Hi there ! Here is chapter 7 ! I had a lot of fun writting it, so I hope you'll enjoy reading it. Should we have a nickname for the lovers inside this story ? What should we call Theresa and Thomas couple ? Oh and what about Minho and Vera ? Anyway, let me know in the comments what you thought about this and, yeah, enjoy it ! Have a nice time. xunxknownx
Chapter seven :
Just remember.
We sat down on the lovely white chairs. The table was embellished with small blue flowers. We started eating our diner, in silence. None of us dared talking. People around us were whispering and laughing. Some of them where looking at us, intrigued. We couldn't hear what they were saying.
I caught Theresa, questioning me with her eyes. I didn't really understand why.
Now, a man has raised himself from his seat. He walks towards what looks like a scene, he climbs three stairs and turns around. He faces us. He's wearing a black suit. His blond hair are braided on the side.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen" he begins. "Most of you know how this diner time goes. You know what you're about to see. But most of you here, don't know anything at all, yet. You're new to our establishments, you just arrived from the outside. So let me explain you, the few things that you need to know." he says with an accent that I can't recognize.
"Years ago, a man was walking in these mountains, he was lost, hungry and thirsty. He had a wound on his left knee. He knew he wouldn't go very far. So he layed himself down, on the cold ground, covered in snow, and he waited. He knew it wouldn't be long before Wicked's army comes and shoots him. But surprisely he waited, days and days. No one ever came. He started wondering "why?" or "How was that possible ?". One day, he had the idea to build shelter, to hunt, etc. He did, still not caring about his life, and still with the idea that Wicked might appear at any moment and murder him. Wicked never came. At all.
A year after that, he decided to go back in the mountains, outside the establishment he had build. He discovered rebells, he fought with them, and he offered them shelter, here, far from Wicked. The longer he waited, the more men came here, in his refuge. So they built more establishments, more rooms, they designed fields, ..etc. They saw this opportunity as a second chance. No matter what you had been through, no matter if you were strong or smart, you belonged here, safe with us, away from Wicked."
He stops shortly and lets the crowd applaude. Neither Thomas, Theresa, Newt, Minho or I do. We just look at him. I know what Thomas is thinking. What proves us that this ain't another Wicked's trap ?
"I never really know how to say this." he continues.
"Mh...Well, let's just go for it. You're part of a serie, a sort of game." he releases.
Thomas raises from his seat. His eyes are wide open, his mouth is as well. His face is tensed, marked by fear and misunderstanding. People whisper around us, they starre at Thomas. I simply hold my breath and squeeze the side of my chair.
"A game ?" asks Thomas from the corner of the room.
"Sit down Thomas. Let me explain everything." replies Alarick. And surprisely he obeys and sit back on his chair.
"When we finally created a pill, so that everyone could have access to their memories, we understood that the planet we were leaving in, wasn't really ours. Ava Paige doesn't live here. She lives on earth, with our families, our parents, sisters, brothers, aunts etc. There are two different planets. There's Earth, and there's Mars. We're leaving on Mars. Ava Paige is living on Earth. She's controlling us, controlling our environment, our lives, everything. She controlls our planet, she designed it with a scientific crew. She decides who lives and who dies, here inside the Maze. So let me explain it with details."
People don't whisper anymore, they speak with each other. I look at Minho who is sitting on the chair next to me. He doesn't say anything. He stays quiet. If I didn't know him, I'll think that this means he doesn't care. But in the contrary. This reaction means that he's not alright. Something is bothering him. Something is making him afraid. But what ? When our eyes meet, I frown. But he doesn't say anything, he avoids eye contact.
"Quiet !" yells Alarick.
"You and I were born on earth" he starts. "Some of you are here because you had ideas and goals that you couldn't have over there. You had a perception of life that they didn't like. You challenged the government, your leaders. You didn't agree with something. So they took you away and locked you in an establishment. Over there you had a correction. If it wasn't enough, they'd send you here, in the Maze, with us. This is the first possible story. The second one is the following." No one speaks anymore. Everyone just tries to remember which one of the story suits him the most.
"Your parents were both inside the correction establishment. They fell in love, and... well you know how it goes. Wicked calls you a Maze child. You were born in conditions that weren't proper, you are not official, no one has to know about you. You're a shame. Therefore they threw you into the Maze, when you were in age. Meaning around 5 to 6 years old." he stops and looks around, starring at our reactions.
"Today, a new episode is going to appear on earth, about us, about the game we're suppose to play. We have hacked their system so we will also be able to see it. Feel free to leave the room if you want . Feel free to stay if you want as well. This is your decision. You will find the pill that will give you back your memories next to your bed, in your rooms. Take it or not, your decision again. We're not here to force you, to influence you. You are free to leave this establishment whenever you want, you are free to do whatever you want, as long as you aren't a problem for us, and as long as you respect our safety. Have a good night, ladies and gentlemen, and I thank you for your attention."
I know how I should feel after such a revelation. But I don't feel confused, I'm not frightened. Deep down inside me, I knew it. I just needed the confirmation. I already knew what he just said. It's no surprise at all.
"Are you alright child ?" asks Aegeus. I didn't even notice him. He came and sat next to me. I nod. He puts his hand on my right arm.
"You will be." he adds. And I nod, again.
There is something wrong though. Something doesn't feel good. I feel it inside me. I turn my face on my left side and look around. Minho isn't here anymore. I search for him in the room. I percieve him, going out. He passes the front door. I raise myself up and follow him. When I'm out of the dining room, I finally feel released from all of these people starring at my dress.
"Minho ?" I ask. Once, and twice but no one answer. I know he's here, I've seen him. I didn't dream ! I search in every corner of the corridor, but I only notice darkness and emptiness.
Suddenly, someone grabs me by my shoulders and presses me against a wall. The impact makes me moan. One arm beneath my chin, pressing my throat. I have difficulty in breathing. I try, with both of my hands, to detach myself from this person's squeeze, but I fail. He's too strong.
"Vera ?" asks a man voice that sounds familiar. "Fuck ! Sorry" he adds. "I thought it was someone else".
He releases me. I bring both of my hands around my neck and knead it. I cough twice and finally breathe deeply.
"We're safe here Minho ! Haven't you heard Alarick ?" I say.
"How do you know his name ?"
"Aegeus told me. Why did you leave the room ?"
"Who the fuck is Aegeus ?" he yells.
"Calm down !" I say. "What's wrong with you ?"
"Nothing" he mumbles.
"Minho, tell me." I insist.
"It's just" he starts but stops. I encourage him, not leaving him of my sight. "A fucking game ?" he adds.
"What are we Vera ? Pawns ? They were fooling us the whole time. At first they told us that we were some kind of cure to a desease. Somehow people were coming back to life, but changed in zombies. But we weren't, we were special, we had something that made us humans. They told us we were subjects, experiments. And now what ? That's not true, this is just the story they tell for a stupid serie ?
And when we fucking thought it was finally over, when we thought we had it all figured it out, just when we thought we were safe, we weren't. We were just exactly where they wanted us to be ? Then this just means that we're fucking idiots !" he releases, mad. His cheeks are turning red, slightly. He squeezes his hands, forming fists.
"How could you have known Minho ?"
"I don't know ! But why do they do this to us ? What's wrong with us ? They killed my friends Vera ! Do you know that ? I stood there, watching them die. I saw them, getting shot, getting eaten alive by some monsters Wicked created !" he screams, and I'm pretty sure that everyone in the dining room can hear us perfectly. But I don't mind. He needs to talk about it, he needs to let it out, I feel it. He has been keeping all of this inside him, for too long.
"Yes, I know" I reply with a tiny voice. I know, but I don't know what it's like to loose someone you care about. I can only imagine the way he feels. But it won't be enough, it won't even be close to the real feeling, the real pain. When this thought goes through my mind, something hits me. Like a memory, an old feeling. I actually do know what it's like. I know the fear you get when you want to protect this person you care about. And the pain, or the anger you feel when you're incapable of moving, of doing something. When you're incapable of saving them. It takes everything in you, all of your energy, all of your love. You would give everything to help them, you would give them your life because they deserve it. They deserve to live. No matter if it's a friend, a lover or a family member, you love them with all your body and soul. They know you, you know them, you have some sort of bound that you can not even explain.
"Why aren't you mad ?" he asks, removing me from my thoughts.
"I don't know" I reply, asking myself the exact same question. "I guess I already knew that somehow. And I haven't been here long enough to live much things, or to loose anyone." I add.
He looks around him, his hands aren't squeezed anymore. His tension is lower.
"It's to good to be true." he says.
"I know, I feel the same way. The food, the shelter, all of that, it's almost perfect. But at the same time, I keep wondering why couldn't it be true ?" I reply.
He looks at me. His eyes inside mine. This situation is uncomfortable and it makes me anxious. His silence doesn't help. Confused, I add "What if it's just another level of the game ?".
"But what if we're finally safe ?" he replies instantly.
"So you believe it's true ?"
"It makes sense Vera.". And I know he's right. It does explain a lot of things. But still, which kind of human could do this to another person ? Who would make people kill each other, make them fight, survive just to entertain ? What's the point ?
"Are you going to take the pill ?" I ask.
"No" he replies roughly.
"Why not ?"
"What for ? So that I can remember the faces of the basterds who sent me in the Maze ?". He's getting mad again. Great congratulations Vera ! Smart move.
Raising his voice, putting his hands in the air, walking backward and forward, he exclaims "I'm done with all of this. Do you have any idea how it feels ? To wake up everyday, feeling like you're fake, feeling like you mess up no matter what you do ? Do you know what it's like ? When you turn around and search for your best friend's face, but you don't find it anywhere ? And then you remember that he just died. You don't know how it feels ! You don't know how much it hurts. No one fucking understands !"
"Minho !" yells Thomas behind me.
"What ?" he screams back.
"Calm down !" he replies.
"How are you guys being so cool about this ? Do I need to remember you the names of our friends who died suffering for a FUCKING GAME ?"
"MINHO ! Shut the fuck up ! Everyone, in the whole damn building, can hear you !" replies Thomas.
"Do you think I care ?" he asks, throwing his hands in the air.
"We're safe here okay ? Don't screw this up. If this is the truth, we'll figure it out soon enough. But there's no need to turn over the past. They're gone, forever. Now let them rest in peace. We need to stay together. We need to find a way out. It's not by yelling and hating each other that we'll succeed."
"How can you say that ? You want me to let them rest in peace ? What peace is there in dying in such horrible conditions Thomas ? You were there ? You saw what I saw. " he replies, tears in his eyes.
Thomas grabs Minho's arms, and forces him to look at him. I turn around and leave the room, realising that I'm too much in this conversation. The last words that I hear are "I miss Chuck, I miss everyone. But for them I fight, and I keep going. No matter what Wicked throws at us, we'll win this war Minho. Do you hear me ? We will win, because we are strong and united."
When I regain the room, I'm surprised to see everyone talking, laughing, eating and drinking. This room aspires me tranquility and it sounds familiar. All this good mood, this happiness. It's awkward but at the same time, it's comforting. I walk back toward my table. I sit next to Theresa who's eating a chocolate cake. Well, in fact she's devouring it. I laugh at that vision of her.
"Is everyone alright ?" she asks between two bites.
"Yeah, don't worry." I reply and add "oh and Theresa ? I'm glad you didn't leave us." She smiles back at me.
"I wanted to." she replies.
"Why didn't you ?".
"Because, you are my friends." she starts and continues, hesitating, with a sad smile on her face "you're my family as well. The only one that I have left."
"Theresa" I start, but she interrupts me. "It's fine."
"And...you know ? I thought, that maybe Thomas would forgive me, one day. Maybe he would probably understand what I did, and why I thought I was doing the right thing."
"He already forgave you Theresa." I reply.
A sweet melody interrupts our conversation. Minho and Thomas are gently sitting back on their chair. They stay quiet.
"Welcome to the most watched and known serie, The Maze." says a woman voice. Everyone stops their activity, and look at the screen.
"Previously on the Maze." it adds, and pictures of faces, mine included, pass on the large screen. In this episode of the Maze, we see people fighting, a man and a woman kissing, a child running. We see a band, finally getting out of the Maze Runner, joining the Scorch Trials. When it ends, we all join our rooms, in silence. This serie isn't entertaining, it's frightening. It reminds people what they've been through, the things they've seen, lived or even the people they've left behind.
Once I'm in my room, I take off the masterpiece that is my dress and put it on a chair. I put on a comfortable pajama instead and slip under my bed comforter. My head rests on two pillows. I ignore the pill, resting on my bed side table. I open a book and read three pages, I think. I fall asleep, without noticing it.
The rest of the week goes the same way. I wake up, frightened, not knowing where I am. I'm sweating and searching for help. My dreams turn into dark and awfull nightmares.
Then, I dress up, Aegeus helps me, he guides me, makes me visit the entire establishment. I personally met Alarick. He talked to me, for a while, but didn't say anything important. He gave me a job in the infirmary. I help people, heal them, and have some classes about plants the afternoon. And I must admit that I learn boring things ! I only see Theresa four days later, at diner, I learn that she, and Thomas has taken the pill. They found back all their memories. They had a hard time trying to deal with who they were, what they did, or even what they saw. But they ended up dealing with it. It made them realise that they loved each other.
To what I remember they grew up together, in the correction center. Newt and Minho didn't take the medicine though. I caught them once, getting outside of the establishment, armed. They were with other soldiers. When I asked a woman, she told me they were going on a mission, in the mountains. I never really had the occasion to talk to them. I had to stay with the other nurses during dinner time. And well, they were staying with the other soldiers. I must admit I miss it. Seeing them.
I have blood on my hands, and on my outfit. I get outside the operation room. I search for a woman, dressed in a pink dress. She widens her eyes when she sees the red colour, spread all over me. Afraid of what I'm about to tell her, she grabs her bag and holds on to it.
"Everything went well, you'll be able to see him in a couple hours." I tell her. She jumps in my arms, releasing her tension. Her ginger hair reminds me of someone I use to know. The short memory I have brings me a warm feeling. I stay like this, looking at her, for a minute or two, lost in my thoughts.
Once my working hours are done, I clean my hands in a river, take off my clothes and decide to wear something comfortable. I put on a blue jean and a black shirt.
I join Theresa in the park, below the waterfall. Everytime I walk next to this place, I'm surprised by its beauty. I discern black hair, not very far from me. When those hair turn around, I discover Theresa's white skin and blue eyes. She's also wearing a pant and a simple t-shirt. She smiles politely when she sees me.
We talk for a hour, about the weather, our jobs, the previous episode of the Maze, the kids running around in front of us,...
"I miss it you know ?" says Theresa.
"What ?" I ask.
"Being outside, running towards the unknown, faster and faster. Escaping, having this thrill inside my veins. Not knowing if I'm messing up or if I'm going to die. I know I shouldn't say this, but doing this boring job, behind a screen, all day, it's killing me. I need to move, I need to do something useful."
"Me too." I release. And it is true. "Do you know what kills me the most ?" I ask.
"Tell me.".
"Knowing, that there are people out there who are getting murdered. Knowing that some of them are escaping a Maze, thinking that they're finally safe, when they're not.". She nods, which means that she shares my opinion.
We stop talking, and when the alarm rings, we join the dining room. As always, when I enter this room, I search for Minho's sight, and I catch him, already looking at me. This eye contact lasts for five seconds, and then we pretend we do not know each other. 'The same old routine' I think.
This feeling I get, when we're in the same room is so...weird. I can't even describe it. I don't want to admit it, but when I have my nightmares, when I know I'm about to let myself get killed, I see his eyes, and I end up wanting to live, so I fight back.
I chase those thoughts out of my mind and join my seat. I eat with my collegues, and I stay quiet, as always. Then, comes the time of The Maze's new episode. Everyone stops talking, people get out of the room. And the same familiar woman voice talks. "Previously on The Maze". We listen and watch every single moment, every images of this episode.
My heart stops beating when the camera shows the face of a little girl. She's crying. Her body is feld up. She's swinging from left to right, trying to calm herself down. Her tiny hands on her ears, she tries to escape the environment around her. She's afraid there's no doubt. Her brown suit is ripped, damaged and dirty. Her white skin is covered in mud, mixed with blood. Her blue eyes are searching for help. Her pink lips are pronouncing a word, but no sound is coming out of her mouth. She's saying something. The camera insists on her lips. And I'm starring at it, trying to understand what she's saying. But the people around me, seem to understand what she's saying, before I do. They all turn around and starre at me.
Finally, I get it, her lips form the word "Vera". She pronounced my name. Who is she ? Do I know this poor little kid ? I search in my memories, I force myself to feel something, to see something. But all I find is emptiness.
When the camera shows off her ginger hair, everything comes back to me in flashes. My hands and my bottom lip start shaking, tears appear in my eyes. I have trouble controlling my breath. "Aya !" I whisper.
She was there, in the establishment, for our formation. She was in my arms when Ava Paige made her speech. When this man shot himself in the middle of the crowd. The vision of his blood on the floor, of his skin damaged, makes me want to throw up. I remember Aya's brown suit, her brown boots. I remember her, laying on the bed, scared that I won't remember her. I dropped her at her class, that afternoon. She waved back at me with her tiny hand. I remember her shy smile, her red cheeks when she was talking about that boy she had a crush on. I remember that moment when I was attached on a bed, trying to defend myself, screaming her name. I remember someone punching me, yelling, telling me to shut up. But all I could think about, was Aya. I wanted to protect her, I had to protect her. I promised her that I would. But I didn't. Now she's out there, on her own, calling for me.
Tears rolling down my cheeks. I raise from my chair and run outside. Once I'm in that familiar park, I walk. Then I sit. I cry, and I want to yell, but I can't. So many feelings are inside me. I don't have the time to feel everything, I need to find her. I promised her I would. Lost inside my anger and my confusion, I breathe to find back my senses. Because of Aya, I remember everything. I remember that man who hit me, just because I wasn't able to shoot a target. I remember his words. I remember the face of Ava Paige. I recall her body resting on a sofa. I remember my mom, scared and destroyed by my decision. All of it comes back to me. All of my past.
'Focus on Aya' screams my mind. 'You have to save her'. What if they hurt her ? What if she was in danger ? I jump on my feet and run back to the dining room. The screen turns dark. The episode is over. People are slowly getting out of the dining room. When they see me come in, they stop moving. I'm out of breath, I feel my blood, ruching inside my veins, the adrenaline going down in every one of my muscles. I walk toward Alarick, everyone let me pass.
"Where is she ?" I ask.
"Look, Vera" he starts.
"Tell me where the fuck she is. NOW !" I yell interrupting him. I do not have any patience, so he better be careful.
"I don't know. But Wicked is controlling her. It's not safe." he adds.
I laugh sarcasticly. "Look, Alarick, you don't want to make me reiterate the same fucking question twice ! So you're going to move your lazy ASS and FIND her. You'll tell me where she is and I'll go get her. It's as simple as that. And, I DON'T WANNA hear your BULLSHIT about the fucking danger !"
He looks at me surprised by my nerve. My facial expression is threatening.
"Follow me" he says. And I do. I don't notice Theresa, Newt, Thomas and Minho, until I enter Alarick's office. They are behind me, with other people that I do not know and that I've never seen before. Alarick taps on machines, screens lighten up and voices talk.
"Who is she ?" he asks, still tapping on a transparent screen.
"Aya." I answer, holding a sob when I pronounce her name. All of the memories I had with her come back to me. Her laugh, the way she used to open her eyes when I'd shock her with my words, the way she walked when she was tired, the way she used to squeeze my arm, the way she'd hold both of her arms in front of her so that I'd grab her. All of it. I only spent a short amount of time with her. And still, I got attached to her, more than anything else before. She's like my sister.
"She's still in the level number 1, the Maze. Her group hasn't find the way out yet. And I don't think they intend to find it."
"Why ?"
"Vera...she was send in a different group. In this group, they use woman to make sure the human race doesn't die. Or to help men relax. They become a sexual object when they're in age. They don't really care about getting out, because they have everything they need."
My eyes widen. "She's just a girl Alarick ! She is not a sexual object !" I scream.
"Vera, I'm sorry but we can't do this, we can't risk rescuing her. No one has ever entered a Maze. If we have left the Maze Runner, it's for a good reason." he says.
My sight is lost in nothingness. "Send me there." I end up saying after a long silence.
"Vera look" he starts but I don't give up and repeat : "I said, send me there Alarick. It wasn't a question."
"Vera it's dangerous" says Minho behind me, putting his hand on my left arm.
"Yeah ? Well think how dangerous this is for a 6 year old girl." I reply, shaking my arm to escape his contact.
"We can't save everyone." he says with a low voice.
"Coming from you Minho, this is pretty ironic ! What if I told you the same thing for the friends you lost ?" His eyes turn black, I know I've hit his weakness. It's unfair, and I blame myself for it. But I can't leave her. I made her a promise, I have to keep it. She was asking for me earlier. Everybody saw this. I can't just leave her there, and let her die. I would do whatever it takes to save her.
I turn back to Alarick. "I have no use here. I wasn't born to be a nurse. I want you to send me there." I repeat.
"I'll go with you" adds Theresa. If I wasn't feeling so angry I'd be surprised by her commitment.
"I give you one week to think about it" replies Alarick, looking at both of us.
"One week ? Are you mad ? No !" says Theresa.
"One day and that's it. I won't come back on my decision Alarick. The sooner I'll be there, the better." I reply.
"We don't even know how to send you in the Maze Runner."
"I do" reply a scientific who's resting on a chair. His blond hair in a mess, he's biting his bottom lip.
"Fine, you have one day, to plan everything. But if something goes wrong, I won't come to save your asses" says Alarick.
"Good." I reply. I turn around and leave the room, ignoring Minho's accusing gaze. But mostly ignoring the fact that his facial expression breaks my heart in a million pieces.
