The Scorch Victims

Chapter One

[] Picture of Jay above! Future editing contest underway :3 []

Jay continued to sit on a chair in the testing room. Or as she called it, the lab rat room. Thomas and Minho ran on treadmill, chatting idly as they continued to prod and inject her. Newt stood off by the side as they checked his vitals and glanced at Jay every once in a while.

The scientist attending Jay, a woman with chocolate skin and bright eyes, took out a needle much liked the ones on the Griever's metal hinds. Her mind went into panic mode.

She thrashed in the chair with a loud yell and Thomas' head snapped towards her. Newt started to jump off of his station to run to her but Thomas had already beat him to it.

Thomas yanked off his wires, hopped off the treadmill, and darted over to Jay and the scientist. Guards tried to restrain him but they stopped when Ratman held a hand up allowing him to push past them and get to Jay in the chair.

"It's going to be okay...I've got you..." He whispered softly and picked her now shaking body in his arms.

"It-It looked like-" She hyperventilated slightly, squeezing her eyes shut as Thomas ran his fingers through her dark hair. "I know, baby..I know.." It hurt to see the strongest person he knew in such distress.

"Subject A14....Suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder..." The scientists whispered among themselves. "That's enough testing for today. Bring them to the cafeteria to meet the others."

Thomas carried Jay into the cafeteria with the Gladers close behind, Newt and Minho flanking his sides. "Others?" Minho murmured with a frown. Jay looked up at Thomas who gazed at her with loving eyes.

"Thomas...We aren't safe here..." She whispered softly, holding onto his shirt. "We are safe. There is no need to be afraid anymore." Ratman answered just as Thomas was about to open his mouth and respond. His gaze turned onto Ratman, fuming slightly.

Jay sighed but she looked up as they entered a cafeteria full of people. Boys and girls alike. "They're from other mazes much like yours." Ratman explained before he showed them to the food and left them so they could eat.

A group of boys sat with them, making Thomas' arm wrap around Jay jealously. Newt sat on Jay's other side and fought the itching urge to hold her hand. A few guards started calling people up and the others cheered slightly, before the called up group was taken behind a guarded metal door.

"Where are they headed?" Jay asked the boy across her, a brunette with dazzling emerald eyes. He had introduced himself as Charlie and he held a boyish charm that could make any girl swoon. Except for Jay of course.

Thomas shot discreet daggers at Charlie as he talked. First Newt, now this? What would it take for them to leave his girl alone? "Rumor has it, that they get sent off to the safe haven. A place with no disease." Charlie replied, ignoring Thomas' glares. Jay frowned. Sounded suspicious.

"Arris has been here the longest." Charlie nodded his head towards a boy sitting all by himself in a table, playing with the strings on his hoodie. Thomas looked over at Jay just as a chime sounded. "Everyone to their bunks." An electronic voice said over the intercom.

A guard came by to show them to their rooms. Thomas never let go of Jay's hand. He himself was starting to feel suspicious of their rescuers. Or were they just new captors?

They winded through twisted hallways, which Jay did her best to memorize in case anything happened, before they stopped at a metal door. They all started to head inside until the guard held up a hand. "Just the lady."

Thomas clenched his jaw determinedly. "I won't go without her." Jay leaned up so they were eye to eye, leaning her forehead against his. "I will be fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She gave his lips a chaste kiss before she entered the room.

Newt felt his heart squeeze in envy. Why couldn't he have someone like that? He knew no one could top Jay...But it still hurt.

The boys were shown to their bunks after Jay was dropped off and Thomas laid in his bunk. He was restless. A soft tap echoed under his bunk and he frowned, looking under the bed.

His lips spread into a smile when he saw the face through the slits. "Jay..." He crawled off his bed silently as to not wake the Gladers and pried open the vent.

Frypan, Minho and the others slept soundly. But Newt heard Thomas. And another voice. Jay. He closed his eyes with a soft sigh. At least she was happy.

Thomas moved to kiss her but frowned when he saw someone right behind her. "Arris?" "C'mon. He has to show us something." She whispered, tugging him into the cramped space with them. "Wait, where are we going?" Thomas whispered back as they crawled through the  tight airways.

There were cobwebs everywhere and he coughed as he waved them away, doing his best not to sneeze at the dusty air. They took one last turn and stopped at another vent, this one facing downwards.

"Bodies are coming in. Covered up and such. But none have come out." Arris explained silently as a scientist wheeled in a few bodies behind the now open doors that parted when she swiped her keycard.

"We have to get one of those..." Jay bit her lip in though and Thomas sighed. Could they just not be in danger? For once in their lives? Arris crawled away after giving directions to their bunks and Thomas crawled in front of Jay until they both reached his dorm and sat by the entrance to the vent.

"Spend the night with me?" He pouted, kissing her cheek and she chuckled. "No. I can't. They'll notice an extra body in the morning." Jay did her best not to laugh. "Aw..One goodnight kiss?" He pleaded when she moved to go back to her own dorm. "Fine." She scoffed playfully.

Jay kissed his nose but he sneakily moved his face and captured her lips with his. "Sneaky shank.." She murmured against his lips with a smile. "Your sneaky shank." He murmured in return and pulled away after a short while. "I love you. Goodnight Tommy." Jay smiled, moving back into the vent.

"I love you, Jay. Goodnight." He answered and remained until she was swallowed up by darkness. That girl would be the death of him. He crawled back into bed after telling himself not to crawl after her and kiss her senseless, resorting to a peaceful, yet paranoid, sleep.