Scott Fromley also faced charges of conspiracy to harm and obstruction of an investigation under juvenile law but was found not guilty and released to his parents. Now thirty-seven, he is a top barrister and remains unmarried. He declined to comment on his involvement with the Johnson Incident or his relationship with Naida Chounan-Dupré. He and Naida have not spoken in twenty years.

Naida’s grandmother, [name redacted], traveled to Britain for the initial trial of her granddaughter but later returned home and has not been heard from since.

Jaime Johnson, now twenty-five, is a nursery teacher for children with special needs. She still lives with her adoptive mother, Meredith Bailey. Both declined to comment.

An investigation into the treatment that Carly Johnson received at the hands of Dr. Annabeth Lansing was carried out in 2005 and 2006, during which all taped session recordings were taken in as evidence. At a private medical hearing in October 2006, Dr. Lansing’s medical license was revoked for malpractice, and she received a fine of an undisclosed amount. The National Health Service declined to comment.

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ParaNormal Internet Radio talks to Dr. Annabeth Lansing

Wednesday, 21 December 2016, 3:00 PM

Interviewer: What do you think is the truth of the incident? Was Carly disturbed? Or was she really under the influence of evil forces?

Lansing: She was disturbed, of course. She had a mental injury—dissociative identity disorder, and psychopathic tendencies. She was a danger to herself after the death of her parents, invented an alter ego, killed Juliet McClarin, Ari Hait, John Hutt, and Haji Chounan-Dupré. There can even be a case made against her for Brett [name removed at request of the family]. Carly Johnson was very sick. It’s a tragic affair, but it is what it is.

Interviewer: And what about the figure in the fire?

Lansing: What figure? There was a shadow—a piece of furniture burning.

Interviewer: And the disappearances on the site for the last decade? How do you explain that?

Lansing: I can’t. Only to say that people should be more careful when walking around a ruin. Accidents happen.

Interviewer: And Naida? Brett, Ari, John, Scott—they all believed.

Lansing: Unfortunately, group hysteria happens too.

Interviewer: Do you think you could have done anything differently to help this girl? She was under your care.

Lansing: [Pause] I did everything for her.

Interviewer: Care to comment on the medical hearing of ’06? Why was your license to practice medicine revoked? In ten years, it hasn’t been renewed.

Lansing: Thank you for having me on today. It was illuminating.

In the end, we must decide for ourselves what we believe. To date, twenty-six people have gone missing on the Elmbridge site and five have filed reports of hearing girls whispering in the basement. Despite this, the ruins continue to attract risk-seeking tourists each year, most likely because the site is listed as one of the top fifteen most haunted places in Britain (see editor’s notes for links).

In 2011, Dr. Annabeth Lansing visited the site for the first time in six years. Today, she is a leading paranormal researcher, with a particular expertise on Elmbridge High. Her latest book, The Forgotten Elmbridge, comes out next winter.

To date, she will not speak of what happened during her visit to the site.

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Despite CCTV footage that shows Carly Johnson in the flames of the Elmbridge fire, her body has not been found. Some say she still lingers on the grounds, seeking out the missing half of her soul, Kaitlyn. Others believe she moved on, reuniting with her sister in a better afterlife.

Kaybear? Will you always be here with me? Will you promise?

I promise, Carly-bean. I am not going anywhere.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, to the people who saved my life and to whom I owe this book’s existence. My dearest friend and husband, who fed me every two hours, traded back rubs for bites of food, came in every morning with a smile even when all seemed hopeless, and who got me to the other side. Thank you forever—I love you, I love you, I love you! My unnamed hero and donor, I think of you daily. This book is for you and those you left behind. Professor John O’Grady, the House MD of the King’s College Liver Department, and his amazing team for their unflinching support. Dr. Agarwal for the smiles and wit! Dr. C. J. Tibbs, for really caring; I hope you know how much you gave me. My talented surgeon and the rest of the King’s surgical team, and to the nurses on Todd Ward—you are angels on this earth, I really hope you know that (but I’ll keep sending chocolates as a reminder!). Without all of you, this book wouldn’t be here. I humbly thank you for giving me my life. To every organ donor out there in the world: Thank you too!

Thank you, endlessly, to my mother, who gave me so much when she forced me to read to her (even through my wailing protestations!). For always believing it would happen and that I had something worth sharing. You are my favorite person in the world and always my biggest cheerleader. You make my world bright and put up with my insanities. I love you, and I’m proud you’re my best friend. You rock the socks off everyone!

To Polly Nolan and Sarah Davies, agents extraordinaire and superwomen, and to the rest of the Greenhouse staff, my deepest thanks for believing in this book and championing it across the oceans. I adore you, I really, really do!

To my editors, Alvina Ling and Jenny Glencross, a huge, massive thank-you for your sage advice and wisdom and for your faith, right from the get-go. For seeing things I couldn’t, and allowing me to bring out the best (and the worst) in Kaitlyn, Carly, Naida, Ari, and the rest of the Dead House gang; for helping me to see the beautiful tragedy of my ending. Jenny—we are twin Harry Potter souls! Alvina—your found-footage Hachette diaries still bring me the greatest joy! To Fiona Kennedy, for your enthusiasm and class. To Nina Douglas, for always providing awesome shenanigans, and to the whole Orion/Indigo team for such an amazing pitch document, which I have framed because it is so beautiful and magnificent! Thank you all for truly understanding The Dead House.

Huge thank-you also to the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Orion/Indigo teams and designers. I love you guys so much for bringing so much awesome to young adult literature. Thank you!

To my critique partners and best writerly friends, the YA League—Isabel Sterling and David Purse. You loved The Dead House all the way, and because of that, you loved me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! PS: Scotland, baby! (Our bitchin’ swans will always haunt me!) Huge thanks also to Melissa See, who promised Dead House cake and cosplay.