It was a slow – rough start for Jordan Benton. He was grinding out another corporate flavored Monday. Forced teamwork, clueless coworkers, HR Buzzwords, printer jams, performance reviews, and broken coffee makers.

Underpaid is all that registered anymore as he scrolled his pointless emails until he found one that stood out— $10,000 compensation for participation in Meridian Trial Services in a Human Stress Test Response Study.

His last bonus didn’t exactly hit the mark and his yearly raise was a fraction of what it used to be. In fact, everyone’s was unless you were one of the shift manager’s favorites. For those on the bottom of the latter like Jordan, times were getting desperate.

$10,000 could really help him in this struggling economy.

Meanwhile, Casey Kline, was doom-scrolling as she waiting on her next customer to come to the window at the DMV. Then, a message popped up— $10,000 compensation. The message took her to a link. The link explained the details of the Human Stress Test Response Study.

It seemed good.

Almost too good.

She desperately tries to figure out if this company was legit. Once she later had a free moment in between handling the repetitive menial tasks of her job, she researched this company: Meridian Trial Services.

They had years of experience implementing the testing of experimental medical drugs to the public. It seemed risky for average people to agree to risk life or limb for a small sum of money. It was mostly trial runs for the latest prescription medicines soon to hit the market.

They showed no records of deaths or even life threatening injuries. What seemed worth it was the fact that she wouldn’t be in harm’s way as she would be one of five people who would be initiating the stress test. The other detail, a big detail— was the $10,000 payout.

A detail that also intrigued Sam Rowe, a factory worker. His work wasn’t getting any easier and he worried he would soon be replaced by a robot. Grunt work was all he knew and that job was quickly becoming obsolete.

When he saw the email on his phone, he jumped at the opportunity.

“Limited availability— Five participants.”

And he was going to be one of them.

Instead of work, Sam drove straight to address on the email. His quick reaction secured his place in this study. There, he found out that little detail that $10,000 was the most he could receive. It all depended on the extent of his participation.

Upon signing the contract, the true nature of this human stress response test will be revealed. And once each of the five participants signed the paperwork, the true nature came to light.

This was a government project testing a new experimental CIA anti-interrogation drug.

A computer is in each room for the participants to vote on if stress is put on the subject, if so how much stress, if the subject passes the stress test without damage done such as dangerous heart rate increase, shaking, vomiting, complete mental collapse, etc.

With the pass of each stress test, a dollar reward is given to the participants who increased the level of stress testing. All of which depends on the ongoing guidelines of the stress tests. The results of the test is to determine the limits of the experimental CIA anti-interrogation drug.

The stress tests are simple at first, then more complex.

Each participant took the elevator down to the most-lower part of the building.

Meridian Trial Services rested in an old building that had been partially remodeled. Inside it contained numerous neighboring businesses occupying the nearby office spaces. Everything from lawyers to estheticians. The building was ordinary enough for the most part, except for one particular lower level.

A proxy card was needed to enter. A card obtained in the main lobby and at the front desk— which was unmanned. The check-in was completely automated. A computerized face and voice greeted each participant as they checked in and were given further instructions.

The first of which led each participant to the elevator.

The proxy card accessed an unknown and hidden floor. Inside contained newly constructed rooms. Above the doors of each room was a number indicating which room their proxy card would access.

It was a part of the Terms & Conditions that was not stated in the contract with the exception of government confidentiality. Each participant assumed it would be a tight operation, but not this tight— not hidden level and secret rooms tight.

With all of the participants who have arrived, there were still two on their way— Rachel Hughes and Laura Bennett. Both ladies noticed the address for this human stress test was located downtown in an office complex that was lesser known. An address very different than the location of the headquarters of Meridian Trial Services.

The other participants never questioned it. In the terms and conditions it stated that because of the nature of this study, it must be performed at a separate location. The notion any of them could be walking into a scam was easily dismissed by hefty financial payback.

Upon the check-in and arrival of all five of the participants, the doors behind each of them locked. The sound of the gears of the lock turning further reinforced the reality that they were not going anywhere.

Each private room of the participant’s was equipped with a computer and its own private bathroom. On the front-center wall of each room is a large window which lead to a darkened stage. The ambiance was as chilling as the layered shadows surrounding the stage. Soon, the rooms rumbled followed by a wave of static. Then, a mysterious voice coming from each of the room’s intercom.

Muffled and digital.

A haunting echo trailed behind each word with precision.

“Thank you for your participation in this restricted behavioral economics study.

The central test subject has remained awake for seventy-two (72) continuous hours and has undergone extensive cognitive conditioning designed to enhance stress tolerance, emotional compartmentalization, and perceptual endurance.

This study simulates adversarial interrogation environments that may be employed by hostile forces. All procedures presented are representational and executed within a controlled research setting.

You will be presented with a rotating catalog of stress-induction modules. Participation is voluntary. Selection of any module results in immediate financial compensation credited to your account.

Compensation increases proportionally with each phase engaged. Time spent deliberating is not compensated. Once a module is initiated, it must run to completion. Withdrawal from the study forfeits all pending compensation.

By proceeding, you acknowledge that perceived harm, psychological distress, and physical stress responses are integral to the study’s objectives. Accountability for outcomes is assumed by the program.

Press CONTINUE to begin.”

Then, the center stage brightened. A spotlight shined on the test subject who was confined to a chair. The chair was reclined slightly and the test subject was left immobile by his restraints. Attached to the subject was an array of stress indicators: EEG stress band, blood oxygen saturation sensor, numerous sweat response sensors, pupil dilation system for eye tracking/blink rate, and a micro-tremor detector for involuntary muscle reflex.

Near the subject was a number of mechanical contraptions which were fully automated. Contraptions that would soon inflect simulations of hostile forces. The participant’s screens activated once again. The options presented would be enduring.

Module 01: Visual Shock and Fatigue

Each participant’s computer screen displayed a list of options with vague payout multipliers. The more add-ons, the better the payout. Rachel sifted through a list of pattern disruption loops with false motion, flickering geometric shapes, and depth distortion.

The others: Sam, Jordan, Casey, and Laura were challenged to increasing thresholds of that same list of pattern disruptions. Some of which contained various kinds seizure inducing imagery and repeated jump-scares.

The subject’s vitals spiked and the shock of simulated torture leaves each of the participants feeling unbalanced— struggling with morality.

The next module included threat anticipation reels. The temperature gage on stage shifted upward, increasing temperature quickly. The list of options on Sam’s computer showed sound torture technique options, endless footsteps approaching at different followed by voices with various pitches in volume; some quiet and some deafening.

Casey upped the intensity even though she could see the subject’s vitals being pushed. Sam was then put to the test given the option to increase the level of this stress test or lose this levels payout.

As this was witnessed, it was beginning to draw a hard line in each participant on how far money will push them. None of them knew each other and no of them could see each other through the two-way mirror. The participants were known as numbers, not as names. The entire operation was anonymous removing accountability.

After each module the stage lights darkened and stats revealing total payout and distribution flashed on computer screens. Participant #4 (Rachel) revealed to be the payout leader. When she saw that, it cemented in her mind that the less she cared about the subject, the more she gained.

Module 03: Simulated Consequence Feeds.

The choice of options for Jordan as he led the pace for this round of tests were electric shock, oxygen depletion, optical suppression, and increased heat endurance.

The lights to the stage open to the sight of the test subject bearing the exhaustion of not only the segments of each module, but the relentless heat filling up the room. Computers fire up with an up-to-date health status and a warning:

“Physiological stress responses in this phase may persist beyond termination.”

Before anyone has time to figure out what that means, Jordan selects the oxygen efficiency regulator. In no time, the others are prompted with the opportunity to increase the level of the test. As they all add payouts to their current totals, the multitude of stress test selections become stripped of emotions.

Rachel, determined to guard her superior financial status, unlocks the blink suppression timer. When this happened, something changed; a turning point. This time she could access her overrides.

The others had little control over this test. This time, she had all the power. The seconds counted down triggering flashes of red pulsing light. The scene kept repeating with every strike of the key— controlled by Rachel the whole time.

The stress indicators of the test subject where off the chart. Rachel only saw dollar signs. Next, Laura’s turn. The option for electric shock came across her screen. The options she hoped to keep up financially with anyone else.

She hit the prompt button as many times as she could and raking up the doe. Meanwhile, the test subject is being lit-up so much that sparks are flying and the heart-rate is beating dangerously fast. Beads of sweat are running to the stage floor like a river.

The payout: Moderate.

But then, Laura searched— scrolled. The cursor hesitates where she didn’t expect it. A previously invisible field fades in: Manual Initiation Enabled. Below it, a single line of text giving her a devious option.

She struggled to figure out what it meant but payout was high. It read: Sustained Focus Degradation. Instantly, a new metric appeared on everyone’s screen showing Laura’s possibly unlocked stress test.

Then, Laura pressed enter, and the lights to the stage went dark.

Module 04: Compressed Breakdown Simulation

Sam, Jordan, Casey, Rachel, and Laura wait with greedy anticipation.

The coming light revealed the water torture device that had been ticking away at the subject in the dark. Cold water slowly dripped onto the scalp, forehead, and face. A process that could be easily dismissed to do real damage but actually causes fear and mental deterioration.

While Laura awaited her payout, Sam was prompted options to layer the stress tests at once. Casey and Rachel were given the same options but their screens froze with the message “Pain Compliance Threshold: Approaching.” As the test subjects vitals spiked, a rotating catalog of stress test options became available.

At this point, time spent deliberating was not compensated but in fact, reduced total earnings. Sam quickly chose auditory pain response index. High-frequency sound wave exposure produced cringing results.

Casey chose Vascular Occlusion Response Test which is designed to test the amount of bodily stress of the test subject’s limbs.

Specific straps tighten.

Casey maxed out the tests possible range.

Rachel’s screen produced atmospheric saturation assessment results. A gas mask moved into place, controlled by the machines surrounding the test subject. From there, numerous chemicals were pumped through inducing levels of fear and increasing stress levels.

Option for maximum payout: “Breath of God”

She didn’t know what that meant. All she knew is what she would get out of it.

And Laura who was patiently waiting, finally received her earnings making her the highest grossing participant. Something that infuriated Rachel.

Jordan’s screen prompted him with “Continue.” Upon swiping that key he immediately received a moderate payout. But like the rest of them, he wanted more. Then, everyone’s screens locked reading a warning message that read: “Subject has a family.”

For a brief sympathetic moment, eyes looked at the test subject like they did at the beginning— through a humane lens. But their objectives changed. They changed. And not just by that, but by the bonus payouts that were soon described. All had the option to stop it. With one key stroke, one did.

As they anxiously waited, the lights of the stage went dark, and their computers shut down. Precious time ticked by and the more that did so, the more everyone panicked. In the dim light they found silence and confinement. They couldn’t ask anyone what was going on, when and if they were even receiving their payouts, and when the doors to their rooms would unlock.

The stage suddenly brightened. The chair now empty. A voice came through with static and crept into the rooms of the participants. “What happens when accountability is removed and replaced with greed? Human nature is exposed. All but one of you followed through until the end. And all but one of you will met the same fate you would’ve gave me.”

One door was released and one exited. The other four awaited their doom as toxic deadly gas filled their rooms. When the crime scene was discovered, investigators found four dead bodies, destroyed computers, and a document on a chair designed for torture.

The document was titled “Terms & Conditions.”

The puzzling detail about all of this was that two bodies were missing— the person in the fifth room and who was being tortured.

When Sam scrolled his phone, he could see that the money-fueled human stress test that he was involved with finally came to light. He felt guilty to ever have been involved in such a thing, but knows that the only reason that he is alive is that he stopped the subject from dying.

The others didn’t.

He struggled to figure out why anyone would orchestrate such a scheme. It preyed on his mind constantly. Proof that mankind is mostly evil? Or maybe it was a search to find that goodness still exists— even if it’s barely there.