Sam sits cross-legged on the floor of her room, staring at the trim creases embedded between the walls and ceiling. She doesn't see a camera. Even though it is absent, she knows Mother is watching. She always is. Sam drags her fingers through her dirty blonde hair, her thoughts circling the same drain she had for days: Keith. Something about him—his constant pacing, his muttering, his obsession with conspiracy theories—set her on edge.

Rising abruptly, she paces her room. Keith's voice lingers in her mind, that irritating, smug tone he used whenever he declared they were all part of some "laboratory rat" experiment. She can't stand it anymore.

The hall is quiet as she steps out. The other doors remain closed, their occupants silent. Sam makes her way to the Gathering Zone, where Henry is already seated at the desk, his thin frame hunched over the inert laptop. His glasses catch the faint light, and his fingers tap a restless rhythm on the desk. Across the room, Maddie curls into the corner of the couch, pulling at the frayed hem of her hoodie. Austin leans against the wall, his plaid shirt rumpled, his expression distant. Lynne stands near the kitchen area, her arms crossed as she gazes out at nothing.

Sam plants herself in the center of the room. "We need to talk about Keith."

Henry turns, his brow furrowing. "What about him?"

"What do we know about him?" Sam demands. "What's his deal? Why is he here?"

Austin snorts, pushing off the wall. "Why are any of us here?"

"That's not the point," Sam snaps. "He's... different. Off. We all feel it."

Maddie glances up, her voice soft. "He's just scared, like the rest of us."

"It's more than fear," Lynne says, stepping closer. "He's paranoid. And he's pushing everyone away."

"Maybe he knows something we don't," Sam counters, her eyes narrowing. "Maybe he's hiding something."

"Or maybe," Henry says, his tone cautious, "he's just not handling this as well as we are. We all have different coping mechanisms."

Before anyone can respond, Keith strides into the room. His boots hit the floor heavily, and his eyes dart between them with the suspicion of a cornered animal.

"Talking about me?" He asks, his voice sharp.

"No one's talking about you," Austin says, crossing his arms.

Keith's lips curl into a humorless grin. "Yeah, sure. Let me guess. You're all trying to figure out why we're here. Who's behind this. What's the endgame. Well, I've got some theories."

"Here we go," Maddie mutters, pulling her knees to her chest.

Keith's grin widens as he steps further into the room. "Think about it. They're watching us, testing us. This isn't random. This is the government. Mind control, behavioral studies, secret experiments... they're trying to see how far they can push us before we break."

"You sound like a lunatic," Austin snaps, his patience wearing thin.

"Yeah?" Keith shoots back, turning on him. "And what do you think this is, big guy? A reality show? A social media prank? Grow up."

Austin steps forward, his fists clenched. "Say that again."

"Hey!" Lynne interjects, stepping between them. "Knock it off, both of you."

Keith sneers but backs down, his gaze shifting to Maddie. "And what about you, huh? Sitting there all quiet. Got something to hide?"

Maddie's head snaps up, her eyes wide with alarm. "What is your problem?" She snaps. "Why are you like this?"

"Why are you?" Keith retorts. "You're just as guilty as the rest of us."

The room erupts into shouting, accusations flying as Keith continues to provoke them. Henry tries to mediate, his voice drowned out by the cacophony. Sam, unable to take it any longer, slams her fist on the table.

"Enough!" She yells. "Keith, shut up before I make you."

Keith smirks, unfazed. "Go ahead. I'd love to see you try."

The tension lingers even after the argument fizzles out. Over the next two days, Keith's paranoia grows more erratic, his wild theories grating on everyone's nerves. He paces the Gathering Zone, spinning tales of government plots and secret organizations. The others try to ignore him, but his presence is suffocating.

***

On the second night, the storm Keith has been brewing finally reaches its breaking point. The teens attempt a group meal but still not seeing eye to eye decide to eat separately. Their initial steps to maintain some semblance of normalcy can't come to bear. The air is already thick with unspoken tension. However, despite their failed attempt to eat together, they still try to converse. A nice step.

Keith, however, has other plans. He lingers at the edges of the room, his eyes flicking from one person to the next as if calculating his next move. When the silence stretches too long for his liking, he saunters over, his boots heavy on the floor.

"So, are we all just going to pretend everything's fine?" He sneers, his tone dripping with contempt. "Because it's not. Not even close."

Austin sighs, slamming his water bottle on the table. "Do you ever stop?"

Keith's grin is sharp, predatory. "Do you ever think? Or do you just hit things until they make sense?"

Austin shoots to his feet, his chair screeching against the floor. "You've got one more chance, Keith. One more."

"Oh, scary," Keith mocks, stepping closer. "What are you going to do? Punch me? Go ahead. Prove to everyone here you're nothing but a dumb jock."

Before Austin can respond, Maddie interjects, her voice shaking but firm. "Keith, stop it. You're tearing us apart."

Keith whirls on her, his expression darkening. "I'm tearing us apart? You're the one sitting there, playing the victim, while the rest of us are actually not looking like it."

"That's enough!" Sam's voice cuts through the chaos like a whip. She steps between Keith and the others, her eyes blazing. "If you have a problem, say it. Otherwise, shut up and leave us alone."

Keith stares her down, his jaw tight. For a moment, it seems like he might back off. But then, with a low chuckle, he steps away. "Fine. Have your little kumbaya. Just don't come crying to me when it all falls apart."

As he disappears down the hallway, the group exhales collectively. Maddie wipes at her eyes, and Lynne places a comforting hand on her shoulder. Austin shakes his head, muttering under his breath.

"He's going to push too far one day," Henry says softly, his gaze fixed on the darkened hallway.

Sam nods, her fists still clenched at her sides. "And when he does, he won't like the consequences."

***

By the sixth overall night, the house feels like a powder keg. As the others retreat to their rooms, desperate for a reprieve, Keith remains in the Central Room. His fingers drum on the desk, his eyes darting toward the darkened hallway. A faint hum fills the air, low and menacing, vibrating through the walls.

Keith freezes. The sound grows louder, more distinct. It's a voice—soft, familiar, and utterly chilling.

"Keith..."

His breath catches. His heart pounds as he turns toward the hallway. The voice calls again, lulling him forward.

"Keith..."

The hum intensifies, and Keith's dread turns to an eerie calm. He steps toward the Forbidden Room, its door slightly ajar. A faint glow emanates from within, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"Keith..."

His hand shakes just a little.

"I figure." He mumbles underneath his cautious breath.

Swallowing hard, he pushes the door open. The glow intensifies, momentarily blinding him. And then, without warning, the light snuffs out, plunging the room into darkness. The door immediately closes. A low, guttural sound echoes out.

The house falls silent. The hum fades. As the seventh day rises, there is still no sign of Keith.