Arcus Vis Vires Chapter 1

Marcus Janson ran through the halls of the compound, his feet pounding against the bloodied floor where corpses of cranks and his colleague's lay in pools of blood.

Carrying his launcher tightly against his chest he headed towards the small apartment that he shared with his son Thomas and young daughter Imagine.

He could only hope and pray that Thomas had managed to locate the bunker hidden in the walls of their apartment that was built if situations much like this would arise.

Wicked's main compound had just been infiltrated by a swarm of cranks that managed to break past the fences and take out security and most of his colleagues.

Turning down the corridor that led to their apartment, he reached the door and ducked inside breathing a sigh of relief when he saw that the cranks hadn't reached this part of the compound yet.

As he neared the secret entrance to the bunker, he heard the soft cries of his young daughter and his breath caught in his throat when he spotted her curled up against her brother's chest as he held her in his arms.

Her face was stained with tears before she bolted from her brother's arms and launched herself into her father's arms as soon as he put his launcher down.

Marcus held her tightly to his chest as she sobbed softly.

Thomas stood and joined their hug as they clung to each other as time seemed to slow to a dead crawl.

Marcus and Thomas were able to quiet down the young girl before she promptly fell asleep in their arms.

Thomas stroked his sister's long brown hair and laid a sweet kiss on her temple before leaning his head on top of her much smaller one as he held her close.

Speaking barely above a whisper, he looked over at his father with a questioning look.

"Everyone's gone aren't they?

What's going to happen to our experiments if there's nothing left of Wicked?

Who's going to take a stand and lead us?"

Marcus rubbed his eyes tiredly before looking down into his son's big brown eyes.

Both of his children had their mother's eyes.

It was times like these that Thomas reminded him of her so much.

Her determination to survive was an incredible thing and he knew his son would do what was expected of him to continue fighting for a cure.

"When morning comes, we'll gather all the survivors and do a head count.

We'll set to work with removing the corpses and moving to the compound in the west.

It's very likely that it was spared seeing as how it was far away from all the destruction.

The experiment must go on. What this means Thomas is that you and I will take the lead as the head of the trials.

We've only had a few subject deaths since we started the maze trial.

I know we planned on sending them to the scorch but I'm afraid we will never be able to make that a reality.

That means that the maze will be the only trial and it will be permanent.

We need someone to be sent inside to the maze that will retain some type of information from here on the outside. And you know as well as I do that it will have to be you.

You were the one who came up with the blueprints for the maze so I think it's only best that you carry out the new mission with the rest of the subjects."

Thomas nodded before lowering his gaze to his sister as his voice shook with sadness.

"Teresa died today, dad.

She died on the operating table when we were performing the telepathy implant surgery a few hours ago.

How will the experiment's mission succeed if there's no female to take her place?

The mission is to have the subjects repopulate and create a new world of immunes but if there's no female to repopulate with then how are we going to continue?"

Marcus sighed heavily and fixed his gaze on his young daughter who slept against her older brother's chest peacefully.

"There's no other choice but to send your sister in with you.

She's the only candidate that would survive the implant surgery and be able to be strong enough to survive living with you and the rest of the male subjects.

I know we both never wanted this for her. But it's the only choice. There are no other options.

We'll schedule the surgery as soon as you go into the maze.

She'll join you a month later or so. I'm sorry Thomas, but we have to do this for the good of the cure."

Thomas's eyes filled with tears as he looked down at his little sister who he clutched tightly to his chest before glaring up at their father.

"No. We can't send her. You promised mom that you'd never send her into the experiments.

She's so young dad. She just turned 14 years old. She's too young to go into the maze.

I would die if something happened to her. She's my baby sister and I won't be able to protect her if I don't even remember her."

Marcus's eyes held a sadness that was deep and cut Thomas to the core as they both held each other's gazes before looking down at the little Janson.

"Thomas she may be young now, but in a few years she'll be old enough that it will be only natural for her to fall in love and have a family of her own.

You all will be young, yes. You'll be in your teens when she has her first child. And I never wanted my daughter to end up as a pregnant teenager but she is the only one who we can trust to do it.

She will be paired with a male subject who's already been given the telepathy implant.

He's the same age as you. And I think you know who I'm talking about Thomas.

You can't deny that he was very taken with your sister when he was still here. They got along very well.

All of you did. And you'll all be with your friends to start a new life together.

And as for not knowing her, both you and her future lover are going to be able to retain some memories as to who she is upon entering the maze.

She will have most of her memories intact. It will take time for you all to figure out what you remember and what you do not.

And I promise to send her with that locket that you're mother made her so she could always remember us if she did get sent into the trials.

I know this is difficult to process, but it needs to happen soon.

As soon as we get the west compound up and running, we'll schedule you for the surgery for the implant and the swipe and send you in the box.

Your sister will come a little while later.

Just remember Thomas, you will always have each other. And I know you're upset with me, but I love you. We will always be family and I will always be your father.

And remember Thomas, Wicked is good."

Thomas nodded stiffly with tears running down his cheeks as he repeated the phrase that he knew by heart as he held tightly to his younger sister.

"Wicked is good."