MISTAKE | Minho / The Maze Runner

twenty-five

"I'm Vince, leader of the Right Arm. We're trying to destroy WICKED," a tall man with a gruff voice said as he led Gally and Vera to a car.

"Right Arm?" Vera asked, confused.

Vince sighed, "we're a rebel group, if that makes more sense to you. We have spies at WICKED. The nurse who told you the plan, she's one of them. I'm offering you guys a way to be free from WICKED, but only if you join us in return."

"Free from WICKED? I'm in," Gally said.

"What's the catch?" Vera asked, still unsure.

"No catch. You're either in or out. If you don't come with me, WICKED will find you," Vince said, annoyed.

"So that's the catch," Vera muttered under her breath, "whatever, as long as it keeps me away from WICKED and we get to kick their shucking ass."

"Alright. First, we go to Hans. He needs to remove your chips."

"Chips?" Gally asked.

"WICKED tracks and controls you through a chip," Vince explained.

"How do you know so much about WICKED?" Vera asked, getting into the car, a machine so familiar yet so foreign to her.

"Hans. Former WICKED scientist," Vince said, starting the car.

Vera stared out the window as they drove through the city. Vince said they were in Denver. People were walking on the streets, and Vera noticed how they distanced themselves, as if they were afraid of getting too close to one another. The Flare, Vera realized. Not everyone in the city was immune.

The three of them got out of the car when they parked in front of a small house.

"Let me do the talking," Vince said, but it was more of an order than a suggestion.

He knocked on the door, and a woman opened it.

"Here for Hans," Vince said.

The woman sighed, opening the door wider and letting them in, but not before looking around the street, like she was watching for someone to appear at any moment and attack.

"Hans!" The woman yelled, "Vince is here for you!"

An older man walked down the stairs, he looked tired, worn out.

"What do you need? And who are these kids?" Hans asked.

"WICKED kids. Need their chips removed, they're joining the Right Arm."

Hans shook his head, muttering something about WICKED underneath his breath, and then walked into another room, shouting for them to follow him.

"You," he said, pointing at Vera, "come here."

She glanced back at Vince, and he nodded. She walked over to the man.

"Turn around," he ordered, and Vera complied.

"You ever got the chance to look at the back of your neck?"

"No?" Vera said questioningly.

"Group A, Subject A9. The Mistake," Hans said, reading the words that were tattooed onto the back of her neck.

"What does that mean?" Vera asked, abruptly turning around.

"It's your group for the trials and what number of subject you are. WICKED like to give certain kids a title, all part of their master plan for the greater good," Hans explained, saying the last part in a sarcastic voice.

"Ava told me there was a mistake, I got sent to the Group A maze instead of Group B. Funny that's the best title WICKED could come up with," Vera said darkly.

"WICKED is smart, but what they lack is common sense and morals," Hans said, "now, get ready because I'm getting rid of the chip. This might hurt a bit."

"On the count of three. One, two."

Before Hans said three, he started cutting into the back of her neck.

"Slinthead!" Vera hissed out in pain.

"Funny words you got, kid," Hans said, continuing what he was doing.

Finally, the chip was removed. Something so small, yet it had caused her so much pain. She was free from WICKED and the horrible claws it had set on her.

"Your turn," Vera groaned, looking at Gally.

He sent her a glare and switched places with her.