In my Blood

CHAPTER 27 - Interrogation

I think about how Newt was fully prepared to risk his safety to punch that man. I shudder as I remember how he groped me, how his hands trailed over every inch of my exposed skin. My arms, my chest... I recall the pain as his fingers sank into my skin, as his big hands squeezed mercilessly at my... 

I shake my head, shutting my eyes and praying the memory to go away. 

Teresa sits beside Thomas on the sofa, looking intently at his face as he twitches in his sleep. I think about earlier, when she seemed bitter about Thomas choosing to go with Brenda... could she have feelings for him? I shake my head. She just met him, she couldn't have developed feelings that  quickly. 

Brenda woke up about ten minutes ago, and now sits with her arms folded and an exhausted scowl set on her face. She told us about how her and Thomas went through the underground tunnels to get here, and had to pass through a few Cranks, but she doesn't elaborate. I notice a peculiar tension between her and Thomas - she keeps glancing his way with a hurt expression, then directing her eyeline onto her hands, fumbling with her fingers. I decide to go over and see if she's okay.

"Hey," I say, giving her a warm smile. She smiles back tiredly, the smile not meeting her eyes.

"Hey, (y/n), isn't it?"

I nod, sitting down next to her. "That's me. It's nice to properly meet you, by the way. Are you okay?"

She sighs, resting her head atop her knees and rubbing her ankle. "Yeah, I guess. Been worse."

"Good," I reply, then cringe. "Well, not good, but... it's good that you're okay right now." Awkward silence settles; I'm not quite sure what to say to this girl. She seems so different from all of us, accustomed to the world, sure of what she's doing. It's honestly intimidating. 

"So," she begins to say, "what's the deal with you guys? You came from WICKED, but I don't get the impression that you worked for them, huh?"

I nod, smiling. "Definitely not. We, um, actually came from a Maze. It was part of this trial they were doing, assessing our brains to see what makes us different from everyone else."

"You're Immune?"

"Most likely. Although... we've already lost one boy to the Cranks. Winston."

"Jeez... sorry, that sucks. I know what it's like to lose people to the Flare." When she speaks, her brown eyes narrow, and I can see that she's thinking clearly about what she's going to say before she speaks. She asks, "So, what were you guys doing in the maze? Other than being WICKED's lab rats."

I chuckle at her word choice. Lab rats. That sounds about right. "Trying to survive, mainly. I mean, I was only there for like three days, actually. The others were there a... little longer. And we didn't all come from the same Maze; Aris and Teresa were from two separate mazes. There were these monsters - Grievers - in the Maze walls. Getting out wasn't too easy."

She nods in response, furrowing her eyebrows. "That's intense. What were you doing before the Maze?"

"Well..." I begin to chuckle. "We actually can't remember. They took our memories away; everyone who came to the Maze woke up with no memory of who they were, who their families were, where they're from..." I drift off as the pain of having no memory slaps my chest, weighing down on my heart and preventing me from uttering a single more word. 

She breathes out deeply. "Wow, that's awful. I mean... I can't even imagine. Sorry you guys had to go through that..." she ponders. "Still, I don't mean this in an insensitive nature, but I guess it might be easier that way, in this world... not remembering the people you've lost, not reliving those memories..."

Her voice aches with a sorrow I can only imagine is concurrent with grief she's endured. Family she's lost, friends she's lost... it almost makes me happy I don't have to remember; after enduring the deaths of Chuck and Winston, I wonder how many others I've lost before the Maze. How much pain I've unwillingly buried.

A loud punching noise interrupts my thoughts, followed by a series of agonised groans. Just before Jorge hits Marcus again, Thomas stirs in his sleep. I look towards Teresa, who's stare is fixated on Thomas' face. I see his eyes flutter open, and get up to walk to him. Newt and Minho also go to his side.  

"Hey," Teresa murmurs. "How are you feeling?"

"Welcome back, you ugly shank," Minho grins. 

Thomas looks bad. His eyelids are a pale shade of red, his skin is drained of all colour and his dark hair is plastered onto his forehead. He sits up, rubbing his temple. I see him look towards Brenda, who's eyes drift to the floor. 

"TALK!" I hear Jorge erupt. Everyone jumps as Jorge punches Marcus again. 

"I'm not... telling... you... a-anything," Marcus rasps, his head slumping.  

"Where's the Right Arm, Marcus?" Jorge presses. 

Thomas stands up. "Wait, this... is Marcus?"

Marcus laughs madly. "That kid catches on real quick. Are you the brains behind this mission?"

Jorge clutches Marcus' grey hair, forcing his head back. "I know you know where they're hiding. So you'll tell me." 

Marcus tilts his head. "And... what if... I don't?"

Jorge thinks for a minute. "I'll make you a deal, then."

"I... make my own deals," Marcus retorts weakly. "You're the one who taught me... never miss an opportunity..." he snickers, closing his eyes. 

Newt narrows his eyebrows curiously. "What's he talking about?" 

"I'm talking about," Marcus continues, "supply... and demand. WICKED wants all the Munies they can get...and I help to provide that for them."

My breath catches in my throat. I see the others tense beside me as they listen to what the mad man is saying. 

"So I let them in here, they get drunk, have a good time... and then... later, WICKED collects them. Just like... they will... with you." 

 Jorge laughs under his breath. "No, not this time, hermano." 

With all of his force, Jorge kicks Marcus flat in the chest. His chair topples, and he falls back against the ground with a loud thud. Jorge whips out a pistol, and holds it over the man's head. I clutch onto Newt's arm quickly, holding my breath. 

"Talk!" Jorge roars, grasping the man's throat, strangling him. 

"O-Okay, okay!" Marcus chokes out. Jorge loosens his grip. "I'm not making any promises, but they... they have a base, in the mountains. But it's a long trip, you'd never make it. If WICKED doesn't get you, the Cranks will."

Jorge swiftly puts the chair back in an upright position, chuckling to Marcus. "Where's Bertha?"