As I peaked out from my hiding spot and caught Minho's eye, I had to use all of my strength to restrain myself. I wanted to apologize and fix things with him. I also wanted to run to Thomas and Newt and hug them both because they were here and alive. So was Chuck. After seeing that they were all alive and Dr. Paige started talking, I decided it was best to return to my duties before anyone noticed my absence. I hope they take Group A to the same place as B so that I can sneak in to see them.
I quietly and quickly make my way back through the underground tunnels to WICKED headquarters. Once there, I go to the exercise room where the girls are being kept. It's my job to bond with them today so that's what I plan on doing.
When I reach the large room, I push open the doors and see them all sitting in different groups talking amongst themselves. Immediately I spot Sonya and Harriet and join them.
"Hey guys," I call as I sit down next to them.
Sonya smiles at me, "Ellie! Hey!"
Harriet also smiles and says, "Hi."
"Did I miss anything? Sorry, I had something to do this morning and then I got side-tracked." I try my best to explain without giving away all details of my searching files and finding Group A's escaped.
Sonya frowns and I know something's wrong. I look between them confused, "What?"
Harriet sighs and leans in so I follow suit, "This morning one of the Creators, I think you called them, came in here and told us what's actually happening when we take the tunnels through the Scorch."
I furrow my eyebrows, "What do you mean?"
Sonya looks at me sadly, "We, uh, we were told that our mission is to find Group A and then once we do that, there's one that we were told to kill."
"KILL?" I practically shout but Sonya clamps a hand over my mouth.
"Please don't yell. The others are already a little shaken at the thought of having to kill someone. Frankly we aren't fond of the idea but we were promised that if we do then we get a cure to the disease they told us about and we can go to the safe haven." Sonya explains and then Harriet takes over.
"I know that last night we promised to work with you, but we can't pass up the chance to get a cure and to be safe once and for all. They guaranteed our safety getting to Group A and if we don't follow their orders then we put all our lives at risk. I'm sorry Ellie but we can't stay here and work with you. We want you to come with us." Harriet earnestly says.
I stare in shock, "Wait, let me get this straight. You want me to come with you through the Scorch and kill a member of Group A? The same group of boys that I spent months trapped in the Maze with? Are you crazy?"
Harriet shakes her head, "It sounds crazy but it guarantees our safety. As leader of this group," Sonya clears her throat and Harriet rolls her eyes, "Co-leader of the group my goal is to keep my girls and Aris safe. I'm sorry that the boys mean a lot to you but seeing as we've never met them, yes, I'm willing to sacrifice one of them for the lives of about 30 girls. So, are you with us?"
I start shaking my head at the craziness. How could WICKED want me to bond with these girls when they planned on sending them off to kill one of my friends? They must have plotted this whole thing to see what kind of killzone patterns it would generate. I hate them! I absolutely hate them.
"Look, I understand your reasoning behind following their orders but I can't come with you guys. Group A is here already. I just saw them…"
"Wait, you saw them? So then why did you come back to us?" Sonya asks curiously.
"Yeah I saw them this morning. I was snooping but that's beside the point. I came back because I promised I would and because I must continue to convince WICKED I'm on their side. I'm sorry I can't come with you but, uh there are people I need to keep safe too." I say looking down at my bracelets. I play with the one Thomas gave me as a child.
Sonya puts her hand over mine and I look up and meet her eyes, "It's okay Ellie. We get it. There's obviously someone you care about that you don't want to leave behind. So, go find them and don't let them out of your sight. Do what you have to, but keep yourself safe too."
"But Sonya, I just got you back," I choke on unshed tears, "I need my best friend."
Sonya smiles softly and pulls me into a hug, "I know Ellie, I'm sorry we couldn't have much of a reunion because I don't have all my memories but I know we will cross paths again. Remember, we have to find Group A? So that means you will be there with them. Make sure to stick with them. It's important that you're always with them. And whoever it is that made you get that sad look, talk to them. I can tell you care about them deeply."
I smile at her, "How is it that you always know what to say?"
"It's a gift," She smirks causing me to giggle.
Sonya, Harriet and I spend the next few minutes just chatting about nonsense things. It's an attempt to keep the mood light because they're nervous about their mission and I'm nervous about what lies ahead for me once Group B leaves.
A few hours later, a WICKED doctor enters the room.
"Elizabeth, if you could step into the hall. You've been reassigned." He says all business like.
I stand up and hug Sonya and Harriet goodbye. They promise to stay safe and I promise to look after myself. Even though I only got a day with them, I know I'll miss them a lot because Sonya's my best friend and Harriet has become a friend. I silently vow to find them once phase 2 is over.
Once I'm in the hallway the doctor nudges me and points down the hall. I take it he wants me to walk that way so I start walking.
"Where have I been reassigned to?" I ask.
The man looks at me skeptically, "To a different Group."
My heart starts beating fast at that. There's only one other Group, Group A. That means I'm finally going to be reunited with them. I start to get nervous because now I can't avoid any conversations with Minho. What if he doesn't want to talk to me? What if he hates me? What if something happened to not only him but the others when I left before? WICKED could've done something.
I try to steady my breathing as we take various twists and turns to our destination. I am back where I started my day: in the underground chamber. Except this time, it looks like disaster has struck. I see two figures lying on the floor and stop walking. One is Gally and his face is mutilated, it looks like someone beat him up horribly. And next to him is Chuck. I can't tell if he is still breathing but it looks like he is surrounded by blood! Fear grips my heart and I can't bear to think about what happened.
"CHUCK!" I scream and run towards him but am stopped by someone.
Dr. Paige steps in front me, "Elizabeth, we don't have much time. Group A has just left on the bus. The exercise room is currently being converted to a dormitory and the neighboring rooms are also being transformed. That hallway will now be under tight security and no one can enter or exit. I have instructed the driver to take them through the Scorch and hold them off for three hours while we prepare. A worker will be on their bus and explain everything about the Flare to them. She is instructed to tell them that they are in the hands of an anti-WICKED organization but that is not the truth. However, you are NEVER to reveal that to them. In that time Group B will be released into the Scorch and you will be sent to be with Group A since that is where your room is located. However, you are NOT to sleep in the dormitory. You will return each night to your sleeping quarters. Also, you are NOT to tell them anything about our plans for phase 2. If you do, you will find there will be repercussions. Do you understand me Elizabeth?"
"What happened to Chuck? He needs help! Can't you see that! And why should I listen to you now if you plan on lying to them?!" I start screaming at her but suddenly a pain shoots through her arm and it sends me to the floor clutching it in agony.
"What are you doing to me?" I shout at her through gritted teeth.
Dr. Paige crouches down, "I have done nothing. But I said, if you act out or talk to Group A about any plans you may have insight into, there will be consequences. This is the repercussion."
"An agonizing pain through my arm?" I cringe as the pain starts to dull.
"Elizabeth, we have a plan and we need to follow it for the sake of the greater good. I thought you understood that? Now, please pull yourself together because we need you. So, will you cooperate?"
I bite my tongue and mutter, "Yes," trying to mask my hatred for them.
"Good, now, please go to your sleeping quarters and remember everything we have just discussed. You will also need to prep for phase 2 since you are going to be participating. Someone will be by to tell you when you are permitted to interact with Group A." Dr. Paige says matter of fact.
I nod stiffly and run towards my room. Once inside, I stop short and stare in horror at the newest additions to my room. Sitting on my desk are a pile of papers from prior to the Maze. It's all my sketches and plans for Beetle Blades and Grievers plus my maps of the killzone sections and functions. I groan in frustration, not wanting to see them right now and dive under my covers. I need sleep desperately, especially if I have to face Minho and Thomas. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall into a restless, dreamless sleep.
A banging on my door jolts me awake and before I respond a girl barges into the room. It's Brenda.
"Brenda? What are you doing in my room?" I ask completely forgetting I haven't seen her around yet.
"Doesn't matter," she says closing the door behind her, "but I need you to trust me. Things are going to be happening soon and you need to stay level-headed. Just remember to trust me no matter what, I'm on your side okay?"
I look at her skeptically, "Um, sure."
"I know you're super confused right now but I had to tell you that before I go back to doing what WICKED asked of me. So now I'm to escort you to the Group A dormitory which is down the hall in the old exercise room. You got this Ellie, just don't let their stupid games and Variables get you down oh and play dumb. When it doubt, pretend you don't know their plans, got it?"
I nod still confused but figuring I'll sort it out later. She then ushers me out of the room and down the hall towards the new dormitory. When she pushes me through the door I take a deep breath and try to focus.
The room smells of pizza and that's when I notice how few of the boys made it out alive. They're all stuffing their faces and Teresa is also there eating pizza. She looks up at me and I glare at her. Now that I know she's playing them all and has no memory loss I refuse to be nice. No one else notices me at first and that's when I notice Chuck isn't there. Hopefully WICKED is still trying to heal him?
"Ellie?!" I hear someone call my name and then am engulfed in a hug.
I feel the familiar strong arms around me and stiffen. The arms immediately release me.
I turn around and see Minho take a step back and sheepishly rub the back of his neck.
"Uh, it's good to see that you're alive and safe." He says awkwardly.
"Yeah, um, you too." I say just as awkwardly blushing because of how uncomfortable things are with us.
I sigh and really look him in the eyes, "What's happened to you guys. Why are there so few of you?"
He looks uncomfortable, "We had to fight off Grievers and lost half of us in the process and then, um, when we got here, uh.."
"What happened Minho? I saw Chuck and Gally on the floor. Both looked hurt, have they not been healed yet?" I ask him really concerned for Chuck. I could care less about Gally.
Min looks shocked at me, "El, Chuck is…"
"Chuck died, Ellie. WICKED killed him right in front of us and acted like it was no big deal. They bloody killed him, Ellie. He's gone."
I whirled around at the voice and found Newt looking completely heart broken. I flung myself into his arms and buried my face in his shoulder. As I hugged him, I saw Thomas standing alone; he hasn't noticed me yet. He seems to be sulking so I'll wait until tomorrow to talk to him too.
"Newt, please tell me you're lying?" I clutch onto his shirt as I say it and he takes the moment to pull back from the hug and look me in the eyes.
"I'm so sorry Ellie. We all tried our hardest but it happened so fast and buggin' Gally, that bloke did it! Tommy's taking it the hardest, though. Think's it's all his fault and won't talk to anyone." He says broken.
Surprisingly, I don't cry. I think it's the shock.
"It's no one's fault but WICKED's." I say sternly. Min and Newt look at me hesitantly.
Min steps closer to me and I engulf him in a hug regretting how rude I was to him when I first arrived.
I take the closeness to whisper to him, "I promise we will talk. I want to fix us because I've really missed you Min."
His grip tightens around me and he whispers back, "I want to fix us too El."
We then separate and share a look before Newt claps a hand on my shoulder.
"Right, well, we are trying to keep a light mood tonight, so have some pizza!" He says with fake cheer and I can't help but giggle at him.
I then join them and greet the other boys who survived. About an hour later a representative comes into the room.
"If I can have everyone's attention, please. Teresa, you are to sleep in that room over there," the woman points at a door with Teresa's name on it across the hall, "the rest of you are to sleep in your assigned room. Elizabeth, I was told to make sure you still know your quarters and rules?"
I blush at being called out but nod, "Yes, ma'am." I receive looks of concern from Minho, Newt and Thomas. It's the first time Thomas has acknowledged me and I see his shock at seeing me. I try to catch his eye but he immediately looks away.
"Right, that will be all. You have an hour before lights out. Elizabeth, please come with me. I am also to escort you out." The woman says and stands expectantly.
I give Min, Newt and Thomas one last look before standing to follow the woman out of the room and into the hallway. I hope my look conveyed that I will see them tomorrow.
When I get to my room the woman stops me before I can enter.
"Miss Elizabeth, should you need anything during the night, there will be a security guard stationed around the corner. Try not to need anything though. And remember, don't tell…"
"Don't tell them anything. Yes, that has been made quite clear," I say rubbing my arm.
She nods and then waits for me to enter my room before leaving. As her footsteps disappear, I sit on my bed and think about everything I learned today.
WICKED has no cure and has made no progress. Group B, Sonya and Harriet are gone on a mission to kill someone from Group A. I never did find out who. WICKED is pretending to be Group A's saviors. They're making me play along. Brenda needs me to trust her. If I speak out, WICKED sends pain through my arm: the one they altered when I got injured by that Griever all those days ago. Explains why I thought I still needed the brace. Plus, I'm going to be a subject in phase 2. Thomas, Min and Newt are safe. Chuck died.
I block out any feelings and force myself to focus on facts. I keep repeating facts to myself until I eventually fall asleep. I need to clear my head and there's only one way for me to do that. I need to find the dance studio first thing tomorrow.
A/N: Thank you thank you everyone who reviewed and followed! It makes me smile hearing your thoughts. There is going to be one or two chapters left depending on how next chapter goes. I already have the sequel planned and it will follow the Scorch Trials book and their journey (plus the addition of Ellie obviously). The bigger Min/El reunion/talk will take place next chapter!