Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all the basics.

Rated M for several reasons.

Part One

Chapter 2 Dinner

BPOV

I hate this kind of thing, hate it with the passion of a thousand fiery suns and I can't believe he and Esme, with all their brains, haven't come up with a better way for us to get to know each other. Maybe a mini bio on each of us, in a binder, in our rooms, to read later?

"Carlisle Cullen. I grew up in Baltimore and was lucky enough to study medicine at John Hopkins. I found about this Experiment when the wife and I came up with the idea. A little known fact about me is that I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue."

Which he then proceeds to demonstrate, which is gross.

"Esme Cullen. I grew up in England and studied at Cambridge where my father was a Professor. I found out about the Experiment when Carlisle decided it was his idea. A little known fact about me is that I represented the US as a swimmer at the Beijing Olympics."

"Esme Platt." Someone chuckles. "I thought you looked familiar."

Esme takes a little bow and sits back down.

"James Witherdale. I grew up in Detroit and I'm taking media studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison. I saw an ad for the Experiment in our student rag and thought it would be useful experience. A little known fact about me is that I am double jointed."

"Hypermobility." Edward mutters beside me, taking a sip of his wine.

"Irina Denali. I grew up in Alaska and attend Juneau. I haven't picked a major yet but I saw the Experiment advertised in our student paper and I was intrigued since I'm a closet gamer and I love horror movies. A little known fact about me is that in our Children's Home I was the one who worked out how to get over the roof and down the fire escape without anyone noticing."

"Alistair Anderson. I'm on a Hockey scholarship at UBC and I grew up in Vancouver with my foster parents. A team mate told me about the Experiment as he knew I was looking for a way to earn over the holidays and it sounded like something different to do. A little known fact about me is that I can speak Russian."

"Emmett McCarty, Em to most who know me. Football scholarship at UCLA, born and bred in Orange County. Saw something about the Experiment on a classmate's blog and my teammates dared me to do it. There isn't really anything little or little known about me, I'm an open book. Ask if you want to know." He finishes, winking at Rosalie who flushes delicately.

"Rosalie Hale, no one calls me Rose unless they have a death wish. Born, grew up and studying Law in the Big Apple, NYU. Little known fact? Toddler in Tiaras? I was one."

Oh crap, I glance around desperately until Edward gives me a charmingly crooked encouraging smile and then stumble to my feet.

"Bella Swan. I, um, grew up in Phoenix and I'm doing my Masters on International Horror so this, um, seemed like a good idea. I, um, I've got nothing, little known or otherwise. Unremarkable, that's me."

Relieved and mortified I flop back into my chair, leaping out of it again when Edward lays a reassuring hand over mine.

"Edward Masen. Chicago, I'm studying medicine and I'm a big fan of Doctor Cullen, I mean Carlisle's work. Which is why I'm here. Little known fact about me, I play the piano and was offered a scholarship to Julliard."

"Mary Alice Brandon. Call me Alice though, please. I'm from Biloxi and I'm studying Fashion on a scholarship at Kent State in Ohio. I just knew this Experiment was something I should do so here I am. Little known fact about me? I'm a First Dan Kickboxer."

"Wow, I'm impressed! Jasper Whitlock. Genuine Texas cowboy and diligent Computer Science student at UT Austin. Got no family to spend the holidays with so this seemed like a fun way to earn some tuition money when I read about it on the Web. I'm also a well out of the closet gamer so this is right up my street, in fact my little known fact is that I earn most of my money from my gaming blog, Digital Cowboy."

"Oh!" Irina squeals. "I know you, I mean I read you! You killed me once on Call of Duty!"

"Ma'am." Jasper drawls, slipping back into his seat with a courtly bow.

"Riley Biers. Seattle native, studying Cultural Anthropology at SU, the Experiment looked like it would dovetail nicely with my studies and like Jasper I don't have anyone to spend the holidays with either. My little known fact is that I can spell Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious backwards while gargling a glass of water."

"Useful." James sneers from across the table.

"You'd be surprised." Riley shrugs. "Its great for breaking the ice at parties."

"Zafrina Ramirez. I am from Brazil, the Favelas, but I am lucky to be studying on a scholarship at Cornell's College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. I want to go back to Brazil and help my country manage the environment better. I am not sure how I came to be here to be honest, it seemed like an easy thing to explore at the time but somehow I have ended up on this Experiment. I am excited and nervous! A little known fact? The Nuns in the Favela school say I have the voice of an angel when I sing."

"Siobhan Gartlan. I am from County Mayo in Ireland but I grew up in Dublin. I'm like Bella, doing my Masters in Horror, adaptations though and I've been lucky enough to get funding to study in the US for a year. I can't wait to learn and be part of this Experiment! Not many people know this but I swam the English Channel when I was eighteen to raise money for Children In Need."

"Another swimmer!" Esme laughs happily. "You are so brave, I've always been too scared to swim in open water. You must tell me all about it, do they really smear you in animal fat beforehand?"

"And she's off." Carlisle chuckles ruefully. "Port and cheese to finish anybody?"

APOV

Dinner was fun and has quite the air of 'Last Meal' about it, which I suppose it was. And though I didn't come here looking for love I've had the strongest feeling about Jasper ever since the entrée, he's stunning to look at with those long blonde curls and tawny eyes. And his accent, that voice, like southern silk flowing over my skin.

Sigh.

Such a shame the next time he sees me I'll be wearing fatigues and combat boots, still I think I made a good impression tonight, he couldn't seem to steer his attention away from me.

Breakfast is at eight in the dining room and then the Doctors Cullen and Heidi will give us a full brief on the experiment before Sam takes us down into the depths of the Facility. Now that it's so close I'm equal parts excited and afraid and vibrating with so much energy that even this luxurious comforter and soft mattress aren't going to lull me to sleep. Huffing I sit up and switch the bedside light back on, no use fighting it, might as well read while I still can . . . .

RPOV

Well that was interesting. James is a Jerk, and yes he certainly gets the capital letter, I can see a great future ahead of him in the cutthroat world of television. And my fist on his face if he lays a hand on me again. He obviously thinks he's a ladies man but I think he's worked out I'm not that kind of lady because he moved on to Irina who was eating that shit up with a spoon.

God I'm going to miss this bed after tonight, I wonder if they'll let me take it back to New York with me when the Experiment is done? It certainly beats the lumpy futon I've got to sleep on in my one room rat infested hellhole.

The rest of the girls are fine, even Paleface Bella isn't as bad as I thought, she just takes a while to relax, like control top pantyhose. And damn but she's entertaining, even her mouth is clumsy when Edward's around, I've never seen anything like it. He seems into her though, she brings out all his protective instincts. But her mind's as sharp as a tack. Alice is cool and not anywhere near as giddy as she comes across, they'll be good people to team up with when we get down below. And I suspect Edward, Jasper and Em will be part of the package. Fine by me since I'm competitive enough to at least have one eye on being the last 'man' standing despite the lack of prize for the winner . . . .

….. EMT …..

"I can't believe anyone would be this stupid." Sam huffs, checking the feed on monitors again in preparation for the morning.

"None of them are stupid." Carlisle murmurs as he studies his laptop. "They are all in the top ten percent on their classes and besides they are young and inexperienced with no frame of reference for deciding if this is a dangerous situation."

Sam shakes his head and keeps the rest of his thoughts to himself. He doesn't exactly disapprove of this but if he's being honest with himself it hardly qualifies as something he's ever going to be proud of doing. A few well placed advertisements, social media and Heidi's charm have lured twelve isolated young people out here into the middle of nowhere and a nightmare they haven't even begun to imagine. He wonders if the students of horror will see the obvious signs first or the gamers? It is fascinating he has to admit, wrong but absolutely fascinating.

"I've hidden the last cache." Leah announces, stalking into the control room and throwing herself angrily into a chair which groans in protest.

Leah does everything angrily Esme has noticed.

"First feedback from Aro." Heidi announces looking up from her laptop screen. "Dinner could have been a little more dramatic but the initial bets and bids are flowing in from around the world so he is pleased."

"I am glad he approves." Carlisle drawls without looking up, loathing the necessary encroachment of Mammon into his Experiment. "But please remind him that the real drama won't start until the day after tomorrow."

"Carlisle." Heidi chuckles, shaking her head at him. "One does not remind Aro of anything if one can help it."