Secrets | TMR | One

6:8

Epilogue

Chancellor Paige had always adored the view from her office.

High rise buildings, with glass panels stretching all the way to the top, glistening when the sun hit, and sparkling at the end of each day, when the moon would take control over the entire sky.

Now all that is left of this beautiful city are piles of dust and debris. Thick shards of glass buried beneath an ocean of sand.

Much like her patience.

You see, the Chancellors view has always acted in the same manner as an hourglass.

For every building that crumbled, for every window that shattered and for every person that died, so did her humanity.

And now that the only form of life down on the sand below comes from the crazed individuals that succumbed to the Flare... well, Ava finds that her ability to feel any kind of remorse has reached its limit.

She simply does not care about the outcome of those trapped in the maze.

Years of watching every person she has ever known and loved ruthlessly turned into one of those creatures, and having to bear witness to the families ravaged and full cities slautered as the Flare slowly took over the entire planet has made her so.

Many think that the Chancellor is a heartless woman.

Who could possibly allow children to go through such horrific tests just for their own gain, right? A lot of people cannot fathom the idea.

'It's all for the greater good' - that is what the woman tells herself. Her organisation only wants what is best. Although one may argue that their methods are entirely ludicrous, they all have different views and opinions on how they should conduct business - but their end goal is the same.

To rid the world of the Flare.

That is the main objective. The aspiration that they all strive to achieve. No matter what the subjects, or the rebels may say, W.I.C.K.E.D is good.

Unorthodox in their practices... but good, nonetheless.

A panicked knock at the door, followed by it being harshly swing open and quick footsteps charging in pulls the older woman from her daze. Her eyes immediately focus back in, but she does not swivel her chair around to see whoever just barged into her office.

"She left" a young voice rings out from behind the Chancellor, and she quickly realises that she does not need to turn around to figure out who it is.

"Who left?" she questions, and although she is already aware of the answer, Ava needs to hear the words.

"Adel-" she hears the young boy spit out, but quickly correct himself, "Subject A11."

It's about time.

Chancellor Paige, at that point, finally spins her chair around to face the boy, instantly noticing the way his fingers twitch over his pockets and his feet shuffle nervously on the ceramic tiling. "Did she tell anyone why?"

"No, Ms" the young boy mutters, shaking his head whilst stuffing his fingers deep into his pockets to cease their fidgeting. "She left before they woke up."

"Clever girl" she mumbles to herself, picking up the white stress ball from her desk and staring directly at it while she gently squeezes her hand closed.

She expects the young boy to take his leave at that moment, but he does not. Which, in turn, causes the woman's tolerance to deflate. "What else?" she questions, closing her eyes for a moment while she inhales a deep breath and counts to ten in her head.

"Well, she brought someone."

The Chancellor cannot help the way her jaw clenches, or how her left eye twitches ever so slightly at the news. "Who?"

"Subject A16."

Beginning to grow insanely impatient with the boy and how she is having to practically spoon feed him, Ava leans forward on her chair, pressing her elbows into the table in front of her and clasping her fingers together just under her chin. "Are you going to make me ask you about every little detail? Or are you going to do what we have previously discussed and tell me without prompt?"

"Sorry" the young boy mumbles, his eyes flickering away from the deathly glare of the woman and down to the corner of her desk. "A16 was getting banished for killing Subject A24, so she asked him to help her come back because she needed the help, what with her leg being injured. So they're on their way-"

"Thank you for the update" Ava interjects, allowing her body to gently fall until it hits the back of her luxurious leather chair.

"What is gonna happen to them?"

"Are they immune?" the woman questions, positioning her elbows on the arm rests at either side of her chair and tilting her head to the right.

There is a brief pause before the boy answers, a brief hesitation with his words, she notices.

"No."

But she does not dwell on it for long.

"Then send them out to the Scorch" Ava commands, waving her left hand passively as she swivels her chair back around to face the vast landscape of blue skies and beige sands. "They are of no use to us anymore."

"But-"

Not even giving the young boy another chance to speak, the older woman raises her left hand, curling every finger except her index one and pointing it towards the ceiling, instantly halting his words. "That will be all, Thomas" she spits, drawing their meeting to a close within seconds and listening as the boy rushes out of the room.