Stay // The Maze Runner

Chapter Eight

I spun around to see that familiar cheeky grin on his face, but there was something else there. Was it relief? Shock? Worry?

Before I could ask him anything Lucas called on us to hurry up. We did, but stayed far enough behind him and Isabella so they couldn't here us.

"What the hell?" I asked Minho quietly, even though I knew he wouldn't know the answer either. "I don't know."

"I mean, I should've been stopped there right?" "Ya I know," he answered, scratching his head. "If I can get in that means Newt can too?" I said, hope building up inside me.

"You're right!" Minho exclaimed. "She's right about what?" Lucas asked suddenly stopping in front of us.

"Newt. He can come in, can't he?" Minho said. I could hear the excitement in his voice. "No," Lucas answered him, like he was speaking to a child that didn't understand.

"But Rosie got in," Minho said. "And she's infected." "What are you talking about copain? She is not infected," Lucas said, confused.

"Yes she is, WICKED said-" "Don't you know by now you can't trust a word they say," Lucas answered.

I'm immune! Minho picked me up and squeezed me so hard it could be barely considered a hug.

"Wait," I said when I caught my breath. "Does that mean Newt is okay too?" Lucas' face fell. "No, mon amie. I am afraid they did not lie about that."

"But," he continued. "I know somebody here who can help him. We must go fast, before anyone recognises us. We have business to do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We followed Lucas through streets of buildings that almost touched the sky. People of all ages walked around us, going about their daily business like nothing was wrong. There was tension in the air though. Like something bad was going to happen and everyone knew it.

The city was surrounded by a massive wall, nearly as big as the buildings. In the darker parts of the city, it was covered in graffiti, generally telling WICKED to shove things in certain places.

"Here we are," Isabella said stopping in front of a door with broken window panes. "Say nothing," she said before opening the door and walking in.

We followed her only to be met with a pungent smell that filled out nostrils. "What is that smell?" Minho asked but got no answer.

We walked up three flights of stairs and passed a number of doors until we stopped outside number 33. The paint was peeling off the door and the handle was just holding on.

Isabella knocked and the door and a gruff voice called out "who is it?" "Me," she answered. The key clicked as the door was unlocked. It creaked as we walked through it.

Inside the apartment smelled damp. Minho scrunched his face up at it. We followed a man down a hall and into what looked like a kitchen, but it was hard to tell with the mess inside.

"Are these them?" The man asked peering at us through his glasses. "Yes."

"Hmmmm," he said walking over to us. "You've gotten skinnier," he said, poking at my ribs that were even visible through my top. I opened my mouth to say something but Isabella shook her head.

"You, you haven't changed at all," he said looking at Minho, who just stared back at him icily.

"Of course. I'm Hans," he said. "You don't remember me. I don't expect you to."

"Where's that Thomas boy?" He asked angrily. "And that Theresa?" "We don't know," Isabella answered. "Hmmm."

He looked at me again before suddenly grabbing my arm and quickly pushing up my sleeve.

"Oi watch it," I shouted pulling my hand, but his grip was so strong I couldn't. "Relax girl. I'm just looking for the Swipe."

"The what?" Minho said.

"The Swipe. WICKED put it in you before you entered the maze. It erases your memory but also enables them to control your actions. It's like a little microchip inserted into the vein inside your elbow that almost connects you to their computers."

That must be how I was able to see what was happening in their lab when they thought I was having memories.

"There it is," he said pinching the skin of my elbow. "Ouch," I shrieked but he was still latched on me. "This right here," he said pinching around what looked like a square under my skin. "Is what lets WICKED do what they do to you. It controls everything and until it is out, you or any of your friends aren't safe."

"What about the others? Or Newt?" Minho asked. "When I worked with WICKED," Hans said as he walked towards a drawer. "Their plan was to remove the Swipe when they restored everyone's memories. I don't know if they still do that, but they wouldn't have any reason to leave it there."

"Come in here," he said walking through another door with a tray in hand. "I'll sort you out."

//AN - guys I'm back woohoo !! I'm sorry for being so inactive and then coming back with this not so good chapter but I have plans for this story and they're all bubbling up inside me waiting to come out!
As for not writing in so long, I had a crazy summer and a crazy year but I've finally settled down to what I'd probably call my new life and things aren't as hectic so hopefully things will stay this way for a while.
And again I'm sorry for being away for so long, but all the support I got while I was away was actually phenomenal and I want to thank all of you for it <3
So hope you enjoy and all that.
Toodles xox //