They came closer, each one pulling a small pistol from somewhere in their oversize coats. The closest one cocked his gun, pointing it directly at the kid. One right behind him did the same, pointing his gun at me. I couldn't believe it. They had followed us. It looked like my luck had run out.

I backed up until my back hit the brick wall. My breathing sped up and icy fear crawled down my spine. The kid stood defiantly, a smirk beginning to creep onto his face.

"You come with us, or we eliminate you," The one in the front said casually, as if he was discussing the weather. "Those are your only options."

The kid tossed his head back and laughed. "You need me. You can't eliminate me. You know that as well as I do."

"On the contrary. You are expendable. Not to mention easily replaceable."

The kid looked down, then threw himself at the man in the white coat. They both fell to the ground. For a moment, it looked like the kid might have been able to overpower the man. Then one of his companions came up and pulled the trigger on his pistol. I screamed as the kid fell to the side, dead. Blood spread quickly from the wound in his head, nearly black in the scant light. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block everything out. I was nearly hyperventilating now, and my knees felt weak.

Dully, as if from far away, I heard the men speaking to each other. "She's like him."

"We could use her. Wicked could use her."

"No. We came here for the boy. Not for her."

"She could take his place."

"We have enough female Candidates."

" Think of the killzone patterns we could create. Things we had never dreamed of. The estimated time to solve the maze is two years. She doesn't have to survive that long. Throw her in with Group A, if only for six months or so."

"No."

"It's a great opportunity. Think about it, Kevin. Use her as a variable."

"She's too old, if anything. She looks around fifteen. Too old to perform the surgery."

"Let's take this to Ava. Let her decide."

My head was spinning. What the hell were they talking about? Killzones, wicked, a maze, a surgery? I sunk to the ground, eyes squeezed tight and head buried in my hands. The look on the kid's face as he died burned behind my eyelids. I realized with a shock that I didn't even know his name. I had gotten him killed and I didn't know his name.

Footsteps echoed off the walls, muffled by the wet squelch of blood. I felt a hand grasp my arm, pull me to my feet roughly. Stumble forward. Right myself. Whirl around and punch the man holding me. Watch him reel back, holding his nose. Then others restrain me, yank my arms behind my back. A cry of pain. Forced to my knees. I struggled up, only to be hit in the head with something. Hard. Stumble forward again. Can't right myself. Falling, falling, falling. Sink down, eyes squeezed shut. Tears finally slid down my cheeks, whether from the pounding in my head or the cold fear clenching at my stomach I would never know.

I heard a strangled cry, cut off too abruptly. There was a thunk as something heavy landed next to me. I opened my eyes to see what it was. It was the man who had shot the kid, his lifeless blue eyes staring up at me. I screamed, scrambling to my feet and tripping over myself to get away from him.

I felt hands on my arms, holding me down, preventing my from backing up further. Without thinking, I drove my elbow back. The hands released me, and I turned around, the movement sending the world spinning. Jorge was doubled over, hands on his stomach.

"Damn, Rose, watch where you hit." He laughed, straightening up and wincing. "Are you alright, chica?"

I didn't exactly know how to answer that question. I had just witnessed a murder, had been assaulted and my head felt twice its size. Instead, I asked, "Where did the other three go?"

"Ran off like frightened children. Serves them right. Are you hurt?"

" My head…" I put a hand on the back of my head, and was surprised to find it stained with red as I pulled it away.

"Let me see." Jorge said, stepping close. I bent my neck, looking at my shoes. I felt him pick through my hair, causing me to gasp in pain as his fingers brushed the spot the man had hit me. "Los sentimos, Rose." He stepped back and I looked up at him. "Looks like a shallow cut. Should heal in a few days. As for your head…"

I nodded, and suddenly I was crying again. I collapsed on the ground, sobs wracking my body. I couldn't take it anymore. Pulling my knees up, I rested my head on them, feeling like a helpless child. I was stronger than this. I could deal with anything, I told myself, but to no avail. The tears flowed, and I was powerless to stop them.

I felt more than saw Jorge sit down next to me, wrapping his arms around me and letting me rest my head on his shoulder. He lay his head on top of mine, letting me cry. I took comfort in his soothing presence, closing my eyes and listening to the steady beating of both our hearts. I slowly felt myself drifting into the pleasant numb state of sleep.