Chasing Chances // Minho

Insertion

WICKED Facility
Undisclosed Location
November 15th, 231

All night I had been tossing and turning, unable to sleep because I knew what tomorrow held. Tomorrow, we would be sending the first wave of kids into the Maze. We were going to drop 24 of them off in each maze and we would do so every hour on the hour for a full day and then, we would shift into our scheduled once a month drop off. I wasn't nervous about all of my friends going into the Maze, this was what we had been preparing for for years, what made me nervous was the fact that Minho was apart of the first group to go in.

I haven't spoken to him in over two years or seen him face to face and it was killing me thinking that he was going to go into the Maze hating me. It's a selfish thought, I know but Minho's a sweet guy and I miss talking with him, joking around with him. I miss everyone and now, they were all going to the one place where I couldn't follow.

When Teresa's alarm went off at nine in the morning, I was already awake, dressed and sitting on my bed. Teresa on the other hand woke up groggily, looking like she had just had the best nights sleep of her entire life as she yawned and stretched out her limbs. She didn't look nervous or agitated at all. But that's Teresa for you, she's always prepared, always ready for anything. The two of us went to breakfast together and ate with the rest of the WICKED scientists who had to be up early with us for the Insertion process. Thomas, Aris, and Rachel looked just as nervous and restlessly as I did and there was very little talk while we ate.

"Say goodbye to my friends for me." I said lightly to Aris as we were getting ready to part ways.  I hadn't talked to any of the girls in three years but I thought about them all the time. I was especially worried about Ashoka since it looked like nearly all of our friends would be going in before her, except Silla. I hoped she wouldn't take it too hard.

"Of course." Aris said, squeezing my shoulder lightly before heading off to Maze B. When I got to my lab that morning though, Brenda was waiting for me and she looked more official than usually. Her lab coat was straightened out and looked freshly washed. Her short hair was tied up in a bun and she was even holding a clipboard and pen.

"What's up with you?" I asked, preparing to sit down at my desk.

"Your Mom has a task for us." Brenda said, pivoting on one foot to follow my motions. I arched an eyebrow at her quizzically.

"Okay, What is it? Don't just stand there." Brenda pursed her lips, like she didn't want to tell me what was going on.

"It's better if we just go there." Brenda said ominously. "Come on or we'll be late." So, skeptically, I got up and followed Brenda out of the lab.

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"You want me to what?" I demanded, looking down into Newt and Alby's serene faces. "You never said anything about this before! What the hell is erasing their memories going to do?" Those were all the wrong questions to ask though as my mother furrowed her eyebrows and glared me down.

"It's one of the Variables Mallory. I don't think I need to explain that to you."

"Well.. Wh-what the heck is supposed to be left of them? You've taken everything from us already and now you want to erase their minds!" A hand touches my arm but I shake Brenda away. She's always been more obedient than I and I am not about to let my mom get away with this.

"It's not a big deal Malls. Would you want your memories going into that place?" I heard her say and I almost felt like turning around and slapping her. Yes I would want my memories. Yes I would want to remember who I am and who the people around me are.