Chapter One

Thomas was sitting at his workspace, tapping idly at the glowing keypad. It was Mazes again today, and he swung his legs as he worked. The current trend of Mazes had several checkpoints within the intricate paths, and Thomas had been working on this one for almost an hour already. At each checkpoint he had to solve a smaller puzzle. Most were word or number related but every now and then there was an analysis one where a situation or figure took over the screen and Thomas had only a few seconds to make snap-fire deductions in order to proceed.

Despite the complexity of his current task, Thomas's mind was wandering and the steady sound of his feet drumming back on the underside of his chair was lulling him into an almost trance-like calm. Thomas had been with WCKD for almost three years, and he and his friend Teresa were by far the brightest amongst the elite group of children the lab currently had. After two years they had been rewarded for their efforts with a gift; the ability to speak in each other's minds. The ability had to be honed and they had eagerly leapt at the chance, putting in as many hours as they did at their consoles.

They'd almost perfected it, too. Whizzing through a checkpoint puzzle in only seconds, Thomas was thinking about lunch when he heard the familiar grumbling drone. The sound was like the roar of an ancient dragon and was succeeded by the blare of an alarm that Thomas still secretly found chilling, even now. He paused his console with a single swipe, excitement buzzing under his skin as he spun his chair around and dropped to the tiled floor.

They had someone new joining them. Thomas loved the days like these, when the Guard Team marched through the facility to the wash area with a new face. Thomas knew he got over-excited, the scientists told him often, but he didn't care. He was only eight, and even with his advanced mental abilities he was still prone to childish outbursts. Though he was always working on that. He called out to Teresa with his mind. When she responded, her voice told him she'd anticipated him, as always.

Teresa?

You take it. I'm too busy.

Are you sure?

Tom, you know i don't like to do it. Besides, it's probably another stinky boy. I'm sure if it was a girl they'd send for me.

Thomas didn't reply. He walked as quickly as he could to the doorway without running, and peered around the structure at the Guards who were sitting at the little table just outside. Despite the quite-loud noise of the alarm, the guards were continuing their card game, chatting as though they couldn't hear it. Oh Good, George was on! Thomas put on his best eager smile and started forwards, not trying in the slightest to keep the bounce from his step. George saw him coming and looked at him with a very straight face, but Thomas was not deterred. He smiled winningly, knowing the dimple on his left cheek would cinch it like it always did. He made his eyes a little wider, just to be sure.

"George?" he asked, his voice quiet and perhaps overdone in trying to make him sound younger.

The guard raised an eyebrow and simply stared at him. Thomas felt a little silly, shuffling his feet awkwardly. He knew George wasn't his friend, per say, but he was always pleasant to him.

"Could you please take me to the wash area? I - umm - want to- Can i? Please?"

Thomas waited, holding his breath as George and the other Guards looked at him. George was looking the most serious, the others looked almost amused, glancing between them both. Eventually George turned back to his cards, but as Thomas's heart started to sink he tossed them into the pile in the middle of the table and stood up. He put his hands on his hips and rolled his shoulders, crackling sounds rustling down his back. Thomas looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"Come on."

Thomas beamed, practically skipping as he followed the man down the corridor and through the sealed door. They walked the familiar corridors, Thomas's excitement building with every foot they covered. By the time they'd reached the area where new arrivals were first deposited Thomas felt ready to explode. Dr. Paige was already there, deep in conversation with two of her lead scientists and a man in that dark uniform that made Thomas wary and well-behaved. Heads turned as he approached with George, before the Guard tapped his shoulder sternly and pivoted on his heel.

"I folded a good hand, Thomas. You remember that."

Thomas flashed him a sunny grin and waved him goodbye as he disappeared around a corner. He looked to the woman in charge. Dr. Ava Paige was tall and striking, with bold, auburn hair and cut-glass cheekbones. She held herself straight and stiff as though she had been military, and her blood-red lips maintained a straight line the vast majority of the day. However as she looked at Thomas she smiled. It was nothing but a slight incline in her lips, rounding her face a small amount. It wouldn't really be a smile on anyone else's face, but she was always so stern that the expression was friendly in comparison.

"Thomas. Curious as always. Couldn't stay away?"

Thomas shook his head. He watched her as she nodded before seeming to decide something. Thomas hadn't been too nervous. She almost always ruled decisions in his favour, and indeed now was one of those times. She turned and claimed a clipboard from one of the men standing beside her, skimming through it and flipping onto a second page, her lips ghosting over the words as she read. Then she stopped and looked up at Thomas.

"Our newest subject seems to be a few years younger than you. They report that he's incredibly withdrawn and so far he hasn't said anything. We've put him in the shower room. When he comes out i want you to begin his orientation right away. It's imperative that we draw him out before this becomes a permanent state of mind. Take him to the bunk room first, get him fed. Start him off, you know the drill."

Thomas nodded eagerly, pleased and proud to be given the task. His grin lit up his face and he could almost feel the gleam in his own eyes. Dr. Paige smiled again, and Thomas knew she was pleased. He might be a little sad that Teresa never felt inclined to join him, but he was also secretly pleased. He felt guilty but it was true, he liked that time with new arrivals. He liked to be the first friendly face, the one to help them settle in. He liked making a new friend. Even if most of them drifted away after a while when they realised he got certain special treatment that they didn't.

He made his way down the short white-wash corridor to the shower room, listening to the sound of water rushing from the shower head increasing the closer he got. He stopped outside of the door, and waited for a while until the water shut off. He then waited some more, counting off several minutes in his head to allow the boy to get dressed. Then, with a deep breath and his sunniest grin in place, Thomas pushed open the door.

Sitting on one of the benches with his knees tucked under his chin and his back pressed into a corner was a small boy. He was almost a head shorter than Thomas, it looked like. A pale face flashed up as Thomas stepped into the room, and he got his first look at the new boy. His face was small and gently sloped, dominated by a pair of huge, dark eyes. His nose was perfectly in balance with his cheeks and his lips were quite dark against his milky skin. Even his ears were small and delicate. The whole image was topped off with a mop of untidy blonde hair, damp strands glinting in the harsh fluorescent light like warm gold. When he tipped his head to the side the effect was almost dazzling, and Thomas would swear the boy was hiding a halo in those curls. The boy blinked at him owlishly.

But Thomas was not deterred.

"Hi. I'm Thomas. Welcome to the facility. What's your name?"

The boy didn't respond. He sat so still that Thomas began to worry that he had somehow frozen in place. He approached the bench, stepping cautiously. Thomas wasn't usually the careful, calculated type of child. If anything he was the polar opposite, rash and head-strong, impulsive. He had good instinct, so things rarely ended in disaster, but it was a trait Dr. Paige was trying to wean him from. However, the nervous energy that was rolling from the other boy was so palpable that Thomas could feel it grounding him, flattening out the impulsiveness.

When he reached the bench he sat down near him, but far enough away that he wasn't crowding him. Thomas only had the very vaguest of memories from when he was the new arrival, but one thing that stuck with him was that they were all around him all the time and they were way too close.

"I mean they'll probably give you a new name. They like to give us important ones." he frowned then, thoughtful. "I'm not really sure why."

He brightened his grin again, looking at the new boy's dark eyes. He still hadn't done anything but blink, but Thomas thought that was okay. It was scary being in a new place, but he'd settle down once he knew he was safe. Which he should probably tell him.

"You're safe here. It's okay to be scared, but you don't need to be. It's a good place here."

The boy shifted then. It was tiny movement, but it was so sudden after his frozen state that Thomas jumped, his breath a short gasp. He laughed nervously at himself, hoping he hadn't ruined his chances with the new arrival. To his surprise the smaller boy smiled. It was a small expression, a mere quirk of his lips, but it changed his whole face. It warmed his face and Thomas smiled back, hoping that he was making progress. At least he hadn't sneered at him like some of the other would if he'd jumped in front of them.

"We can go at get something to eat." he added, "You must be hungry."

The boy's eyes brightened, and as he straightened a little Thomas could see that his eyes were an incredibly dark brown, the light from the ceiling picking out amber in their depths. Thomas stood up, confident but friendly, and he offered the boy his hand.

"Come on. I'm starving."

The smaller boy looked at him thoughtfully before his knees dropped down, extending into longer legs than Thomas had expected. When the boy looked up at him again with those thoughtful dark eyes, Thomas was sure to smile gently, maintaining eye contact to show he could be trusted. The blonde boy took his hand and allowed Thomas to pull him to his feet. Thomas had underestimated. The boy was only an inch or so shorter than him. The boy was light and lean, built like sparrow. Thomas had already decided that he like him, but then again Thomas liked everybody. This boy was a little different though. He had an odd, unhappy feeling in his stomach when he realised that some of the others would instantly pick him out as one to pick on, like they did Thomas. But that could wait.

Without letting go of his hand, he led the boy out of the room and down the rest of the corridor to the dorm grid. He let out a relieved breath when he swung the door to his bunk room open and there was nobody inside. He liked this part with new arrivals, when they realised they were going to be fed and taken care of and they started to relax, to trust. Thomas liked being the one who made them realise they were safe.

The long table near the door was laden with plates, and Thomas grinned. There was also the fact that he always ate better on days when they had new arrivals. He tugged the other boy gently into the room, only letting go of his hand when he'd led him to the table. Thomas was going to sit beside him, but realised that if he sat across he'd be able to study him better.

The smaller boy eyed the plates warily, but he watched as Thomas picked out things for his own plate, and once Thomas had started eating he seemed satisfied to start himself. He didn't look like he'd ever been a big eater, but he must have starving because the boy ate twice as much as Thomas and more. He ate slowly, chewing thoughtfully, the whole act a process from start to finish and Thomas watched him curiously. The boy was neat, polite. Thomas had seen new arrivals who had been so hungry they hadn't stopped for cutlery, but this one was different. He was calm and collected where the others had been terrified, shaking. Intriguing.

It was as though he were his own puzzle, and Thomas wanted to figure him out.