Chapter Twenty One:
WICKED Email, Date 232.1.27, Time 9:13
Recipient: Board Director Deacon
Sender: Ava Paige, Chancellor
Subject: Who the hell do you think you are?
Deacon I for one know the bad blood between us, but to stoop so low. It's humourous at best, but did you think I wouldn't notice the agreement you signed off on!? To sign off a death warrant on the subjects- more so my Son… Who the hell do you think you are? Thanks to you, we've lost potential subjects last night. Your obvious attempt to personally attack me from the rafters hasn't yeiled it's desired effect. He is very much alive, for if he wasn't we'd be having this conversation face to face. And trust me that wouldn't had been a pleasant meeting. We all agreed to allowing a horde of Grievers to be set free only, only when the subjects we're nearing the exit, but thanks to that stunt we're nearing the home bound stretch slightly off then predicted. I hope you're happy!
WICKED Email, 232.1.27, Time 13:29
Recipient: Ava Paige, Chancellor
Sender: Deacon, Board Director
Subject: ?
Ava what are you going on about? It's probably the stress and the genetic mapping, what you need is a stiff drink and a vacation. I for one would be honored in taking over operations as interim Chancellor… I hear - is lovely this time of year. You're running yourself ragged these days if you're jumping to conclusions and pointing fingers. Maybe you're unfit for the position anylonger, let's just see what the board has to say hmm. Or maybe you'll learn to stay quite and not interfere with the desires of your benefactors….!
WICKED Email, 232.1.27, Time 16:55
Recipient: Deacon, Board Director
From: Ava Paige, Chancellor
Subject: The constant undermining.
Deacon why must you persist, I am head of Wicked and that is that. If you wish to bring this to the board, be my guest. Till that time I advise you stay in your place and allow work to commence…. You only want my position, for personal gain. I wholeheartedly for the foreseeable future, will not rest to we have our cure and can safe guard our survival.
WICKED Email, Date 232.1.27, Time 19:00
Recipient: Ava Paige, Chancellor
From: Deacon, Board Director
Subject: Don't test my patience.
Ava, what are we going to do with you? You've let power get to you're head- and yet you forget to recall, I'm the only person you confined in, that actually knows how you got this position. It would be dreadful if the truth go out. I think you'll stand aside as I clean up the mess you've failed to do all these odd years ago. Yours in confidence, Deacon.
WICKED Email, Date 232.1.27, Time 19:13
Recipient: Unknown
Sender: Ava Paige, Chancellor
Subject: Urgent
I already know that you have a busy schedule and alot on your plate despite my time frames set on you. But I need a personal favor. I need board member Deacon delt with discreetly and soon. He poses as threat to the trials.. If I am removed from power, everything will go up in smoke. I've trusted on you time and again, I know you won't let me down… No reply needed.
Possibly a day has past it seems as I awoke to a medical bed, Teresa and some of the others are all around me.
"We got it!"
"Got what? I asked a tad bit groggy.
"The code to Maze, the final pieces of the puzzle."
Said Nox and Minho, just as Teresa was done with extracting enough blood to make my plan work. Thomas was aside of me just not talking but closely paying attention to whatever I had to say.
"This is it then, the count down!" I roar in rejoice.
"We just need a few brave souls willing to go with you while the rest of us clear a second path to exit," Teresa mentioned. Thomas eyes store and I could feel them bury into my flesh, but oddly I couldn't be bothered- he wasn't the priority at this point.
"T minus 24 hours, that when we'll we taste freedom, that's when the our hardest battle begins."
Truth be told, I fear failing them. It would be easier to quit and let someone esle do this. But who? It had to be me, although my run ins of near death experiences, it only a matter of time to my luck runs out. There was side conversation left and right, but the common nosie amoung us was rumbling stomach's. It was to apparent that all conversation stopped. It was time to eat.
Heading to the kitchen everyone follows in tow even Thomas. Newt has become the leader for the time being so he's running around tending to everything. He's well informed about the plan. Thomas and Minho are still allowed to run Maze like usual. He also has given myself power to form a small squad of willing Gladers for my plan.
Taking a seat with my tray of mush, Chuck is trying to engage conversation between Thomas and I. Nox was trying to stop him, but I couldn't really blame Chuck fot trying to fix things. Orwell is off doing other tasks provided by Newt. Winston and Raphael packing first aid equipment. I guess better safe the sorry.
After eating I got up and with minimal searching I found the guys. Quint and Steven, Poe and Lucas. The five of us took a walk around the Glade as I laid out everything that was planned. I needed help, no matter how brave I saw myself as the truth remain I need assistance on getting us the hell home.. I sigh as the more I went into detail the pale freight of dying scurried on each of their face. Either it be another invasion or our escape the odds our not fair.
Some will die- this is a absolute truth. No matter what fear I feel this for the good of everyone. But doubt has an uncanny way of tunneling inside me. Yet pressing matter is the oncoming fight. Where is this dread coming from? Am I slowly losing my sanity? Just a fee days ago I was brave and brash- now I'm sliently tormented of a scary reality.
I can't save them all… I want to and I'm willing to fight for it, but the truth remains the same despite my best wishes. To succeed, first I must become the master of my fear of failure, as well the melancholy of ones who died, that plagues me so. I nearly submit quitting. All that which was sacrifice to get us where we are at this moment- will be for naught if I can't get a shucking grip.
The swelling maelstrom of fear is encroching around my mind, tearing at my synapses, darkening my senses. The world is a blurred hue around my irises that the entirety of the Glade has darken worse then what it is now. Everyone around are dancing shadows- I'm losing basis with sound and perception. Fear unending, the bodies of friends and ally's life in a sewing circle around a lone survior. Me!
But as the darkness is about to sallow my body whole the storm subsidies as my fading resolve kick in, pushing out past fear, thrusting me into forward thinking. A stark outlook but a true one. Words, unabridged in meaning form in my thoughts and thoart. Thusly I turn to them and speak.
"Let me be blunt. I need help luring and killing Grievers a few hours ahead of the escape. This will buy time for the others solve the Maze allowing everyone to go home."
"That a little to much for me, you saw what happened last night. Count me out!" Said Poe as he walked away.
"I get this is likely a sucide mission, but we have my blood that can kill them," I said trying to rally back Poe.
"Greenie I think I stand a better chance with the escape party no offense," sighed Lucas who followed alongside Poe.
"Quint, Steven?"
"Count us in, we're ready!" They said.
"Meet at the map room this evening."
Now all there was left to do was have the blood drain from my body and into jars. Maybe I'll get one of the MedJacks to do it? Then again I might upset Teresa. I figured I had an hour to myself so decided to go the river and reflect. That riverbank had became my getaway from everyone despite wanting to just get the blood work done with. On the way there I pass by the shack to check on Orwell but he's knocked out like usual. He could sleep through anything.
The big red hair was still sore over losing his friends. If I wasn't a critical part to the escape then I would literally lay back and let others do the heavy lifting. Perhaps not I usually find myself doing for others then I do for myself.
I gotta say I enjoy not having anyone talking in my head as of late relaxing. Thomas was still brooding over the incident. Teresa, well Teresa just doing her best. As I reach the edge I peer into the river to see my reflection. Did I do the right thing by forcing Thomas's hand like that, was it even worth it in the end. By tomorrow I might be dead it could be easy if I give up. Doubt has once again has reared its ugly head. It was to good to be true. I talk a big game it would seem, but there was fear in vast quantity. There wasn't a source fueling my rage and courage. Not since I wronged Thomas.. The voice was right. The one who's been apart of me the last few days. Fear... It words convincing me to give in. I was alone now so of it would flare up even worse. I should just quit. But that would equal condemning everyone to death. Escape was just a lofty dream because we had nothing better to strive for. Something are just meant to be. I'm just a foolish to ever believing in finding a way out. We we're damned from the start! I sighed slowly as I look at grey skies reflection of the surface of the waters. For once I resonate with the bleak skyline. But then something over came me, a voice. Prehaps the one that's call it's home inside my psyche.
"Of all people Greenbean, I wouldn't imagine you'd give up so easily!" Spoke a voice that reply to my inner thoughts. It wasn't neither Thomas or Teresa and I was all alone out here. Despite the grey of the day I saw In the river, a figure behind me. But as I turn around- no one. I went to face the river and then I saw his face. Toven….
"That's not possible. You're, you're-"
"What dead?" He said in his usual tone."What about it Greenie we all got to go one day. Some sooner then later."
"You're not here just a manifestation of my conscience." I said slowly but still very shocked.
"Listen, believe what you wanna, feel how you wanna. But don't go quitting and turning you're back on them. I knew most of them have gave you hell." Toven said blunt and serious as possible. "Ever since you arrived things have been different they have hope and a way out. This is thanks you and Thomas."
Toven places his hand on my shoulder or so it seems in the reflection. I'm overwhelmed with joy and sorrow. I didn't care if I was going insane but whatever this moment was I didn't want it to end. Tears streaming down my face ten fold.
"What do I do then?"
"You've always had the answer you shuck face, keep fighting and roll with the punches and don't let mine and any one else death here be in vain. It's going to only get harder from here on out, stay true to yourself and those around you."
"What if I fail? What if I can't go on Toven then what?"
"Turn to your friends, you're all each other's support system."
"You're right Toven, I know what I must do. Till next we meet old friend…."
"Right on Greenie. And if you see Orwell tell him I'm sorry and that I'll see him on the other side."
Wiping the tears away Toven was gone but the strength to carry on was here.. I know what must be done. Find Teresa to extract more blood while work out a plan and get some rest in. But there is one bit of unpleasantness to tend to. Now I have to chase after Newt, everything has to come full circle before we can proceed. If it wasn't for Toven's word's, I wouldn't know where I have to be- that's besides them to the very end.
A/N: An emotional chapter to tie in the remaning chapters Sometimes fear can take you over at the last minute.