THE HEARTS » TMR [1]

17. Phase Two

Everything was silent until they heard the heels tapping on the clean tiled floor. Eight people remained seated as their chairwoman made her way to the front of the room, wiping the fake blood stain from the side of her head.

     The woman turned to face them, a confident smile spreading across her red lips.

     "Well," she said, taking off her long white jacket. "I think it's safe to say that these trials were a complete success. I wasn't expecting many survivors, but the more, the merrier."

     (Margaret wrapped her arms around her legs and pressed them up against her chest. She was overcome by sadness and grief.

     She had lost Chuck, the first friend she had made in the Glade. Not only had she lost him, but she had also lost a part of herself.

     Happiness.)

     "Thomas continues to surprise and impress," the woman went on. "And for now, they've seemed to have taken the bait."

     (Margaret looked at Thomas, who was lost in his own thoughts as he stared at the little figurine in his hand, which was covered in Chuck's blood. 

     She wanted to approach him, talk to him, console him, and hug him. . . But she couldn't because she knew it wouldn't be enough. He needed time alone to process everything and endure the pain.

     Margaret looked around at the other Gladers and saw nothing but the same expressions on their faces. Nobody was ever going to be happy again. Not after what just happened. Chuck and half of the Gladers were dead.

     They were friends.

     They were family.

     I'm sorry, Chuck. I'm sorry.

     Margaret couldn't help but blame herself for Chuck's death. She promised to keep him safe, to keep him alive. . . 

     She broke that promise. 

     Margaret's teeth clenched together as she tried to fight back the tears she'd been holding back since boarding the helicopter. She could faintly hear her and Chuck's laughs back in the Glade, remembering the funny moments they'd shared.

     Margaret rested her head on top of her knees. She felt compelled to pull her hair out of her head. Margaret could almost see herself doing it, looking into the mirror, staring into her own emerald eyes, washed with sadness. And then she'd have a mental breakdown, where she'd smash everything in sight and scream until she felt weak and couldn't take it any longer.

      She shifted her gaze to the window, where she could see the desert. It was only a matter of time before she became weary. Her eyes grew heavier and heavier. But, just before falling into a deep slumber, she noticed buildings in the distance. A place that was once referred to as a city.)

     "It's too soon to say," the woman said, "but they could be the key to everything."

     "Does the same apply to the redhead, Chancellor?" One of the men at the table interrupted, his eyebrows raised.

     "Excuse me?"

     He cleared his throat to speak more clearly. "The girl, Chancellor. The one the boys discovered in the forest. She wasn't supposed to be there. She isn't one of the Subjects."

     "So? What does it matter?" The Chancellor asked, her confident smile still on his face.

     "Well, what exactly are our intentions with her? Are we going to eliminate her from the Trials at some point?"

     She merely chuckled. "No, not at all. She is, in fact, very important to us. She will take part in the Trials, along with the others, and we will all find out what she knows when she is with Janson. She is now one of the Subjects."

     Everyone at the table nodded in agreement.

     "Very well, then," the Chancellor said, raising her chin. "It's time now to begin. . . Phase Two."

«❦»

Okay, first things first. Thank you to all the people that have voted and commented on my chapters. You have no idea how much I love you for that.

But wait! It's not over yet.

Yes! I'm doing a sequel (of course!). And in this book you'll find out more about Thomas and Margaret (or shall I say Lydia? ;).

Okay, yeah, I think that's all I have to say without spoiling too much. If you have any questions about the sequel, ask them and I'll let you know :).

Alright, life-static, out! Love you peeps!

—citlalli.