𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

Only Mine

"Sorry." he mumbled.

Gally, instead of getting offended, smiled right along.

"If anyone gets to be pushed around in a wheelbarrow, it's gonna be me. Minho owes me."

"Why?" Teresa asked.

"Because he's the only way this thing works." Minho replied.

All of us looked at Gally for an explanation. All of us except Chuck, who'd fallen asleep on the floor, a mop as his pillow.

"Chase isn't the smartest dude at WICKED, let's just say that," Gally stared at the floor as he spoke. "I've been setting up little things for weeks now, things that'll help someone get past the WICKED, security measures. Truth is, WICKED relies on the threat of Cranks and the state of the world to prevent us from trying anything. It's a lot harder to get into WICKED than to get out."

"And what in the world do you plan to do once you're out in the great Alaskan wilderness?" Teresa asked. "Rent a car, go find a nice apartment in Juneau?"

"Man, you guys really like your sarcasm," Gally said. "I mean, do you think I'm stupid? Just because I don't sneak out and have little parties with the cleaning supplies?"

"Gally, chill." Minho warned, crossing his arms.

Gally threw his arms up.

"They're the ones who need to grow up!"

"Hey!" Alby shouted. "Don't come in here all high and mighty. We didn't invite you."

"That's it, I'm out." Gally said as he walked toward the exit. Minho jumped in front of him, putting a hand on his chest. Gally stopped and the black-haired boy looked around.

"Come on, guys. Can you give me the benefit of the doubt, here? Why do you think I've waited months to pull the trigger? Because I'm patient and not stupid. Gally's figured out a way to communicate with a cousin in Canada. He's close to the border. Gally used Chase's transponder codes. We'll have people waiting for us a few miles into the woods. They're already on standby."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Minho really meant it. Despite all the things we had better off than the rest of the world, he wanted out.

"Why?" I asked. That one word got everyone's attention. "Just tell us why, Minho. We know you're not stupid, and I'm sure Gally isn't, either. But why would you guys want to leave?"

"Because we're prisoners," Minho answered. "Because we're held here against our will. That's all the reason I need."

"But you'll never have it half as good as we do here!" Teresa almost yelled. "And how can you just turn your back on helping the world?"

"I guess we have different philosophies," he said. "If you don't get it, you don't get it. You don't take away my freedom without asking first."

"Sorry we got off to a rough start," Gally interjected. "I guess I'm just nervous being down here. But I promise you guys this can work." He looked around at the group then and added: "Anyone coming with us?"

His words were met with graveyard silence.

"When?" Newt asked, breaking the quiet.

Minho and Gally answered at the same time. "Tomorrow night."

"Wait. So you're saying that tomorrow night will be your funeral?" I asked and all the group looked at me.

"What are you talking about?" Minho questioned with a frown.

"Trust me, some people wanted to leave before, but they never managed to do it until the end. I'm sure WICKED already knows about your plan. They're not stupid. I'm here for the longest and I know that their methods to punish aren't the prettiest. I'm just warning you that you shouldn't try to leave. It's for your best."