Back home - short story. Uses similar characters to those in the maze runner

Back home

Issac looked out the window of his cell. Well the guards called it a juvenile room, a place for the minor aged delinquents wait for their trials once they come of age. It's rare now for them to pass their trials, some don't even manage to make it to their trials. Nearly all are malnourished, frightened, and with near no one to trust. Few demonstrate those weaknesses, all, save one or two, have grown up in the same hostile environment; getting less rations, being seen as criminals when they were old enough to walk, having to always defend themselves as no one else was going to do it for them. The citizens of Hollow Realms have noticed that the government had gotten stricter years before, crimes that are now deemed as the death penalty without trial (which all are now) would have been excused or at least given a short, fast trial, allowing them to be pardoned. Many wondered why but they were never given a direct answer, only that protecting the human race was top priority. In turn they just believed that their beloved aircraft was near maximum capacity, which wasn't really supposed to happen as everyone was forced to follow the one-child only policy. 
Issac sighed, placing his head against the cool glass-like window. He looked at all the stars, each shining so brightly even ones' millions of light years away. He saw the earth and the purplish-pinkish aura it emitted, it looked as if it was breathing, the clouds swirling around and the oceans with green waves moving back and forth. He wished he was there, back home. It was everyones' wish for the last 300 years, or so. Their new home was the Hollow Realm, the five-best countries had worked together a few years before earth decided it needed rest from humanity and erupted in all sorts of disasters. The final call being the highest levels of radiation and explosions of gamma rays, even now it was unclear if earth could ever be 'home' again. 
As Issac was just getting lost in his thoughts and in an almost sleep like state from watching earth breath, a guard came into his cell. 
"Inmate 05.  Stand up. Arms to your side."
Issac slowly rose and looked at the guard, it was the same one as always. He wasn't sure of his name, they never gave out any sort of personal information. But this one had a distinguished look from the rest, he was much younger than the rest of the guards and much better fed than the delinquents, but unlike the others, he took care of himself. Whereas the others would have potbellies and unshaven beards, he much his better nutrition to good use and as for facial hair, well the guard keep it clean. Issac took in the sight and decided to tease the guard, it was becoming tradition by now. 
"Now no need for formalities pretty boy, I see you every day now. Starting to think you might care for me" Issac added a wink for good measure and loved to see how unsettled and uncomfortable it made the guard. 
The guard decided to not make any comments on what Issac told him and held the door open. 
"It's time for your lunch and social interaction with the others." 
"don't miss me too much, but if you do. Well you know where to find me" Issac started the guard as he said that but was left sadden at how it didn't get him any reaction from the guard. 'ohh well, there's always tomorrow', thought Issac. 
Issac finished getting his food and sat down at the same table, waiting for Thomas. He hoped Thomas wouldn't bring Tess. She despised him for being best friends with Thomas, taking away all the attention from her and her beyond hopeless not to mention annoying crush on Thomas. Although she didn't know they had more than a friendship. No one knew, although it wouldn't get you incarcerated, it immediately limited everything you could do in life. It was as if people thought they were together to try and end the human race by not being able to have children. And yes even if Issac flirted with everyone, it was a cover so he could flirt freely with his boyfriend, his tommy. It was worth it to not only Issac but also to Thomas, they loved each other profoundly and it's a love so pure it can pierce through anything, even the darkest of dark. As Issac became even more in love thinking of his tommy, he was interrupted by just the person he was thinking of. 
"Hey, Newtie, or should I say Cutie" Thomas had the biggest smile, he probably believed that was the cleverest line ever said and took his seat next to Issac who giggled, unable to stay mad and rolled his eyes.
"It's Issac Newt to you, Thomas Greene," Newt looked and saw a ball of energy practically following Thomas around. "and to you too, Tess Morgan" 
Thomas leaned in and whispered "Sorry Newtie. I really tried to hide but I swear she has a sensor." 
"Don't worry. I got this.  Hey,Tess  I think Hinny and Romangers were gonna sit there, if ya don't mind" He knew there was bad history between them and sure enough it got rid of Tess, as he motioned them over knowing full well they weren't going to come over. 
Just as Thomas asked Issac about his day, there was a commotion at the door. It was Nat Danvers, although they'd never personally spoken or really, she'd never been able to speak with anyone.  Everyone knew it was her, she was always escorted by no less then 3 high rank guards at all time, and with no communication of any sorts – once a person tried to speak with her and she was stopped by the guards, when she refused, she was taken away and not seen until 3 days later  – no one knew her story. It was even a surprise that she was brought to lunch with the other inmates, Nat was usually always in confinement, or at least isolated from everyone else. People wondered what was so special about her, there was nothing out of the ordinary; she looked no different, she was brought in just like everyone else, she took the same 'practices' and 'tests' as them. It wasn't until three months after her arrival, and six months after Issacs that she was treated with, some call it power, others isolation. What wasn't a wonder was that the guards removed everyone just as Nat was sitting down to eat, stating that it was time for them to practice. Issac tried to get a good look, or even a glimpse of Nat, wondering the same as the others, but the guards stood in their gaze effectively blocking out everyone.
Thomas broke the silence, "Poor gal, she seems so lost. I doubt even the guards are allowed to talk to her." 
"yeah, but I just can't help but wonder why you know. What so different. Could it be something to do with the harsher laws, or to keep us in check? Why her? Is something wrong with her? With us? ..." 
"Newtie, you think too much about things that aren't worth thinking about. I mean yeah sure it's interesting, but I'm sure it's nothing to do with us. What we have to think about is us. Not to mention how sore I am from all the increased practices."
"Yeah, but ....  I guess you're right" 
As they entered the practice room, which before – only a few months prior- had been a lounge. For the inmates with privileges to watch the holograms and play pin pong, while the others went back to their cells. It was now filled with treadmills, hunting gear, swimming simulation, and even a side room where the delinquents went every week to take their so-called vitamins. They were forced to run at least 3 miles every day, shoot the center of a moving darts board thrice, and learn all sorts of odd lessons, while the 'weather' in the room changed every day. Some days Issac thought they were at the suns' core and the next day it'd be as if hell had frozen over, the winds, sounds, and even moisture in the room changed. No one had any idea what they were practicing for, just knew they were forced to do it, some joked that they were the new generation of guards. 
Three hours later, well nearly three and a half the guards called them in by units to have them taken to their cells. Issac and Thomas said their goodbyes, extremely careful to make sure no one noticed, and Issac left with the first unit. 
That was more or less the rest of the week, not much changed, even since Issac first got there the last 297 days were the same just slightly different versions of each other. Nothing ever changed but later that week, Issac felt an energy shift, he could feel something coming. Even when he told Thomas, his tommy just brushed it off saying Issac was always a bit off. They laughed, but as Issac left him, he still couldn't shake off that negative feeling, and keep turning back to make sure Thomas was still there. 
That night Issac couldn't sleep and although this was near routine, he knew it was different. He decided he needed to sneak out and at least see Thomas to help ease him. He quietly opened his door; it was locked but he'd picked it so many times it was now a game to see how fast he could open it. As he left his room Issac felt the cool, but moisture-less air, and waited in the shadows for the guard shift. There was a blind spot, well more of a secret passage he knew of that lead him directly to Thomas unit. From there he lets himself get caught, those guards are much less strict and don't even bother to remember any of their inmates. Issac then would say his cell was Thomas' and they'd unlock the door and let him inside; it was a good thing they never looked inside to see Thomas' sleeping figure. As soon as he entered he could tell Thomas was deeply asleep; the blanket on his chest rose and fell every few seconds, his legs were scrunched up, and his ever messy hair actually looked nice. Issac finally relaxed a bit and went over, he looked so peacefully -always such a deep sleeper Issac joked he'd sleep through the end of Hollow Realms- it was almost a shame to wake him. Issac ran his hand through his hand and gently began to whisper, "Hey it's me, the ghost of your past, wake up." Thomas began to stir and Issac grew bored, so he took a few steps back from the bed and ran keeping his footsteps light. He landed on the bed and Thomas partially with a demanding thud. 
"...... Issac ? What are you doing here" Thomas had barely opened his eyes, and they still threated to close every few seconds. 
"Well, truth is, I really couldn't stop. I have a really strong feeling something bad is gonna happen. I don't know when, why, how, what, but I know it's coming. It keep me up and I just had to reassure myself that at least you were still sleeping like a little baby." Issac tried hard to keep his eyes from watering as he looked at Thomas. He just couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew something was coming. 
"Hey,      Hey, look at me.  everything will be fine,  you, me, me and you. So don't worry. Here lets go to sleep" 
"Thomas I can't.  I really tried. Can we walk around, maybe then I'll get tired." 
Issac got up, and forced Thomas to get up and join him, grumbling about how important a full 8-hour night of sleep is. Issac ignored him and carefully opened the door, making sure there was no guards. He held Thomas' hand carefully in his, as if it were the most delicate flower, but Thomas grip was strong, ready to reassure Issac at any moment's notice.
Not five minutes later had an upper level guard found them, and began to yell out all the code violations they were breaking. Without thinking both Issac and Thomas ran, trying their best to run lightly to not give away their position with all the echoes the corridors had. After they could run no futher, and with no idea where they were, Thomas opened a random unlocked door and pulled Issac with him. They held their breath as the guard rushed past them, completely unaware of their hiding spot. They began to laugh and caught their breathes, and finally took a good look around the room. It seemed colder than the others, with metal tables and syringe needles, it wasn't too big, but it had enough space for ten people to work their way around comfortably. It had a whole wall dedicated to tubes with mostly clear liquids, the names to hard and confusing to remember. On another wall there was what looked like a flat screen tv and a monitor, both relative in size.  The whole room had an eerie feel to it, as if not only shouldn't they be there, but it was if the room itself didn't want them there either. Issac looked at the monitor and saw that there was real-life time vital signs, he was confused and tried turning on the tv, it stayed the same for a second then emitted a white light, when it was completely on it seemed to be a computer screen. While Issac looked back at the vitals, the more tech savvy Thomas looked at the computer. He found a file labeled 'test Runs', but under that name there was two subfiles; 'Delinquents' and 'Natile Danvers'. Issac rushed forward and in his haste to press on the Danvers file, he accidently pressed on the delinquents on. On it were all the 'Training', days, everything had on every/any delinquent was there. Thomas searched for his and Issacs files, finding them more towards the bottom; on both files was the word "Ready to go". Confused Thomas looked for that name and saw that nearly 150 others had it on theirs too. Issac urged him to go back and look at the danvers file, he submited to his boyfriend and went there. The file had a lot for one person, but it also had videos, even more intrigued now they clicked on the first one there. It was a video of Nat in that exact room, expect she was in what looked like an incubator, she looked different: she had a fierce look in her eyes, and looked like she was ready to blow. It seemed as if she did just that, Nat began to float and have lights of bluish white light wrap around her, she let out a scream so loud it the gods above might have heard it. Her chest rose up as the light exploded violently from her, barley being contained, then she fell limp to the ground. The video ended, but had a comment after, "She's getting stronger, need a new containment soon." Too frightened and in awe of what they witnessed Issac went to the next word file labed classified and began to read, "Test subjects branded 'ready' along with experiment Danvers, should be ready for their travel to earth within the month. If on the ship things are to go bad, then we can use the program installed in Danvers, and have all on board efficiently eliminated. If things are to go better as expected, with the trials on all 'ready' subjects and with the help of Danvers, we can determine if Earth is ready for all of us. Many dropships have determined success, but to fully understand all we need to have human trials, the subjects will be given ...."  The boys stopped reading and stayed quiet for a few moments, trying to take all the information in. Issac just had two blaring thought, both him and Thomas have been labeled as ready, and what they were 'ready' for was to be human trials on earth, to see if it was safe for everyone else. Before either of them could speak, it was apparent that they'd made too much noise, or too much light but the guard finally figured out where the troubled boys had been. Thomas was the first to react, closing the tv and grabbing Issacs' hand, they hide behind one of the tables as the guard came in. When he was far enough and facing any direction but theirs, the boys ever so quietly and lightly bolted out the door and not stopping to see if the guard heard or saw anything, went straight to Thomas' room. 
The next morning, both boys still shell-shocked decided it would be best to not tell anyone of what they saw, they went to the extent of somewhat convincing themselves what they'd seen wasn't real. A few hours passed by but Issac was terrified of the idea of anything happening that he stayed and concealed himself with Thomas' unit on their way to lunch. Although everything was the same as any other day, the boys felt different; taking a close look at everyone who was 'ready' and the difference between those that weren't. They tensed up whenever a guard passed by, fearful of getting caught for the nights' recent events. Issac finally began to calm down, easing Thomas, but that all flew out the window the moment they saw Nat walk in the lunch room with more guards protecting her then ever. Throughout the room the energy shifted, from a loud bubblies crowd, into a violet silence.  Nat got her food and made her way to a table in the back. But before she made it, her plater slipped out of her grip and clattered, sounding like the thunder in an ever-still storm. Before anyone could react, she screamed, a scream that Issac and Thomas had heard less than 24 hours before. They knew what would happen, if she wasn't contained all Hollow Realms would cease to exist. In a flash, Issac stood, dragging Thomas out of his trance and they ran, ran with a new sense of the meaning life and death, towards the escape pods on the upper levels. Others followed sensing the dangers ahead, and quickly began to fill in the dropships, not truly stopping to think about where those will take you. Issac didn't need to turn back to see the light, it just keeps reinforcing him to move along. The first dropship to be completely full of around 100 delinquents, including Issac and Thomas falls into space and leaves Hollow Realms. Within the next minute 3 more dropships are discharged and just as Issac looks back, he sees his old home, explode. Nat finally had enough of everything; the pain, the secrets, the lies, and she had nowhere to release all that within her. Until that day, she got powerful enough and became the reverse, a weapon instead of a tool. They all turned back, their mouths falling open to witness the sight they were leaving. There was no sound, Danvers powers got to an extreme where not even bodies were left, few scrapes of metal here and there, but the one thing for sure that was there was, the light. As Issac turned and looked at earth, he realized he was humanities last hope, but also that, they were finally going back home.