Suddenly, the memory-dream stopped. All I saw now was the blackness of my closed eyelids. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I opened my eyes. I was curled on the floor in a fetal position, my knees tucked to my chest. Looking up, I saw a group of boys in a circle enveloping me, their concerned glances watching me. Kneeling next to me, Newt's hand was on my shoulder.

It felt nice, his warm touch, but I knew what would happen if I allowed myself to be weak. I shrugged him off and stood up. The gladers all stared at me as if I'd come back from death. I suppose I had, in a way. It just wasn't my death.

"Care to explain yourself, Thomas? What was that? And how did you-"

Before I could finish, I was interrupted by a voice inside my head.

Can you hear me?

I gasped and started backing up.

No, it couldn't be. I saw him die.

Hello? Rachel?

I tilted my head to the side, listening. No, it wasn't him. It wasn't Tag's voice. It sounded more like-

Aris? I called out in my mind to him.

Yes! Thomas, are you here too?

Yup. It was Thomas' voice this time who answered.

"Could someone please explain what's going on?" Minho demanded.

"She can do telepathy too now. I think I triggered something in her brain by saying those words," Thomas answered.

"Oh, you sure triggered something. I was bloody afraid she was gonna die," Newt muttered, not meaning for me to hear. It brought an involuntary blush to my cheeks. Thankfully, no one noticed. Everyone else still looked pretty confused, so I was going to explain more, when I was interrupted.

"I remember you," Thomas blurted out suddenly, distracting me. How could he remember me? I certainly didn't remember him. Well, to be fair, I didn't have any memories at all, so I suppose it was possible. "Back when I used to work for W.I.C.K.E.D. And, well, you might want to sit down."

I promptly sat criss-cross applesauce on the floor and motioned for him to continue. He took a deep breath.

"When I used to work for W.I.C.K.E.D., I remember watching over two mazes: Group A, our group, and Group B, Aris' group. However, there was a third... experiment." He took another deep breath.

"It was virtual reality, a kind of psychological test. W.I.C.K.E.D. created this chamber where they could control all of the conditions, sort of like the maze, but even more intricate. It had a full-body suit and, once inside, they could make you feel things so realistic, you wouldn't realize you were still in the virtual world. I have a memory of eavesdropping on a conversation where some of the scientists were discussing which kid to use in the 'Last Man Standing' analysis. They pulled a picture of you as a younger kid up on their computer screen, and I saw their heads nodding.

Rachel, I think they ended up using you. You were the one put in the virtual reality suit. The other people in your Maze, they didn't really die, they just never existed in the first place. I- I'm so sorry."

For what felt like an hour, nobody moved. Nobody spoke. I could hardly breathe. I stared, numb, into the distance. I couldn't move, couldn't gasp. Heck, I couldn't even cry.

I couldn't feel a thing. I was past feeling now.

All those memories, all those friends, were fake? How? And if they were, how could I be sure this was real life now? I let out a harsh chuckle. Oh, I understood my nickname now. I could almost feel my grip on reality sliding away.

Then, through the clouds, a ray of sunshine broke through. Just when I felt all alone, I felt two hands being placed on my shoulders. I looked up to see Thomas and Newt giving me sad smiles. It was then that the thought occurred to me.

"Well, hallelujah!" I announced, surprising everyone. I'm pretty sure Frypan's jaw touched the floor. I stood up.

"Don't you see? This means they aren't dead! Sure, they never existed in the first place, and that's going to haunt me for the rest of my pitiful little life, but at least I'm not responsible. I'm not responsible for their deaths!"

Minho nudged Newt and whispered something that sounded suspiciously like 'I understand her tattoo now,' but I chose to ignore him. Inside, my heart was crumbling and shattering, the pieces breaking off one by one, but I had to put on a happy face for the others.

"Now come on, let's find a way out of this blasted place."