Too soon, I was being pulled from the slammer by none other than Nick. Surprisingly enough, he didn't handcuff me like I thought he would.

He only had one of my arms twisted behind my back, his hand keeping a firm grasp on my wrist. He stood behind me, holding me really close to his body, too close if it were my choice, and like this, he walked the both of us forward.

I'd stopped crying a long time ago, after deciding that if I was going to die, then I was going out with a fight.

I mean, it was time for last resorts. This was literally life or death.

"Ya' know, I regret doing this to you." Nick said, as we walked.

I didn't say anything.

I could run away, right now. Breaking Nick's hold on me would be easy. The hard part would be out running him.

And even if I did happen to slip away, where would I go?

So I decided to continue my submission act for the moment.

"Newt's a good kid." Nick continued, "Just sucks that you had to copy his rebellious mannerisms."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I flicked my head back towards him.

"It's a shame, because you could have lived a happy life here." Nick chuckled to himself. We'd slowed our walk drastically, which was odd because we were literally in the middle of no where. Like I don't think I've ever walked in this part of the glade. It was a big open field.

"Thanks for that information." I muttered.

"You're cute, ya' know. I liked you for a bit."

"Well, you're still gonna banish me. You don't do those types of things to people you like." I spat, stepping on Nick's foot.

"Look, I'm trying to be nice, okay, shuckface?"

"Oh, wow, thanks for trying to make me happier before I die. I really appreciate it." I rolled my eyes.

Nick stopped walking and pulled me backwards. I slammed into his chest, "Ya' know what, I take that back, maybe I will enjoy this."

"Seeing me die?" I seethed, catching my breath.

"Getting what you deserve."

"What are you gonna do, Nick; banish everyone that threatens your leadership?"

Nick pushed me forward, and we continued walking, "I would if I could."

"K." I mumbled, not wanting to waste my breath on this fool. As we kept walking, I saw in the distance a large crowd of gladers, all of them around the maze door.

"Newt wanted me to say goodbye to you for him."

"That's nice."

"That's all you have to say?" Nick questioned, his voice ranging from powerful to sympathetic in just a few seconds.

"I'm minutes from being dead, the time for last words is over."

"Suit yourself. Ya' know, I've always admired that attitude in you. The 'I'm gonna look strong' one. It's nice."

"Well, you're welcome. You've been given the gift of hearing it last."

"Brianne."

Nick stopped us again, "What?"

"Don't-uh, don't- if you-" Nick sighed, pushing me forward, "Never mind."

What?

"Are you sure, because this is your only chance to say it to me."

Nick turned me around to face him. He paused for a second, thinking over his words, "I'm sorry. You deserve-"

"I know, I deserve death."

"No, you deserved better, but this has to be done. I'm sorry."

"You make me sick."

"I know." With that I was pushed into the center of the group of gladers. It seemed to me that almost every Glader was present for my banishing.

But with one look at the crowd, I knew that Newt wasn't there.

He probably just didn't want to watch me die. But I was kind of thankful he wasn't here. I didn't have to look at him and, more importantly, he didn't have to look at me.

It's better this way.

One less person I had to see.

"Want me to get the tools and harness, Nick?" Some random kid asked, probably trying to seem a bit more important than he really was.

Why did Nick tell me that I deserved better? What the heck was he talking about? And why'd he say sorry to me so many times? This is Nick, the cold, heartless leader of the glade. Why was he being so- I don't know- kind?

'It's only because you're about to die,' My conscious reminded me.

"No. We don't have time, the doors will be closin' any minute." Nick said from behind me, "Get up."

I slowly rose to my feet; my eyes glued forward. On the maze.

It was huge. Corridor after corridor, turn after turn. I'd probably have more luck at survival out there, than I'd have in here, to be honest.

The sight took my breath away, and I had to stop for a second to control my breathing. I can't panic now. I need to be strong.

My vision tore away from the colossal maze and onto the gladers around me.

They looked miserable. Absolutely awful.

Then my eyes fell on Victoria, who mouthed what I think to be, "Stay strong," I'm not too sure. But, I couldn't miss the tear rolling down her face as she gave me a weak smile.

I felt sick to my stomach.

I looked over at Minho, who didn't want to catch my gaze. He glared at the ground, his arm around Victoria.

That was it. I didn't want to see anyone else.

I'm so glad Newt isn't here.

I looked back at Nick and Alby who were whispering to each other.

The whole entirety of the glade was silent. Nobody wanted to say anything, too sad to. Or maybe they all just hated me. There's always that possibility too.

"Are we gonna get this thing over with?" I asked, standing up fully.

This comment seemed to confuse people, even Nick tilted his head at my question.

"We only have five minutes, Nick!" Amelia shouted. She's literally the only one that really wants to banish me.

I realize this now.

The gladers didn't want this.

Alby didn't want this.

Nick didn't even want this.

Why they were following through with the banishment? I have no idea.

I decided to think of my situation in the way of: I was escaping. More or less, I wouldn't be trapped anymore.

And you know what, I'm going to hurt these people. I'm going to walk into the maze and guess what? These gladers are going to cry, but oh well. This is what they deserve. Not me.

This is what Nick gets for bringing up the idea of banishing me. This is what Alby gets for not speaking up and going against his leader. This is what the Keepers deserve for voting falsely.

My friends: no, they don't deserve any of the pain I'm bringing them. The ones who are actually fighting don't deserve this.

But I've found that, that's life. It hurts sometimes.

Alby and Nick shared a look, "Here, take this," Alby threw me a backpack. I caught it, and quickly looked inside. There was a water bottle, a pack of crackers, an apple, and a knife in the bag, "Good luck."

Thomas.

Why did I think of Thomas? Who the heck is Thomas and why do I always think about him when I look at the maze?

"Alright," Nick clapped, taking the backpack and slinging it over my shoulders, "You can walk whenever you want, but not really because the walls close any minute."

I spun on my heels and took a step forward.

You can do this, Brianne.

And suddenly I'm mentally in the box again. The rising room, scaring the crap out of me. The fear of the unknown clawing at my chest, as I fumbled around searching for answers. Almost dying, from loss of blood.

Then I'm looking up at Newt, the day I first met him. It was as though I already knew who he was. He was Newt and I was shocked that before that moment in time, his name had never echoed in my mind. I looked at him and I knew I had a reason to be here. His smile, a drug; and I, a fresh addict.

Then I'm talking with Victoria, laughing at her jokes. Laughing at the stupid envious girls that thought they were the best and most important people ever. Victoria might not have been the best friend I could have asked for, but she was my best friend.

But, then my mind jumps over to me lying on the cool concrete floor of the storage room. My damp hair still drying from the shower I'd taken. My eyes staring up at the blank ceiling. Newt rambling on and on about the world and all of the things he wishes he remembered. I tilted my head to look at him, only to see that he was already looking at me. A smile playing at his lips as he said, "And then there's us."

I tore away from my thoughts, finding no serenity in them. The past can't effect me now. It'll tear me apart.

I didn't look to the left or to the right, I didn't look behind me. I looked ahead.

My heart was beating a mile a minute and yes, I was scared out of my mind for what lied ahead. But, this was my life and I was going to face it.

I took another couple of steps past the crying Victoria and comforting Minho.

I walked forward. No thoughts means no regrets, Brianne.

I was close to being in the doorway of the maze. So close that I didn't feel the presence of Nick behind me anymore. He'd stopped a few feet back.

I stopped too, for a second, to take a deep breath.

Images flash through my mind once again, more than I can swallow. Emotions filled my whole being, threatening to strangle me. I inhale, remembering the rush of adrenaline I felt when I sprinted into the deadheads. I exhale, remembering the heavy thump of my heart as Newt and I kissed.

I remember feeling alive and suddenly I don't want to die.

"Wait!" Someone yelled, "Stop everything!" I looked back to see commotion around one part of the watching gladers.

"I thought I told you that this was over." Nick shouted.

"You're a liar!" The voice yelled. But the voice wasn't just anyone's voice. It was Newt, "Brianne has been falsely accused!"

"We've been over this before; don't cause a scene, Newt." Nick looked down, I think he might have even appeared relieved.

"These papers! The Keepers papers! The ones you ripped up!" Newt's voice got closer and closer.

"Keep going," Nick said to me.

"Wait, what's Newt talking about?" I asked, turning fully towards the group again.

"Nothing important."

"Nick is a liar!" Newt shouted, breaking through to the middle of the crowd, "These papers, the papers that the Keepers used to write down whether Brianne deserved punishment or not! Yah, Nick lied about them." Newt dropped the papers onto the ground and began piecing them together.

"Newt this is insane. Somebody control him. Brianne, keep walking."

"No! Newt might be on to something!" I ran over to where Newt was connecting the ripped up pieces of paper.

"Look at this; no. The next one; no she's innocent. The other; no punishment. And this one; innocent. Another; Brianne's innocent. And here, Oh, this is mine; innocent," Newt's cheeks flushed, "Only two out of ten papers say guilty."

"Newt, this is ridiculous." Alby walked over to Newt also.

"We only have one minute," Amelia shouted, "Somebody banish her!"

"Nobody can do anything until we figure out if Brianne's really guilty!" Minho stepped out of the crowd.

"Nick, you lied! The Keepers never voted for Brianne to be banished. You and Gally voted for her to be banished. So punishment was the minority, yet somehow, here we are killing an innocent girl." Newt stood.

Nick scoffed as he turned towards the gladers, "He's lying."

"The only liar here is you," Newt came over to me, "And if I'm looking at this case correctly, weren't we banishing Brianne for murder?"

"What are you getting at Newt?"

"Nick, if you were to, I don't know, banish Brianne, then you'd be committing the same crime Brianne was accused of; murdering the innocent."

A loud bang sounded throughout the glade; the walls were closing. I held my breath, Newt might be talking my way out of being banished.

"She needs to be banished!" Amelia yelled, stepping forward, "Nick, my god, banish them both for this outrageous catastrophe."

"Do what's right, Nick."

As if by some miracle, the opening into the maze slowly got smaller and smaller. Nobody said anything, nobody moved.

And I wasn't banished.

Newt's hand wrapped around my wrist. I looked up at him, realizing his eyes had already been staring at me. He had an emotionless look on his face, but as the doors to the maze echoed closed, a small smile broke out, "I'm assuming, Brianne is free."

"She's not off the hook that quickly, but Brianne is pardoned of banishment and her crime of murder." Nick mumbled, but his sentence was barely heard over all the cheering from the gladers.

Newt pulled the backpack off of my back, "You won't be needing this." He threw the bag on the ground. The gladers silence and orderly semicircle had erupted into a mass of cheering and laughing.

I didn't think twice before wrapping my arms around Newt. I breathed in and out at the same time as I laughed, sounding half insane, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe you just did that. I can't believe it- thank you, oh my goodness."

Newt hesitated in the hug at first, but once he realized what was happening, his arms wrapped around me, hugging back even tighter, "I can't believe I did that either."

"I don't even know what to say, this is crazy. I thought I was going to die. I thought that you weren't going to say goodbye. I just thought- oh my god, Newt."

"I had to do something. I promised you that you wouldn't be banished."

"Oh my god, Newt, I love you. You're the best, I can't breath, that's how happy I am!" I rambled on and on.

"What?" Newt asked, "What'd you just say?" He pulled his face back from leaning on my shoulder, his eyes scanning over my face.

"I said that I love you." I answered, not thinking.

Crap.

Why'd I say that? Why'd I say it twice?

But did I love Newt? Could I love Newt?

"You mean that?" Newt asked, an unexplainable emotion in his eyes.

I did mean it.

"Of course," And with that, I leaned in closer to Newt and kissed him.

I ignored the different oh's and comments about us kissing from all of the surrounding gladers.

I silently wondered if this was what it felt like to love, and, my goodness, if it is, then it feels great.

~~~~~~

~~~Third Person Pov~~~

"I'm in love!" The new worker at WICKED said, as she observed the two subjects kissing, "This is just the cutest thing. In the wise words of our ancestors: I ship it!"

"No, no, no! It's not cute at all! It's dangerous! Love will ruin our project. Somebody page Janson." Karen commanded, not in the least bit thrilled at what had just happened. She flipped through her recent killzone patterns, not amused at the events and emotions going on in the Experiment A subjects, "Is he coming?"

"Yes, but he's not happy. It's his one day off."

"Oh please, well he better get over himself, because this is code red!"

"I don't see the big deal," The younger woman, Lilly, who had previously been excited, said, "Wasn't this the plan all along."

"No, it wasn't! I don't understand- Oh thank goodness, Janson!" The man came into the lab, obviously not very happy to be here.

"What the heck could be so important that I had to leave my chamber?" Janson asked, walking further into the room.

"They are kissing!" Karen informed, pointing at the screen, "And they're happy!"

"And the problem is?"

"It's real! We don't want real love," Karen shook her head, "And people are beginning to ship them." She gestured to Lilly.

"What the heck is shipping? Where are they being sent? Aren't they in the maze?" Janson sighed, "I miss one day of work and people screw things up-"

"They aren't going anywhere! What are you talking about?"

"You said ship-"

"Never mind," Karen rolled her eyes, "We didn't control them today, just like you said not to, and look what happened!" She clicked a button, which rewinded the footage of the subjects kissing, "And what outrages me the most is this!"

The volume was turned up, so that you could make out the rush of words falling from Brianne's lips.

"Oh my god, Newt, I love you. You're the best, I can't breath, that's how happy I am!"

Karen played the clip again.

"Oh my god, Newt, I love you. You're the best-"

"And again."

"Oh my god, Newt, I love you-"

"Once more for good luck."

"No! I heard it!" Janson shouted, grabbing the clipboard from Karen, "Why are you making these copies?"

"So, I have more proof that Brianne is ruining Newt."

"Woah, woah, wait. Are you accusing Brianne of causing Newt to be depressed? Because if so, then you need to recheck those accusations. They're false. You're just as bad as Subject A-24!" Janson chucked the papers, that were on the clipboard, into the trash.

"I am not," Karen mumbled.

"You are to. You're blaming her for someone's dark thoughts, when the thoughts have been there longer than she has."

"I'm sorry, it's just that I don't want to go through with our plans." Karen took on a look of great sadness.

"Those plans are only guidelines, not set in stone laws. Newt's fine."

"Okay, alright. Everyone's fine," Karen dusted off her shirt, "But, that still doesn't solve the problem of Brianne and Newt being in love."

"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I told you not to control them, because I'd already programmed the responses of the subjects, for today. That 'hero' bit and the 'I love you' line; they were planned."

"Wait, you can do that? Preprogram the subject's reactions?"

"Of course! So you're overreacting. That was planned. The whole thing, from top to bottom. The kitchen burning down; a spark from the oven, which we planned. Amelia's anger; planned emotion. Brianne's banishing; planned. Nick lying about the votes; planned. Newt coming to the rescue; planned. And lastly, Brianne saying 'I love you'; planned. They aren't really in love."

"But they will be?" Karen was scared for Newt's sake. She didn't want the guilt to consume her. Karen hated WICKED, for scheming evil events just to provoke reactions from their subjects. It made her sick.

"Eventually, maybe. I hope so, at least."

"But, now that Newt feels loved, he's not going to follow through with our plans." She brought this up, hoping that Janson would agree and call the plan off.

"I don't know if Brianne will change his mind."

"She will."

"Well, if not, then our subjects will be having an eventful couple of weeks, won't they?" Janson laughed, beginning to leave the lab.

"Love is dangerous, Janson. You can't play around with it."

"So is sadness, Karen. You can't just mess around with it."

~~~~~~~

~~~Author's Notes~~~

Is it bad to say that I kind of like this chapter? Because I do. I don't know if y'all can tell, but I've been trying really hard to improve my story. Like, I'm starting to like it more than I did before, ever since I began writing longer chapters.

BUT YAH! I like it, I'm also trying to improve my writing. It's so weird reading chapters that I wrote like nine months ago, because I'm a totally different writer and even a different person, haha.

SO ANYWAY, I'm back in jail- I mean school and so that means less writing time.... My schedule is currently packed every day of the coming week, so idk when the next update will be. I HOPE SOON THOUGH.

As usual I LOVE YOU ALL AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK!! I'LL SEE Y'ALL IN THE NEXT UPDATE!!

IMPORTANT WARNING ⚠️ THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS CONTAIN SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND SUICIDE!!!