Hello, Gladers...
*stares at annoyed crowd*
I know I haven't posted in a few days and I left you with that ending...
I apologize. So here's the next chapter...
disclaimer: I don't own anything. James Dasher owns the entire series
on with the story...
Chapter 16 - Escape
Previously
I had to leave this place. It held too many memories, plus they were the reason for all of this bloody mess! They separated us AND kept me here. They probably influenced his thoughts too!
I packed my bag, brought my emergency medical box and turned to leave.
I froze when I heard voices. I threw my bags under my bed, put a bowl of half eaten food on my table and laid on the bed 'asleep.' Thomas and Rachel came in.
They were arguing
"Thomas, when will you understand that Wicked is good. They're trying to help millions of people." Rachel sounded exasperated.
Thomas sounded annoyed when he spoke. "And when will you, Rachel, learn to trust your instincts. Wicked may have a good goal but their methods are far from pure. If we're the key to human survival why don't they isolate us and let us thrive? We could be the future, not the salvation!"
Rachel sounded on the verge of tears. "Thomas, I want to trust my instincts. I want to trust you but I won't leave Aris. He has his head up in the clouds." She sniffed, I could just imagine her green eyes welling up with tears. "Unless his memories are wiped or he has a change of heart I can't leave. He'd become a monster if left alone with Teresa." Rachel paused, I knew she was looking at me. "Why don't you ask Sky? She could use an escape. Especially if she hears about what happened to that poor boy she liked."
I couldn't take it any longer. I 'woke' and startled them. "What are you guys talking about?" I tried to act calm but Rachel saw through my act.
"Why were you crying?" I shook my head. "I don't want to talk about it." I had said it kindly but still slightly firm so she got the hint.
Thomas spoke for the first time, "did you hear what happened to subject A5?"
I nodded, annoyance bleeding through when I spoke. "Yeah. And don't you dare call him a bloody subject!" Thomas nodded in fear but I couldn't care less.
All the kids in the maze were still humans, not test dummies.
"What were you talking about earlier? And Rach, you know Aris would follow you to the ends of the earth right? I know a boy in love and he fell hard."
Rachel blushed, "I know he would but I can't ask him to leave. He still thinks Wicked is good. I still do too, to some degree."
I gave a weak smile. "You're entitled to your own opinions. Now Tommy, what were you talking about? Because if it's an escape I'm in."
Thomas looked at me weirdly when I called him Tommy. "Well, I've been in contact with the Right Arm and I know Mary is too. She plans to leave with them. I'm gonna give her valuable information but I will probably be caught. I know the risk is high but I can't sit around and wait for things to change or for Wicked to find a miraculous cure to save the world. I need to do something." His eyes caught mine, staring hard at me with a hard look. "I can't watch all my friends die. You can leave with Mary if you want. I'd just need to give you some information too."
I took a deep breath, a smirk making its way onto my face. "I'm in."
...
Rachel had left so as to not be caught. Thomas filled me in on a bunch of last minute details while giving me another flash drive and anti-tracking device. It would allow me to detect any unwanted communications with Wicked. Handy.
I was to meet Mary in an hour. During that hour I packed more supplies and snagged a couple of weapons and knives. I slid two knives into my boot soles and hid a gun in my belt.
I found Rachel and we shared a tearful goodbye, in secret of course. I also found Aris. I hugged him like my life depended on it after having dragged him to a secret room.
"Aris, know that what I'm about to do I'm doing it for us. You, me, Rachel, Tommy, and all the other kids in the mazes. Just know you're my brother in all but blood. Tell Rachel I said she is the sister I've always wanted."
Aris held my hands. staring at me with confusion in his eyes. "What are you doing Sky? Why are you telling me this?"
I sighed, hating to leave like this. "I need you to understand why I did it."
I kissed his cheek before walking out. I wiped away the lone tear that made its way down my cheek and ran to find Mary.
...
As soon as the sky became dark Mary and I crept out of the compound. It was surprisingly easy but then she told me Tommy was in charge of surveillance tonight. We made it through the night and toward the mountains.
On the way, I gave Mary the drive in case we were separated. I kept the other one and the portable laptop.
My paranoia proved handy. We were separated on the way during a sandstorm. I made my way to a warehouse while she continued on. My limp wouldn't allow me to continue and I thought she had followed.
Noticing she wasn't here I knew she would keep going. She probably didn't notice I'd left. I knew she would continue on even if she wanted to look for me. She was too valuable to lose. I would make it.
...
As I shut the door to the warehouse I heard growling. "Bloody hell!" I turned only to come face to face with a real crank. I moved to the door and raised my gun. Suddenly the lights came on.
A girl of about 17 came out. "Well, well, what do we have here? You know we haven't seen someone from the Scorch in a long time. Follow me if you don't want to become a chew toy."
I followed after putting my gun away. The girl led me through an abandoned duplex. It seemed that people did business from the place. There were sleeping bags all over the place.
"This is the base. Jorge runs the place, does most of the business too. He'll know what to do with you." She told me gruffly. "I'm Brenda by the way."
I shook her offered hand. "Skylar."
We walked in silence until we reached the top of the complex. There, in a chair, was an older black man. He seemed to be about 40. His accent identified him as Hispanic. "What ya got here Brenda? A new hermana?"
I looked him over. "I think we'll get along just fine Mr. Jorge." I held out my hand. He shook it while laughing. "I like this one, Brenda. She's got fire. What's your story hermana?"
I sat down, next to Brenda, on one of the two couches. "I'm Skylar by the way. I was part of the Maze Trials run by Wicked. After a year I was removed from the maze and placed in the Wicked facility. I worked as a doctor along with my friend Mary. We escaped and were heading to the Right Arm, but we got separated."
The pair seemed surprised but not too surprised. Only my escape seemed to shock them. "Well, you're here now. You can help Brenda. We'll also try to get you back to your friend."
I frowned,"what do you do?"
Brenda answered, her icy demeanor fading after my story. "What don't we do? We sell some of the hard to get items. Mostly on the black market. You'll learn from me."
I smiled, hoping we could be friends. "Sounds interesting."
We talked for a little bit. After I finished my tale they shared theirs.
Jorge survived the sun flares by camping in the mountains. He met some survivors and they began their black market dealings. Jorge ran into Brenda a few years after the Trials began. She'd escaped the Trials.
Brenda lost her family to the Flare and Wicked. Her siblings were taken by Wicked after her father and Step-mother fell to the flare. She lived on her own before meeting Jorge. He gave her a chance at life. They became each other's family.
...
That night I fell asleep peacefully for the first time since leaving the Glade. I was finally away from Wicked. It may not have been paradise, but I was free.
If you have read my story before I decided to edit the whole thing then you may have noticed the differences in Brenda's character. I reread the chapter and realized that Brenda didn't exactly fit with the battle-hardened girl we see in the movies or books. I needed to make her tougher and warier.
Just some observations.
Later gladers...