—

ii. newt

—

He should have known Thomas won't let it go. He should have known that he would look through old files and news clips and articles just so he could have more evidence to convince him. He should've known and expected that.

"And, I am once again repeating, alright, that there is no way that the Gallade Ink is connected with the Gladers and the Right Arm," he shakes his head.

"But, I'm telling you!" Thomas insists, flipping through a white clearbook full of the information he had determinedly sought the night before. "Look, here." He points at an article from a couple of months ago — Fire Kills Hundred Thirty People. "Remember this?"

He rolls his eyes. "Like I could forget. That had been the strongest fire to ever occur in the past two years. Or, so the recorded news says."

"Exactly," Thomas continues. "And, remember how no one can identify the bodies because they were so scorched and disfigured? Well, look at this passage of Gallade Ink's report, 'all victims are of various race and age'. How could they have known when forensics couldn't? Also, here." Thomas scans the paragraph, a finger trailing over words until it stops in the middle. "It says, 'many of the casualties are civilians, but a number of retrieved WCKD uniforms say otherwise.' No one knew about the uniforms except us — and the Department — and, even then, we weren't sure."

He shrugs. "They could have just written it because they assumed they really were WCKD's, not knowing that they got it right. Media always had major faults, and lots of reporters make up information just to fill the space."

"That's just it, Newt. All of their stories, all of their blogs, newspapers, and articles — they're all true," Thomas says, flipping through the pages brimming with notes and papers. He has to admit, he's quite impressed with his friend's skill in collecting that much data in just a matter of hours. "The food poisoning incident; the terrorist attack; strange disappearances of orphans; shooting attacks, and so on. What's more is that every one of their headline stories, and sometimes others that aren't, give me this idea that they have a deep hatred for WCKD — that there's a huge grudge they hold against them."

"Not a lot people know about WCKD, Tommy, and I think that Gallade Ink is just letting people know what they're really doing," he pauses, before continuing in a softer tone. "And, don't we have a grudge against them too? Or are you siding with that blasted Department now?" He's teasing, really, but he can't stop the bitterness in his voice when he said that.

Thomas scoffs. "After what they've done? After putting us into that miserable maze? And, after Alby and Chuck? I'd rather kill myself than have to do anything with them."

"Okay, then. So, why the sudden interest in Gallade Ink? You've been rambling about them ever since the other day," he mutters, his voice still low. They've entered the main lobby, and, although he thinks it is unnecessary, Thomas had greatly expressed that they be careful of talking about WCKD in the presence of others.

("I've got a feeling about this place," Thomas once said a month ago. He still doesn't understand him, but, oh well, it doesn't hurt to heed his friend's warning.)

"I," Thomas starts, closing the clearbook and tucking it underneath his arm. It made a sound, a short creak, but it made them freeze nevertheless. When it seems that no one had heard, they relaxed. "I don't know exactly, but ... They seem to know something. I just know they do."

He stops midwalk, before, in a calm and steady voice, letting loose his annoyance, "Is this another one of those 'gut-feelings' you have, Tommy?" At the embarrassed look on his friend's face, he curls his hands into fists. "I thought so."

"Newt ..." he hears Thomas say, a pleading on his voice. He glares.

"Shut it, Thomas."

—

a/n: so, this is kinda set when they've escaped the maze, and Janson had 'rescued' them. unlike, in the book or movie, theyre not just one compound, nor are they located in a ghost city. this is the rough description where:

the facility is inside the heart of one of the remaining cities in the North American continent. the city is still running and full of life, but a giant wall has been built surrounding it. kinda like that one city in the movie, world war z, but with a lot less celebration.

have a main building, where Janson and WCKD do their stuff. also an assembly hall is somewhere there. unlike in the original that he takes munies daily, here, he takes them weekly.

there is also a smaller building next to it, a compound for the munies. it's like an apartment, with a living room, a small kitchen, bedroom, the whole thing. still, they're staying in groups

they can go about and explore the city, and able to do stuff like normal-people. of course, there are rules where not to go, what not to do, and when you could go and when you should return.

i know it's confusing and all, but hold on there for a few more chapters. you'll soon understand.

feedback is appreciated