WICKED Is Not Good

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A metallic clanging reverberated throughout the train cart. I looked up to the ceiling and saw footsteps running over the grate. What's going on? I glanced to my right to see Minho who was looking at me as well. We clearly had the same idea. I wish I could still contact Aris but WICKED got rid of our communication the second we were brought in. I've tried to communicate with the others but it never worked. 'Thomas?' Minho mouthed and I looked back at the roof. 'Do you really think so?' I signed back in ASL as we heard shouting. When we first got her we met another prisoner who was deaf. Her name was Selena. She taught us ASL... Before WICKED killed her. Since then Minho and I had a system where I would sign and he would talk unless the situation prevented it.

"Minho! Mia!" I felt hope flood through my veins. I'd know that voice anywhere. I looked at Minho and knew he recognised it too. He started rattling the chains that held his hands together and I did the same.

"Thomas!" I screamed, my voice sore having not been used since the day we were captured. Six months ago. Some of the prisoners turned towards me, shocked that I had spoken as basically everyone in the cart, besides Minho, had never heard me speak.

"We're here!" Minho shouted and I heard Thomas' voice again.

"This one! This one!" A loud bang sounded and the train jerked. I heard the sound of brakes screeching to a halt but we just continued forward. A few yards later our compartment stopped and we waited. I heard screaming and the sound of a berg flying away. We all got quiet and I had a feeling of dread in my stomach. The doors burst open and WICKED officers entered, holding up guns to us. They didn't get our cart.

"They got 40, maybe 50 kids. We're still compiling an official count, but the pilot got a good look. He thinks it was them." An officer said as we were forced off of the train.

"Of course it was them. What about the Berg?" I heard Ratman ask as people scanned our necks.

"We tracked it a few miles. But someone must have known about the locator. They're totally off the grid."

"Move it, Immunes." A guard ordered harshly as I was shoved to my knees. "A3."

"We're searching the area, but they're probably long gone by now." The guy talking to Janson said as Minho was sat next to me.

"Oh, no, they're not going anywhere." Janson's voice said from directly in front of us. "He didn't get what he really wanted." I looked up and glared at the man. It probably didn't look very threatening as I was in much worse condition. My eyes were sunken and slightly puffy, my skin dry and my body was extremely skinny. I had cuts all over from fighting back and I also had a black eye. Ratman scowled down at us and once everyone was accounted for we were loaded back onto the train.

~

I woke up in a dark tunnel and looked around. The lights flickered and the atmosphere was dense. A clicking and whirring sound that I hadn't heard in almost a year echoed around me. I spotted the creature and ran for my life. A Griever. I looked back and did not recognise it. They must have made more. I ran for my life but it was hard, having not ran in six months. I staggered and it was hard to breathe. I burst through a door into an open glade and stumbled into the middle. I hunched over and tried to catch my breath. I heard a rustling to my left and spun to face a figure. It was hiding in the shadows of the deadheads and I approached carefully. 'Who are you?' I thought and was answered moments later when the shadow emerged. I gasped and stumbled back. Alby? His skin was dull, almost grey as he walked forward. More shadows came forward as I backed away in horror. Winston. Zart. Chuck. Ben. Gally. And my mother joined him. I continued backing away before I tripped and hit my head. I rubbed the sore spot before looking at what I had tripped over. To my horror, Thomas laid there. Dead. His eyes open and ghostly white instead of their usual vibrant brown. His skin as pale as a vampire and his face a picture of terror. I felt my tears fall as I clutched onto him. No. No, no, no, no, no. Please no. Just like WICKED to taunt me with this. I felt hands grab me and I was too weak to fight them off. I was powerless as my friends dragged me back towards the Griever. I was flung to the ground and looked up in time to see the claw heading straight down towards my face. I blacked out.

~

I felt hands shaking me awake and I tried to fight them off.

"Hey! Mia, It's me! Relax." I opened my eyes and saw Minho. My muscles relaxed and I laid back down. 'How long have I been out?' I signed and listened for his answer. "They brought you back ten minutes ago." I groaned and shook my head. 'It's getting worse.' I looked up and Minho nodded. "What did they show you this time?" I trembled, remembering what I had seen in the simulation. 'The usual, the Griever chase and the Glade. But then I saw Alby, Winston, Zart, Chuck, Ben, Gally and my mother. I ran but tripped on Thomas' dead body. Then I was dragged back to the Griever and passed out.' I answered and heard Minho clench his fists. "Guess what I found out." He said after a moment of silence. 'What?' I asked and Minho signed the answer. 'Aris and Sonya got out. Thomas managed to get their cart.' My jaw dropped. 'How did you find out?' 'Word travels fast around here.' I nodded and smiled sadly. 'Well if we couldn't get out, I'm glad they did.' Minho nodded solemnly as I sat up. 'Who did they take?' I asked as I looked around the room. 'Sally.' I nodded. Poor girl, she's only twelve and always comes back with way too much blood having been taken. 'How much did they take?' Minho asked, placing a hand on my shoulder and I shrugged. 'Not sure, I feel like shit though. They must be upping the doses.' 'Sounds about right. I swear one of these days they're gonna bleed us dry.' I scoffed. 'No they won't. They bleed us until we're almost dead but then let us revive. That way they have even more blood.' I signed and Minho let out a bitter chuckle. 'Yeah, most likely.' We both sat in silence for a while, wondering how long it would be until WICKED finally killed us. Over the past six months Minho had acted as a second older brother to me. Protecting me as best he could in this shithole. I honestly don't think I'd be alive if it weren't for him. By some miracle we even managed to stay in the same group, which was extremely lucky. I even told him about Thomas, Aris, Teresa and I's telepathy. He took it surprisingly well, all things considered. 'You know they're not gonna stop looking for us.' I signed and Minho shrugged. 'I hope so.'

~

The doors opened and everyone in the room stood up, rushing to the back of the room, trying not to get taken. Minho pulled me behind him protectively as the guards stormed into the room. One grabbed Minho while I tried to pull him back but another grabbed me. We both struggled but it was no use and we were carried out the door and down hallways into separate rooms. My hands were cuffed to the table I was forced to sit at. It felt like hours sitting there and waiting. The time passed by agonizingly slowly. Then the door creaked open and Teresa walked in. I scowled at her but she had already looked spooked when she entered.

"Mia? I know you can hear me. I just want to talk." Teresa said and I lowered my gaze. I glared at the table, not wanting to look at the traitor any more. "I know you don't want to talk so I convinced them to switch back on our telekinesis." I lifted my head slightly to show I was listening but still did not look at her. "No. It won't work with Aris or Thomas, you will only be able to talk to me for now." I scowled and leaned back, crossing my arms the best I could. "Listen, there's a little girl here. Her name is Shai Lun. She's been infected for three weeks now. But, you're going to save her. And you can save so many others. Everything we're doing here, it's working. Do you understand? That's why this is so important. I just wanted you to know." She said before standing up. 'Teresa.' I said in her head and she turned back around. I finally looked up at her with a stone cold gaze. 'Let me guess, you just gave the same talk to Minho?' I asked and she bit her lip. 'And let me take another wild guess. He didn't take it well?' She nodded, looking slightly ashamed but still confident in her decision. 'He threatened to kill me.' She told me in my head and I smirked. 'Good.' Teresa looked shocked at my response and slightly hurt but I didn't care. 'You hurt him, Teresa. You hurt everyone. You betrayed us and you betrayed Minho. We trusted you. He trusted you. Minho really liked you, Teresa. And I remember a time when you liked him too. But you hurt him. It doesn't matter how many lives you think you're going to save with your precious cure if you have to lose your friends and your soul to do it. I suggest you take a good long look in the mirror and try to decide who the real monster is. The cranks, or you.' with that she left and I waited for the guards to come get me. 

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