CHAPTER TEN
( LET GO )

     "WHAT THE HELL, MAN?" GARRET growls, shoving Marco. "She's a shucking girl! And Grace isn't the reason we're here! W.I.C.K.E.D. did this to us."

I stay still on the ground, writhing in pain, with Newt, Chuck, and Nik by my side.

"Stop it!" Alby commands, pushing Garret out of the way. "Marco, you need to explain this right now."

"She wasn't supposed to come here." Marco says through clenched teeth. "None of us were. But she DID THIS!"

"It's true," Another Glader steps forward from the crowd. "I saw it, too."

"You saw it?" Gally asks. "What the hell did you see?"

"ENOUGH!" Alby roars. I flinch at his tone, trying to sit up in my place. "We're going to have a gathering."

"When?"

"Right now."

___♕___

I sit in a chair next to Thomas, watching as Alby stands from his chair.

"We need to discuss this matter. Marco broke a rule, and it can't go without being noticed." Alby starts. "But Grace and Thomas are also involved in this. As Marco and Stephen said, they saw them with the Creators. We need to start off with an explanation."

"It was a memory." Marco speaks from across the room. "I saw Grace and Thomas doing . . . something. I don't know what it was. It was like they were injecting something into our systems."

"So you admit that you didn't fully understand what was going on the time?" Minho asks, scowling in his direction. "That you don't know what you saw?"

"It was real." Marco replies, keeping his calm. "I know it was."

"Okay, I think we've heard enough." Alby holds a hand up. "Any suggestions for punishments?"

"Banishment." The word automatically shoots from Gally's mouth.

I gulp, even though it's not my punishment.

"Who agrees?" Very few hands are raised in the room.

"What about he works two jobs for the next three weeks?" Frypan asks. Almost immediately, all hands in the room are raised.

"That's not fair." Stephen hisses. "Grace and Thomas should be punished, too. I think they should be thrown into the Slammer. We can't trust them. You said it yourself- it's odd that they both came up the box in a matter of four days."

I clench the arm rests of my chair in anger.

I didn't do anything.

"Who agrees?"

Everyone except Thomas, Minho, Newt, Gally, Thomas, Garret, and Nik raise their hands.

"The majority rules." Alby sighs. "Marco will be working two jobs for the next three weeks. Thomas and Grace will be thrown in the Slammer out of suspicion, until we can figure out what's going on."

I keep my lips sealed, not wanting to argue with Alby. Instead, I stand from my seat abruptly, give everyone a last glance, then leave the Homestead.

I run my hands through my hair repetitively outside, pacing back and forth. I'm going to the Slammer.

The door of the Homestead is opened, and Minho, Newt, Chuck, Gally, Garret, Nik, and Thomas all pile out.

"I'm so sorry." Minho frowns, pulling me into his chest. "You don't deserve this."

"I-I don't know what I did," I stutter. "Did I really work for W.I.C.K.E.D.?"

"No." He states firmly, pulling away to look me in the eyes. "You didn't do anything like that. And even if you did, you aren't working for them now. You're here just like we are."

I nod, taking a deep breath.

"Lets go," Stephen grabs Thomas and I, yanking us towards the Slammer.

"What?" My eyes widen. "Now?"

"Yes," He answers sternly. "It was voted on. Alby gave me orders, and I intend to carry them out."

I let out a cry in pain as I'm carelessly tossed into the Slammer, landing harshly on my arm. Thomas is thrown in after me, a grunt leaving his lips. The door is slammed shut and locked, before Stephen leaves the two of us alone.

A disappointed sigh leaves my lips, and I move to sit next to Thomas on the the dirt floor.

"We're gonna be here for a while, Thomas." I murmer, laying my head on his shoulder.

"Unfortunately, I think that's true," He chuckles.

I smile to myself, suddenly growing tired. I yawn, and allow my eyes to close. It's then that I drift into sleep, slowly, but surely.

___♕___

Three teens stand in a brightly lit room, all of them wearing white outfits. Two of them stay glued together, holding each other's hands. They're immediately recognized as Thomas and Grace.

Teresa seats herself in front of them, placing a stack of papers on the desk. She stares at their intertwined fingers, a slightly annoyed look of jealousy is set on her face.

"Ava Paige has sent in the first few tributes for the experiment," Teresa starts, using a formal business voice. "They've been sent to the lab, where Jansen has control over their memories. The first Swipe has been scheduled for this afternoon, and Nick will be sent to the Maze first."

Teresa pauses for a moment, before speaking up again. "Thomas, you will be accompanying me in the lab, while Grace will be located in an extra room. The-"

"Wait." Grace stops her. "Why am I staying in a separate room?"

"It was requested by Ava herself." Teresa replies. "She explained that you would be a distraction to Thomas, if you were to be there."

"It's okay," Thomas soothes Grace, giving her hand a light squeeze. "The operation will be over in minutes."

"I understand that the two of you are . . . inseparable." Teresa says, agitation clear in her voice. "But it is required. It's orders from Ava, and they're not to be refused or ignored. I'm very sorry."

Grace stares at Teresa with sad eyes, knowing that Teresa is doing this to get closer to Thomas. She lets go of Thomas's hand, and looks to the floor, nodding. "Okay. I'll do it."

"Great." Teresa smiles. "In the meantime, you will be introduced to the tributes. Before the Swipe, of course."

Teresa slides a document across the table, placing it in front of the two. "These are the procedures of the Swipe. They were created by subject B6."

"Have the subject B tributes been prepped yet?" Grace interjects.

"Yes," Teresa nods, gathering her papers. "Once everyone is prepped, phase one will begin."

Teresa stands from her seat, and makes her way to the door. But before exiting, she turns back around to face the two of them. "Just remember that W.I.C.K.E.D. is good, Grace. Okay?"

___♕___

"I refuse to let Thomas enter the Maze without me." Grace shakes her head at Ava Paige.

"I can't seem to grasp this problem." Ava narrows her eyes. "Why would you want to enter the Maze? You're supposed to stay here with Jansen and I, and keep the operation running."

"I'm not going without him. I couldn't bare to be away from him." Grace states. "Please, Ava. Please just let me go."

"How does your father feel about this?" She raises an eyebrow. "You know he wants you safe at all times."

"I'll be safe." Grace promises. "I'll have the others to protect me."

"Darling, you do realize that you will have no memories of you and Thomas, right?" She asks softly from the seat in front of Grace. "Everything that you two have... will be diminished."

"Yes, Ava." Grace frowns, her eyes drifting to the table. "I do realize that. But I can't stay here while he's risking his life. It's what I want."

"There will be grave concequences to this choice. After the Maze trial is over, you will give Group A the allusion that you're dead. You will be sent with the second group to a facility, where you memories will be wiped again. After that, you will be given orders from Jansen. You won't have the ability to turn down anything he says. Is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." Grace nods.

"Are you positive that this is the route you would like to take?"

"I'm positive." Grace replies.

"Now, you are to wait in the tribute lounge, and wait for my signal. Once everything is prepped, I will have Teresa give you the Swipe. Thomas will not be informed of your absence, until your arrival in the Maze."

"Oh, and one more thing." Grace adds. "Don't tell my father about any of this. I know he wouldn't be very happy if he found out that I left without his permission."

"Jansen won't be informed." Ava shakes her head again. "Be prepared for anything we throw at you, Grace. But always know that I will be rooting for you."

_______