Everything feels like a dream as the helicopter rises. Too much happened in the previous ten minutes.

Thomas is sobbing in the corner of the vehicle. Zee is beside me, her hand tightly holding mine, head on my shoulder. She's trembling— crying as well, but silently.

Winston, Fry, Newt, and Teresa are staring at either the floor or the outside world.

Seven. Seven people made it out.

Seven out of fifty, or maybe even more.

I took a life and it didn't even save one.

My hands still feel the exact texture of that spear. The way I threw it at Gally just as he fired the gun towards Thomas. But Chuck jumped in front of him.

Now both Gally and Chuck are gone.

Gally got stung. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe he changed his mind and went after us. I don't even know how he made it inside the weird room we were in.

There were screens, showing off the Glade. I already knew they were watching us, but it still creeped me out to see it like that.

A woman began speaking. She called herself Ava Paige. Ava Paige is now dead, too. Shot herself at the end of the video.

She said something about a virus. Something about sun flares. But I was too busy making sure Zee was okay, especially after Jeff.

And now that Chuck and Gally are gone as well, I don't know how long it'll take before she... loses it again.

★

"Cranks! We got Cranks!"

I jerk up, eyes wide. My hands search for Zee immediately, then I'm looking around the place like crazy. We're still in the helicopter, but it's dark now. "Zee—"

"Yes, I'm here!" She tugs at my shirt. "Come on, we have to go."

Masked men are pushing us towards the gigantic building in the distance. It looks like it can survive a bomb— very solid.

I intertwine her fingers with mine, running towards the building. I can't think about who to trust and who not to trust right now, just need to get her safe. Away from these gunshots and... Cranks, or whatever they called them.

★

They've put us in a room. Said we had to wait for a few minutes.

Those few minutes have turned into twenty minutes by now. We're sitting on beanbags, Zee somewhat on my lap, her head resting against my chest. There's a silence. The sadness hangs in the air.

Suddenly, the door opens. "You kids doing all right?"

Zee flinches. I hold her tight, never letting go of her hand as we follow our friends to the door.

I am definitely judging by the first look.

His hair is grayish. He's got wrinkles, and some creepy grin on his ugly face. A ridiculous white turtleneck hugs his torso, along with a leather jacket.

"Sorry about all the fuss," he begins. "We had ourselves a bit of a swarm."

"Who are you?"

For once, I'm glad Thomas asks questions.

"I'm the reason you're all still alive. It's my intention to keep you that way. Now, come with me. We'll get you kids squared away."

★

"You can call me Mr. Janson." He explains as we walk through the building. "I run this place. For us it is a sanctuary, safe from the horrors of the outside world. You all should think of it as a way station. Kind of a home between homes."

"That mean you're taking us home?" Zee wonders.

Whatever home is at this point. I don't think I'm in for meeting my parents. I just want to... I don't know, live somewhere, close to my friends. Very close to Zee. No trouble, no rules. Just us.

"A home of sorts. Sadly, there wouldn't be much left of wherever you came from. But we do have a place for you." Mr. Janson continues. "A refuge, outside the Scorch, where WCKD will never find you again. How does that sound?"

I raise my voice. "Why are you helping us?"

"Let's just say the world out there is in a rather precarious situation." He touches his chin. "We're all hanging on by a very thin thread. The fact that you kids can survive the Flare virus... makes you the best chance of humanity's continued survival. Unfortunately, it also makes you a target, as no doubt by now you've noticed."

We come to a stop.

"Beyond this door lies the beginning of your new lives." Mr. Janson swipes a card against a device, causing the door to slide open.

I wait for something to spectacular to happen.

It doesn't.

"Wow, a hallway."

Mr. Janson turns around, neglecting my words.
"First things first... let's do something about that smell. We have a bathroom for both girls and boys."

"Cabins or open showers?"

"Cabins. Why?"

"Because then the girls will be perfectly fine showering in the same bathroom as us," I say. "Right?"

"We will do some tests on this one here," Janson motions at Teresa, "and this one," now he looks at Zee, "will stay in another bedroom than you boys."

My hand tightens around hers. "No."

I'm not risking anything. Even if they don't hurt her, she'll probably hurt herself. If she's all alone at night, stuck with her own thoughts... it won't go well. And I'm not leaving her in the first place. I need her presence.

"She stays with me."

Mr. Janson looks at me. "Listen." He raises his hand, trying to calm me. "I understand the bond you share, but we have strict rules here. You can't sleep in the same room. It's not safe for any of you. There are protocols. If we want to keep you all safe, we need to follow them."

Zee's grip on my hand tightens, too. I can feel the way her fingers tremble just slightly. It makes me want to pull her closer, shield her from everything. From him. From this place.

"I don't care about your protocols," I snap. "She stays with me. With us."

"You don't get it, do you? The Flare isn't the only thing we're dealing with here. You may have escaped the worst of it, but the world out there—" he gestures broadly, "—it's not what you think. You'll need to trust us if you want to survive. You will be able to see her during the day. Just not in the bathrooms and at night. It's not a big deal."

I sigh loudly, letting him know I give in.

Which I don't. I'll find a way. Somehow.

★

I barely enjoyed my first hot shower in three years. My mind was spiraling, going back to Zee every time. I don't trust this Janson. He has a weird grin on his face— I don't trust anyone here. Especially not around her.

"How long you guys been here?"

"Not long," replies the unknown guy in front of us. "Just a day or two. That kid over there has been here the longest. Almost a week."

The other boy nods along. "His maze was nothing but girls."

"Yeah. Some guys have all the luck," the first one adds.

They wait for us to give some jealous response, but no one does.

"Tommy is crazy in love with Teresa, Minho and Zee are in love, I'm gay, Frypan probably has no romantic interests, and Winston is just weird," Newt explains.

My eyebrows fly up. "Woah, woah. Slow your roll— wait a minute, did you just come out?"

"It was obvious."

"But still." I shrug, cracking a grin. "Proud of y—"

"Shut up."

"I will." And I look back at Zee. Give her a small grin as well. Her cheeks gain a color. "How was your shower?"

"It was weird. Wasn't used to the hot water."

"Yeah, me neither." I rest my chin on my hand. It has started to feel empty: all this time, ever since this morning, I've held her hand, and now I'm not. "Hey, I'll make sure we find a way to sleep in the same room, okay? And if I don't... just promise me you won't hurt yourself."

She nods. "I won't."

"Good." I have the urge to press another kiss to her forehead— her lips, even. But I don't.

"Good evening, gentlemen. Ladies," Janson begins speaking, silencing the crowd. I automatically roll my eyes. "You all know how this works. If you hear your name called... please rise in an orderly fashion, join my colleagues behind me, where they will escort you to the eastern wing. Your new lives are about to begin."

Right. The dozens of other kids. We weren't the only Maze, apparently.

"Connor. Evelyn. Justin. Peter. Allison. Squiggy."

A few laughs erupt. I know the same would happen if Frypan gets called.

"All right. Settle down. Franklin. And.. Abigail. Now, now, don't get discouraged. If I could take more, I would. There's always tomorrow. Your time will come. Go on, eat up."

Thomas leans forward the second Janson is done speaking. "Where are they going?"

"Far from here. Lucky bastards," the kids in front of us say. "Some kind of farm. A safe place. They can only take in a couple of people at a time."

The brunette is about to reply, but his lips stay parted. He jumps up. "What the hell? Hey, Teresa? Teresa!"

"Why is he such an idiot?" Mutters Newt. I nod in agreement, even though I know I would've done the exact same if it was Zee walking there.

We watch as the guard pushes Thomas back to his place. He seems to protest, but doesn't pull anything else.

★

I slip through the vent, careful not to make a sound. My heart is pounding in my chest. I can hear her soft breathing before I see her. She's sitting on the edge of the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, a faraway look in her eyes. The room is small—barely enough space for the bed, a sink in the corner.

I said I'd find a way, and I did.

"Zee," I whisper, climbing out of the vent.

She looks up, her eyes locking with mine. Her face lights up. "You're here."

I nod, taking her hands. It sends a rush through me. Her fingers twitch before they interlace with mine.

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly.

She nods. "Was just... thinking."

The silence stretches between us. I want to pull her to me, to press my lips to hers, to feel everything that's been building between us these past few days. But I hesitate. I'm not sure if she's ready.

But then she moves. Just a little. Her hand tightens around mine. I can feel her shift closer. I glance at her, trying to read her face.

Her eyes are wide, her lips parted just slightly. I can't stop myself anymore. My hand moves to her cheek, brushing over her skin. She tilts her head just enough to lean into my touch.

Her breath hitches, but she doesn't pull away. I lean in, slowly, unsure of what she wants. My lips brush against hers, the kiss so light it barely registers.

I pull back, just for a second, and look at her. Her eyes are closed, her face flushed. She doesn't say anything.

I don't know if she's scared or if she's just as desperate for this as I am.

I kiss her again, this time more firmly, and she responds. Her lips move against mine, soft at first, then with more urgency.

The world feels like it's fading away. My hand slides down, tracing her jaw, the edge of her neck. Her breath catches when I touch a sensitive spot beneath her ear. I freeze for a second, just waiting for her to pull away. But she doesn't. She leans into my touch, pressing her body so close to mine that I feel every detail of it.

I pull back again, just to make sure. Her pupils are dilated, her lips still parted. Her hands slide down my chest. Tug lightly at my shirt.

I take it as a good sign, and collide our lips another time. My hands roam over her back, pulling her closer. Heat radiates off her body like crazy.

I can't think straight. All I can focus on is her touch. I pull her closer. Slide my hand around her waist. She melts into me, kissing me harder.

I can feel every part of her, the way her chest rises and falls with each breath, the way her fingers tremble slightly as they trace my shirt. My heart might just burst out of my chest if she moves even closer. The scent of her skin makes me dizzy. I'm forgetting how to function.

My fingertips lightly brush the skin just beneath her shirt, pressing her body more fully against mine. Her lips part in surprise before her hands slip beneath my shirt as well, the cool touch of her fingers sending sparks through me.

My forehead presses against hers as I catch my breath, my eyes closed. Her hands thread through my hair. Mine rest at her sides.

Zee's face is flushed, yet she smiles. A very small but genuine smile. "That was an improvement compared to the last time."

I chuckle quietly. "Yeah."

"Will you stay?"

"Definitely."

We lie down below the sheets without hesitation, our bodies immediately as close as possible.

"You need to make sure to get back on time tomorrow, though. We're shucked if Janson finds out."

I nod, letting go of a breath. "Got it."

She snuggles even closer. "Don't forget to tell me bye, though."

"Never again," I promise. My lips touch her forehead again. "Good night."

"Good night, Hei Hei."