Page 155 of The Examiner

Jem

Yes! It’s definitely her. It’s her voice, her footsteps and her brand of cigarettes. Her voice has changed, the way my dad’s voice changed when my grandad died last August. As if the energy is gone. In Dad’s case, it was grief. Anyway, she’s here, so false alarm!

Ben

Well, that’s good news, but I’m already on my way to RD8. I might as well see the installation now, if I can. It will help me mark everyone properly. I should arrive just before it starts.

Jem

We’re all packing up and bickering because we’re nervous about the whole thing. The centrepiece is ready for loading in the van. According to the others, it needs rebalancing, so they’ve weighted it from the inside. They assure me it doesn’t affect the way it looks or feels. I’ll meet you outside, as planned.

Ben

See you there, Jem.

Royal Hastings, University of London Multimedia Art MA *Final Project*

Candidate name: Patrick Bright

Candidate number: 0883480

What I learned from the experience:

I learned that if you can possibly avoid it, don’t get into a situation where someone else is responsible for your sense of security. It gives them far too much power.

I still don’t know if I can trust Jonathan or the others. I live from one moment to the next and have for months now. Will they grab me from behind when I least expect it? Then the sudden darkness of a bag over the head as I’m dragged backwards into oblivion? In my mind the scene cuts off there, like a film. Cuts straight to the aftermath – a funeral – although I fear that’s not what’ll happen.

If only I didn’t keep hearing whispers about the RD8 incinerator. Biggest, best, hottest. Clean green technology.

In hindsight, if the voice hadn’t come through, things would have been different. Better or worse, who knows? It sent Jonathan into a frenzy that infected everyone. It wasn’t my fault, but they recoiled from me. Then they blamed me for the voice, said I helped Jem get the unit working, that she couldn’t have done it on her own, but Jem knew her way around that circuit board. She read it like Braille. The girl’s a wonder.

What I could have done differently:

Should have stayed at home that day. I had a cold starting and it was only Jem who convinced me to go. She was so keen to get the gossip and I felt sorry for her. In my darkest moments I’ve thrown some blame in her direction for that stunt she pulled with the room. It should be something we’re laughing about now. If she hadn’t done that, if I’d stayed home, if they’d gone by themselves, who knows what we’d be doing right now. Chances are we’d all be alive at least.

Message group: 2024 Examiners, 30 May 2024

Karen Carpenter

Phew! False alarm! Alyson is back and everything’s fine after all, Ben.

Ben Sketcher

I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m here now and still not convinced all the students are safe and well.

Tilda Ricci

But how could the death of a student be covered up?

Ben Sketcher

If they all work together to convince Jem and Gela.

Karen Carpenter

Wooo! A dead body could have been in that studio and Jem wouldn’t have known.

Ben Sketcher