i know that
if i die, my
only choice is
still defending
★
you shall go west,
and face the one who has turned,
you shall find what was stolen,
and see it safely returned,
you shall be betrayed by
one who calls you a friend,
and you shall fail to...
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The ship finally arrived at its destination — a secret rendezvous point organized by the rebellion.
As the doors creaked open, a motley crew of rebels, including Bea, Aris, Thèrèse and Teresa, stepped off the ship.
The rebels led the Four through a maze of twisting alleys and shadowy streets, until they finally reached a hidden door etched into a brick wall.
They knocked a secret pattern, and the door creaked open, revealing a dark, damp tunnel.
With bandanas tied around their faces, Bea, Thèrèse, Teresa and Aris walked carefully through the dark tunnel.
Every step they took seemed to echo loudly in the narrow space, making them acutely aware of just how precarious this operation was.
Finally, they reached a heavy metal door at the end of the tunnel.
One of the rebels stepped up and performed a complex series of knocks and taps on the door, a secret code known only to those within the rebel group.
After a tense moment, they heard some shuffling from behind the door, and it slowly swung open.
A rebel guard, dressed in a dark jumpsuit and bandana, waved them inside.
The rebels led them into a secret headquarters — a large room filled with makeshift tables and chairs, maps and blueprints tacked to the walls.
A dozen rebels moved about the room, some tending to weapons, others deep in whispered conversations.
As they followed the rebel guard into the secret headquarters, Bea, Thèrèse, Teresa and Aris exchanged glances, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
This was nothing like the sterile environment of WCKD.
The guard ushered them into the center of the room, where an older rebel leader stood, studying a sprawling map spread out on a table.
He was flanked by several other rebels, all of them watching the four with sharp, observant eyes.
"You're here," the leader said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Good."
He studied them for a long moment, his eyes flickering over each of them in turn.
Finally, the leader spoke again. "We've been expecting you. You all look strong," he said quietly. "We could use more people like you."
Bea, Thèrèse, Aris and Teresa exchanged glances, unsure where this was going.
The leader continued, "We have a mission. One that requires extra hands. Are you up for it?"
Teresa looked at the other three. They'd come this far in hopes of aiding the rebellion, but the implications of the mission were still unclear. She looked back at the leader.
