Prologue

Year 231 - WICKED Base

I don't know why I called him to the information archives, it's probably the single most stupidest thing I've ever done. He doesn't need to be a part of this, he doesn't need to know anything's wrong. WICKED will tell him some story about how I quit or got reassigned or some other excuse that couldn't be further from the truth and that will simply be the end of it. But - I can't do it. I can't leave him without an explanation, no matter how slight. He deserves that much.

I'm pacing the room, biting the pad of my thumb, waiting for him to walk in with his usual swagger. He'll reach out for me, hold my hands, pull me in close, and kiss me gently like nothing's wrong. That's just what he does. If he comes, it'll be the last comfort I know, I'm sure of it. Perhaps that's what it is, why I couldn't resist bringing him down here. I selfishly need him one last time.

When I hear the door handle click, I immediately turn and rush to him. Every instinct I have in my body should've stopped me, I couldn't've known that he'd be the one on the other side of that door, it was tactless and - I frankly don't give a damn as he wraps his arms around me, kissing my temple and nuzzling into my hair.

"I've got to hand it to you, Jo." He chuckles. "You're getting brave asking me to come make-out with you in the - wait, what's wrong?"

Of course he knows something's wrong. He's got the intuition of a man 20 years his senior. But he's so sweet and caring, I can't even bear to look him in the eye let alone tell him that - that I don't know what'll happen after today. I just clutch at his back and try not to burst into tears. Without saying anything, he starts to run his fingers through my hair. He's trying to soothe me and he doesn't even know what I'm about to do.

"Jo, c'mon, tell me what's going on." He begs, pulling away just enough to look into my eyes.

I shake my head. "I can't."

"And why not?"

"Because I -"

Someone opens a door out in the corridor and I nearly jump out of my skin.

"Jo." He says, capturing my attention again. "What's going on."

I squeeze my eyes shut to stop myself from spilling out my heart to him. Something I always do far too easily. If he learns about what I'm going to do, WICKED will torture him, surely. Punish him for aiding me. Though, he's already being punished. Punished for simply being immune.

"There's just -" I sigh, pulling away from him entirely but still holding his hands. "There's something I have to do."

"That doesn't make me feel better, Jo."

I smirk despite my situation. "It doesn't make me feel any better, either. But - bloody hell, I just need you to trust me, alright?"

"Of course I trust you, I -"

"Minho, please." I plead. "I wanted to see you because, after today, I won't be here anymore."

I caught a glimpse of emotion past his calculating eyes. He's scared. So am I.

"Jo, where are you going?"

"I don't know, just - I'll be alright, Minho. I promise."

"Jo, I -"

"Just go and know that whatever happens, I'll be alright."

I'm holding his hand tight in mine, to reassure him as much as myself. This is just - it's something I need to do. There's confusion in his black eyes, and yet there's also understanding. He squeezes my hand once before letting me go. He doesn't want to, but he knows how stubborn I am. We both know this would be the last time we'd see each other and we didn't want to make any more of it then it should be. That's just not who we are. Besides, this is WICKED. Nothing here ever lasts long, and we're used to that.

As he slowly backs out of the room, I turn my attention towards the monitors behind me. I pull up the statistics that I'd been examining for the past week, the ones the Chancellor never meant for me to see. Well, too bad she underestimated me. I review the footage of every child thrown into the Maze, I see the panic in their eyes, I relive every terrified scream, and I know that my actions are just. With my fists clenched on the console, I inhale and exhale deeply.

It's now or never.

I roll up my sleeves and begin punching in keys and commands that'll possibly put an end to this savagery. I break through firewalls and security measures to get right into the core of WICKED's systems, to maybe save someone. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe years from now, I'll save a child instead of sending them to slaughter. Except if I'm not quick, that won't happen. Looking at my watch, I know I don't have long. Someone will realise what I'm doing and then they'll do anything stop me.

But they'll be too late.

I'm almost halfway done when someone triggers the security protocols and the corridor leading to me has been locked down. Alarms are ringing all around, probably all throughout the base as well. This is game over. All or nothing, the last push. I swear - I can hear him. Minho. He's almost shouting my name and I have to bite into my lip to ignore him, I bite down hard enough for the skin to split and for blood to trickle down my chin. For me to ignore the tears springing from my eyes. Pain is the most successful distractor and I can't afford to let sentimentality deter me from my goal.

By the time troops storm the corridor, I've already done what I set out to do. I cast a sad smile down at the keyboard as I finish up, deleting the Wardens programming, deleting their schematics, and closing down the WICKED server. With one final keystroke, they override the lockdown and burst in behind me. I can tell they didn't spare the man power, and I can hear someone panting, and I'm pretty sure I know who it is. Slowly, I raise my hands over my head and turn to face him. I turn to face uncle.

"Jo." He breathes, his eyes angry and his hand itching to pull his gun and shoot me where I stand. "What have you done!"

"I've finally done what's right for these kids." I explain. "And that's more than any of you can say."