The tall man was sonky. His height was marked even for this ce. It struck me who these men


    were.


    “You got away,” I said softly.


    This was the first family I’d released from the wall. The man doing the talking had been the first one I’d


    freed.


    “Of course, we did,” the man said confidently. “The map led us out and the food gave us strength. We


    are grateful to you, Rachel, be well.”


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The men slipped out the door and dispersed quickly. I turned and watched their backs disappear as the


    shock settled.


    My first impulse was to pull open the door and see where they’d gone, but I stopped and just pushed it


    firmly closed. I’d promised Damien I would not do that. Instead I Looked down at the box in my hands.


    I smiled as I sat down and Looked at it. The box was about the size of a shoebox and it was Lashed


    closed with twine. Damien’s symbol rested proudly on the front.


    Using my sword I sliced through the string closing the box. Gingerly, I lifted the lid and wasn’t surprised


    at the small bunch of tami leaves inside. They had a pungent aroma, not particrly good or bad as far


    as I was concerned. Beneath the leaves was my letter.


    This letter wasn’t like the Last one the girls sent. It was on paper with no fake cover letter. I opened it


    and it was very short.


    Mama, Hello from Kennedy! My Sisters and I found out you would be near the mountains, so we


    wanted to give this to you. Our friends that did the delivery were happy to help us. They did it as a


    ‘thank you’ for saving them.


    The pad enclosed is for you and it is very special. Hannah and I can use it to contact you and leave


    messages. You can also use it to contact us and Leave us messages.


    ninjanovel


    My Sister, Eve, designed the interface. She’s quite brilliant withputers. We met less than a month


    after I went out on my own. My other Sister, Dara, attached the camera so you could see us and we


    could see you when we are in the right ces.


    It will start as soon as youy your palm across the pad. The directions will be spelled out after that.


    Love you! Kennedy, Dara, and Eve.


    At the bottom of the box was a small pad about the size of a small notebook. At the top I saw one of


    those t circles that we knew to be cameras. The contraption was light in weight and I just stared at it


    for a moment.


    Iid my hand across the face of the pad and it Lit up. The imprint of my palm stayed for a moment and


    then words flew across the screen.


    Do you wish to gain information or to contact someone? the pad asked in English.


    Writing with my finger I wrote the words ‘contact someone’.


    Who do you wish to contact, Kennedy or Hannah?


    Well, now was time for me to feel guilty. Choosing one child over the other felt wrong. I chose Kennedy


    since she’d been the one to arrange this.


    Kennedy is avable to talk, the pad said. Would you like to talk or send her a letter?


    I wrote the word talk wondering what that meant.