Social Experiment

The Button (Zach Jackson)

I watch the computer screen, scribbling notes into my journal.

Day 9 of Experiment.
Subjects have split into groups of 3 or 4. They apear to be searching the chambers.

I'm interrupted by Captain Farahugh's booming voice. "Sixty seconds 'till collapse."

It would seem that Subject A is their leader, though no official selection has taken place.

"Thirty seconds!"

Subject Z seems to follow Subject A as a sort of bodyguard.

"Fifteen seconds! Prepare your eyes, chaps!"

Less than fifteen seconds until we collapse Tunnels 6-30. I glance at the screen. It seems that there will be no casualties, as everyone seems to be doing designated tasks within Chambers 1-5.

"Now!"

I watch my screen intently, resorting to my psychic pencil. It jots down notes on my thought.

Tunnels have collapsed. Everyone- erase. I watch it flip over and undo my mistake. Subjects seem confused. One is leaving a group... Subject S? No- erase. Subject T. Subject T makes his- erase- it's way down to Matrix. Subject W appears to have joined in on the action. Wait, what's that? No, stop writing, that just a thought. Erase!

"Captain Farahugh, Sir?"

"Yes, Jackson?"

"Sir, observation of an unmapped red button."

"Sorry, Jackson. Forgot to let you know about that. We placed a button in there to test their curiosity and bravery."

"What does it do?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"Then why-"

Farahugh shrugs. "For the experiment, Jackson. I don't know the exact reason; those scientists designed the thing."

"Thank you, Sir." I say, more confused than when I asked the question.

Subject W has pressed the button; Subject T arrives. What the- erase! Subject T has attacked Subject W upon seeing it with the button.