"Truth never damages a cause that is just."
— Mahatma Gandhi

Stephen was a first person who offered me a hand, first person who offered his friendship tor and since that day we were inseparable… until, of course, it was his time to be sent to a maze. Something flamed inside of my stomach, anger, strong like a fire. And it burned strong with desire to demolish everything that comes close to me. There was no need to hide my feelings from the scientists inside the room because in this moment I am not their subject anymore. I am a girl who lost someone, so tears started to drop from my eyes.

'I promise, really, what's the worst thing that can happen to me inside the maze?' Stephen's words echoed in my mind like the rhythm of a drumm. 'Let me see, you can get stung by griever and not come back in time for a serum… you can get stuck inside the maze… don't let me start about memory loss and what it might couse to your brain…' That was endless list of possibilities. And every single one of them was worse than previous one. Stephen laughed nervously, drops of sweat fell down his forehead. 'Aren't you a cheery one' boy muttered, trying to camouflage his fear with a smile. 'Please, promise me you'd come back.' Stephen gave me a thight hug, 'That's a promise than' he repeated.

One of the scientist, a short man with brown, greasy hair offered me a bottle of water which I refused by giving him a look that might gave him impression that I'd kill him if he doesn't get out of my sight. Director Janson observed the situation soundlessly from a safe distance, in a corner of a room. Because of my previous aggressive temperament, I don't really blame him. "Send him in," my voice was quiet, almost a whisper, and it sounded more like a pleading. "Send us both in."
Woman next to me, the one with glasses, started to counteract me, saying that they cannot do that yet. "They are not ready… You aren't ready yet." They. She meant gladers, and I'm pretty damn sure they are ready to get over with this mess. As for me, she is right, I am not ready and I'll never be. But I want to finish this. In this moment I wanted to have my memory whipped, because memories were to painful. "Thomas will agree with me on this," this time my voice was more determined. If Thomas approves, they'll have no other option than send us in. "But…" she started again.

"No!" I yelled, "Too many of them died, group A reduced by half… We can't lose more!" If boys from the group B continue dying like this, not many of them will be left to find a cure. Some of them aren't capable of surviving long enough in the Glade, some are too incompetent and others, few of them, are slowly breaking down. Even though there were still those who fought, chances of surviving are little. Group B isn't doing well either, but they are doing much better. "It's too risky," greasy man said peacefully.
I glanced over at Janson, who still didn't bother to intervene. "Aren't we here for the same cause!? " I questioned again, but no one answered. A rotten laugh cut out from my throat.

Before twisted, shaded thoughts turned into real action, my legs started to move. Firstly it was just a walk, I was barely moving, but it turned to a jog, and then it became a flight. Was I flying from the people in white, that only pretended to care about us, or was I running away from my thoughts? Maybe it wasn't important, only thing I was sure about in that moment was that I felt betrayed. He promised.
WICKED headquarters is a big building, with long hallways and it seemed almost like a labyrinth, endless turns and passages lined one after another. Doctors, guards, workers, no one was able to stop me. Ones who tried only got pushed away. On my third drift left and two drift right I finally stopped running, and breathed in large amount of air. It didn't feel like a relief, though, because while running I wasn't breathing at all, and now it's painful to let the air in. In this part of a building, air is stale and dry, this is where guards keep their weapons. I don't know why I am here, there was no final destination of my route, but this seemed like a good place to stop. No one is spending their free time here, even guards are avoiding this room. It's not a lovely place to be: grey, bricked walls with exposed pipes gives me chills – and poor lightning only makes it look even more haunted.

Hours passed and it only got darker inside the hallway. My thoughts didn't get any lighter neither. This loneliness only made me feel worse; it crept under my skin like a disease. It corrupted my mind like a Flare. What did we do to deserve this? All this terror, pain and loss – we did this to ourselves. Flare was manmade – and it's just turning us into what we really are: animals driven to kill anything that moves. We are monsters, there's no doubt in that.

Quiet steps echoed through empty space. A dark silhouette approached carefully. For a moment I was afraid that guards found me and that they'll punish me somehow for sneaking in this part of the building. We aren't supposed to enter here – but they weren't cautious enough, if they were, they'd put much better protection in this hallways. But relief filled me after I realized that the person who came wasn't guard at all, it was just Thomas, and he was much nearer now. Under the low light he looked even more tired than he is. Thomas asked no questions, tall boy leaned against a wall and sat down beside me. I wanted to ask him how he found me, but it wasn't important, because I'm just glad he did. Instead I asked, "Who are we kidding, Thomas? We'll never succeed."
He bent his head on a side to look at me, "You're the one who was so sure about everything. Rach, don't give up just yet." But that was then, when I still had a desire to do right, to be good and meaningful person, to be, as stupid as it sounded, a hero. And during the course of each day my heart seemed heavier, and today it doesn't even seem like it's pounding anymore.
"Tell me the truth, right here, no one's here to listen…" I sighed before asking, "How sure are you exactly in what we do?"
Thomas hit his head on the wall and pulled his hair with his hands – something he never done in front of me before. He was the strong one, the leader, a child who grew up too fast. Thomas gave me hope whenever I doubted myself; he helped me return my confidence. And now, he seemed as doubtful as I am. Never before have had I realized he's fighting his own demons too. I accepted silence as an answer.
"Is all of this really worth it?"
"Maybe it is, maybe it's not. But at least we have to try." He finally spoke. "I don't want to see this world fell apart if I had a chance to save it."
"He said the same thing, you know," Memory of my friend haunted my mind again. Thomas was never really close to him, but he was close to me, and he knew how much Stephen meant to me. "He wanted to die as part of something, better that than a cannibal monster."
Thomas laughed sadly, and I did to.

"Group B's ready." he finally said after long period of silence.

"Time to kick some griever butt," I joked, even if it wasn't time for jokes. But that's a thing I learned from Stephen, always camouflage your fear with a laugh. Don't let them see you're hurtin'. As I could recognize it on him, Thomas could on me too. He could basically smell it on me. Air became suddenly corrupted, heavier and thicker.

That was it then. "Are you scared?" Thomas asked.

I wasn't afraid to admit it, "Terrified."

Boy sitting on my right gave me an encouraging smile. It wasn't enough much, but it was enough to make me feel better.

It was terminated; they'll send me in the Glade.

AN: okay I admit that I kind of forgot about this, and with time, well, I lost all the inspiration. Sorry you waited this long :S Thanks for the reviews (gimme some more please) and hope you like this chapter. And sorry for all grammar/spelling mistakes.