I'm not sure what's worse, the burning sensation of the electricity or the heart wrenching pain of watching Addy's reaction to my pain. My eyes sting with tears of pain and sorrow.

"Don't hurt him!" Addy shrieks, throwing herself forward to no avail.

"I won't," Janson promises, "so long as you cooperate. I'll ask again, why did he do it?" I grit my teeth and glare daggers at the man, wishing he could feel them.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" The desperation in Addy's voice hurts me to the core. Only moments ago, we were so happy, but now... my body spasms uncontrollably from the pain. Electricity leaps all over my body and I scream in agony at the blistering sensation the ting lightning brings. I've given up all attempts at being brave and let the pain melt from my mouth in a scream.

"Stop it!" Addy begs, tears dripping down her face. Even with the weak, labored breathing I'm experiencing, a part of me is pleased with how much she cares for me. Tiny daggers bury themselves in my skin and the pleasantries are forgotten, buried in my agony.

The wicked man disregards her and presses again."Why did he do it? Why did your brother put you in the wrong Maze? What's his plan?" Anger intensifies in his words and I can see the visible frustration in his gritted teeth.

"I don't know!" She cries. "I don't remember! Just please don't hurt Newt!" Addy's face blurs as tears and stars muddle my sight.

Janson nods to the woman again and she flicks the switch, her pale face void of expression. Pain explodes all along my body and my vision goes red, then black. Every part of me is in pain. I physically can't take it anymore. I swallow oxygen desperately but get enveloped in darkness and everything disappears.

---

I cling to my little sister desperately. I won't leave her. I'll never leave Lizzy. Who was I kidding. I never had a choice. The men who just murdered my parents scoop us up like it's nothing and take us from our old home into the snow. I shake, but not from the cold. The sounds of gunshots ring through my head and I pinch my eyes closed in attempt to evade the visions, but they dance in the darkness nonetheless. Blood. Blood, dripping from the wounds embedded into his parents skin. Eyes open and unmoving, still sparkling with tears that would never fall.

As we're thrown into the vehicle, tears streak down my face silently. Lizzy scrambles over and takes my hand in hers. My baby sister's face is wet with tears, but her mouth is drawn in a line of determination. I hug her against my shaking body. She's so brave. I think as I hold her. So much braver than me.

The image melts away and is replaced by a new one.

It wasn't hard to figure out what they wanted me to say. I didn't care what they made me call myself, but I wouldn't forget her. Lizzy. I repeat my sister's name in my head like a mantra every time I'm afraid. Lizzy. She's all that matters. Lizzy. She makes me brave.

"Do you have a sister?"

I shake my head, breathing heavily. Lizzy. Lizzy. Lizzy. "No."

"I want to believe you, Newt."

"No!" I say more forcefully this time, but everytime J say it, it feels like my heart is being torn from my chest. Lizzy. Lizzy. Lizzy.

"You're lying. You need to believe it."

I just shake my head, afraid if I open my mouth, all the will come out will be sobs. Lizzy. Lizzy. Lizzy. I love you, Lizzy.

The man tuts and everything is pain.

I scream. Lizzy! Apparently, that thought escaped my lips. The man doesn't like that. The pain keeps coming, exploding across my body like water flowing down a mountain. Never stopping but it seems to once your senses give up on you and everything is gone. I let the black hole of emptiness swallow me up. Anything to escape.

"Newt!" I hear Addy's voice but it's distant and distorted. She sounds like she's crying but I can't comfort her. All I am is pain. My only escape is the darkness, so I let myself fall in.

I don't like it here. I don't like the mean people that boss me around. I don't like sleeping in a room with dozens of other boys. I don't like the needles and the pricking. Most of all, I don't like that they keep me from her. From Lizzy. I sneak out to her sometimes. She tells me that she's ok and that I can't be there. She's right, always was a smart kid, but I do it anyways. She tells me to look on the bright side, find things I do like. I like the consistant schedule. I like the books. I like a few of the boys. That's all. I can't think of anything else.

"That's ok," Lizzy whispers to me as I bury my face in her hair. "That's good, big brother. You're getting used to it. That's good."

I shake my head, wiping tears from my face. I should be comforting her, but I don't care. All I want is to go home with her. I want our parents back. I don't want to be here.

"Make some friends," Lizzy suggests kindly. "I have."

I force a small smile. I'm glad she's making friends. "Yeah?" I sniff.

Lizzy nods, encouraged. "Yeah!" She counts off on her fingers. "Addy, Harriet, Miyoko... Would you like to meet them?"

I shake my head. "Not today. I should go. They'll notice I'm gone soon." I pull into a tight hug, trying to memorize the feel before I'm torn away. "I love you, Lizzy. I love you so much."

My sister looks up at me sadly. "S- Sonya," she corrects me. Her eyes flash a warning. "I love you too. Make some friends to tell me about next time. Now go before they find you and hurt you."

She kisses my forehead and starts pushing me away, but before I'm returned to semi-safety, a guard flings the door open and roughly tears me away, screaming threats at me as he drags me off by the shirt collar. I sob quietly as I stumble next to him and brace myself for the pain that's bound to come. It was worth it. It's always worth it.

Once again, the scene changes.

Lizzy bounces into my arms when she sees me and I grin. We've finally figured out a way to sneak out to see each other during the nights. The tiny closet we use as a meeting place is empty besides the two of us and the friend Lizzy brought to meet me today.

She pulls away and stretches her arm out to present the small girl. "This is Addy!"

Addy is thin and rather short, with dark brown locks of hair falling mid-back and intelligent green eyes. Her olive arms are pulled around her and over-all, her stance is quite anxious.

"Hi," she squeaks.

I smile gently to her. "Hi." I force myself to be brave and strong for this little girl. I relied on my sister for so long and I can at least give hope to the tiny girl that reflects my fear but amplified.

"H- have you seen my brother?" She asks bravely. "They brought him with me, but," her voice cracks, "but they took him away and I- I can't find him." Tears drip from her eyes and she wipes them from her face with her sleeve.

"What does he look like?" I ask, guiding her to the floor to sit. Lizzy sits on her other side, holding her hand the way she did when I was the one crying on the ground.

Addy takes a deep breath and answers with a quavering voice. "H- he has brown hair a-and his name is Stephen. They call him T- Thomas now."

"You'll find him, won't you?" Lizzy asks hopefully. "You'll bring him next time?"

I nod and smile in what I hope is reassuring, but I can't convince anyone until I believe it myself and, right now, I don't. "I'll try. Of course, I will." But I already know that there is no Thomas or Stephen in my group of boys and I have no idea how I will fulfill the promise, but I'll bugging do whatever it takes to find the kid if it makes my kid sister happy.

Lizzy jumps up, a huge smile forming on her face, and pulls me into a hug. "I knew you would! Thank you, big brother! I love you!"

I hug her back, resting my head on her shoulder, and whisper, "I love you too, Lizzy. I love you too."