Minho had left without a word, not replying to my request. I look out the barred window, to see the darkness slowly stretching across the sky. I sigh as I step backwards until my back hits the wall, sliding down its surface. Once I land on the ground I pull my legs forward and tuck them behind my arms, resting my chin on my knees.

I sit like this for minutes straight, staring at nothing, not even blinking as thoughts rush through my head all at once. Images from the memory race behind my eyes like a projector, one after the other. WICKED. Ava Paige. All the girls. Me. The girl I was talking to. My friend. I strain my mind, trying to dig for the name of the girl, but nothing surfaces.

Frustration overtakes me, and I start to lightly bump my head against the wall, hoping maybe some memory will fall loose. Nothing. I cry out in frustration, hitting my head once more, harder than before.

Tears begin to fall, my heart aching for a life I can't even remember. Something about that life felt safe, comforting. I feel as if I had a family who cared for me. Friends who I would talk about everything with. Maybe even a boyfriend who I shared this life with. But I can't remember any of it.

The tears rack my body, making me shake and my lips quiver. Once I hear footsteps and the shrill sound of the Slammer door being open, I slap my hands up to my eyes, wiping away the tears.

"It's okay you know. To cry" Someone says from outside the Slammer. "We all break eventually."

I drop my hand back down beside me, and tilt my head up to see Newt standing just inside the door.

"What?" I mutter. I understood what he said, but for some reason, that was my immediate reaction.

"Some people break down the day they get here. Others, like you, put on a brave front, act like nothing can hurt them, and barricade all the emotions" He says as he walks forward and kneels in front of me.

For some reason, I take offense to what he has said. I take it as him saying that I made myself out to be emotionless "Maybe I just don't like sharing all my thoughts and feelings with strangers. But, thanks for trying to cheer me up" I say as my voice drips with sarcasm.

Wow. I must be really tired or something. He didn't deserve that.

Just as I am about to apologize, he stands and spits out "Would you rather Minho here consoling you?"

I feel my face scrunch up at his comment. Minho?

"What are you talking about? Why would I want Minho here? I mean, he's my friend, but why would I want him down here?" I babble, my confusion overtaking any possible talking skills.

"What do I mean? I saw you with him in the Deadheads. You two looked more than bloody friendly" He says with one of those laughs that are clearly not out of humour. As I'm about to argue back, a thought switches on a light within my mind.

"Were you- were you watching me?" I question him, my voicing sinking to a quiet whisper, a small smile making its way onto my face.

At this comment, he begins to blink rapidly, a shade of pink overtaking his complexion.

"What? No! Of course not! I was just- I had to- I was" He continues to stutter.

"Ya know what Newt? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous of Minho" I laugh a little, so I don't sound completely serious.

After a few moments, he runs his hand though his hair, before he snaps. "Well, you want to know what I think? I think you need to get over your bloody self, shank. I just don't want Minho getting himself distracted from the buggin' Maze. Alright?" He shouts at me as his breathing becomes heavy, and he takes a step back to steady himself. Newt straightens his back, and rakes his hand through his hair once more.

Wow, I didn't mean for him to take that so seriously.

I clear my throat and cough awkwardly, as tears begin to brim over the edges of my eyes. "Well, now that we've cleared all that up, would you leave me alone so I can sleep?"

"Lori-" he begins, but I immediately cut him off.

"Get out" I growl as my throat tightens whilst I try not to cry in front of him again.

He looks as if I have wounded him, so he turns to leave. But just beore Newt walks out the door, he turns towards me and says "Alby wants you out at the East door. There's something you have to see, then you get to come back here."

////////////////

I stand at the East door with all the Gladers. It is dark, and the doors will be closing soon, so I keep wondering why we are standing out here.

After minutes standing in silence, I see Alby arrive, along with Newt, who holds many long poles, and a strap of some sort. Once he lays them down, Alby calls out, and Gally walks another Glader towards the group in front of the door. I stand on the tips of my toe, trying to see who Gally is dragging along.

Xander.

He puts up a bit of a struggle as he is pulled along. Once he reaches the group, the Keepers each grab a pole, whilst Alby walks over to Xander with the strap in his hand. Once Alby began to put the strap to use, I realized what it actually was. A collar.

"What the hell?" I whisper to no one in particular.

Once the young Glader is wearing the collar, the Keepers attach the poles, and that's when it happens. The awful scraping sound of stone on stone. The doors closing at the end of the day.

All the Gladers turn their attention towards the doors. The sound seems to kick everyone into high gear. The Keepers begin to push the poles, therefore pushing Xander, out into the Maze.

I finally fall out of my shock, and run towards the Keepers, Alby and Newt.

"What are you doing?" I shout at the boys, waiting for someone to answer.

"He's being Banished. This is what happens when you break one of our rules" Alby informs me.

"But you said no one survives the night! You can't just leave him out there to die! It doesn't matter what he did!" I shout, trying to pull the pole out of his hands. "I thought you people were like a family! I thought you cared for each other!" I move from Keeper to Keeper, trying to get one of them to listen.

"Don't you see, Lori? That's what we're doing!" Minho replies, before continuing to send Xander out into the Maze. I drop my hands, trying to figure out exactly what he meant by that. Minho rolls his eyes, before offering an answer, "You're one of us now, Lori. Don't you get that? We look out for our family. You're a part of that now. Xander tried to hurt you, meaning the shuckface is no longer one of us."

I drop my hands, as two Gladers come up behind me and grab my arms, stopping any further movements.

Once Xander is past the threshold of the Maze doors, the Keepers and Leaders unattached the poles from the collar. After a few more minutes of Xander screaming, and the awful scraping noise, the doors finally slam shut.

The Gladers let go of my arms and I drop to my knees, watching the doors stand still as everyone else departs.

I feel someone place a hand on my shoulder, but I shake it off, terrified by what I just witnessed. I continue to stare at the doors, only to have someone stand right in front of me, their legs blocking my view. The person kneels down, and a face appears in front of me. Minho.

"You alright shank? You look like you saw a Griever" Minho asks, his eyebrows creased.

I don't reply. No words will form, it's like I have completely lost the ability to say anything.

"Look, Lori, you know we have rules around here. I'm not going to apologize for sending that shuckface out there. He tried to kill you, so he deserved it" Dropping his hands to his side as if it is no big deal that they just sent someone to their death.

I nod, hoping that if I do, he'll walk away. But he stays, seated in front of me as I stare towards the doors.

After a while, he finally gives up and walks away, leaving me and my thoughts to mingle.

WICKED keeps appearing, still trying to figure out what the hell it means. I slowly lean to the side, and I lay down on the ground, fatigue washing over me like a wave onto the shore.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Hey, open the door!" A girl shouts from outside, knocking quickly against the door.

The young red head looks a bit older this time. Maybe thirteen? She runs towards the door, and opens it forever whoever waits on the other side. She smiles as she opens the door and hugs the brunette girl who was knocking.

Both girls wear clean, sanitary, paper white clothing. My younger self wears a white skirt and a button-up shirt, while the other girl wears tights and a sweater. It's the girl from the last memory, the one who I assume to be my friend.

"Testing is over! We both passed!"

"I know" my young self says excitedly. "I can't believe it's all finally over. Well, the testing at least."

The other girl grins widely as she walks into the room, "Yeah, but the testing was the easy part. Have they gave you your name yet?" She asks as she plops down onto my bed.

"Yeah, they have." The girl stares up at my younger self expectantly, waiting for her to continue. "My name is Lori" she smiles. "What about you?"

"My name" she points to herself "is Rachel" she glows with pride. So that's her name.

"Even though I am happy to be here, I still wish I could remember my real name. My real family" Young me says with a hint of sadness.

Rachel smiles and cocks her head to the side. "Lori is your real name, silly. And we are your family now." She pats the bed beside her, and young me walks over to join her.

"When do you think we get to start the Trials? Do you think we'll be working in the Creator's lab, or do you think they'll make us a part of the Trials?"

She takes a moment to think about her answer. It could be interesting to work in the labs, creating the Trials. But something else is swaying her decision.

"Well, the labs could be a good experience. Plus, we would be a major part of the WICKED helpers who saved the world from the Flare. But-" she freezes up.

"But what?" Rachel asks, confusion clear on her face.

"But, I think I would rather be a part of the Trials. I don't mind dying for my cause."

Rachel stands up and turns back towards me, "Okay. Now what is the main reason why you would want to most likely go to your death?"

Young me sighs before answering, "Because our friends are all going in there."

"What about Thomas and Teresa? They are some of our friends, but they're not going" she replies. "At least that's what they've told them" she shrugs.

She jumps back down beside me "Come on" Rachel whines. "You can tell me anything."

"I just- I don't want to have to go into the Trials on his own" she replies, sorrow overcoming her.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-