Greetings dear readers! How are you doing this Monday? I hope you're doing well and having an amazing day :) I bring thee chapter eleven of The Human Experiment which I hope thee will enjoy immensely. Comments, likes and shares bring a lot of joy to authors so please do so :D and don't forget to tell me what you think of my book so far.

Enjoy!

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 "Free time!" the loud voice resonates through the speakers and I feel a small thrill go through my body. I stand up quickly and thankfully, after a whole day of nothing but rest and sleep, I no longer feel dizzy. I stand by the door and wait for the guard to unlock it which he does soon enough. I step out and find that I'm the first one out and they are probably putting us in numerical order like usual.

I wait for the others to exit their rooms and send a smile to Number Three whose face lights up when he sees me. I feel a warm body behind me and swallow the saliva that has gathered in my mouth from sheer nervousness. I don't dare to look back because I know I will meet his intense gaze and I don't know if I can hide my emotions from him this time. The guards speak with each other before leading us to the main room where we are forced to stand next to each other in the desired position – our hands by our sides and our gazes straight forward. Dr. Valkov enters through the door and a violent tremor goes through my body. Number Two's eyes move to me and I see empathy in his eyes before they are focused on Dr. Valkov once again.

"Good day! I am pleased to see you following orders so well these past few days. I guess you are finally learning to follow orders and that pleases me very much to see such progress." says Dr. Valkov with a smirk that shakes me to my core. I can feel the other's fear as well, even Number Two seems nervous but there's no fear in his emotions. Mostly anger, hatred, and repulsion toward Dr. Valkov.

"I have decided to go through with a special test which will determine a few theories we have about the connection between your personalities and powers," he tells us. "Two of you will spend a few days together in solitary confinement and we will test how your emotional bonds will change and evolve or, maybe even devolve based on how you decide to interact with each other. Maybe your powers will become stronger through this contact and that is what I hope to achieve – an evolution of your powers." Dr. Valkov explains to us but I still don't understand everything he says.

Dr. Valkov snaps his fingers and the guard hands him a small bag.

"Inside this bag are five small papers with your numbers on them. I will randomly select two pieces of paper and whoever gets lucky will spend the next few days in solitary confinement together," says Dr. Valkov and sticks his hand inside the bag. He picks up a single piece of paper, opens it, and turns it toward us.

2.

Everyone - but Number Two, of course - inhales sharply and we eye each other in concern. Nobody wants to spend a few days locked up inside a small cell with Number Two. Who knows what he'll do with the other person? He's not exactly the most stable person in this place.

"Number Two is the lucky one who gets to try out this new test. Let us see who will join you in solitary confinement," Dr. Valkov says with a smirk and once again sticks his hand inside the bag. He takes out another piece of paper and I see a sinister smile on his thin lips. He turns the paper to us and I feel everyone exhale and inhale at the same time.

1.

I stare at it in shock. I can feel the beginning of nausea in my stomach and my hands shaking uncontrollably. When I'm like this, my powers are harder to control and I start to hear everyone's thoughts around the room.

"Poor Number One, glad it's not me though."

"I hope they don't kill each other in there,"

"I wish it was me instead..."

"Let us see how these boys will interact and evolve at such proximity."

After a few short moments, I can finally gather my thoughts enough to close my mind and control my curse. I hate when it suddenly goes haywire and I can't control it. The last one is definitely Dr. Valkov, but the others, I can't really tell who's thinking what but what I'm mostly curious about is who was the one who wanted to be inside the Segregation Room with Number Two instead of me.

A guard grabs my arm in a hard grasp and I see another one do the same to Number Two who is still as stoic as ever. What is he feeling? And why can't I concentrate enough to hear his damn thoughts?! We're dragged to the Segregation Room where I'm shoved inside first and soon after, Number Two is as well. The room is so small that we crash into each other and can barely stand a foot apart without hitting the walls. They have clearly chosen the smallest Segregation Room just to mess with us. This room barely fits the two of us together and if we lie down on the dirty floor simultaneously, we will surely touch each other. My face turns red at my weird thought, thankfully they're interrupted by Dr. Valkov's cruel voice.

"Food will be brought to you per usual. You will be taken to the restroom separately twice a day but other than that, you will not have any other human contact except with each other. Good luck, boys and do me proud!" is the last thing he says before the metal door is closed and locked with several heavy locks. I can feel the beginning of an anxiety attack creeping up on me slowly but surely making it hard to breathe and focus clearly on anything. I slide down to the floor and hide my face between my knees as I try to breathe properly.

I hear Number Two sliding to the floor as well. I peek between my knees and see him rubbing his face in what seems to be frustration.

Inhale slowly, exhale slowly – repeat. I tell myself over and over until I feel the tightness in my chest disperse slowly with each slow breath. For the first time in forever I guess, Number Two is not staring at me. He's staring at the dirty white floor. No one has cleaned this room in months or years, that much is obvious from the dirt and dust decorating the walls and floors. I notice a small hole at the corner of the ceiling, probably ventilation to let in fresh air. They don't want to suffocate us after all – I hope.

Hours pass and nothing happens between us. He doesn't talk to me, and I don't attempt to talk to him which may anger him somehow. I don't even want to dwell in his mind in fear of what lies in there. He sometimes acts like a complete psychopath and gets mad at nothing specific while other days he's like an innocent animal with his big 'innocent' green eyes. I dare to look up and sigh in relief when I see that his eyes are closed, but he must have heard my sigh because the next second his eyes open and our eyes meet. I try to move my gaze away but it feels like they're stuck to his intensive gaze. Maybe I just want to look in his eyes. I love the unique green color of them, it's a blend of light and dark green and gives his eyes a nice light. Number Two sighs and rubs his forehead.

"What now?" he says. I must look confused because he gives me a frown. "I mean, what are we supposed to do in here? We have never interacted outside the cell, so what will be different this time? You never speak to me..." why does he sound frustrated? And do I detect a hint of sadness behind his words?

"I'm sorry," I whisper, and don't miss the look of shock on his face.

"You speak?" he says with a hint of a smile. "I thought you were mute?" I know he's joking but there's a hint of truth behind his words. He must have thought I could not speak because this is the first time we'd spoken to each other directly. Ever since he came here I've been afraid of him and I know it's been years but his face and stature always frightened me and still do sometimes.

"No...just quiet," I say timidly while fiddling with my fingers nervously. He gives me a nod.

"Nice to meet you, quiet one." says Number Two with a grin, and I can't help but let a smile grace my lips. He seems happy that I gave him a smile and Number Five's words seem more true now than ever. Why would he care so much if he didn't have feelings for me, right?

"Why the blush? Thinking of Number Five?" I hear him say. I quickly look up and shake my head.

"N-no, why would you think that?" I manage to say quite loudly, without mumbling. Number Two shrugs his shoulders.

"I see the way you look at her, it's obvious that you like her," he tells me, pulling his hand through his fiery red hair. "And it's totally cool because I mean, yeah, she's cute but not really my type, you know."

Because you like boys I think to myself but something wrong must have happened because suddenly Number Two is glaring at me heatedly.

"What did you just say?" he growls and clenches his fists tightly. I shake my head, panic rising in me.

"Nothing!" I gasp and back myself into the nearest corner. His eyes are following my every move and that itself gives me away. He stands up slowly and towers over me, a murderous look in his once gentle eyes.

"Are you calling me queer?" the kick is sudden and leaves me breathless as it slams against my midsection. An involuntary gasp leaves me and I fall to the floor wheezing.

"No," I manage to say but the next kick to my stomach leaves me breathless. I gasp for breath and see that he raises his foot again, preparing to deliver another kick to my already abused side. If he keeps this up, he will surely kill me! I see his foot coming at me and I focus my curse on him and push him away. He's shocked, but I'm more shocked when he suddenly crashes against the opposite wall and falls unconscious to the floor.

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That was chapter eleven my dears and I hope you liked reading it. This scene is one of my favorites to write, I love the interaction between One and Two. 

On another note I have also published another book: Rich or Poor, it doesn't matter. If you enjoy reading teenage romance, drama, and comedy then I think you would enjoy that book as well. Give it a read if you wish to do so :) Thank you for reading this chapter and I will see you in the next!

Xoxo ZenahK