The Maze Girl

The Guy

"You're staring again," the guy said.

"You aren't even looking, how do you know?" I asked, looking at the chalkboard again.

"Because you've been staring at me since we got in here."

But could you blame me? He looked almost exactly like me, even dressed similarly. Except that he had a hood on his shirt. That had been obvious after about a minute of staring at him, when he pulled it over his head.

"Figured you would know what's going on," I commented.

"Do I look like I know what's going on, stick?" he responded.

"Nope. You just look like a slinthead."

He raised an eyebrow. "Never heard that one before."

"Maybe since you weren't trapped in the shucking Glade."

"You're right. I was in my own hell."

I looked at him again. This time he was the one staring. His face was thin, and his cheekbones definitely stood out under his hard eyes. But his skin was clean, and I'd guess it was as soft as mine at the time. We'd both probably been there about the same amount of time, and so both had enjoyed the luxuries of this place.

I noticed his eyes scanning my features just as I had been doing. Our gazes met. We both looked at the board.

"Not like they needed the group of girls," I said, drawing a knife and spinning it around my finger. "Those shanks back in the Glade could've taken on anything they might've needed you guys for."

"You haven't met my comrades. Those girls would likely take you out in a second."

We both knew about each other's group. One of the things that I remembered while I was asleep was the other group. I assume he had gotten the same kickstart as me.

I put the knife away. "This is another test, I'll bet. See if we kill each other."

"Probably just want to see what we make of having a double."

"Creeps." We even scoffed together after speaking. Honestly, this was a bit freaky. I looked at him.

"If we're each other's counterparts, or whatever, how'd you keep your hair burnt without it getting long?"

He held up a lighter. "Found this in a pocket behind my favorite blade."

I pulled out a foot-long blade and checked. There was a pocket, and a lighter inside. "Well shuck."

He chuckled. "Want me to help with the hair?"

"That would be awesome." I tossed him my lighter, as he'd already put his away, and swiveled my chair away from him.

I imagine we must've looked pretty silly by the time anyone was paying attention. Somehow, it had gone from him carefully setting my hair on fire, to us both dashing around the room with each other's lighter ablaze and insane smiles plastered on our faces.

We were interrupted by a sharp voice exclaiming, "Would you two for once in your life stop acting like children!"

We immediately stopped and looked toward the voice.

"Sorry Mr. Rode," we said together, which just set us off giggling as we tossed out lighters to their respective owners.

He sighed and muttered something about too much time and the devil.

"What was that?" the boy asked.

"Nothing you need to hear," Mr. Rode said. He had been one of the more friendly scientists.

"We think it is," I said.

"Shouldn't you two be actually meeting each other?" he asked, obviously changing the subject.

"Sure," I said. I looked at the boy. "My name's Elliot. And yours?"

"Maz," he said. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." I turned to Mr. Rode. "Now then, what did you say?"

"More than that," Rode said. "Surely you remember each other by now."

"Nope," we said together again.

Rode sighed. "You'll figure it out eventually."

"Tell us now," Maz said.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Or else we won't listen to another word."

Rode groaned and sat down with his head in his hands. Maz pulled out a knife and spun it on his finger. I crossed my arms and leaned my chair back. After what felt like forever, Rode finally broke down.

"You're siblings," he said. "Twins."

Maz dropped the knife. I nearly fell backward in my chair.

"Seriously?" I asked. "You were going to keep that from us?"

"Yeah, what's the big deal?" Maz said as he picked up the knife.

"We weren't sure how you'd take it. Now, can I explain the plan?"

We both sat still and watched him as he spoke.

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AN: Hello readers. Sorry this chapter is taking so long. The original version didn't even have this chapter, or a brother, or any reference to group B. I had only read one book when I wrote it, so it'll take a while now while I try to revise it. That's all. :)

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