Social Experiment

River Divided (Hailey)

Bella howls mournfully. I cover my face with a pillow, but still she cries. I get up, walking over to pet her.

"I'm sorry I have to keep you shut in here with me," I apologize, "but Oz wanted me to keep you safe."

She walks away from me. I sigh, thinking of West. I regret the decision I made to let them go. Anger clouded my judgment, and I didn't even attempt to stop them.

There's a bark from Bella long before there's a knock on my door. Wondering who's coming to my home at this time of night, I barely open it a crack.

"Terrance?"

"The Foxes've just attacked our village!"

I open the door, Bella running out. West grabs her by the collar. "They attacked you?"

He nods. "Hailey, they burnt Outcast Village to the ground. It's all my fault, I was the one who convinced Ozzie we'd be safe there..."

"Nonsense. You weren't holding a torch, were you?" Terrance redirects his attention back to me, "everything's gone, including our weapons. We need to borrow a knife to carve some more."

"Is anyone hurt?"

He shakes his head. "Not badly. Ozzie's got a concussion. Will you help us?"

I look from him to West. Anger at Zeke flares inside me. How could he betray me like this, targeting Outcast when my people were there?

"I'll help you fight, if that's what you choose to do. Go get your people, we can provide shelter for them."

Terrance looks at West. "Stay here."

"But-"

"This is your home. We'll get everyone back here safely. Don't worry."

He leaves, Westin watching him longingly.

I clear my throat. "Mind bringing Bella in?"

"Oh, sorry." He leads her inside and I shut the door.

"You and Terrance seem awfully close all of a sudden."

He shrugs. "He proved himself by not sharing the code."

My eyes narrow. I can't help it, I still feel angry that he'd keep something like that from me.

"Sorry." He mumbles again.

"You could've told me, you know. I can keep a secret just as well as Terrance can."

West sighs. "It's in the past, Hailey, why don't we just leave it there?"

"So what did you find out?" I inquire.

"Sorry?"

"Who did you read about? Ozzie told me before you left that the journal told about everyone's past."

"Just ourselves... and a bit on Xavier."

"Oh, right, the code. Oz told me that, too. So why is Xavier so special to ISOSE?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Wouldn't I?"

"No. You wouldn't. I don't even understand it, it's..." another sigh, "can we drop the subject?"

I try to think up a good conversation starter. "How has Terrance's place been?"

"Fine."

"Meet anyone new?"

"A couple. I got to know a few of his friends better: Irisha, Nick, Brooke."

"How nice."

"What is your problem?"