The SUB-LEVEL 3 sign was almost taunting me as I struggled to run through the hallway, my breaths becoming heavier with every slow step I took. I couldn't remember the last time it was this hard for me to run, it's always come easy to me, even with my bum leg. But I followed Thomas, Gally, and Teresa, my mind became heavier, the pounding beginning to increase.

"Come on." Thomas encouraged, as per bloody usual. I shook my heavy head once and tried to muffle a cough by placing my elbow over my mouth, but that didn't do much. "Just a little further."

Hold on, Newt. I told myself, my mental health also taking a toll throughout this experience. These past minutes I've thought about what would happen if I just turned the blaster on myself and pulled the trigger. But those thoughts were quickly put to rest, for I snapped out of it and regained temporary balance on the ledge that I've been struggling on ever since yesterday morning.

"Here." Teresa suddenly murmured, stopping at a door. She stood to the side as the three of us got into position, our hands firm on the triggers of our launchers while we stood at the door. Almost as if on cue, it opened to show one of the guards of the floor. He was wearing a different uniform than us, but I didn't have time to pay attention to his clothes before his face paled and Thomas blasted the man, sending him at least ten feet back. I watched for a second as he withered on the floor, spasming as the little bolts of electricity did their job.

If Mae were here, she would have just done one of her moves, I thought as I raised my weapon and took a step forward, joining the others in shooting the rest of the people that were in the room. They ducked underneath the counter, trying to dodge the shots that flew through the air.

They shot back at us, luckily we were fast enough to dodge each one of them, getting whoever it was with our own weapon before they had a chance to get us with theirs. Eventually, the whirring of the bullets and the electricity died down, all of the WICKED workers being on the floor. We all waited a few seconds, breathing heavily as the fog dispersed to see if any of them were going to get back up. When they all stayed, unmoving on the hard floor, Thomas nodded and turned toward me.

"Okay. Let's go ahead and start getting the kids out." I nodded as he turned to Gally. "Serum."

The boy nodded. "I know, I know, I know..."

I had the urge to laugh. Uncontrollably.

Instead, I took two long strides to the door I was closest to, coming into the kid's line of vision through the window. They all flinched and moved backward, causing me to smirk a little. I placed my hand on the handle and opened the door. It suddenly occurred to me that this group of kids would probably be terrified is they saw a WICKED guard opening their door, and they were still all awake. So, trying to be the nice person I was, I took off my mask with a smile, bringing relief to myself and to them. I looked around at their little faces, wishing that I could remember when I was this age.

I cocked my head behind me, waving to them. "Come on, let's go."

Turning around and walking away, I looked over my shoulder to see them slowly standing to their feet, making their way out of the small room they were in on their own time. I looked to my right as well, watching as Tommy opened another door to let another group of kids out. And in the middle was Teresa, watching as this all unfolded before her eyes.

I thought about running up to her and sticking my tongue out, pointing my finger at her and doing a dance. Mocking her. But I didn't. I just rubbed my head and brushed the stray hair out of my face.

"The vault." Gally's voice spoke up from the corner of the room. I glanced over at him as he pointed a gun to one of the guard's necks. "How do I get in?"

I didn't hear the rest of their conversation, the thought suddenly sprung on me that Minho was supposed to be here. As though Thomas had the exact same thought as me, he pointed to another closed door. "Check the other cells."

Nodding, I turned around, coughing once again as I opened another door, waving the kids out due to my inability to speak. They made cautious faces at me, as if they knew that I was infected and they were wondering when I would turn on them and throw them against the wall. But I just peered through my squinted eyes, closing my mouth so maybe I wouldn't cough more. Minho was nowhere to be found in this cell.

I furrowed my eyebrows and turned around, immediately meeting eyes with Thomas, who wore the same confused expression as I probably did.

"Guys." Gally's voice spoke up again, and we turned to him. "This might take some time."

Shit, I thought. That's the one thing we don't have. The Flare will continue to eat at my mind whether or not we get the serum, it's only going to prolong the day where I finally go crazy. If anything, I would much rather just go mental now than feel this way for who knows how long.

Thomas moved to each cell, double-checking for the body of our friend. Maybe he was sleeping, maybe he was knocked out somewhere... He kept looking as I tried my best not to yell at him. The mix of confusion, frustration, and sickness was not the best thing for me right now. Needing a temporary distraction, I bent down, tightening the laces on my black boot the best I could with gloves on.

As I stood up again, Thomas passed, muttering three words that never brought much joy to me. "He's not here."

Bloody shucking hell, my mind was a jumbled mess as I watched the boy stride up to Teresa, not in the mood for any of this. He was only about an inch from her face as he asked her where he was, the same thing that he asked her last time. For all we knew, she could be lying. Maybe it was just the paranoia. The Flare made me jumpy. Quick to anger. I was doing my best to hold it all in right now, although I could practically see myself destroying this entire room.

Teresa sighed and turned around, moving to a computer as I set my mask down on a desk, leaning against the counter. I closed my eyes for a moment, seeing a plethora of colors behind my lids. I snapped them open again, that not helping one bit.

"Tommy." I spoke without knowing I did. He turned his head from the computer, and I asked the first question on my mind. "Can I borrow the walkie? Really quickly?"

The boy stared at me for a couple seconds before nodding and reaching into his pocket to grab the communication device. He tossed it to me, and I fumbled with it a little before properly catching it and pressing the button, just wanting to hear her voice.

"Maisy?" I spoke quietly, not really wanting anyone else to hear our conversation. "Mae? It's Newt. Are you there?"

I let my finger off the button, waiting for a response. My mind clouded with each silent second that passed, becoming more anxious to hear her say something...anything to let me know she was okay. After a few moments, I sighed, wondering if she was in trouble, or if she was just ignoring me. I clenched my jaw, tapping my foot on the ground. Just as I was about to give up and hand it back to Thomas, a sweet voice broke the silence around me.

"Hey. Hey, yeah, I'm here." I let go of a breath and walked over to a nearby wall, resting my weight onto my right leg as I leaned my head against the cold concrete. "How're you doing? You feel okay? Did you find Minho?"

I shook my head, then remembered that she couldn't see me. "No. No, we're at Sub-Level three, but he isn't here. Teresa's looking for him now."

Silence filled the line, and I cleared my throat, trying not to cough again. Even though I couldn't see her, I could tell she was cursing herself for not being in here with us. She always wanted to be a part of the action.

"But it's okay. We-We'll find him." I nodded, not knowing whether I was saying these words to myself or to Mae.

"How do you feel?" She asked, her voice lower than it was previously. I shrugged, not wanting to worry her, but not wanting to lie.

"I've been better." Was what I settled on. From the other line, I could hear her sigh.

Standing there, feeling her presence through the little machine in my hand, I had the urge to tell her what had been on my mind for the past six months. I opened my mouth to speak the words, they were on the tip of my tongue, but for some reason it was like they were being caught behind a wall. My breathing became heavier as I ran my fingers through my sweaty hair, the heat of this uniform being almost too much for me to bear right now. But as I stood there, trying to gain enough courage to tell this girl that I loved her, I realized that it was a lot harder than it sounded.

"Mae." I spoke, beginning to wonder if she was still there.

"I'm here." She replied quickly.

Just do it Newt, the sane part of my brain prodded, what've you got to lose? You're going crazy anyway.

"There's—There's something I have to tell you." I murmured, my voice shaky as I glanced over my shoulder to see Thomas and Teresa still staring at a computer screen as she tried to figure out where Minho was. I took another step away, the sound of Gally's electric saw beginning to cut through the metal of the vault. I wished we were in privacy right now, just me with the walkie as I confessed my biggest secret. It wasn't even a bad secret, it was just something she needed to know. I couldn't risk not ever telling her if something bad happened.

"Okay..." She wondered, waiting for me.

I took a deep breath through my nose and out through my mouth, willing myself to stay calm despite my shaking hand and my beating heart. "Um...I-I don't know how to say this. Maybe I should just—"

"Newt, what is it?" She interrupted me, letting me know that I was already too far deep in this situation. This was not how I envisioned myself telling Mae how I loved her for the first time, over a walkie-talkie in the middle of the WICKED complex while I was going crazy, and a million other things were falling apart around us. I imagined telling her when we were safe, when we had nothing to worry about. When we were living in a beach, a dog named Lucy with us while all of our troubles were washed away at the shore. Watching the sun rise and feeling the cool breeze on our faces while we sat in each other's arms. That was when I would tell her. But I guess that things never work out in our favor.

I reached my hand up to scratch the back of my neck harshly, hoping that would somewhat cure the itch underneath my skin and in my head. It didn't help a bit.

"I-" I looked up to the ceiling, wondering why this was so hard to say. "Maisy, I—"

"Somebody's moved him up to the medical wing." Teresa's voice interrupted me just as I was about to finally say it. But my attention was no longer on the three words, but now instead on the placement of our friend. That was our real mission. I could tell Mae that I loved her at any time if I just make it through this. "Thomas, that's on the other side of the building."

I turned back to the radio. "Maisy, I've gotta go, we know where Minho is."

Without hearing her response, I took my finger off the button and turned around, walking back over to Thomas and Teresa. "Okay. Take me to him, right now." He ordered the girl.

"Alright, I'm coming with you." I spoke as I grabbed my helmet off of the counter where I had previously placed it.

Tommy let a harsh breath escape his lips as he placed his weapon over his shoulders again. "Newt, no you're not. You gotta stay here and wait with Gally for the serum."

I shook my head immediately after he finished his sentence. "You can't do this on your own. And Minho comes first, remember?"

From across the room, a loud groan interjected. "Just go." Gally stood up. "We're wasting time. I'll get the serum, we'll meet you out back."

I nodded and looked at Thomas again, who just sighed and shrugged. "Alright. Fine, let's go."

And just like that, I may have signed my own death warrant.

Thomas grabbed Teresa's bicep, gently and silently moving her down the hall. With a heavy heart and a bad feeling in my chest, I pulled up the black mask that went around my neck, encasing me within the natural heat I let off due to my sickness. I swallowed my fear, my eyes beginning to sting with every second that I kept them open. We were about to step through the door when a voice made the three of us pause for only a moment.

"Hey, Greenie." Gally called Thomas from behind. The boy spun around, stopping in his footsteps. He nodded toward us. "Good luck."

I ignored the two as I let out a sharp breath, shaking my head once in attempt to rid the fogginess from my mind. Pulling the mask over my face to conceal my wanted identity, Teresa opened the door, and we stepped into the concealed future, and the secrets that lurked in between WICKED's walls.

We made our way down the staircase we had come up in silence, our footsteps being the only thing that could be heard besides the occasional murmur of our friend's voices on the radio. Brenda had been speaking to Fry about where he was going to pick them up, almost as reassurance for the plan we already went over about a hundred bloody times. I heard Mae's voice here and there, but for the most part, she was silent. I tried to keep my mind off it as I casually pushed open the door, and Thomas muted the voices of our companions.

Instead of reaching out for Teresa like he had been doing, Thomas walked close behind, allowing her to lead the way to the medical wing. I held my launcher close to my chest, feeling it become heavier by the second. But I was prepared to blast anyone who questioned why we were escorting Teresa in the building she worked in. Clenching my jaw, we walked swiftly, having no time to waste as we turned a corner, and Tommy's hand found Teresa's bicep once again.

"Keep moving." He almost whispered to the girl as we turned, approaching an elevator. I had to fight the urge to rip off my glove and glide my hand against the cold metal railing, needing to relieve the heat somehow. I didn't understand how the real guards could stay in these bloody uniforms all day without feeling like they were sitting on the surface of the sun.

I rested my weight on my good leg as Thomas leaned forward to press his thumb on the button, retreating once it was pushed. Inhaling a slow, quiet breath, I pinched my eyes shut underneath my mask, opening them after a few seconds. The itchiness behind my eyes didn't stop, spreading to new areas in my head as we stood. When a scratchy voice sounded through the radio, I flinched, taking a step away.

My breaths were no longer slow and quiet, but instead becoming heavier by the moment. From the corner of my eye, I was able to see Tommy turn his head toward another guard that stood a few yards away. I matched his action, allowing my line of sight to follow his to see the soldier slowly start to walk towards us, suspicious.

"Come on, come on..." He leaned forward again and pushed the same button multiple times now. My heart dropped to my chest at the thought of being caught while we were so close, yet so far. All I had to do was keep my mask on and stay calm. I couldn't mess this up. None of us could. We couldn't afford another loss.

I pressed my lips together, refraining myself from telling him the same things I was thinking. My eyes shifted to Teresa, who wasn't making this situation any better by looking although she had just seen someone murdered right in front of her. But she's seen that already. She was afraid now, her face white while her cheeks were the reddest I've ever seen them. Her eyes were wide, and her body was stiff as we stayed close, not letting her escape from our hold.

If Mae was here right now, she would still have her grip on the girl, white knuckling her arm as she bit her tongue, trying to keep the insults at a bare minimum. She wouldn't let anything get in the way of saving her best friend, not even me. She was determined like that.

See, even in the times where I was balancing on the ledge between life and death, I still thought of you.

The chime of the elevator in front of us pulled me out of my thoughts, and I didn't even have time to react before Thomas was shoving Teresa into the compartment, my feet moving before I knew what I was doing. I moved next to my friend, watching as he pressed another button that would take us to the correct floor. The metal doors began to close, encasing us within the white fluorescent lights that sat above our heads.

Just as I was about to release a breath I had been holding in, watching the doors as they were an inch away from closing, an arm shoved its way in between the sliding pieces of metal.

"Hold it." The man spoke, causing my face to immediately drop as the doors slid open again.

Rat Man stepped into the elevator, standing next to Teresa as he shoved the three of us into our own personal hell. The feeling I was experiencing before was now amplified by about a thousand as he pressed a button to a few floors below where we were headed.

My head pounded, jaw staying tight as I watched him turn around, facing the doors which shone our reflections with the slightest bit of blurriness. I averted my eyes from the man, hoping, and practically praying that Tommy wouldn't speak. That I, myself wouldn't speak. Mae's hatred for the man was pushed onto me the moment I knew what the man had put her through six months ago when we thought we were safe. He killed her mom, and the only thing I could do about it right now was tighten my grip on the launcher I treated as my prized possession at the moment.

He was so close. I could just blast him. I could do it right now--kill the person who caused my person so much pain. I stared at Jansen, thinking over the bad things that would happen if I did, and if I didn't. There was nobody in the world I cared about as much as Mae. And seeing her hurt, caused me pain. This was the man that killed her only living blood relative. Someone she knew for an hour. Had one conversation with. He deserved to die.

"You're workin' late." His disgusting voice spoke to Teresa, who stared straight ahead as though she wanted to push the doors open and jump out. For once, I didn't blame her.

The girl just let out a fake breathy laugh, too nervous to say anything with us standing so close behind.

"See, that's what I like about you, Teresa." He started, making my eyebrows furrow underneath my mask. I stared him as he spoke, the crepiness of the conversation making me want to barf. You could cut the tension with a knife. "Despite how bleak things get, you just...well you never give up."

Yeah right.

The girl didn't respond as the rumbling of metal sounded outside the elevator, slightly shaking the platform we stood on. I swallowed the lump in my throat, quickly glancing at the floor we were on before Jansen spoke again, his voice tearing an angry hole in my already shucked up brain.

He sighed. "Times like these you...need a friend you can count on."