Social Experiment

Chamber 27 (Xavier)

"I'm so glad you made it out alive!" Abbi exclaims, hugging Hailey.

"Me too." She looks over to me and Zeke, "Thank you."

"No thanks needed. I've been itching for a chance to show Terrance he's not so tough." I reply.

She grins.

"Besides," Zeke adds, "we did figure out what this means." My eyes fall on the paper.

"Actually, you didn't. I honestly don't know what it means, but I do think Project X is this, Their Social Experiment."

"You shouldn't have said anything, we can't really prove either way-"

Abbi cuts me off. "Let's talk about this later, shall we?"

I glance at Hailey, nodding my head in agreement. "How's Shawn?"

"Not good, last time I checked. Ozzie's in there with him all day, making sure he doesn't get worse."

"Mikayla?" Hailey asks, "It must be hard on her."

"She's brave. I haven't seen her cry once."

"Sorry to ask the obvious question," Westin interrupts, "but what happened to Shawn?"

"Terrance shot him." Zeke answers simply.

"Can we go see him?" Hailey asks, looking at Abbi.

"Follow me." They walk off towards room O.

I have half a mind to follow them, but Zeke motions me back. He clears his throat.

"So West, why do you think Terrance took Hailey?"

He shrugs.

"You don't even have a theory?"

"How would I know? I wasn't there. All I know is that he brought Hailey and let his other prisoners go. He didn't hurt her, either. I'm guessing he needed her for something, I just don't know what."

Zeke grins, and something tells me he does know. "Okay. Well, you're a free man. Do what you please."

West looks at me for a moment, looking confused. "I think I'll go get some rest." He decides, heading off to his room.

"What?" I ask immediately.

"What do you mean, what?"

"I mean what do you know that he doesn't, that I don't?"

He rolls his eyes. "Xavier, you really are oblivious..."

"Just tell me."

"Well it's obvious, isn't it? Why Terrance brought Hailey? He has an eye for those things..."

"What?" I ask, exasperated.

"Hailey and Westin."

I blink.

He sighs. "Like Mikayla and Shawn. Xavier, they like each other."

"Oh." Is all I can say.

Personally, I don't think Hailey likes the guy, and West doesn't really seem to like other people in general. Shawn and Mikayla maybe, they have been spending a fair amount of time together, but Hailey and West haven't even had a chance to talk other than in Chamber 18.

"We should check on Shawn, see if Abbi needs our help with anything."

Why are we Abbi's bodyguards? I wonder, following Zeke. It's not like she really needs protecting anyway, with Terrance locked up.