There’s a weird energy in the room. I spot my parents a few rows away from us. Dad narrows his eyes as if he agrees with me that something is off, but Mom is full-on beaming as her eyes home in on how close Kai and I sit together.
It’s a good thing she doesn’t know we’ve already hooked up, otherwise she’d have taken that as a sure sign I’m moving back home.
Mayor Whitmore stands at the front of the room with a man in an expensive suit. The man has the look of someone who doesn’t belong in Pine Ridge—too polished, too corporate, too much like the world that ate me up and spat me out for having principles.
Kai finds my hand and squeezes it. I squeeze back.
“Thank you all for coming,” the mayor says, his voice booming through the microphone. “We have an exciting opportunity to discuss. This is Richard Musgrove. He’s here as a representative for the HelixGen Corporation. They’re interested in investing in Pine Ridge.”
The room erupts in murmurs. My stomach drops.
Richard Musgrove steps forward, all confidence and corporate charm. “Thank you all for welcoming me into your lovely town. I’ve been out and about today, and everyone has been the epitome of small-town charm.
“Maria now holds the crown for the best coffee and walnut cake I’ve ever had in my life.” He pats his belly and laughs. “And I can tell you, I’ve had a lot of those.”
The crowd laughs, easily charmed by the man’s words. I would be too if I hadn’t experienced the ruthlessness and the unethical practices of HelixGen.
“From Maria’s Sunrise Bakery to Chris’s Riverside Outfitters and everything in between, Pine Ridge is the perfect location for what we’re calling the Community Archive Initiative. We want to digitize local histories, preserve cultural narratives, and make them accessible to future generations. This is because your stories matter, not just to you but to future generations.”
A lot of faces turn our way because what Richard Musgrove is proposing is exactly what Kai is already doing.
Kai tenses beside me as we become surrounded by whispers voicing my thoughts.
Someone stands up, and I recognize her right away. Mrs. Field, the librarian. “With all due respect, Mr. Musgrove, the project you’re describing is already in place, and quite successfully, I might add.”
The mayor gestures for her to sit down. “Thank you for your contribution, Mrs. Field. As you are aware, the current funding for this project is limited, and as it currently stands, barely covers personnel costs.” He turns to the rest of the audience. “What Mr. Musgrove and HelixGen Corp are kindly offering is substantial funding—two hundred thousand dollars initially, with potential for more. This level of investment would guarantee the longevity of the project as well as kickstart other town initiatives.”
Kai’s hand tightens around mine.
“We’re also offering administrative support,” Musgrove continues. “We can handle the technical infrastructure, thedata management, the long-term preservation. All the tedious backend work that nonprofits usually struggle with.”
“What’s the catch?” someone calls out from the audience.
“No catch,” Musgrove says smoothly. “We believe in giving back to communities. And we believe that stories are valuable assets that can help us understand human behavior, community needs, cultural trends.”
There it is. Stories as data. Extraction dressed up as preservation. I heard this language in Denver. I know exactly what it means.
Mayor Whitmore beams. “This is wonderful for Pine Ridge. We’re talking about jobs, funding, prestige. HelixGen Corp is one of the most innovative companies in the country.”
The meeting continues with mostly positive responses. People are excited about the funding, the jobs, the attention. But I notice a man leaning against the wall—tall, well-dressed, mid-forties and an expression of deep skepticism. He’s watching Musgrove like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. Like he knows what the rest of us don’t.
After the meeting ends, Kai and I find a quiet corner of the community center as most people seem to be leaving with smiles on their faces. Soon we’re joined by my dad, Mrs. Field, and the mysterious man.
Mrs. Field looks troubled. “I don’t like this,” she says without preamble. “It feels wrong.”
“It is wrong,” I say, and the words come out harder than I intended. “HelixGen can’t be trusted. Their practices are unethical and borderline illegal.”
Everyone turns to look at me.
“Their donation won’t come without strings attached,” I continue. “Once the town agrees to let them in, they’ll use their influence and take over. They’ll extract everything they can and leave Pine Ridge worse off than before.”
Mrs. Field shifts on her feet, as if this confirms what she already suspected. But the mysterious man—the one I saw watching Musgrove with such intensity—steps forward slightly.
“I’m Vaughn Reeves. How do you know all this?” he asks.
My dad is watching me with an expression I can’t quite read.
I take a breath. This is it. This is the moment I stop lying. This is the moment I tell the truth, even though it means admitting failure. Even though it means my parents will know exactly how much I’ve been hiding.
