I Promise | The Maze Runner

Chapter 7: It's Still WICKED ✔️

We walk through the door into a small room. A window on one wall shows into another room where creatures are being harvested.

"Grievers." Thomas mumbles, looking through the window.

I continue to another set of doors. They slide open to reveal a long room. On each side of a walkway are kids set up by wires. They're all unconscious. The three of us walk in and I walk over to one of the kids. I realise wires are connected to them, draining something.

"There must be something in their blood." I say, thinking aloud.

"Teresa?" Thomas rushes up to a girl, moving the hair out of her face. His lips turn into a frown, realizing it's not the girl he was looking for.

"It's Rachel." Aris whispers, looking at the girl. "She was taken the first night...I told her it would be okay."

I continue walking down the walkway, stopping at a young girl. I push the hair out of her face. "Pip." I whisper. Somebody takes me hand and squeezes it. I look down the path, seeing more familiar faces. "Kat, Jane, Helen..."

The doors start sliding open, taking us out of our daze. We rush to hide behind something.

"Are you sure this can't wait?" Janson asks, sounding pretty annoyed as he walk down the walkway with his assistant.

"She was very specific, sir.." The assistant says, fiddling with an iPad. "She wanted to speak with you personally." 

"As if I don't have enough to deal with." Janson says, rolling his eyes.

"Just, bear with me...we're getting some interference with the storm." The assistant says.

"Come on, it's good enough! Make the connection!" Janson says, sounding impatient now.

A screen shows up with a woman with blonde hair in a tight bun, her white clothes crisp and clean. But, she's...dead...

"Good evening Doctor Paige. Lovely to see you again, but I must admit, I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon." Janson says, looking at the woman.

"Change of plans, Janson. I'll be arriving a little sooner than expected. First thing tomorrow." Paige says, standing up from her desk.

"Oh, well, we'll be delighted to have you. I think you'll be pleased with the progress we've made." Janson gestures to his assistant that puts scans of a brain on the screen. "As you can see, early results have been promising. Whatever you've been doing to them in there, it's working."

"Not well enough. I just received board approval. With the exception of my children, I want all the remaining subjects sedated and prepped for harvest by the time I arrive." Paige says, glancing at the scans.

"Dr. Paige, we're going as fast as we can. We are still running tests-"

"Try something faster!" Paige interrupts him. "Until I can guarantee their security, this is the best plan."

"Ma'am. Security is my job. We're on 24 hour lock down here, I'm assuring you, your assets are secure." Janson says.

"Have you found the Right Arm?" Paige asks.

Janson pauses. "Not yet. We've tracked them as far as the mountains-"

"So they're still out there?" Paige interrupts. "And they've already hit two of our installations. They already have three of the kids."

"Subjects B-5, B-6, and B-9 will be found, I assure you." Janson says.

"You better find them." Paige says.

"But you must admit, it's probably good Subject B-9 isn't here."

"And why is that?" Paige asks, looking at Janson.

"Because she can read minds." Janson says. "She would read right through us."

"Then you better find the other two."

"I will." Janson says, nodding.

"They want these kids as badly as we do. And I CANNOT...!" She pauses, taking a second to recuperate herself. "I cannot afford another loss. Not now when I am so close to a cure. If you are not up to the task, I will find someone who is."

"That won't be necessary." Janson says. "But I suggest we start with the most recent arrivals."

Paige nods. "Just get it done!"

Janson nods before turning.

"Janson!"

Janson turns back to her. 

"I don't want them to feel any pain."

"They won't feel a thing." Janson says with a smirk.

The assistant gets rid of the screen as the two walk out of the room, the doors sliding closed after them.

I look at Thomas. "You're the most recent arrivals." I whisper.

His eyes go wide and he looks towards the door.