Memories (Maze Runner: The Death Cure fanfic)

Chapter 1 - Sandra

She no longer asked why. She stopped wondering when. Sandra's only instinct was to fight.

One moment, Sandra had been asleep in Leo's arms, feeling some form of comfort that he had her back. That he would be there when she awoke. However, when she did, she found herself in a constant battle for her life.

Griever, upon bulb monster, upon giant metallic spider, upon Griever came at her nonstop. And the cycle never ended. All she could do was stab and slash, but there would still be more after her life. Some would get close to ending her, but she would come back with a new fire.

The only time she got a break was when the black room was emptied of all monsters. A small trickle of water would escape from a small section of the wall or a slice of bread would come through a small hole. She would have moments before the water turned into a blast, making the room an aquarium filled with new dangers. Or, she would have seconds to eat before the monsters came back to stab her in the back. She was always awake, never knowing when the next meal or drink of water would come. Or if it would come at all.

Then came the moment when it was done. For good. Sandra ate the small loaf she had been given, her hands still clutching her sword. But even after crumbs were the only remnant of her meal, the Grievers and metal eels never came back. She never relaxed, awaiting for something new to come at her.

A section of the wall opened up, Sandra backing away instinctively. She pointed her blade at the finely dressed man that walked in. The door closed as he unfolded the chair he carried under his arm, sitting in it gingerly.

"You can put down the weapon, Sandra," he said calmly, running his fingers through his blond hair. Sandra didn't dare move.

"Who are you?" she asked, glaring at him. "I don't plan on helping WICKED, so you might as well send in the monsters."

The man smiled, adjusting his bright blue jacket. "You're already helping, my dear. The monsters were just a small test."

Sandra watched him cautiously. It took her a while to put the sword down, coming a little closer to sit down in front of him. "Thought WICKED was done with their tests."

His smile never wavered. "We needed a little more. Just to make sure we got everything." He opened up his pristine briefcase, pulling out a pen and folder. He opened it up, clicking the pen. "Alessandra Mulling. Group D, Subject D37. You showed promise, escaped our radar when you were killed at the end of Trial 1, but made a heroic return at the end of Trial 2. Congrats for being the favorite of our program."

She scoffed. "Is that how you sleep at night? Making us numbers on a chart you can strike off?"

The man looked up at her with cold eyes. "You're more than a number. You're our future." He looked back down at the folder as she shuffled on the floor.

"Where are the others?"

He turned to her again. "In due time." The man closed the folder curtly, placing it on the ground. He leaned forward, looking into her eyes. "Right now, I need to know how much you know."

A quick shrug. "You kill children for a living. You have horrible taste in suits."

His nose twitched in irritation. "About WICKED and our program."

Sandra nodded with mock understanding. "Got it. Well, WICKED kills children for mind games. WICKED has control of some kind of disease that messes people up. You know, makes you go wacko." The man was clearly not amused, but she was enjoying making him suffer. "Also, if that's what you guys are supposed to wear, then WICKED also has no taste in uniforms."

He scratched a note in the folder, muttering to himself. His gaze fell on her once more. "If you are finished venting, I will clear up your obvious confusion."