'Till Death Do Us Part

Chapter Twenty Five - Remembering.

At first, Riley was kind of disapointed with the whole 'Changing' thing. For seemingly endless hours, she felt nothing. Nothing at all. Just darkness, like she was floating in a limbo. In fact, she was rather bored. She had been expecting something big - important memories, immense pain, maybe a disco ball or two. Something worthwhile. Having to go through insane amounts of pain to get memories back - sure, whatever. Not the nicest method, but she could handle it. But waiting in darkness for nothing to happen - that was just rude.

Just as she was beginning to get seriously pissed off, the pain began. At first, it was an itch. Then it became annoying, then irritable. Then it consumed every inch of her being, overwhelming her. It was all she could think about, all she could focous on; the pain. It burned through her body, ripping her to shreds. Every fraction of her body was screaming with the entirety of the pain. She knew that, in reality, she was screaming, thrashing - but she couldn't feel it. All she could feel was the excruciating agony.

And, suddenly, everything stopped. Then the visions began. 

Axel was running, like he was trying to keep up with her, his breathing laboured, expression worried and desperate. "It's all about to change, Riley." He was yelling. "There is no escape from WICKED. There is no way out, not really. They plan to kill you, Riley. Watch out! So-some you can't trust!" But he was lagging further and further behind by the second. "Be careful, Riley!" He screamed, and then the vision changed.

Riley stood on the brink of a cliff, looking down on a destroyed city. Houses were smoking. People ran around, panicked and injured, screaming, crying, shouting for help. Complete and utter destruction; buildings in ruins, bodies scattering the ground. Fire spread everywhere. She turned away, unable to face it anymore, and the scene changed again.

Images of people filled her mind. People, but not really people. They looked sort of human, but sort of not. Their faces were burnt and scared, their bodies mangled, some disfigured. Some were crying, some were fighting, some were shouting nonsense. Their movements were animalistic - tearing their own hair out, lunging at each other. Some laughed, voices too high-pitched, tinged with insanity. It was horrific.

The scene faded once more, and Riley saw a more comforting image - her friends. All of them - all the Gladers, smiling and happy. They sat on a grassy hill overlooking the sea, laughing and chatting. Thomas and Teresa sat, hand in hand. Minho was laughing with Alby. Newt was smiling, his eyes bright. Everyone was happy. Then, a voice came from no where. "Is this what you want, Riley? You can have it - this could be a reality. All we need is for you to co operate."

The vision changed once again, but this time she returned to a world of darkness and pain.

The memories came and went, as did the pain. And, by the end of it, Riley finally understood what she needed to do. What she needed to do to escape the maze. But the unknown voice carried on whispering in her ear;

How far would you go to save the one you love, Riley. It's you or him - and it's up to you.