Hello, fellow Gladers. Thank you for all the kind reviews. I really appreciate them.

Again, I have to remind people that don't own anything and that I'm not James Dasher

My PM is always open for questions or anything that comes to your mind.

now, for the story...

Chapter 12 - WICKED

More distracted than usual, I noticed that instead of drawing my map I was writing my thoughts. How I did that I can't even imagine.

One sentence stood out: I love you. I drew Newt's name after it. Shaking my head, I continued to run.

Running back from my section I looked down and saw another interesting sentence: the maps are the key to escape. I added 'look overtop' to it before I heard a dreaded clicking sound.

It was a griever.

I put my notes in my backpack and bolted.

The sounds came closer.

As it rounded the corner I smacked into another. My backpack slipped out of my grasp.

...

The Grievers held me down, looking ready to kill me. I closed my eyes tight and thought of Newt.

Nothing happened.

I opened my eyes.

...

The Grievers were holding my arms back but they weren't doing anything. Suddenly a drone came from the sky.

It landed next to me with a light thump and a man exited. "Come with me willingly or I will have our creatures sting you." I followed meekly, leaving the only home I'd known and all my loved ones, not wanting the risk of being stung.

The man stayed quiet the whole time. He didn't say anything or acknowledge me and my questions. We landed after a long trip and unbearable silence. He dragged me out of the drone and toward a large, imposing building. The building was devoid of any color.

He led me into a room with two chairs. He threw me into one chair before leaving and locking the door.

All I could do was stare blankly at the boring, white wall.

I thought of Newt and immediately panicked. He would think I died. Especially if my backpack was found. Before I could do anything drastic, a man came in.

...

The man reminded me of a rat. Beady black eyes, twitching nose, and pointed face. I half expected his voice to squeak.

"Subject A13: The Sky or Coin if you will. You have been brought here to-" He spoke in a cold, commanding voice. I could hear the power behind his words. This rat-like man was used to respect.

Sorry to disappoint him.

I interrupted his probably well-rehearsed speech. "What the bloody hell does that mean?"

He looked up making me notice the soullessness in his beady black eyes. "It's how we identify all the subjects here."

I scowled, annoyed at the man already. "Who is we?"

The man looked back at the papers I had noticed. "We, as in Wicked. World in Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department. We are searching for a cure."

I was growing exasperated. "And a cure for what?"

He continued without looking up. "The Flare."

I rolled my eyes. "Great description. Could you give me a little bit more bloody info? I have absolutely no bloody idea of what's going on. You could cut me some slack or have someone explain everything. Or at least something!" I was shouting at the end. To be fair I had been dragged from my home and stuffed onto a plane after being scared half to death. Now I have to deal with a rat who seems to think I'm incompetent.

The rat man looked up, folding his hands neatly in a well-practiced manner. "I don't like your tone. If you're misbehaving or you disobey the rules we have the power to seriously injure or kill those in Group A or as you called it the Glade. Their lives rest on your shoulders."

My shoulders sagged while the rat-like man smirked. "I'll have Subject A2 show you around. You'll be sleeping with Subjects A1 and B2. We will be watching you, so please, refrain from doing anything drastic. That includes communicating with the subjects in the trials."

I was even more confused than before.

...

Rat man got up and gestured for me to leave. "I'm Director Janson by the way." I nodded slightly while following him out.

We walked in silence as I took everything in.

I seemed to be in a large lab with LOTS of technology and screens. There were people in lab coats everywhere!

Finally, we stopped at a desk. There stood the brown haired teen from my dreams. He seemed older and more confident. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt before confronting him on my dreams.

Rat man spoke to him. "Thomas, you will show Subject A13 around. Answer her questions if necessary. Don't let her go anywhere near the trials."

...

I looked past them to the desk Thomas had been working at. There was a computer screen and in it was showing the glade. I could just make out a figure leaning on the wall of the maze. He seemed to be crying. It was late so the doors were closed.

"Newt?" I pushed past the arguing pair to get closer. Instinctively, I moved my hand over the screen to zoom in.

It was Newt.

He was mumbling a phrase repeatedly. I could barely hear him. "She promised. She bloody promised." He broke off, closing his brown eyes as silent tears. rolled down his face.

George showed up, putting a comforting hand on Newt's arm. George had tears running down his face too.

...

A new voice broke my concentration.

It was a girl's voice. "Are you alright? You're crying."

I hadn't realized I had started crying. I shook my head and covered my face with my hands. The girl's arms encircled me. I cried harder.

I heard her speak again but at a distance "I'll take her to our room. You can show her around later Thomas."

She led me through a labyrinth of corridors until we reached a bland white door.

It led into a large room with three beds; plus two doors leading to elsewhere. The girl directed me toward the unused bed. "It's alright to cry. We all need to it sometimes. Heaven knows how many times Aris has had to deal with me when I was emotional." SHe chuckled weakly. "I'm Rachel by the way."

I wiped my tears away, trying to be brave in this new environment. "I'm Skylar."

She hugged me again. "Nice to meet you, Skylar. I think we'll get along great." She frowned as her eyes caught the other bed in the room. "Our other roommate's Teresa. She's alright but not too welcoming. She spends most of her time with her computer. Thomas is the only one she really talks to."

Rachel's frown turned into a smile as she mentioned the name Aris again. "I spend my time with Aris, my partner, and Thomas, the boy back there. We're not allowed to talk to the other subjects. We just observe them from the Beetle blades."

I nodded, grateful for the information. "Why do you observe the Gladers? What's all this about subjects and trials?" I tried to hide my yawn.

Rachel shook her head as she caught my yawn. "Tomorrow. Get some sleep. It's been a long day for you."

I followed her advice, even if a million questions bounced around my head. I soon drifted off into dreamland.

I'm soooo sorry but I just had to do it. We'll see more of our favorite Glader in the next few chapters. Right now it'll focus on Skylar

Later Gladers...