𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ★ 𝙏𝙈𝙍

[43] WICKED Fortress

Teresa gasped for air as the sack was lifted off of her head. her eyes widened in shock as she spotted the Gladers crowded in front of her. "Hey there Tess" Elsie said softly, sitting cross legged on the table a few feet away from Teresa. "Elsie!" Teresa whispered, she looked around at all the familiar faces, her face melting into surprise as she spotted Gally. "Gally?" she exclaimed. 

"Here's how this is gonna go." Gally sat back, crossing his arms. "we're gonna ask you some questions, and you're gonna tell us exactly what we need to know" Teresa looked around, panicked. Gally stood up from where he was sitting, pulling out a chair. "We'll start off simple. Where's Minho?"

"You guys don't seriously think-" Teresa began to speak, looking at Thomas for help only to get cut off by Gally as he slammed the chair down in front of her, blocking Thomas from her sight. "Don't look at him. Why are you looking at him? Look at me" Gally ordered. "he's not gonna help you. Now, we know you have Minho in the building. Where?"

"He's with the others in holding" Teresa muttered, averting her eyes from Thomas. "Sublevel three."

"How many others?" Newt asked. Teresa paused for a moment, thinking deeply. "Twenty eight" she replied. Everyone was silent for a moment. "I can make that work" Brenda spoke up from where she was sat at a table in the corner, playing Cards with Jorge. "No, no, you guys don't understand!" Teresa protested. "The whole level's restricted. You can't get in without a thumbprint ID"

"Well, that's why you're going to come with us!" Elsie chimed, fiddling with her shotgun. Teresa looked over at her, eyes widening. 

"Well, I don't know" Gally shrugged. "We don't necessarily need her. Right?" he got up from the chair, dragging it aside as he walked over to the work table. "Not all of her. we just need her finger" Gally picked up a scalpel from the table, walking over to Teresa. "Gally, back off" Thomas said in a warning tone. "What? you squeamish?" Gally scoffed. "I guarantee you she's done a lot worse to Minho"

"That's not the plan" Thomas insisted, standing up and snatching the scalpel from Gally. "it won't make a difference" Teresa spoke up. "Do whatever you want to me. You still won't get through the front door. The sensors will pick you up the-"

"We know." Thomas cut her off. "We're tagged. property of WICKED." he walked over to her, fiddling with the scalpel. He crouched down at her side. "You're gonna help us with that too"

---

Elsie walked over, tossing some WICKED uniforms at Gally and Frypan. she hissed in pain at the movement, lifting her hand to the back of her neck. Teresa had dug the WICKED chip from the back of her neck, and it had hurt like hell. She tossed a jacket at Newt before putting on her own, glancing over at Thomas and Teresa in the corner. Katie was at Thomas's side, begging him to let her come on the mission. 

Elsie sighed, strapping a holster around her waist and tucking her two shotguns inside it. she slid the jacket on over her shoulders and zipped it shut. she pulled on the almost too large trousers, rolling the cuffs and tucking them within her boots. she really did look like a real WICKED Guard, despite the fact that she would look a little shorter than the others. 

she tucked her red hair into a bun on top of her head and pulled on her Mask, lifting it up so that the others could see her face. she stood in silence as Newt put on all of her special equipment for her. "Newt" she spoke up. "That argument earlier...with Thomas... That wasn't like you. Are you alright? is something wrong?" she asked, worried. Newt shook his head. "No, Els. I promise. everything is fine"

"Okay" Elsie whispered shakily. "I believe you" she went up on her tip toes, throwing her arms around his neck as she hugged him tightly.

if only she knew what was going to happen.

---

Elsie stood against the wall in the long corridor, stood up straight and unmoving, her large gun cradled in her arms. she would rise on her tiptoes whenever a Guard or another person walked by, to look slightly taller. she waited patiently for Teresa, Thomas and Newt to come past. they were taking quite a little while and she worried that something had gone wrong and that they weren't coming at all. 

she almost sighed with relief as Thomas, Newt and Teresa came rushing down the stairs. she joined them, trailing after them as they walked down the winding corridors, Gally joining them. Once they reached the tall reinforced door to the sublevels, Teresa pressed her fingerprint to the scanner. Elsie almost jumped for joy as the scanner went green, the words 'access granted' appearing on the screen. 

Teresa pushed the door open, the Gladers following after her as the door slammed shut behind them. Elsie stayed alert, keeping her gun pointed as she checked the area for Guards. the coast was clear. She quickly began hurrying down the stairs with Teresa and Newt. "Hold on, hold on" Gally called, stopping infront of the power box. "I can get in here" he lifted his mask, pulling out his equipment.

Thomas hurried down the rest of the stairs as Teresa and Elsie sat down on the stairs side by side. Elsie had taken off her mask, catching her breath. she watched with a frown on her face as Newt lifted his mask, coughing hard with wheezing breaths. Elsie wasn't stupid. she knew something was wrong. she knew Newt was lying to her. she bit her lip, looking away.

Gally began drilling his way into the Power box as Thomas walked over to the door, lifting his Walkie to his lips as he called to Frypan. "Frypan, we're in. How you doing?" Elsie heard Frypan's voice over the static of the walkie. "yeah, I'm getting there. Tell Minho 'Hi' for me"

"Hang in there, buddy" Thomas said, ending the conversation. Gally pulled the Power box open, revealing a complicated arrangement of colourful glowing wires and flips and switches. "This'll work" he muttered.

Thomas lifted the Walkie once more. "Brenda, what's your status? How's Katie?" Thomas asked. Brenda's voice came in through the walkie, echoing around the stairwell. "Status is, I'm working on it. and little Katie is perfectly fine"

"Copy. just make sure you're ready on your end. and keep Katie safe" Thomas reminded her. Brenda's voice filled the silence once more. "Don't worry, you know I'll be there. and I'd never let anything happen to Katie"

Gally slammed a device into the Power box. "All right, let's go!" he called. Elsie quickly pulled on her Mask, standing up alert. The group ran down the stairwell and down the hallways until they reached the surveillance room. Elsie stood infront of the tall reinforced door, waiting for it to open. The second the doors slid open, Elsie pulled the trigger, hitting the WICKED Guard infront of her right in the chest. she watched in satisfaction as he flew back, falling on the ground. Elsie ran inside and began shooting at the Guards on duty, covering for the others as they ran inside. 

She went running for the first cell she saw, opening the door to reveal a group of frightened young girls. she removed her mask, smiling at them. "its alright, you're safe now. we've come to rescue you!" she whispered, beckoning them over. "Come on, quick!"

Soon all the immunes were gathered around, frightened and confused. "Guys, this might take awhile" Gally called over to his shoulder, gesturing to the reinforced Vault infront of him. Thomas ran from Cell to Cell, but Minho was nowhere to be seen. Elsie grouped all the immunes, trying her best to reassure them. Meanwhile, Thomas was frantically searching for Minho. "Where is he??" he asked Teresa, who stammered, heading over to the computers.

"somebody's moved him up to the medical wing!" Teresa exclaimed, reading over the information on the computer. "Thomas, that's on the other side of the building!"

"Okay. take me to him. right now" Thomas ordered. 

"All right. we're coming with you" Elsie insisted, grabbing her gun and joining Newt. "No. you guys have to stay here with Gally for the serum."

"You can't do this on your own" Newt protested. "Minho comes first, remember?"

"Just go, you're wasting time!" Gally yelled over his shoulder. "I'll get the serum, we'll meet you out back"

"Okay, fine, let's go!" Thomas muttered, the four heading towards the door. as Elsie walked along, she thought to herself. she wondered why it was so important that Newt be there to get the Serum. she simply shook it off. she didn't have time to be worrying and conspiring over silly things that might not even be important! she had to focus on rescuing Minho.