
tell. There was a door open on one of the trailer houses and I went inside. I
searched and didn't see anyone, so I'm hoping I'm good. Or as good as I can get
when I'm being held prisoner.
But the thing around my neck is the bigger worry for me.
There've been rumors online about CESUs, and most people figured Evenstad would
be the one to figure out how it worked, if anyone could. Apparently they have.
I pressed the button and it lit up the dark all around me. About two yards, if
I were guessing. As bright as if the sun was shining. That's when I went
inside. Didn't need any attention drawn to me.
But if mine could do that, and there are at least eleven
more in here with me, being used by God knows who… it's just not something I'm
ready to face.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 03BLAKE
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/1/2074
I'm freaking out. I mean, I know I don't need to tell myself
that I'm freaking out, but I just did. That's how bad it is. I woke up in the
middle of the street and found a letter stuck to my shirt. Apparently I'm in
some arena, playing The Park. Whatever The Park is. I've never heard of it. But
I've never actually heard of anyone getting drugged up and taken away, either.
Not outside, like, the news and movies and shit. But I figure that's what had
to have happened, because I don't remember anything. I was at my dad's boss's
stupid New Year's party. I went out back for some air, and then I was here.
Well, out there. I guess the whole place is a trailer park. An empty trailer
park. I went inside one of the trailers. Haven't tried the necklace thing they
gave me yet. I don't know if I want to, though. Not if I don't know what it
does. Rule of life: find out what it does before you turn it on.
ENTRY END
Dear Valued Evenstad Media Customer,
Thank you for your interest in our newest program, The Park.
If you haven't yet seen it, what's stopping you? Last week's episode will be
available until next Monday on http://evenstadmedia.com/watch/thepark.
If you're a fan of the show, we thank you again. Evenstad
Media has always been devoted to providing our customers with the best possible
entertainment. That's why we're offering you a free month of The Park: 24/7.
The Park: 24/7 is your full access pass to uncensored,
unrated footage from The Park. See what angle you want with one of over 2,000
cameras. Relive your favorite moments and find new ones, all for the low price
of $7.95/month. And if you don't like it after the free trial, or you ever
become dissatisfied, you can cancel at any time. No fees, fines, or charges.
For more information, or to sign up for The Park: 24/7, call
our Customer Service Hotline at 1-888-003-8000 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST
And again, from us, thank you,
Evenstad Media
JOURNAL 06RITA
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/2/2074
I know you're reading this, Evenstad. Anyone egomaniacal
enough to kidnap a dozen people definitely wants to see what they have to say
after the fact. Guess what? I don't care. I know better than to put down
anything I don't want you to know. But here's what you already know: I'm in a
house. I'm fed. I've slept. I'm warm. And I tried out the medallion, too. I
don't know how you can make this thing do what it does, but I'm grateful for
it. I can do good things with this. Always thought telekinesis would be a
bitchin' skill. This is probably about as close as I'll ever get. Hardly any
effort on my part to use it, too. But you knew that, didn't you?
Watch away, boys.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 10MANFRED
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/2/2074
I am not certain of any of this. It seems as though I am
dreaming, yet I know that I'm not so creative as to dream something like this.
I am just a simple watchmaker.
I have not yet explored far. All I have seen are mobile
homes. So I cannot say for certain if my Natalie is here with me. But I don't
believe she is. I would say that she is still safely back home in London. My
leaving for the States was her blessing. Rather I lose her than to have her
spirited away here into the unknown.
If the letter speaks the truth, then this game, whatever it
may be, is one of survival. And if this is a game of survival, then I fear that
I am ill-suited to play. I have been lucky for my eighty-one years. The medications
I take are minimal, compared to others my age. I have avoided some of that
fate, thankfully. But I will not, I fear, avoid time. Any day now could be my
last, even in the best of situations. And now this.
My fingers ache with arthritis, but I will keep this
journal. I served time in the Third War and there, my journaling kept my sanity
until I could return to Natalie. So here, I hope, it should preserve it for me
once more.
My only relief is that, should I die here, and should these
people keep to their word, Natalie and the children shall be cared for. There
is little more that I could ask for but that.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 12DAVID
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/2/2074
Yesterday was uneventful. I meant to write a journal entry,
but nothing seemed important enough to warrant documentation. This might be the
wrong idea. The journals are meant to keep us sane, so maybe I should be
keeping up on it, eventful day or not. There isn't much else to do, really. I
seem to have calmed down today, which is good. Yesterday was nearly too much
for me. What is this place? Why me? What game are we playing? I know it must be
some fabrication, but from who?
I need to stop doing that. All the questions were what
caused my problems yesterday. I couldn't stop them. And so I didn't move. I
still haven't eaten, and I don't remember the last time I did before coming
here. A lot of the days leading up to finding myself here are fuzzy.
But this morning, I left the house. That's when I found the
boy. Maybe in his mid-twenties. He was probably more scared than I was. It was
good for me, being able to take care of someone. It got me to thinking. No
matter what, we're here, at least for the time being.
The boy shakes. He's been in one of the bedrooms shouting
for the past few hours. I don't know if it's a disorder or drugs, but I don't
think he'll make it alone. I can take care of him until we figure this out.
Tomorrow, after food and more rest, we'll go look around
outside to see what we can see. Hopefully, we'll find out the punch line to
this joke.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 11SUSAN
ENTRY 001
DATE: 1/2/2074
I'm frightened. Must keep the medallion close and keep it
charged as much as possible. The recharge is slow. Twenty million dollars is
enough to keep you happy for life. If you survive. More than enough to kill
for. The others have figured it out or they will. Either way. That's why I need
the medallion. Twenty million is enough for me to kill, too. So is my life. I
don't understand anything, and I don't care to find out. None of it matters.
The goal of this is survival, which means that some won't survive. And I simply
don't want that to be me. That's all I need to understand.
ENTRY END
TO: Niels Evenstad
FROM: Kathy Horstmann
SUBJECT: RE: Project: The Park
SENT 3/19/2072 AT 4:26 p.m. EST
Mr. Evenstad,
We've completed work on the final CESU. That makes forty in
all. I realize that we've had the argument before, but I would be foolish not
to voice my concerns a final time. The CESUs are incredibly dangerous, even
when activated in controlled testing situations like those in the labs here.
Putting them in the hands of civilians is even more dangerous. I urge you to
reconsider.
Kathy Horstmann,
Lead Lab Technician, Evenstad Technologies
—
TO: Kathy Horstmann
FROM: Niels Evenstad
SUBJECT: RE: Project: The Park
SENT 3/19/2072 AT 4:58 p.m. EST
Ms. Horstmann,
Your concerns have been duly noted and will be considered at
the final board meeting tomorrow. While you cannot be present at the meeting,
you are welcome to send any and all information on the CESU project that you
feel would be pertinent. Please send them in the standard format before 5 p.m.
today. Otherwise, they will not be able to be considered.
Thank you and your team for all your hard work on this
project,
Niels Evenstad,
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media