Variables → Group B [AU]

10 → "TWO NEWBIES"

10 → "TWO NEWBIES"

[Aris]

He stood beside Teresa, watching as Thomas and Rachel spent their first night in the Maze. Everything seemed to be going fine, as plan. The boy's of Group A were just heading to bed, as were the girls of Group B. Everything was normal. Everything was peaceful.

But it wouldn't last.

Everything after tomorrow was going to trigger chaos. Everything was going to change. Tomorrow, Aris would go up into Group B, and Teresa, Group A. But, don't be fooled. They aren't the Triggers. Even when they arrive and everything starts falling apart, they aren't the Trigger. Thomas, Aris and Teresa, are simply just chess pieces in this plan. The Trigger, well she has already unknowingly triggered the first event in the plan. Little will she expect what will happen next.

—

Watching her go through what had happened punched him in the gut. Getting stung by a Griever, going through what both groups dubbed The Changing. Watching her suffer and lose a close friend. He watched all this happen behind a screen, trying to conceal the devastation he felt. Teresa has told him not to worry, that she was alive. But he couldn't help but think, was WICKED's plans too extreme? They are kids, teenagers, after all. They're human.

Everyone has a breaking point. But, how much pain could they endure before they hit their breaking point?

—

"I guess this is it, then." Teresa said to Aris the next morning. They were moments from being separated, given the Swipe and sent up.

"Until we meet again." Aris nodded. Teresa pulled Aris into an embrace. Moments after, she pulled back and started wandering the direction she was to go. They gave each other forced smiles. But their eyes said different. They knew what they were doing was for the good of humanity. Aris waved goodbye, but Teresa had a different way of bidding goodbye. Instead, her choice of words was something he wished WICKED had never convinced her.

"Remember." she said. "WICKED is good."

And she was gone.

—

[Adeline]

Adeline was working in the Gardens, harvesting strawberries, placing them into a basket. Today seemed unusually muggy, and a bad feeling had been eating away at her insides since breakfast. She couldn't help but wonder why she always felt like something bad was to happen. Did anyone feel that way, too? Or was it just Adeline? When lunch rolled around, Adeline was relieved that she could take a break. Everyone was seeming to be irritable by the muggy weather, too, wiping sweat beading from their foreheads. Adeline headed towards the line of girls lining up for their lunch, walking alongside Rachel. Rachel seemed less curious today, and her long list of curious questions were gone. Rachel must've come to realisation that nobody can answer her questions, and that Harriet and Sonya weren't going to spill anymore information about the Maze than intended.

"Enjoying your first day?" Adeline asked as they neared the line.

"Yeah." Rachel sneered. "I'm loving the fact that I have to spend my day slicing up animals."

Adeline couldn't help but laugh. Adeline hated spending the day at the Slicers Shed back when she was a Newbie. They lined up in the cue of girls, waiting for their turn to grab a plate of food and head to their table. Right as both girls had grabbed a plate of food, they headed to a table and settled down. Many girls were already eating, many lost in conversations. They ate and got lost in conversation, until it was time to head back to their jobs. Right as Adeline was heading towards the Gardens, the loud booming of an alarm emitted around the Sector. It was the same alarm as the Newbie alarm. They hadn't told her, but it became blatantly obvious that whoever sent Adeline here, sent a Newbie each month. So for the alarm to go off now, Adeline just assumed it was supplies being sent up. But, apparently Harriet didn't think so. Confusion spread across Harriet's face, and suddenly Rachel was by her side. Adeline exchanged a look with Rachel, before Adeline strode over towards Harriet.

"Harriet." Rachel said from behind Adeline. "What's wrong?"

"The Box." Harriet explained. "It's coming back up."

"So?" Rachel quizzed.

"A Newbie is coming." Harriet said. "Right now."

"So, why is everyone panicking then?" Rachel questioned. Harriet stared back at Rachel.

"We've never had two Newbies arrive in the same month." Harriet said. "Much less a day."

Rachel seemed lost for words, and Adeline turned on her heels towards the Box. Was this what Adeline had a bad feeling about?

—

The Newbie alarm stopped after half an hour. Girls crowded around the Box, muttering to others. Many were confused, some worried. Adeline and Rachel pushed through the crowd of girls. They waited around for close to half an hour, before the box had finally came to a stop. Two girls pulled open the two metal doors, concerned etched on their faces. Harriet's words echoed in Adeline's head; We've never had two Newbies arrive in the same month. Much less a day. The moment the metal doors were wide open, girls pushed and shoved to get a look at the Newbie. More girls started crowding around, and Harriet shoved through the crowd. The Mappers were still out in the Maze, unaware of their new arrival. Usually Sonya was here to welcome the Newbie with Harriet, but when Adeline arrived, it was nearing dusk, as with Rachel. Girls continued to gather around, and Harriet peered down into the box, girls trying to get a look. Adeline and Rachel both managed to get a look, but what they saw had many girls gobsmacked and confused.

Inside the Box, the Newbie was a boy.

And he was unconscious.

"Oh my —" Harriet could barely finish her words.

"What is it?" Beth questioned from the middle of the crowd of girls.

"Hold on!" Harriet replied, before she climbed into the Box.

"Just tell us what is going on!" Someone called out. Harriet rose to her feet, meeting gazes of confused girls.

"It's a boy." Harriet replied. "No way. No freakin' way. Two years, no boys. Always girls. Nothing different."

Choruses of voices broke out in question. Instead of girls making remarks about their new arrival being a boy, many were gasping in shock, others calling out why they hadn't bothered to get the boy out of the Box. The girls reaction to the news of a boy was a lot different to what Adeline would've thought; none of them had the audacity to make remarks, to ask if he was cute.

"Shut it!" Harriet shouted. "That's not even half of it. I think he's dead."

All Harriet's words did was spark more questions. Adeline pushed through the crowd, crouched down. Then, Adeline noticed something clutched in his hand. It appeared to be a piece of paper. Adeline spoke up, cutting off the next chorus of questions. Girls stopped their endless list of questions.

"What is that in his hand?" Adeline questioned, before she jumped into the Box. Crouching down, she pried his fingers to grab the slip of paper.

"What does it say?" Harriet asked. Adeline unfolded the paper.

"He's the last one. Ever." Adeline read aloud.