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Sorry this took so long but I haven't really been in the mindset, and I've had a lot of school work. God, this chapter took so much longer to get out. I was literally about to post the chapter, when my stupid computer turned itself off, and of course, I hadn't saved it, so I had to rewrite it.

The Gladers stand frozen, necks craned at uncomfortable angles to view the charcoal sky. The Glade is silent, not even the whistling of wind through the trees can be heard.

I turn away from the window, walk past Newt and leave the Homestead. I join the boys in the silence, copying their motions.

How can the sky suddenly be gray?

The Creators. It has to be. But to be able to change the colour of the sky?

Or maybe, it's not the sky at all. What if it's a projection?

My eyes go wide as I run to find one of the boys.

Minho.

As I run up to him, he is whispering to Thomas.

I lightly tap his shoulder, gaining his attention.

"Minho, hey, do you have any idea what's going on?"

A concerned look crosses Minho's features as he frowns.

"I shucking wish. Woke up and the damn sky was grey!"

I look towards Thomas, to see a strange look plastered on his face.

Suddenly, the words hit me like a brick.

'Tom, I triggered the end.'

He definitely knows something, I think to myself. Best to ask him when we're alone.

"So, what are we gonna do about it, Minho?" I ask, trying not to let my fearful thoughts overtake my voice.

Minho scoffs. "We" he emphasizes, "Wont be doing anything. You will be doing your job, being a Med-Jack, while me and shuckface here go and investigate the Maze, because we are Runners" He points to Thomas, making it clear who he was referring to.

His words sting, like putting lemon juice on a papercut. I don't know how, but I remember the pain of that, and it happening, but no faces or places. Just what happened.

Minho is probably my best friend here at the moment, the one I trust, and he's turning on me.

"You can't actually be serious?" I question, my mouth dropping and my eyebrows rising in awe.

"Unfortunately, shank, I am very serious" he sighs.

Thomas steps forward, raising a hand so that I wouldn't say anything. "We didn't want to Lori, but with what happened the last time you went into the Maze, the Leaders decided it wouldn't be a good idea if you were to go back into the Maze."

I look at all three of them. Minho has a serious kook in his face, so I can't really conclude what he's thinking. Thomas is still wearing that fake confused face, trying to cover up that he knows something. And poor little Chuck, is a bystander to all of this.

"Please, I promise to not touch anything, just let me run with you guys." I feel like a child, begging and saying I wont tough anything. Though that's probably just a load of klunk.

"Okay, first of all" Minho raises a finger, "Like you wouldn't touch anything." Damn it, I think to myself.

"And second of all, even if we could, we've been told that your job with the Med-Jacks is more important at the moment."

"And why is that?' I ask, venom piercing my words.

"Well, you are a Med-Jack, and you haven't exactly been helping them lately. We have been told by the Leaders, and no one really wants to get into an argument with them. And, something happened to you out in the Maze that you wont talk to anyone about." Thomas says quickly, probably thinking that I would cut him off. With the mood I'm in, I probably would have if I had had the chance.

"Maybe it's because what happened is private."

"Lori" Minho sighs. "Nothing stays private here. In the Glade, knowing one bit of information could be the difference between life and death."

"So you want me to tell you everything?"

"Well, it would probably be beneficial if you did" Thomas says sarcastically.

"We've got to go. We'll talk more tonight, Lori. See you later Chuck" Minho waves and begins to jog away, Thomas at his tail.

"You know what?" I jog behind them, and they pull to a stop, turning towards me and rolling their eyes.

"I'm sick of you guys treating me like I'm made of porcelain. Am I going to get hurt? Of course I am, I'm human. Keeping me locked in the Glade isn't going to change that, Minho. I could get just as hurt in here as out there!" I shout.

"We're sorry, Lori" Minho sighs, clearly done with my apparently useless jabs at him and what has been said.

"Yeah? Well guess what Minho? You can take that fake apology, and shove it" I hiss, before turning and stomping away.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_

Subject A6's rage flares red across her brainwave patterns. I wonder whether this fight was scheduled on Janson's to do list? For all anyone knows, he could have planted that seed of anger. I don't feel like she would just lash out at her, "friends".

A6 walks away, regretful thoughts beginning to chase any and all clouds of confusion within her mind. If only she knew. If only she remembered. But Janson had to go and take that one thing away from the poor girl.

I walk away from my computer and head towards the main room where all the technicians work. My heels make a clacking sound as I walk across the tile floors, not missing a beat.

It is early morning here, as well as in the Glade, and all my fellow WICKED employees, were up before dawn, preparing the days events which will take place in the Maze and Glade.

Teresa Agnes, Group A, Subject A1, The Betrayer. The newest pawn in our life changing chess game has been put into action. The girl has finally awoken with a message, nonetheless. She still has not mentioned her interactions with the boy.

Aris Jones, Group B, Subject B1, The Partner. Another important piece overall. Especially in the beginning of Phase Two.

These poor children have no idea what is in store for them in the days, maybe even weeks, to come.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_

I finish wrapping up the arm of a Slicer, before Clint and Jeff say they're going to get lunch, and that I am welcome to join them.

I offer them a smile, and thank them for their offer, but decide that I want to stay, in case someone injures themselves.

Unfortunately, Minho was right. I'm needed where they said that I need to offer my services. Chuck would probably swap jobs if he was allowed, but he isn't so what gives me the right to do so. It's not fair that I can do whatever I want because I'm different.

And that's exactly what I didn't want. To have these boys treat me differently to any other person who arrives in the Box and becomes a part of their community.

I sit there, feeling like such a shuckface for what I said to Minho before he left. What if I don't see him again, and that's the last thing I ever said to him, I think to myself, my heart threatening to beat my brain to a pulp for being so inconsiderate.

I drop my head into my hands, and stay like that for a while, letting my anger at myself consume my very being. Suddenly, I hear someone lightly rapping on the door.

My eyes open and rise, to see a short stocky figure standing just outside of the door frame. Chuck.

"Can I come in?" He asks nervously.

I go to answer, but my mouth wont allow it, so I just nod my head. I've said enough for one day.

"I just wanted to see if you were alright. What happened this morning in front of the Maze, that was pretty brutal."

I let my eyes slide away, guilt and defeat leading the way.

"You're right, you should be allowed to help. But Minho was making more sense when he said you should do your job. It's not because you're a girl, or whatever you're thinking. It's because that is how this place has ran for two years now. Try to get used to it Lori."

I smile slightly, giving him a curt nod. He walks towards me and grabs my hand, before placing something in my palm, and closing my fingers around it.

"Good luck" he smiles.

As he exits the room, I walk backwards until reach the wall, and slide down it, stretching my legs out.

I retract my fingers slowly, revealing what Chuck gave me.

In my palm, sits one of Chuck's wood carvings. A small flower, not too detailed, but easy to make out. My heart warms as I hold it close to myself.

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