BONUM

The backup generator is yet to kick in and a slow panic is filling the mess hall. The confused murmurs of inmates washing over you is drowned out by a single thought. The reform experiment the scientists had mentioned. On the same day as a blackout. Surely that couldn’t be a coincidence.
As time drags on and no wardens appear, the initial confusion slowly turns into panic. Prisoners only recognisable by their voice, yell for guards as shock turns to fear. As the confined chaos spirals out of control, a strong voice yells out in the darkness.

“Wait!”

The chaos pauses.

“They mentioned a test” the same voice yells. “When the groups split up, the ones stayed behind were given an injection. Not all of us though. They told us some injections were fake. This could be a test. To see what would happen if we were left alone to our devices. They want to know if the injection works.”

There is a brief pause before a second voice calls out, this time from the far side of the room.

The lights flickered once again and the room was lit again. You divert your gaze to the ground as your eyes get used to the brightness.

“And why should we believe you! I say we wait for the guards to show up. The last time someone left the mess hall without the guard escorts they went into solitary confinement for a week.

Noises of agreement rise from the crowd and you couldn't help but wonder if it really was worth it to risk the wrath of the guards. Then again, you also could never be certain of whether staying in the mess hall was a wise idea. There were usually never electrical faults in the facility. Was it really a good idea to stay with the inmates?

Do you stay in the mess hall or leave?