A/N: I rarely write in third person saving it for certain plot points and epilogues. This chapter and possibly the next will be so in such manner. Because we in the movie are given the view of what WICKED been doing to Minho and felt to make the story longer I would expand upon that. We're taking a break from the main story to delve deeper. Sorry in advance. If this isn't interesting just skip to chapter nine when it's out. Thanks.
Chapter Seven:
Teresa watch endlessly as more and more subject's had been wired up to extract a serum from their blood by inducing them into a nightmarish state. Minho seem the most productive but they needed more. This to all accords is a risky gambit.
"Now starting experiment on Subject C-29." The head doctor said as he flip the switch.
"Alright then, I'll go pick my next subject." Teresa spoke calmly leaving the room.
A short child dangles off the ground. Unaware of her surroundings or proceedings. She was helpless like her friend who she heard wail in pain before too becoming a victim. They've all become victims.
Four sided walls tall as skyscrapers little with rust and growth of vine. Four door leading into an a abyss of a puzzle. The smell of fresh Earth of ripe fruits and vegetables. The smell of cattle in the distant. Of forest and pine. Of food being cooked it's aroma wafting along the air. A smell of BLOOD. Some fresh and some dried. The sounds of people beating each other senseless in a crafted Arena where the center of the town.
"No. Why this place again?" Curie screams internally at her sights, which is set on the Drone. She ran from the match going on, ran inside to a familiar shack that always kept her safe. Burying her head in a pillow crying her self clean of tears.
"Your over dramatic kid, I won my match so eat your fill." A tall male with a large gash across his lips and a blackened eye, and dirty blonde hair walked into the shack with bread and jams, meats and vegetables. A small fellow with earrings clip to ears with his jacket tied around his stomach holding mugs of water came following. Quickly she picks her head out of the pillow relieved to the sound of familiar voice.
"Theta." She murmurs tears filling her eyes. As she jump off her bed still not believing her eyes.
"Oh come on Curie, we have more than enough to share with Leon here."
"Hey Cue." He said with folded arms.
"It's not that. It feels so unrealistic seeing you again."
"You saw me this morning. Don't tell me you're coming down with a cold?" He asks her concerned. "Leon go see if anyone's willing to trade for medicine."
Before Leon could leave she ran into Theta arm's tears streaming down her hazel face. Her fluffy hair rustling in his firm chest.
"I'm, I'm fine." She said wiping her tears.
"Curie please eat, you'll feel better." Theta said tempting her growling stomach.
"Oh did you hear about the newbie? They said he took down Hermes in under a minute." Leon spoke up to change the subject.
"I watched his fight this afternoon. Nyx was his name, he made fast enemies with Jacob." Theta confirmed the fact.
"He should be wary of who he makes friends with here. Nearly everyone is loyal to Jacob or willing to sell information to Jacob to save their skins." Curie pondered as she though about meeting him.
The three of them then ate, as Curie soon tended to fresh scar on Theta face from getting infected. She couldn't believe her eyes but her closest friend in the world was with her again.
"Why don't you tell her the good news, Theta?" Leon said.
"What good news?" She asked from her bed. A peach in hand.
Theta gingerly rubbed his black eye while taking a sip of water before saying anything. "Well there's three fights left for me, then we can be free. But…" He paused.
"But those fights are to the death, the best of the best are here." Leon completes Theta sentence.
"That's great but aren't you ranked third?" Curie asks rather cautiously.
"I am." He replied looking away.
"That's why I didn't want to say anything because I might not go through with it! Theta said with resolve. He wasn't a killer.
There was an long silence in the shack before Leon slammed his fist into the wooden walls. Curie now leaning forward her short legs hovering over the edge of the bed.
"Horse shit, I've waited too long to go up against you. You can't quit on me." Leon cursed his frustration out.
"Absolutely not. He will not fight you, even if it means I have to start fighting myself."
"That's funny Curie, but the Drone prides on bloodshed and fighting. So is it nature. Or so as Jacob decreed." Leon mocks her valor.
"Leon, someone has to look after Curie if things go wrong. I can't kill you. And Tesla is a madman who I'm not to keen on. I only allow her to study under him is because, Socrates and Plato are there. Them I trust."
"Well then, it seems I'm taking a dive. Winners choice, you either kill his foe or spare him. But if you spare me, I'll start from rank 33. I'll work my way back up to Jacob someday." Leon said defeated.
"Why haven't you taken him on already?" Curie asks.
"Jacob is a savage brute who has a talent for breaking bones and people. I fell like I can't just take him yet. Beside I've made my way to where I am with my fists alone. Jacob uses a melody of weapons. Have you seen his prize possession? It's sword that's doubles as an over size hacksaw."
"Are you sure about starting over?" Theta asked.
"Shut up before I change my mind dude." Leon muttered.
About an hour later, the conversation changed over and over. Until Wilhelm walked in bringing some news.
"Theta I have request for you, it's from Jacob." He said with a uneven look on his face. Wilhelm knew it was bad news he came to bring.
"What could he want?" Theta pondered.
"He's offering you a way out for the two of you. But he request you leave for the Maze at once and bring him the head of Joanna."
"No one he's sent has come back, don't take it! Leon said sharply. "He fears you and doesn't want to go up against you."
"Wilhelm tell your brother he can forget it." Curie spoke up before Theta.
"Both of you that's enough!" Theta snapped. "The risk is worth it. Soon will be free to make our own lives outside. Find our families."
"But you are my family. Please Theta rethink this." Curie strained to say through a hoarse voice and tears.
Theta stood up and plop his hand down on her fluffy hair before kissing her on the forehead. He stood there for a moment holding her. The girl who had been his strength for the last two years. She was the one person that kept him alive. She was his family, a darling younger sister who was to smart for her own good. He knew this was a goodbye but he needed to try. He let the Drone change his very essence. But he needn't become a thoughtless killer like Jacob wanted in the arena. Joanna means their freedom if he were to succeed.
"Curie I do this for you. Should anything go wrong, I'll always be with you watching over your shoulder. The right people will fill the whole I make, but they are going to want the best for you. Whoever they maybe. So forgive me in advance." He spoke softly to her hugging her to his side. His pale complexion melts with her darker skin in jumble of warmth. He breaks away grabbing his lance and runs for the door calling back,"Leon you're in charge now!"
Curie face red and streaming with hot tears, bolts for the door. But Leon grips her by the stomach holding her back as she screams, cries, kicks and curse fighting back against Leon. "Theta. No not again. I didn't get to say goodbye." With one last pull she breaks free and rushes out the door where only a white void meets her. Faces of people who matter. One by one calling out to her. Nyx who sprung them all from the Drone. To Ross who was smiling and welcoming. Hugging her tightly whispering in her ear.
'I'll be at your side till the end.'
Inside of large operating room the machine went off in alarms and beeps. No longer working to its function. Doctors panicking and Nurses running about. She was awake her eyes no longer glazed over. Teresa quickly walks into the room to calm the small girl down. They had drain her of very little serum.
"Curie, can you hear me. I need you to relax, your safe." Teresa cooed shining the small medical flash light in her eye for a response.
"The machine and the simulation isn't working on her."
"Adjust the settings then." Teresa motion the Doctor.
"She short circuited it. That shouldn't be possible."
"Curie answer me if you hear my voice, it's Teresa."
"You. You figured you could use the past to hurt me into submission. But I've made peace with it long ago. I have people who given me the will to carry on." Curie said dangling her eyes focused.
"We've got it running again but somehow she's resisting it. What's giving her the stability to do so?" The Doctor asked perplexed.
"I believe I know." Teresa said mournfully.
"You sold all of us out. Aren't you ashamed. Don't you feel horrible."
"No!" Teresa snapped. "I'm doing what's right."
"What about Minho. He was your friend too? I hear his screams for fear of his life. How could you? Where's you're heart at witch?" Curie said cutting jabs at her ego and mind.
"It's for the greater good!" Teresa replied loudly believing she was just.
"I hope you kept that saying to the end. Just wait to Ross and Thomas find out about what you've done to Minho. They're going to kill you."
"I…"
"Your foolish if you think there not coming for us. I'm not going to forget. I'll tell them everything. Everything Teresa. These walls won't feel so safe any longer."
"Unhook her and escort her back to the others. Subject test failure."
Teresa began to walk away when they carry Curie back to the others.
"I'll tell them!" Curie screamed staring her enemy right in the eyes. Teresa was her enemy one she could put a name to then the rather ambiguous WICKED or Ava Paige whom she nearly had contact with before the abduction. But he had always felt iffy about Teresa and now she was certain.
"Prep subject C-2 for extraction." Teresa said needing to take a break from the conversation.
"They're going to kill you, and I'm going to help. I'm going to pluck your eye's out. Just you wait, just you wait. Your days are numbered Teresa." Curie had been laughing and screaming at Teresa. Smiling while spit flys out of her mouth.
There had been no response from Teresa as she was already gone. Gone from dealing with such hostility in such a small package. She knew if Curie broke free she'd be in trouble that kid has caused and still causing to be trouble for WICKED. Hacking terminals, disabling cameras, releasing sensitive files to anyone who could get their hands on them. Her very action to the organization has been very visceral and livid. If she had all her memories there would a lot more worse she would do. But Teresa who had hidden away from what it appeared from Curie perspective had found herself thinking why they failed to contain her extraction. Perhaps she would revise the way they went about it. But time wasn't on her side. The Flare had began to become a problem so huge it was only a matter of time before chaos would descend down upon the city and the outer ring. Rumors had been shared among voices. It's believed the virus is evolving. But they were rumors right?
Guards about six of them needed to escort her back into holding when she finally caught a glimpse of her new friend in need. All she could do was cry out and hope her words reached him.
"Keep fighting Minho. Don't give in." Curie snarls loudly as they drag her past the room where Minho is hooked up. She wasn't there long enough for a response of sorts. But to prevent a repeat performance they sedate her before shoving her into a elevator. The world goes dark for her.