Janson went on to talk about what he called "Phase Two of the Trials," something that rang a bell in the back of your mind, but you couldn't pinpoint why. He spoke about the Safe Haven and the Scorch. His words would sometimes be followed by loud gasps or choked sobs, but he never stopped to acknowledge them.

     When he'd told everyone that they had the Flare already rooted inside them -- their motivation, as he called it -- you closed your eyes. They'd probably stuck the virus into you with one of those pointy needles they carried around the labs at WICKED.

     He told the group about the Flat Trans, and how they would have five minutes after 6:00 in the morning to cross into it, and when you thought he was done and about to disappear in a puff of smoke to leave you to ponder everything he'd just said, he sighed and moved out from behind his desk. Walking over to where you assumed was the end of the barrier, he positioned himself right between you and Teresa, who stood just a few feet away.

     "Now, here's the tricky part," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Another... Variable, if you will. That boy, Thomas. Well, he's meant to be killed by you, Group B." Theresa didn't seem fazed, but you stared at Janson in shock. "Now, I'm supposed to give you very clear instructions on how to do it -- and if you fail, than every one of you puts their life at risk, do you understand? He's done some very bad things-" Janson paused to throw a knowing glance at Teresa before continuing "-and he needs to pay for what he's done."

     "Kill Thomas...?" You stumbled back, reaching out for something to keep your balance. "I can't- she couldn't-" you stammered, and Janson paused to flash you a small smile.

     "You don't really have a choice girlie. Would you be willing to throw away the lives of everyone in this room for one boy? Even an idiot would know that would be a stupid decision." You shook your head again.

     "We can't-"

     "I'll do it," Teresa said, meeting Janson's gaze evenly. "I'll kill Thomas." A smug smile crept onto Janson's face.

     "That's the spirit."

     A mutual silence swept through the room, as every girl stared incredulously at Teresa, who was still watching Janson with her stony expression.

     "Why do we have to... kill him?" one girl piped up. When no one answered, she grew quiet again and shrunk back into the crowd.

     "You will have exactly two weeks to make it to the Safe Haven -- but WICKED has one small task for you first... that involves Thomas, and you, Teresa." Your hands hung limply at your sides, and you fumbled for something to say. Anything.

     Kill Thomas.

     You couldn't. You knew you couldn't. But you were also smart enough to know when to hold your tongue and just go along with things. You'd surely figure some way out of this -- some way to save Thomas. You couldn't help but think about Newt, and wonder if finding their group again would mean you'd be reunited with him.

    That was selfish.

     Now, you had all these girls to worry about -- and Teresa, who definitely wasn't the same person she was down in the Maze.

     "We'll give you guys special instructions," Janson continued, "Just a bit different from the boys to start." Your ears perked up at that comment, but still, you remained silent. "There's an old warehouse down there, and we've pinpointed its exact location. We'll be responsible for helping all of you get there unharmed to do what you need to do -- but after that, you're on your own."

     Your first thought was trap.

     How many were supposed to die? What was even the whole point of killing everyone at once anyways? You didn't let yourself think of Newt. You couldn't.

     "I've been instructed to leave these here with you," Janson said, breaking his staring contest with Teresa to walk back to his desk and pull out a second packet of papers, which he held up so everyone could see. "They tell you exactly how to get to this warehouse, and what you're supposed to do when you get there, as well as the exact location you're supposed to take Thomas to kill him (he said it so matter-of-factly, it made you sick). I'm afraid I don't have time to walk you through it myself. I have.... places to be."

     After he's said that, it was like something snapped, and instantly girls started shouting questions at him all at once.

     "Why do we have to go to the warehouse?"

     "What's a Flat Trans?"

     "Who's Thomas?"

     All the while, you were wracking your brain for some way out of this. You'd rather die yourself than kill one of your friends (though it was a relief to hear that Thomas had made it out of the Maze alive, though you supposed that didn't matter too much now).

     Without another word, Janson stepped back and started walking towards the wall behind him. All at once, the invisible barrier rippled and turned a pure white, obstructing Janson and everything else from view. A split second later, the wall vanished, and everything -- the desk, the chair, Janson -- was gone. Only the small packet of papers he'd shown you lay in the center of the room.

     You weren't quite sure what to do next. Harriet was the first to rush forward and pick up the papers. The group of girls slowly followed, crowding around her as she flipped them open, trying in vain to get a glimpse of what they said. You made yourself walk over as well, but didn't try to read over her shoulder like everyone else. They were all chattering away and shoving one another, and it gave you a headache.

     You glanced again at Harriet, who seemed to have taken charge and ordered everyone to "back off a little so she could read the damn thing". Deciding she had everything under control, you slipped back into the bedroom, sighing as the door shut behind you, effectively muffling the loud chatter of the girls.

     You moved to your cot and flopped down onto your back, letting your eyes fall closed. You wanted to cry, but no tears came, just hopeless thoughts of what you'd been asked to do... and Newt.

     You would never have thought you'd miss him so much. Sure, you were pretty close friends, but you hadn't even known him a few days before WICKED had pulled you out of the Maze.

     Why were you even stressing out about him? You just found out you have the Flare for God sakes! And then it hit you that he probably did too. WICKED had most likely given it to every one of Newt's group as well. Everything that you had to go through, in fact, (not counting the weird detour to that stupid warehouse), the boys had to go through too. Newt was tough, you told yourself, he'll be fine.

     Someone clicked open the door, and you looked up to see the blonde girl... Sonya, who you remembered thinking was second in command.

     "Why're you in here?" she asked quietly, walking over to your bed and standing above you, hands on her hips.

     "It's too loud in there," you mumbled, tucking your arms behind your head and propping it up with the palms of your hands. "I was getting a headache."

     "Yeah, well we're going to be discussing what to do soon, and I thought you might want to hear it. "

     "How kind of you," you said sarcastically, still not opening your eyes. You heard her sigh impatiently and shift closer to you.

     "Just... come out then," she spat, obviously struggling to remain calm. You shrugged and didn't answer. Sonya huffed, and then her footsteps echoed out of the room, followed by the slamming of a door. You lay here with your eyes closed a little longer, before finally mustering up the strength to push yourself to your feet.

     Outside, it had quieted down a bit and everyone had split up into groups and were now talking amongst themselves. Some were standing around in circles, murmuring worries and questions that no one had answers to. One group was still crowded around the papers the Janson had left. You spotted Harriet on the far side, sitting in the middle of a cluster of girls. They were busy packing food in bedsheets, tying them in crude knots and stuffing fruit and unopened boxes inside.

     You sat down silently next to them and reached for a folded sheet, bringing it onto your lap and reaching to tie the two corners together.

     "So," you started after a long stretch of silence. "What's the plan then?" Harriet glanced up at you.

     "We..." her voice broke a little, and she took a deep breath before continuing, "We keep going. Finish these packs, get up early tomorrow, and go where we were told to go." You looked down, tightening your knot and reaching for one of the boxes of food.

     "Can you really... do this?" You stuffed the package in and reached for a second.

     "Do we really have a choice?" You shook your head. But he's my friend.

     "We do have a choice." Harriet sighed, letting her hands fall into her lap.

     "I'm not risking the lives of everyone here, in that's what you're implying."

     "I wasn't-"

     "Good." You grabbed another pack of food and didn't reply.

     You fell into your cot that night, strangely tired. You would've thought that, after everything that had happened, you wouldn't be able to get a wink of sleep that night. You let your heavy eyelids fall closed, relishing the feeling of a soft pillow and warm blanket. Who knew how long it would be before you would feel something like that again?