“Get your asses in there! All of you!” The guard’s voice is thick with irritation, his hand shoving each of them forward. Katherine stumbles slightly, catching herself just before she crashes into Newt, who’s right in front of her. The door slams shut with a resounding clang, and they’re locked in again.

“What the hell was that about?!” Minho’s voice is loud and sharp, echoing around the small room as he whirls to face them, frustration clear in every tense line of his posture.

Katherine’s hand reaches for Thomas instinctively, grounding herself in the one constant she’s always had: her twin brother. Thomas stands beside her, lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes flicking around the room, clearly searching for an answer, a way out, something that might help them understand what’s really happening here.

Newt’s voice cuts through the tension, soft but simmering with anger. “You didn’t really think they were just gonna let you through, did you?”

The question hangs in the air, a stark reminder of how naive they might have been to trust anything here. Thomas doesn’t flinch, but his jaw tightens. He slips his hand into his pocket and pulls out a card, the gleam of it catching the dim light. It’s the same type of access card the guards and nurses carry, the one that unlocks doors and holds secrets.

“I’m gonna find out what’s on the other side of that door,” Thomas declares, his voice steady, though there’s an edge to it. His gaze drifts to Katherine, seeking the silent understanding that has always existed between them.

Newt scoffs, folding his arms over his chest. “Right. Because sneaking around has worked out so well for us in the past, yeah?”

Thomas narrows his eyes. “Newt, they’re hiding something. You know they are. We can’t just sit here and pretend everything’s fine when nothing feels right!”

Newt steps forward, his voice rising. “Maybe because they actually saved us from WICKED? They gave us a place to sleep. They gave us food. A proper bed. Some of us haven’t had that in… a long time.”

His words hang heavily in the air, laced with a bitter truth. Katherine’s heart aches as she watches him, feeling the weariness in his voice. Newt has always been the one to keep them grounded, the one who reminds them of the few small comforts they have left. He’s been her anchor, even when everything else fell apart.

“But just because they saved us doesn’t mean they’re any better than WICKED.” Katherine’s voice is soft but resolute, her eyes meeting Newt’s. There’s a silent plea there, a hope he’ll understand. “What if they’re worse?”

Before Newt can respond, there’s a scraping sound, and everyone’s attention shifts as Aris emerges from beneath one of the bunks. He has a smudge of dirt on his cheek, but his eyes are alight with determination as he stands, nodding at Thomas. “You got it, didn’t you?”

Thomas holds up the card. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Without a word, Thomas drops to his knees, crawling under the bunk toward the vent opening, his movements quick and decisive. He glances back at Katherine, his gaze lingering, protective. She meets his look with a reassuring nod. She knows he’s worried, but she can handle herself.

As Chris slides into the vent after his brother, he flashes her a grin. “You coming, Kate?”

Minho raises an eyebrow, clearly thrown. “Kate?”

Katherine just shrugs. “Yup.”

She follows the others into the vent, ignoring Minho’s baffled look. Her nickname feels strange here, yet oddly fitting. There’s a freedom to it, a sense of belonging she hadn’t expected.

They move through the narrow, metal tunnel, each turn feeling like a descent into a deeper layer of the unknown. Thomas leads the way, his movements careful but hurried, and Katherine trails behind, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

When they finally drop down into a small, dimly lit room, the sight before them sends a shiver down her spine. Large tubes filled with some kind of creatures, suspended in murky liquid, line the walls. They’re massive, grotesque shapes that don’t look human, their forms distorted and alien.

“What the hell…?” Thomas mutters, his face twisted in confusion and disgust as he stares at the creatures.

“Maybe… giant shrimps?” Katherine suggests, though her voice lacks confidence. The sight is unsettling, and she forces herself to look away, catching Aris and Chris exchanging a tense glance.

They press on, moving into the next room, and what they find is worse than anything Katherine could have imagined. Rows upon rows of teenagers, unconscious, suspended in mid-air with medical devices hooked into their bodies. They’re alive, but barely, their faces pale and still.

Thomas’s eyes widen, and his gaze locks onto one of the girls. “Teresa?” he breathes, his voice barely above a whisper as he steps closer. But when he brushes the hair from her face, he realizes it’s not her.

Aris’s voice is hollow. “It’s Rachel. They took her the first night. I told her it was going to be okay.”

Katherine places a gentle hand on Aris’s shoulder, feeling the weight of his grief. Chris joins them, his presence a quiet comfort for his brother, his hand gripping Aris’s shoulder with a strength that speaks volumes.

But their moment of silence is shattered as the door opens. Janson strides in, followed by an officer. The two pair of twins quickly duck behind a row of equipment, holding their breaths.

“You sure this can’t wait?” Janson’s voice is filled with irritation, his tone curt.

“She wanted to speak with you personally, sir. It sounded urgent.”

Janson sighs, rolling his eyes. “Fine. Make the connection.”

The wall before them flickers to life, revealing a video feed. Dr. Ava Paige appears on the screen, her expression as cold as Katherine remembers from the last time they saw her. She’s calm, controlled, but there’s a hardness in her eyes that makes Katherine’s stomach twist.

“Change of plans, Janson,” Ava announces, her tone clipped. “I’ll be arriving sooner than expected. First thing tomorrow.”

Janson forces a pleasant smile, but there’s a sharpness beneath it. “We’ll be delighted to have you, Doctor Paige. I think you’ll be pleased with the progress we’ve made.”

He gestures at the screen beside her, which displays medical data and test results. Katherine watches as Ava’s face remains impassive, unimpressed.

“Not well enough,” she says bluntly. “I’ve received board approval. I want all the remaining subjects sedated and prepped for harvest by the time I arrive.”

A chill settles over the room, and Katherine’s heart races as the weight of Ava’s words sinks in. Harvest. They’re not rescuing these kids—they’re farming them for something.

Janson shifts uncomfortably, trying to maintain a calm tone. “Doctor Paige, we’re moving as fast as we can. We’re still running tests—”

“Try something faster,” she snaps. “Until I can guarantee their security, this is the best plan.”

“Ma’am, security is my job,” Janson says, sounding annoyed. “We’re on 24-hour lockdown. I assure you, the assets are secure.”

Ava’s gaze sharpens. “Have you found the Right Arm?”

“Not yet,” he replies, irritation flashing across his face. “We tracked them as far as the mountains.”

She sighs, leaning forward, her expression dark. “They’re still out there, Janson, and they want these kids as much as we do. I cannot afford another loss.”

Katherine’s hands ball into fists, her body tensing as Ava’s voice grows colder. “Not now, when I’m so close to a cure. If you’re not up to the task, I’ll find someone who is.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Janson replies, but there’s a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. “Might I suggest we start with the most recent arrivals?”

“Just get it done,” Ava says, before adding one final, chilling order. “I don’t want them to feel any pain.”

“They won’t feel a thing,” Janson assures her, his smirk widening as he leaves the lab.

The moment the door shuts, the silence is shattered by Katherine’s choked breath. “We’ve gotta get out of here,” Thomas whispers, his voice shaking.

They scramble back into the vents, crawling as quickly as possible, fear driving them forward. The room is chaos as soon as they pile back inside. Questions explode from the others, voices tense and anxious, but Thomas is already heading for the door, jaw set and eyes sharp with urgency.

“We gotta go. Right now,” he says, his voice breaking.

Minho’s voice cuts through the noise. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Newt is right behind him, eyes wide with confusion. “What do you mean, we gotta go?”

Thomas is already yanking a blanket off the nearest bed, wrapping it around the door handle and tying it tight. “They’re coming for us. We don’t have time. Paige—she’s still alive.”

There’s a beat of silence, then Newt’s voice, low and grim. “What happened back there?”

“The kids…” Katherine’s voice cracks, and she swallows hard, fighting back the images burned into her mind. Teenagers in the lab, eyes blank and hollow. She can barely get the words out, her voice a whisper. “I—I can’t do this.” She sinks down on a bunk, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders trembling as she tries to hold herself together.

Frypan turns, his gaze flickering to Aris. “What happened?”

Aris doesn’t look up, his silence speaking volumes. He’s as shaken as Katherine, his face pale and eyes haunted, staring down at his feet.

Minho’s gaze lands on Chris. “Whoever you are—”

“Chris,” the twin says, glancing up, his voice quiet but steady.

Minho pauses, absorbing the name. “Yeah, Chris. Can you tell us what happened?”

Chris’s voice is like steel, cold and heavy. “She’s still alive.”

“Who?” Frypan demands, his frustration breaking through the tension. “Teresa?”

“Ava,” Thomas says, his fingers fumbling with the blanket as he tries to secure it. His voice trembles, raw with fear. “Ava Paige. It’s still WICKED. It’s always been WICKED!”

The words hang in the air, chilling them all. Thomas grabs a mattress, dragging it from the bed and shoving it against the door, blocking it with a force that speaks to the terror twisting inside him.

Newt crosses the room, his hands landing on Thomas’s shoulders, grounding him. “Thomas, look at me.” His voice is steady, almost gentle, but his eyes are laced with fear. “What did you see?”

Thomas’s gaze darts around, his face stricken. “We don’t have time. You guys have to trust me.”

There’s a silent exchange between the twins. Thomas doesn’t need to say it—Katherine knows they’re running out of options. She can feel it too, the dread creeping up her spine, a ticking clock counting down in her head.

With a final glance around, they burst out into an empty corridor, the metal grate clattering as they shove it aside. Thomas takes the lead, his gaze darting back and forth as he checks for guards. “Come on, come on. Move it. We don’t have time.”

But then Aris stops, turning to Chris. “You go with them. There’s something we need to do.”

Thomas’s face twists in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Aris doesn’t flinch. “Trust me. It’s important. You want to get out of here, don’t you? Just go.”

“I’ll go with them,” Katherine says, her voice firm. She steps forward, catching Thomas’s eye, her look unyielding.

Thomas hesitates, his expression conflicted. “Are you sure?”

She gives him a fierce look, her chin tilted up. “I can take care of myself. You know that better than anyone.”

For a moment, Thomas’s walls crack, the worry seeping through. But he nods, reluctantly.

Newt steps forward, pressing a quick, desperate kiss to her forehead, his hand lingering on her arm. “Just… be careful, okay?”

“Always.” Katherine smiles, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, her own heart hammering. She turns back to Aris and Chris. “Alright, where to?”

Aris nods toward the vent, his face determined. “Follow me.”

The alarms blare, a high-pitched, frantic sound that echoes through the walls, vibrating against Katherine's chest. She’s crawling through the narrow air vent, the metal scraping against her palms, but she doesn’t care. The air feels thick with tension, and her heart is pounding in her ears. There’s no time to waste, no time to second-guess. The three of them have to keep moving, keep pushing forward.

When they finally slide out of the vent and into a dimly lit room, Katherine gasps for air, her lungs burning. She’s grateful for the brief reprieve, but there's no room for relief. Not yet. Not until they’re safe.

"Is this the place?" she asks, her voice hoarse as Aris helps her down from the vent. Her knees hit the floor with a soft thud, and she looks around the room.

Aris doesn’t hesitate. "Yes."

He moves quickly, closing the metal grate behind them with practiced ease. The sound of it shutting sends a wave of finality through the air, but it's a momentary relief. They’re in, and now they need to act.

Katherine stays low, crouching behind a large box, the edges digging into her side. Her mind races, her thoughts a blur of “what-ifs” and “how-tos,” but she pushes them away. There’s no time for second-guessing.

"So, what's the plan?" she asks, keeping her voice steady despite the weight of the moment.

Aris glances around the room, eyes flicking from one corner to the next. His mind is working overtime, calculating their next move, but he’s still scanning for danger, ensuring every step is the right one. His lips press into a thin line as he formulates the plan.

Chris grins, his voice laced with reckless energy. “Don’t worry. It’s very simple. We kick someone’s ass, steal a card, collect others, and get out of this hell.” He says it like it’s the most straightforward thing in the world, a challenge he’s ready to take on.

Katherine raises an eyebrow, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. “I see. Very simple. And a logical concept.”

Chris flashes her a grin, clearly enjoying the banter. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he says, giving her a wink.

Katherine shakes her head, a smile forming despite herself. She can’t help it—there’s something about Chris that makes her feel lighter in this moment, even in the midst of chaos. The tension in her shoulders eases for a fraction of a second as she locks eyes with him.

“Alright, Katherine,” Aris says, bringing her back to the mission. “You see that guy over there?”

She cranes her neck, her eyes narrowing as she scans the room. Her gaze lands on the guard Aris is pointing at, standing idly near a console. He's too far for them to reach easily, but that’s the least of her concerns. She can hear the blood rushing in her ears, the buzz of the alarm still too loud in the background.

“We rob him.” Aris’s voice is low, cool, but there’s a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes that Katherine catches. It’s the kind of flicker she knows all too well—the kind that comes when a plan is risky but necessary.

“You mean, you rob him while Kate and I take down the other guards?” Chris asks, his eyes still trained on the target, his muscles coiled like a spring.

Aris nods. "You know I’m not a fighter like you two."

Katherine blinks, a brief pause before she lets out a quiet laugh. She looks at Chris, then back at Aris. “Wait. You can fight too?”

Chris chuckles, his smile infectious. “Don’t underestimate the power of a man who believes in optimism. Never.”

Katherine’s heart flutters with amusement, the edges of her nerves softening as she watches Chris’s face, half-mischievous, half-serious. He’s full of surprises, but this is the biggest one yet. Aris’s twin is a fighter?

Her voice drops into an amused deadpan. “You believe in optimism?”

Aris answers for him, his voice fond. “It’s his title in the maze. Got it tattooed and everything.”

Katherine looks between the two brothers, the weight of their connection hitting her in that moment. They may not always say it out loud, but the way they move together, the way they communicate without speaking—it’s clear that they have something no one else has. The bond between them runs deep, and it’s more than just blood. Just like her bond with Thomas.

"What's yours?" Chris asks, his voice laced with curiosity.

Katherine looks at him for a beat, then answers, “The feral.”

Chris smirks, his lips curling with admiration. “That sounds badass.”

A laugh bubbles up from Katherine’s chest before she can stop it. “I like you, Chris. Wanna be my best friend?”

He grins, extending his hand for a quick shake. “Why not?”

A strange feeling stirs in Katherine’s chest—a flicker of something warm and light in the middle of the chaos. For a moment, it feels like they’re a team, bound by the same madness, ready to dive headfirst into the fire together.

“Alright, let’s get to work,” Aris murmurs, his voice steady. And together, they move into action.