"Hello. My name is Doctor Ava Paige," The others had joined her, staring up at the screen, "I'm Director of Operations of the World Catastrophe Killzone Department. If you're watching this, that means you have successfully completed the Maze Trials. I wish I could be there in person to congratulate you, but circumstances seem to have prevented it. I'm sure by now, you must all be very confused, angry, frustrated. I can only assure you, that everything that's happened to you, everything we've done to you, it was all done for a reason." Cleo thought about George. About Ben and Alby. Everyone that had died.

"You won't remember, but the Sun has scorched our world. Billions of lives lost to fire," Images were displayed on the screen, Cleo found herself cringing, turning away at some points, "Famine, suffering on a global scale. The fallout was unimaginable. What came after was worse. We called it the Flare. A deadly virus that attacks the brain," A man appeared on screen, his body laced with black veins, gums blackened, eyes wild, "It is violent, unpredictable, incurable. Or so we thought," Ava's face returned, "In time, a new generation emerged that could survive the virus. Suddenly, there was a reason to hope for a cure. But finding it would not be easy. The young would have to be tested, even sacrificed inside harsh environments where their brain activity could be studied. All in an effort to understand. What makes them different. What makes you different. You may not realize it, but you're very important. Unfortunately, your trials have only just begun. And you will no doubt soon discover," Men dressed in black appeared in the room behind her, "Not everyone agrees with our methods. Progress is slow, people are scared," The men in black began massacring the doctors behind her, rounding out the entire unsettling video the teens were watching, "It may be too late for us, for me. But not for you. The outside world awaits. Remember." As she placed the gun to her head, Cleo latched onto Thomas's hand, the air leaving her lungs.

"Wicked is good." She whispered along with the woman, watching her pull the trigger, ending her life. She flinched at the gunshot, eyes closing. Thomas turned to her, but his attention was immediately caught by something behind her. She felt his hand leave her's and her eyes fluttered open, turning to see what had pulled him away. Behind them, sat Ava's office. Her limp body lying beside the desk much like the others that scattered the room around them.

"Is it over?" Chuck asked, weaseling his way back to Cleo's side. She took his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"She said we were important," Newt spoke up, "What are we supposed to do now?"

Thomas shook his head, "I don't know. Let's get out of here."

They turned towards the long corridor, where a door sat, light bleeding in through the small, rectangular window. But they hadn't taken a step before a voice stopped them. Cleo's blood ran cold. She didn't have to look to know who was standing behind them. She turned with the others, heart sinking as her eyes laid on Gally. He was sweating, body trembling. She had seen it before. Too many times before.

"Gally?" Thomas moved towards him but she reached out, grabbing onto his shoulder.

"Don't. He's been stung."

"We can't leave." His voice shook, eyes full with tears.

"We did. Gally, we're out. We're free." Thomas tried to reason with him.

Gally continued to cry. Everything about him setting off warning signs in Cleo's mind. Her heart was beating wildly, pounding in her ears.

"You think we're free out there? No. No, there's no escape from this place." He lifted his arm, revealing the gun in his grasp. A collective gasp fell from the other's mouths, Cleo's body beginning to shake with fear.

Thomas persisted, stepping closer to the teen. There was nothing they could do for him. Even if Thomas could convince him to go with them. What then? He was still going to die. Like all the others, Gally was going to die. And if Thomas wasn't careful, Gally was going to take him with him.

"I belong to the Maze. "

"Just put down the gun."

"We all do."

Cleo heard the gun shot, saw the spear move through the air just over her shoulder, embedding itself deep in Gally's chest. She watched him sputter out a gasp, dropping to his knees and then onto his side. She heard Chuck's forced groan. Watched Thomas drop to the ground, Chuck in his arms. Felt Newt latch onto her. Her breathing quickened, the world spinning around her. At her feet, Thomas was crying out- screaming out Chuck's name. And then she was being ripped away from her friends. A voice she had never heard before, telling her she was safe now. That she was free. And then a blinding light. Sunlight, brighter than she had ever seen before, burning down on her. She was dragged through sand and lifted into a small, contained space alongside Newt and Minho. Moments later, Thomas came staggering in, panting and wide eyed like the rest of them. The door closed behind him, shutting out the heat. A motor began and they lifted off the ground.

"Relax, kids," A voice cried out, barely audible, "Everything's gonna change."

While the others examined the view from the windows, Cleo shrank back. She pulled her legs into her chest, burying her head in her arms.

Chuck's face appeared within the darkness. Smiling widely. He was laughing at something, cheeks red, happy tears collecting in the corner of his eyes. He was looking at her. Smiling at her.

She didn't stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks, the hiccupping sob that escaped her chapped lips. If it hadn't been for her shaking form, she would have gone unnoticed. But soon enough, Thomas's hand wove itself into her own, hanging loosely, as a reminder that she wasn't alone. That she didn't have to be alone. Lifting her head, she turned to him, finding he was crying as well. She rested her head against his shoulder, staring down at the figurine in his hand and let herself cry. Not just for Chuck. But for everyone. For Alby, and Ben. For George and Jeff. For Gally. For the home they had made and left behind. For everyone that wasn't sitting around her, safe and out of the Maze. For everyone that was sitting around her. For herself. Slowly, her body shut itself down and she drifted into a restless sleep.


And there it is! Hope you guys enjoyed it, both this chapter and the story as a whole! I enjoyed writing it and I'm excited for the sequel. I am going to take a little break so expect the sequel up in a couple of weeks. I'm still working on some kinks, editing, revising, rewriting, all that jazz and still working on a title. Thank you so much for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing! It means so much! You guys are amazing! Thank you again! And see you soon! Xx