Inklilngs 2024

Excerpt from “A Gift For Those Who Remain” Jordan James ’25 07/13/2056 To Those Who Remain, Before you read any further, you must ensure that the door with the chipped, blue paint is closed. Continue down the hall with the crumbling wallpaper, then past the shattered windows and broken frames. Do not let the dried, crimson splatters deter you. This task is imperative. The hallway will fork into two paths. The one on the left with the stairs and upturned table will take you into the kitchen. Skip it for now. Instead, take the one on the right. Please mind the cobwebs, and in advance, I apologize for the smell. Though if you’ve survived this long, I trust it is one you’ve grown accustomed to. In front of you there will be three doors, but only two are visible. The third door is hidden behind the stained mattress pressed against the wall. A chair sits in front of this mattress, and though it was once my favorite spot, I implore you not to rest there. You may provoke her. Do not remove the mattress. If you find it already gone, the door frame visible, leave the house immediately. The door with the chipped, blue paint should be directly to the right of this mattress. Do not remove the mattress. If you find it already gone, the door frame visible, leave the house immediately. The door with the chipped, blue paint should be directly to the right of this mattress. It is likely I tried my best to leave it firmly closed, but in the state I’ll be in, I’m not sure if I will have time to lock it. If even a sliver of this blue door is open or the door itself has holes in it, leave the house immediately. If it remains closed, find something to barricade it from the outside. Again, from my position, I will not be able to do so. I apologize. 39