❝ 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 ❞
▬▬ Chapter 05
• . ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳₊·͟͟͟͟͟͟͞͞͞͞͞͞➳💧

Gally crouched down, his hand reaching for a vent in the floor. With a quick tug, the metal grating lifted, revealing a ladder descending into the dark, damp depths below. He glanced over his shoulder at the group, eyes narrowed in determination. "Be careful," Jorge said, flashing a quick grin before following behind.

Beth stepped forward, her boots crunching on the cold concrete, and she gave a nod to Gally, signaling him to follow. But before Gally could join her, Frypan grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Gally, take care of these three," Frypan said, his voice serious.

"Yeah," Gally replied with a sharp nod, his gaze flicking to Madison, Newt, and Brenda. Without another word, he jumped down into the opening, disappearing into the dark.

The group hesitated for a moment before following, making their way down into the claustrophobic tunnels beneath the city. The air was thick with the smell of decay and wet earth. The walls of the narrow passageway were covered in grime, and the floor was slick with the stagnant water that sloshed beneath their feet.

"This is gross," Newt muttered, glancing down at the dirty water that reached up to his ankles.

Madison wrinkled her nose in disgust, her frustration clearly evident. "Great, as if this day couldn't get any worse," she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with bitterness as she trudged through the muck.

Beth, leading the way, didn't seem bothered by the filth around her. She moved with a purpose, her eyes scanning the dark ahead. But her movements slowed when Gally stopped ahead of her, reaching for a switch on the wall. With a soft click, the lights flickered on, casting long, eerie shadows across the tunnel, revealing the true extent of the decay around them. The flickering bulbs barely illuminated the path ahead, making the place feel even more oppressive.

Madison and Beth lagged behind, their footsteps muffled in the thick silence. As the group continued walking, the hum of the lights echoed through the tunnel, but it did little to calm Madison's nerves. Her gaze flickered to Beth, her expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "So, what really happened, Beth? Why are you helping us now?"

Beth's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of her words evident in her posture. She paused, taking a deep breath before answering. "After WICKED captured me, I had a lot of time to think," she began, her voice low. "They kept me alive for their experiments, using me like a tool. But I saw everything—how twisted their plans were. The things they did to people... I couldn't stand by anymore. I had to make a choice."

Madison's eyes narrowed. "And you expect me to believe that you've suddenly grown a conscience?"

Beth met her gaze, her eyes pleading, but her voice remained steady. "I don't expect anything from you, Madison. But I need you to understand... I can't change what I've done. But I can fight for something better. For the people still out there."

Madison scoffed, her distrust palpable. "A better future?" she echoed bitterly. "After everything you've done, you think you can just flip a switch and become the good guy?"

Beth's expression hardened, the resolve in her eyes unmistakable. "It's not that simple," she said, her voice quieter now, but no less intense. "I can't erase my past. But I'm willing to risk everything to stop WICKED. Isn't that worth something?"

Madison's gaze softened, the edge of her anger blunting for a moment. She took a deep breath, her thoughts racing. The part of her that was still skeptical held on tightly, but there was a small part of her, buried deep down, that wanted to believe. "We'll see," she said finally, her voice quieter now. "But don't think for a second I've forgotten what you did."

Beth nodded, her face showing no sign of anger or resentment. "Fair enough," she said simply. "Just know that I'm here to help. Whether you trust me or not."

They walked in silence for a while, the heavy weight of their conversation hanging between them like a thick fog. The sound of their footsteps in the water was the only noise, and even that seemed muffled in the damp air.

The group finally emerged into a different part of the city, and the contrast between the underground tunnels and the world above was staggering. The towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, their windows shattered, and vines crept up the sides like nature reclaiming what was once man's dominion. The streets were a maze of rubble, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and decay. People wandered in the streets, wearing masks to protect themselves from the toxic air, their faces obscured and their movements slow, as if the world had beaten them down until they had little left to give.

Madison couldn't help but stare. She had spent the last three years in the Maze, and before that, she could barely remember anything. But this—this was a world she didn't recognize, a city half-forgotten by time, struggling to survive in the aftermath of something far worse than she could imagine.

They passed makeshift market stalls where people haggled over the remnants of food and supplies, some of it barely edible. Others traded weapons, clothes, and tools. The sounds of life—strained and desperate as they were—filled the streets. But despite the chaos, there was a certain kind of beauty in it. Amid the decay, people were still fighting, still living.

As they made their way through the crowded streets, Madison caught sight of a mural on the side of a crumbling building. It was vibrant, full of color and life, depicting a scene of rebellion and hope—a sharp contrast to the gray and brown tones of the surrounding ruins.

They continued down narrow alleyways, climbing over rubble, until the noise of the city began to fade. Gally and Beth led the group toward a set of stairs that spiraled upward, toward a quieter area. The noise from the streets seemed distant now, and as they reached the top, the view was breathtaking in its own way. The sprawling city stretched out before them, a sea of broken buildings and shattered glass. It was a far cry from the controlled environment of the Maze, and yet, it felt strangely familiar—survival was survival, no matter the form it took.

Madison couldn't help but stare, taking it all in. She might not have memories of a life before the Maze, but this world... she could feel it in her bones. This was the real world, a world she had been locked out of for so long.

"This is a long way from the Glade," Newt muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the view. "I can't even imagine living here."

Before anyone could respond, a woman's voice crackled through a nearby speaker. "15 minutes until mandatory curfew."

Gally cursed under his breath. "Yeah, we better get off the streets," he said, turning quickly.

Beth shot a glance at the group. "I know it's hard, but act like you've seen it before. Keep your heads down."

Madison hesitated for a moment, then followed. The group moved quickly, slipping through the shadows, avoiding the crowds. The sound of sirens echoed in the distance, the wail of them cutting through the air like a warning.

They ducked behind a glass building, pressing their backs against the cool surface. "Security," Beth muttered, scanning the area.

Gally clenched his fists, scanning the horizon. "I'm guessing these shanks have something to do with that."

"We need to get out of here," Beth said urgently. "Now."

"Yeah," Gally agreed, moving quickly toward a nearby wall. "All right, Newt, you're up." He helped the older boy scale the wall, his hands steady as he pulled him up.

When it was Madison's turn, Gally reached out to help her, but she shrugged him off. "I can jump myself," she said, her voice firm, a touch of defiance in her tone.

Beth smirked, shaking her head. "Yeah, sure you can. Just don't get stuck halfway up because you're too short."

Madison shot her a glare, but there was a small smile on her face as she started climbing. "I'll show you who's too short," she muttered under her breath, her hands finding purchase on the wall. She scaled it easily, reaching the top without issue, but she couldn't help the sense of satisfaction she felt when she heard Beth's surprised grunt from below.

As they continued their journey through the ruined city, Madison couldn't shake the feeling that, despite everything, a small part of her was beginning to believe Beth's change of heart. Whether she wanted to or not, a flicker of hope had ignited inside her—one that told her there was still a chance for redemption, even for someone like Beth.

But as they neared the building Gally had pointed to earlier, that flicker began to fade, replaced by a gnawing sense of unease.

"There it is," Gally said, his voice tense, pointing toward the massive structure ahead.

"If WICKED's got Evie and Minho, that's where they're keeping them," Beth added, her tone grim.

Gally pulled out a small telescope, his eyes scanning the area. "Lawrence's people have been trying to get in for years. It's a bloody fortress. Scanners on every floor. This will take time."

Madison steeled herself, her heart thumping. "Then let's get started." She didn't wait for an answer but began moving toward the building.

The time for waiting was over.

AUTHORS NOTE;

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for sticking with this story! This chapter was a long time coming, but I'm excited to finally share it with you. We've got a lot of tension building, both between the characters and the new, dangerous world they're navigating. Madison and Beth's uneasy alliance, Gally's steady leadership, and the looming threat of WICKED continue to put everyone to the test. I hope you're feeling the shift in dynamics because things are definitely starting to heat up!

Also, the world-building has been a lot of fun to write in this chapter. The city, the tunnel escape, and the encounters with the remaining survivors really gave me a chance to dig into how different things are now compared to the controlled chaos of the Maze.

As always, your thoughts and feedback are super appreciated—don't be afraid to let me know what you think! The journey is only getting more intense, and I can't wait to show you what's next.

Thanks again for reading!