Something new—apart from all the obvious of this being a messed-up situation—is not adding up. “Gideon didn’t know I was at Jasper’s house,” I say.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know. The details aren’t here.” And I suppose it is possible that Gideon could have guessed and sent them to the house of the only friend I still have. “Regardless, none of it should have happened the way it did. There is no—” He shakes his head and takes a breath. “It shouldn’t have happened. And I’m sorry. But it’s not a mistake that you are here. You’re supposed to be.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “Why?”

The worst part is that I can feel that he’s telling the truth—at least the truth as he believes it to be. My hands have started to shake.

“I know this is hard to understand. And I promise I will explain. But if you could first just—”

“No!”

I shout so loud it echoes. And I am glad. Even if shouting has made the air feel thin.

I fell for this kind of crap once before. With Quentin at the camp—wait one second and we’ll explain everything. I am not going to do it again. I am not going to go around trusting a bunch a people who have me locked up somewhere. You grab me off the street, I am going to assume that every single word out of your mouth is a lie. Even if you don’t realize it.

“I understand that you’re upset, Wylie, and confused, and under the circumstances you have every right to be,” Dr. Haddox goes on, and his eyes flick toward the door. He’s wondering if he should call someone. Maybe even someone with a syringe who can help control me. And I do have to be careful. Strategic at the very least. They are the ones with the tranquilizers. But I also feel guilt from Dr. Haddox. He doesn’t like keeping me in the dark. If I keep pushing, I think his conscience will get the better of him. “I promise I will explain everything in a—”

“Now,” I say, quiet and calm. I can do this. I can demand the answers I deserve without them being able to say I am “irrational” or “overemotional.” I can use what I know about Dr. Haddox—that he has his own doubts about this situation—to get him to tell me the truth. I may not want this whole Outlier thing, but I am sure as hell going to use it to my advantage. “Listen, you people cornered me and drugged me. I think the fact that I want an explanation makes me the most sane person ever.” I cross my arms. “Otherwise, I guess you’ll have to drug me again.”