Social Experiment

Wilderness (Westin)

"Door, please?" I ask. Hailey and I are standing outside Terrance's room, where we have heard loud noises for the past few minutes.

She hesitates just a second, then opens it. I collide with someone as soon as I walk in. I take a step back and see Abbi's blushing face staring back at me.

"Sorry! I was just coming out to check on you and Hailey... Did you hear those loud noises?"

I nod. "We thought they were coming from here."

"It sounds like it stopped." Hailey says, stepping into the room.

"We should go back to the Matrix," Abbi suggests, "and see if they heard anything."

I lead the way, followed by Hailey, then Terrance, then Abbi. Part of me itches to get the handcuffs taken off, so I can send a bit of karma Terrance's way, while part of me hopes they keep them on longer, until my anger dies down.

Zeke notices our presence first. "Abbi? Hailey?" I notice he ignores Terrance and I, "What are you doing here so soon?"

"We came to check on those loud banging sounds. Didn't you hear them?"

He nods. "We couldn't tell where they were coming from; it sounded as if they were echoing all over. They've stopped now."

"I know. We just thought we'd make sure everyone was okay."

"Yeah, we're good." Ozzie says, coming to stand beside Zeke.

"If you're okay with it, Hailey, we could take the prisoners-" I finch at the word- "to go investigate."

"Sure. Start with Chambers 1-6, the unblocked ones, make our way forward?"

"After you... And Westin."

We've done a thorough search of Chambers 1-5, 6, 16, 21-23, and are now debating weather to check Chamber 30.

"We've been at this for hours. Everyone else is probably asleep." Terrance comments.

"And it's not like there was anything unusual about the other chambers." Hailey agrees.

Abbi nods her head. "We should all get some rest. It's already pretty late..."

"If you don't mind, I think I'll search the chamber."

"Why?"

"There's only one left, it won't take long."

"Don't let him; he's trying to escape. And I have not be handcuffed and interrogated just so you can let the traitor escape. Why do you want to check it out so bad, anyhow?"

"Just because the rest of you are too scared-"

Terrance bristles. "We're not scared!"

"This is the chamber we found the dead body in, isn't it? I think you're all a bit alarmed of ghosts."

"I don't believe in such nonsense as ghosts!" Hailey defends.

"Well okay then." I say, "Let's go."

The girls exchange glanced while Terrance glares at me.

"It won't take long." I insist.

"I'll go." Abbi decides.

"Me as well."

"I'm no coward, unlike you. We'll go check up on the man you're friends from the International Society of Secret Experiments killed. No problem." He starts trudging down Tunnel 30.

"They're not my friends, I don't even know who they are!" I call after him. I turn to Hailey and Abbi, "Come on."

We walk down the tunnel to find a petrified Terrance, staring into the chamber. "If I recall, you said you weren't scared. Yet, here you-"