𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃, 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗁𝗈

Chapter 1: Safe

~Y/n P.O.V.~

I felt someone shaking me awake. I opened my eyes, seeing Minho and Thomas standing above me, shaking my shoulder.

"Wake up! We got to go!" Thomas shouted.

I sat up, getting out of the helicopter with some help. Minho stood there, waiting for me. I looked around, about to grab Minho's hand, till I realized I didn't have it.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" I yelled, running back to the helicopter.

"What are you doing? We don't have time!" The man shouted.

I moved a bag out of the way, revealing the carving Chuck gave me. I grabbed it, holding it tightly in my hand. The man grabbed my shoulders, pushing me towards the building. Just then, a loud screeching like sound was heard in the distance. The man let go of my shoulders, grabbing his gun before shooting at the things.

"Cranks!" He yelled.

Cranks?

I felt a hand grab onto mine, making me look away from the twitching figures in the distance and see Minho there, pulling me towards the building, as well as some guards pushing us towards it. Right as the doors closed, Minho and I made it through, heavily breathing.

I turned around, examining the place we were in. There were people everywhere. We all looked around the place, huddled up together, until I saw an older man, with dark but a little bit of grey hair come up to us.

"You kids, doing alright?" he spoke, glancing at all of us, "Sorry about all the fuss. We had ourselves a bit of a swarm."

I looked at the man suspiciously, "Who are you?"

He smirked at me, "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 squared away." He walked away, us following him reluctantly.

I was in front of the group, Minho and Thomas right beside me. My eyes were narrowed on the man in front of us.

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

"Watch yourselves." Janson warned.

We looked up, seeing sparks coming from the cieling.

"You mean, you're taking us home?" Minho spoke up, questioning.

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

"Why are you helping us?" Thomas asked skeptically.

"Let's just say the world out there is in a rather precarious situation. We're all hanging on by a very thin thread. The fact that you guys can survive the Flare virus, makes you the best chance of humanity's continued survival," he walked up to a metal door, "Unfortunately, it also makes you a target, as no doubt by now you've noticed." He stopped at the metal door, turning to face us.

"Beyond this door, lies the beginning of your new lives," he swiped a keycard, making the door open, "First things first, let's do something about that smell."

~

~Y/n P.O.V.~

They led the boys to the showers, before leading Teresa and I to different ones. Minho was hesitant at first, he wanted to keep me at his side at all times, but I assured him and told him I'd be okay. While I was in the shower, lots of blood and dirt came running down.

I couldn't stop myself from crying. Tears from earlier already stained my cheeks, and now I'm gonna have more. I held onto Chuck's carving, not planning on letting it go anytime soon. Soon, I was finished in the shower and I put on a fresh pare of clean clothes. I looked into the mirror of the showers, studying my face.

My cheeks were a rosy red, my hair was damp, my face was clean. No dirt. No blood. Nothing. I felt a hand on my shoulder, seeing Teresa in the foggy mirror, looking at me with a sympathetic look. I looked down, not knowing what to do or say.

I felt her arms wrap around my shoulders, rubbing my arms soothingly. Soon, a couple guards led us to a a place where they had all different doctors checking the gladers. A guard separated Teresa and I. She was reluctant at first, but I reassured her, and she followed the guard. While another guard was leading me somewhere, I saw Minho running on a treadmill, wires all around him.

We met eyes, and he was about to run towards me, but the doctor stopped him from doing that. I nodded at him, assuring him I was okay. He hesitantly nodded back, still running. Pretty soon, the guard led me to a bed, telling me to sit there and wait.

I obeyed and waited while looking around the place. I saw Thomas and Newt getting needles poking into their skin. I looked around more, meeting Teresa's blue eyes. She was sitting on a bed just like me, before a doctor came and closed the curtain off. Just then, a doctor blocked my view, greeting me before closing the curtain for us as well.

I got a couple needles in me, making me tense up, but she reassured me, telling me everything was alright. After a little bit, a man came towards us, gently opening the curtain, greeting the doctor before looking at me.

"Y/n?" He asked.

I nodded, "Yes." I muttered.

"Come with me, please." He said politely.

I slowly got up from the bed, following the man to wherever he was taking me. After a couple turns, he gestured me to walk through a door, a room with two chairs and a table on the other side. He told me to sit down and went, then he left.

I rested my elbows on the table, looking around the room, before my eyes landed on a camera. Suddenly, a buzzing sound was heard before the door open, revealing Janson walking in.

"Y/n, thank you for seeing me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I was just hoping we might get a moment to chat in private, away from the others." He explained.

I leaned back in my seat, nodding my head a little while playing with my fingers under the table. He turned around, grabbing a chair before sitting down in front of me.

"Well, I won't take up too much of your time. I really only have one question. What do you remember about Wicked?" He finally asked.

I didn't say anything, just looked at him with a narrowed gaze, and furrowed brows.

"You're not in trouble. We're just having a conversation. I'm just trying to understand." He reassured.

"Understand what?" I asked quietly.

"Whose side are you on?"

I looked down at the table, trying to think if I should trust this guy or not. I looked back up before speaking.

"I remember I used to work for Wicked. I remember they sent me into the maze. I remember watching my friends die in front of me. I'm on their side."

He nodded, looking into my eyes, "Interesting. You say you worked for Wicked, but," he paused, "They sent you into the maze. Why would they do something like that?"

"I don't know. Maybe you should've asked that, before you killed them all." I shot back, quietly.

He smirked, "Well, I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Enjoy the rest of your stay." He got up.

"That's it?" I asked.

"Yeah, you've told me everything I need to know. You and your friends, have all been cleared to join the others. Assuming you'll, all be moving onto cleaner pastors."

"Wait," he turned to face me, "Others?"