Dear Journal,

I don’t know why I had to start that, considering I’m just skipping to a new page, but it just feels right, you know?

Anyway, we were all gathered in what had been my mom’s room for however long, and we were talking together, debating what we were going to do. I knew we had more pressing issues to worry about, obviously, but there was a part of me that was so happy to see everyone there in one piece. I don’t know what I thought was going to happen to them, but I’d been worried about them every day when I’d been here, and now I get to see them and they’re maybe a little worse off, but still in one piece? It was everything that I could have hoped for.

Well, not everything, obviously. It felt like it’d been years since I’d gotten a chance to get some new clothes or a manicure, so those were definitely high on the list of hopes. At least, even though I’d been captive, I’d been able to shower, so there are some bonuses, I guess.

Anyway, we were talking about what we were supposed to do now, which, as Garrett pointed out, was kind of a subject that we hadn’t thought that much about. Like yeah, obviously we needed to escape, but we’d already left once and they’d caught us, so it’s not like we could really just do the same thing again. If they caught us again, Hansen pointed out, there was a good chance that his dad wouldn’t feel like bringing us all back again, but he wouldn’t just let us go. Hansen and I would probably be okay because (super gross) Rex had a vested interest in us coming back, but the others? Especially my mom, since she was able to get us out in the first place? It wasn’t looking good.

So, until we figured it out, we were just stuck in my mom’s room, debating and hoping that it was late enough that nobody would be out in the hallway to hear us. Despite the potential risk if we were found, it sounded like Garrett and Hansen were in favor of just running off again and working harder on making sure that we weren’t found - Garrett suggested only traveling at night, and staying in houses that were basically ready to fall down, because even if it wouldn’t be super safe for us to be in them, Rex and his crew probably wouldn’t be searching those for us. Unless we were seen again, of course, but everyone hoped the cover of night would be enough. But I also couldn’t help but remember all those nights I’d stood outside with Garrett when it was close to the full moon. Even if we had left the power plant and gotten far enough away that the lights couldn’t be seen, it wouldn’t have really mattered - the moon was bright enough that you could see perfectly clear, anyway. And we’d been down here long enough that none of us had any clue what phase of the moon was out now. I didn’t even know how many days we’d been down here, much less what cycle the moon was in.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

My mom on the other hand, supported by Ben, thought that we needed to fight Rex as a group, because according to Hansen, the only way for someone else to get power in the group was to fight the current leader, which was a stupid rule that Rex himself seemed to have implemented. Like, who wants to create a rule where people were literally always wanting to fight you? Just hold elections or something. But I guess he must have felt that he had a better chance of winning a fight than an election? I sure as hell wouldn’t vote for him.

Anyway, my mom argued that that was the only way we could really be free, because then we’d be in charge of the power plant and Rex couldn’t do anything about it unless he wanted to fight all of us again. I, personally, liked that plan better, because then we could even stay in the power plant, which would be great because I’d really missed the showers when we were away. Plus, being on the run and always having to look over your shoulder was super lame.

But ultimately, I didn’t really want to get into it. Maybe it’s just me, journal, but I’ve been starting to think that every time I get involved with something, shit goes down really fast. Like, maybe I should just stay out of the big decisions and just stay in my own lane? Kind of like what Rex wanted, but with far less sleeping with old dudes. I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve been questioning if, even though he was super wrong about some things, he was kind of right about others?

But anyway, I let them duke it out while I just kind of sat on my mom’s bed next to Jared and Bryce. None of us spoke during the whole debate - I don’t know if they didn’t really want to get into it like I did, or if they were just along for the ride like usual. Or maybe, also like me, there was a part of them that just felt like it has shut down at this point.

Oh my god, that sounds way too dramatic, journal! I’m fine, I’m just…over it. I want to go back to the mall. I want to go back to my house and see my dad and not have my mom in this weird public love affair with some random businessman off the street. I want to go to the grocery store and get something that’s not frozen or powdered or just kind of gross. I miss being able to have a salad! Maybe if they decide to fight Rex and we actually stay here, at least I can get vegetables for the vegetable garden soon.

Anyway, they’re still arguing. They’d better wrap up soon, though - one alarm has gone off, and I’d be surprised if another one doesn’t go off soon at this point, and if they don’t make a decision by that point, then someone is bound to find us.

I’ll let you know what happens, assuming we don’t get found out. Wish us luck!

Love,

Kayla