We have a lurker.
Someone’s been watching us this whole time.
You probably have a ton of questions—who is the lurker? How do I know this? What do I mean by “watching us this whole time”?
There are lots of fancy technical terms for it, but the gist of it is that we haven’t ever been alone. Not even in that very first meeting, and not in any of the ones since.
Right now, we have to keep texting like normal and acting like normal and meeting online like normal on our regular phones and computers so we can catch them out.
But we can talk and text freely on our new phones. DO NOT tell anyone about them. Keep them somewhere safe. Don’t connect them to any other accounts. They each have their own lines that are separate from your phone numbers. I’ll foot the bill, of course. Make sure they’re never out of your sight or pocket. Don’t let anyone else have access.
The expert I’ve been consulting (more on that when we talk) thinks it’s very likely that whoever’s watching us can access one of our computers, even from far away. Like I said, they’ve been watching all of us since we met.
And they may have been watching one of us for much, much longer.
xx,
Hope
DAY FIVE
Saturday
On the chalkboard outside the Sonnet resort main office
MOVIE.................................
Planet of the Apes, 1968, G, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
FILM FACT.................................
During filming, the actors tended to congregate during breaks based on which types of ape costumes they were wearing. The phenomenon was unintentional and surprising to the director—and an intriguing social development, especially considering the themes of the movie.
33
ASH
FEET CRUNCH ON THEgravel outside of Ash’s trailer, and morning-pink light streams through the small windows of the Airstream. Whoever is walking doesn’t stop. Ash rolls over in her bed and looks at her phone.
It’s me.
The text she and Caro both received last night from an unknown number. By mutual agreement, the three of them had gotten rid of their secret phones from Hope once they’d arrived together at Sonnet. Now they only had their “real” ones, the ones their families could reach.
And other people, too.
Who is this?Ash and Caro had agreed to write back.
No response. At least not for Ash.
Are you up?she texts Caro now.
Yes.
Ash:Anything more from the mystery number?
Caro:No.
How’d you sleep?
