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The accident had happened a little over five months ago now.

It had all started with a mere misunderstanding, a few miscommunicated words, a strained tension, an impulsive flight.

Brenda hated to think that she was the reason that her little brother, Chuck, had been taken away from her - but she knew that there was no other explanation.

Although the siblings were six years apart, they were both extremely close, especially after losing their parents to a sickening disease that was plaguing the post-apoloyptic world.

They called it the Flare.

At first, it was hard to tell if someone was infected with the virus. However, after a few days, the signs would slowly, but surely, trickle in. The veins in your neck and your arms would pop up against your skin. Your blood would turn into a sluggish blue-black mess. Your head would constantly be in pain and your brain would feel like it was being eaten away by an unseen assailant.

Then, the second phase would hit. You would no longer be able to control your temper, your emotions, your feelings. You would blurt the first thing that came to mind and any provocation, no matter how small, would be met with much aggressiveness.

The third, but most fatal, phase is commonly the last for many. By this time, you are no longer categorised as a person. You are called a crank. You lose your mind completely. You turn into a savage, hideous beast with cracked, peeling skin, clawed fingers and an unquenchable thirst for blood. You lurk in the shadows of the night, feasting on rodents. Occasionally, a poor human soul will wander into your territory and you will enjoy a large and luscious feast of flesh. After a few months, the disease would be so severe that, if you hadn't died by the after-affects, you would most certainly be killed by the violent seizures that, most definitely, would rack your body.

Not many people made it to the fourth phase but the few that did had body systems stronger than most. You are known, by this time, as the goners. You will have lost your eyesight, all your hair, your complete sense of being and your last streak of humanity.

When the Salazar parents began displayed the notorious and vicious symptoms of the second phase, Brenda knew that she and Chuck were no longer safe at home. Although she was only ten years old, an over-protective sisterly instinct overcame her and she did the one thing that she could do: get help.

When Brenda's uncle, Jorge, heard her plea, he wasted no time in coming to collect her and Chuck. He took them back to his hang-out, which was underneath an old fallen building bordering the outskirts of the world's largest desert, the Scorch. It wasn't the safest place, but, ever since the earth had been ravaged by the sun's radioactive rays, nowhere was really that safe anymore.

Jorge knew the amount of dangers that the two kids would eventually have to face. So, with his good friend Vince, he organised a small group of outsiders and trained them, along with his niece and nephew, in all sorts of environments, specialising on the issues of weaponry and survival.

Brenda was a quick learner and enthusiastically took part in the lessons, determined to do her bit to 'save the world'.

However, their fleeting fantasy didn't last. The government found out about the outsider crew and became increasingly suspicious of their activities. The year Brenda turned 14 was the year the government outlawed their secretive group and declared them criminals that were to be shot on sight. Many people were captured, tortured, abused and even killed.

Jorge, Vince and the remaining survivors knew it was way too dangerous to stay so close to the capital city so they moved far away, out into the forbidding Scorch. Practically no one dared to venture out into the rolling desert that reeked of heat, sand, and death so the outlaws were safe from any interference or run-ins with government officials ... for now.

WCKD. The World Catastrophe Kill-zone Department. That's what the leading government liked to call themselves. They advertised their mission everywhere: one hundred percent commitment to 'saving' the world from the deadly Flare by finding a scientifically-produced cure.

However, their methods were cruel and inhumane. They were merciless and pitiless. They ripped families apart and used the children taken as experiments. They didn't want to save the world. They wanted to save themselves and they would go to any lengths to do so.

There was, however, new hope for the world thrown into turmoil and chaos. A new generation arose, whom WCKD called the Immunes. These were the people who were immune to the deadly virus. These were the survivors, the ones who could bring themselves up out of the ashes, the ones who could stand strong in the face of tribulation. These were the ones WCKD needed the most - to find out why they were different from the rest. These were the ones who were constantly in danger of being captured and forced from their homes into an unfriendly, cold lab room to be treated as guinea-pigs.

As the years rolled by, the outsider group, notorious for their defiance against WCKD, became known as the Right-Arm Elites. They scoffed at the unnecessary laws forced upon mankind and, time and time again, proved themselves to be a formidable adversary against the capitol. Their goal? To rescue the immunes before WCKD got them.

Sometimes, some of their own were caught in this very act and captured themselves. When worse came to worse, the Elites, increasing in size and number with every passing year, would launch a full-scale attack against the numerous WCKD labs that dotted the lay of the land.

Since Brenda had been with the group since its formation, she was considered a strong and brave leader and looked up to by the majority of members. Besides Jorge and Chuck, Brenda was also close to Vince, considering him a mentor and a second-father.

As for Vince, he saw much potential in Brenda and dedicated much of his time to her on the grounds of specialised training. He saw that Brenda was made of tougher leader-type material and hoped, that one day, she would stand beside him as a fully qualified leader of the Elites.

The year Brenda turned 18, Vince's wish was granted. She was voted in as second in command of the Elites. Jorge and Chuck were extremely proud of her and couldn't help but boast of her achievements.

When Brenda was 19, the Right-Arm consisted of over 300 members. Brenda was proud to think that they were helping people in a way WCKD never could. However, she also knew that it was only a matter of time before WCKD retaliated against the Elites' illegal activity.

The Right-Arm couldn't remain a safe place for the desperate and lost forever. Sooner or later they would have to face the inevitable truth: nowhere was safe anymore. WCKD had overrun everything. The Scorch was the only place left that was considered uninhabitable by the government.

That's why it was a surprise when WCKD officials bombarded the Elite camp, dragging off innocent children and setting off bombs.

That's why it was a shock to Brenda when she saw her little brother being taken away with the other prisoners.

And that's why she was going to get him back ... no matter what the cost.

Gif: Brenda! She's so cool.

Q: Who is your favourite female character from the Mazerunner series?

~ If you enjoyed this chapter or want to give me feedback on anything, don't hesitate to vote, comment or DM me. I'm open to any suggestions, ideas or constructive criticism. I love chatting with my readers and I love to hear what they think about my writing. However, any hate or negativity posted on here will be deleted and reported. Have a great day everyone! Catch you all soon. ~

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