"No matter what..."

Chapter 2

"As you've known this group is taking a while and needs help so I'm going to get you two to go in there but help them. I don't want you to do it for them but give them hints that is why we are going to let you go in without your memory being erased," Paige says to us with serious looks. Every now and then Thomas and I give each other small glances with worried faces not knowing what to do or what to say. "But because of that," she continues,"I want you to work extra hard and not get distracted. Do you understand?" She says sternly looking at me. Thomas and I both nod. She smiles showing us her perfect white teeth.

"Right, who will go first?" she asks. Now Thomas and I look at each other with big wide eyes.

"What do you mean?" I ask confused.

"Well-" she starts saying but is cut of by Janson,

"If you both go in at the same time they will be too suspicious," he says.

"Yes," Paige agrees,"So they will actually escape in around two months."

"Um can we have some time to think about it?" Thomas asks.

"Yes sure but we need to know your decision in ten minutes so you can leave tomorrow morning.Okay?" I let out a deep sigh and Paige and Janson walk out of the room.

Thomas and I are silent for a while. Thinking about who should go first. I don't think I can do it just yet. I think I'll be distracted. Thomas is smart and fast and will probably do what he has to do. I turn to him and open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it.

"I think you should go," he says. My jaw drops thinking about what he had just said.

"But.. but," I stutter, "no YOU should go. I'll just get distracted, I'm not sure if I'm ready yet," I finish and stare at the ground.

"Josefina look at me," and I look up,"You NEED to go. If you go next month it'll be too obvious. People will KNOW that something is going on with you and that you're different starting with that you're a girl. But if you go now, at least it'll give them time to get used to you and they'll think you are just like them." 

I nod in reply understanding what he means, but I'm not ready yet. 

"I'll do it."

Thomas smiles and hugs me. He's always been like an older brother to me. 

"Don't worry. I know you can do this," he says to me looking into my eyes. Just then Paige and Janson walk in. Paige is wearing a smile.

"I see you have made a decision?" she half asks.

"Yes," I answer, "I am going to go first."

"Ah I knew you would." Wait what does she mean about that. How does she know? "Well you better start getting ready, we've decided you'll just leave tomorrow so you have time for training."

"Training?" I ask puzzled.

"Yes training. You and Thomas are going to help each other and will keep your memories so you'll know what to do," Janson replies, "Come on we'll start now."

After hours of 'training' Thomas and I are sitting at the table where we usually eat. Teresa- my best friend- comes over to us.

"So what were you guys doing today?"

"Oh you know," I say, "Doing TELEPATHY. Just the usual stuff." Her eyes go wide and her mouth opens.

"Are you serious?"

I smile and nod my head not being able to talk since there is food in my mouth.

"Wow, you have to teach me some time... so what's all the special stuff for?"

Should I tell her? If I don't she'll find out anyway but if I tell her she'll be sad...

"Oh just another test," I lie and put the spoon inside my mouth. Thomas looks at me pretty much saying 'why didn't you tell her?' I shrug.

Suddenly the screens in the cafeteria turn on and on it shows Paige and all the other high/important people. I guess you can call them 'government' or something between those lines. They are all sitting on a long table with Paige in the middle, all of them looking towards us.

"As you all know one of our most important experiments is going on. Group B successfully completes the Maze Trials but Group A still is no closer to doing it. It is one month already and that means tomorrow there will be another person joining them but will keep her memory so that she can speed it up a little. That person is Josefina." Murmurs spread throughout the room as heads turn towards me. Then someone starts clapping and cheering and people are standing up and congratulating me for being 'brave' but to be honest, I kind of had no choice. But then there is Teresa. She is still sitting down looking at me with tears coming out of her eyes. 

I go to my room after a long two hours of 'goodbyes'. I turn on my music and pour some fizzy drink into a cup. I take a sip from it whilst listening to the music. Suddenly hands cover my eyes from behind me and in a fake deep voice I hear someone say, "guess who it is." I smile and pull the hands off me and turn around to see, "Thomas."

He smiles then grabs my cup and drinks from it. "Why didn't you tell Teresa?"

I tilt my head back, "ugh. I just... I don't know. I didn't want to leave her," I say looking into his eyes. Then my eyes started tearing up and hug him. He hugs me back. After a long while kind-of-slow-dancing to the music he says quietly, "I think you should go to her."

I nod and look at him. "Thanks for always being there for me." He returns with a smile and I walk out of my room to Teresa's.

I reach her door and sigh. This will probably be the last time I see this door for a long time. I place my hand on the handle and turn it walking in. The light is off and I hear sobs.

"Teresa? Teresa I'm sorry."

"Go away! Just get out!"

"I'm sorry," I mutter and walk away. What did I get into?

*

I wake up to the sound of someone knocking on my door. I look at my clock and it reads 3:29am. I need to meet Paige and Janson at four. 

"Come in," I say. It's probably Thomas. Then I realise it's locked and stand up. I walk to the door and open it and see not Thomas but Teresa. She hugs me crying.

"I'm so sorry Josefina. I was just shocked. I shouldn't of been angry with you."

"No I'm sorry. I should've told you," I say and we lie down on my bed talking about all the embarrassing memories we've had when we were younger.

Suddenly my alarm goes off.

"Oh I'm sorry I should be going now." I stand up.

"I'll go with you," she says and with her arm around my shoulder we walk to the room. 

*

I'm already dressed with some clothes and the lift is packed with the goods. We are going through some final checking and then it's time.

"You ready?" Janson asks  me.

"Never been more ready in my life," I confidently reply.