The TV in the corner of the mess hall flicks on. The entire room grows quite. The WICKED symbol shows up and then disappears. Janson sits in a big chair at his desk. I let a snarl out, and my hand clenched around the fork so tight my knuckles are white and my hand shacks. I can feel the tightness in my chest squeezing. It happens so fast, it hits me hard. My heart slams hard and my chest heavs.

"Jay?" Winston leans over, his hand on my back, "breath. In and out." He slowly runs his hand up and down my back. "Breath. Remember, were going to kill him."

His words smooth the sharp pain, but his sneering face and wheezy voice make me shack with a rising panic.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This will be a quick announcement. As you know the renal group known as The Right Arm has been causing death and distraction everywhere they go. They have distroyed many of WICKED's reasurch and science facilities. Now. It seems that is not enough for them."

Janson paused as he shuffled some papers and then laced his long pale fingers together. And looked back up at the camera.

"Earlier last night a group of them were spotted sneaking through our city, and kidnapping one of our own."

Pictures of Bucky and Gally with the doctor flashed on the TV.

"They didn't even get my food side!" Gally cried, throwing his hands into the air. It made me lift the corner of my lip.

"And now," Janson continued, "it seems like they will stop at nothing, and they will not stop until we are all dead."

Video footage of the Bergs and helicopters landing on the Wearhouse flashed on the TV now.

"So citizens of Denver. It is time we start  evacuating the city. All WICKED personnel will be leaving, there will be no protection. If you stay, you have two dates, they will kill you or the cranks will finally invade. Our time is limited."

The tv cut out and then turned off.

"What's he playing at?" I hissed.

"I dunno Jelly Bean, but something doesn't add up.

•×•

W

e all gathered back in the planning room.
Now that Vince, Laurence, Ann, Harriet, Jeff and everyone else who could fight had been shipped back here. The Wearhouse was full of soilders again. Not having to worry about trying to drive through the city overrun by cranks, they flew in, taking out all of WICKED's big guns on the wall.

Bucky,  Jorge and Max stand over a wide, flat panel in the center of the table. He's explaining something about the nature of what we will encounter in the centre of the city. I'm thinking this is a terrible presentation - because even on tiptoe I can't see what's on the panel - until he hits a button. A holographic image of a block of the inner city projects into the air.

"This, for example, is the area surrounding one of the WICKED soldiers barracks. Not unimportant, but not the most crucial of targets, and yet look." Max enters some sort of code on a keyboard, and lights begin to flash. They're in an assortment of colors and blink at different speeds. "Each light is called a pod. It represents a different obstacle, the nature of which could be anything from a bomb to a bunch of these biomechanical animals-"

"Grievers."

"What?" He asked, looking up.

"Those things? They're called Grievers." I explain flatly, crossing my arms.

"Make no mistake, whatever it contains is designed to either trap or kill you. Some have been in place since the Sun Flares, others developed over the years. This program, which one of our people took with them when we left WICKED, is our most recent information. They don't know we have it. But even so, it's likely that new pods have been activated in the last few months. This is what you will face."

I'm unaware that my feet are moving to the table until I'm inches from the holograph. My hand reaches in and cups a rapidly blinking green light.

Two people join me, their bodies tense. Of course its Sonya and Harriet. Because only a Stick from Maze B would see what I see so immediately. The Meadow. Laced with pods controlled by Designers. Sonya's fingers caress a steady red glow over a doorway. "Hey, Stick...Welcome to the Meadow noobie."

It's quiet in the room. I let a sadistic laugh escape, as my eyes sweep back and forth over the holographic map.

"Wait....uh, Jessie, wanna explain?" Gally asked, crossing his arms and coming closer.

My eyes flicked up to him across the table. The glow from the holigraph casting shadows over his face. I gave him a twisted smile.

"You shuckfaces had a happy sunshine maze, remember? I came from a maze where we had random fires, hail, storms, harsher environment in general, Grievers were worse, Bettle Blades and poison..." I waved a hand at the blinking lights in the holigraph. "It's our maze, but on the streets of The Last City."

"Welcome to Maze B, boys." Sonya smiled. It was almost as twisted as mine.

"I knew they were jacked..."

"Well...that I can guarantee." I whispered with the same twisted smile.

"Alright, back in line guys." Vince shoos us back from the table. "Now, we will be breaking into groups. Bucky will be leading the smallest group, who will be the ones to get inside the building, find Janson and Ava Paige and find Minho while the others disable the rest of the WICKD building and another group will get the kids out safely. We have a time frame, we don't want the citizens in the way. We know Janson has no issues with killing kids, so blowing up a few civilians won't bother him, so the less public interface the better."

Vince kept talking I stopped listening, but pretended to be. I was avoided Jorge and Ann's gaze. I know they'll both come and try to tell me it's dangerous and I'm not stable yet and whatever else. But I'm going. Even if I have to sneak out on my own, I'm going. I'm killing Janson, and Ava. I want to see the life their eyes.

"Jessie?"

I snapped my head up, looking around, "huh? What?"

"I said your under Sargent Barns. You, Teresa, Aris and Gally." Vince said rolling his eyes.

"Oh. Oh good that." I said quietly, a grin spread across my face. I saw Jorge frown and then step forward, he leaned in and said something to Vince. I narrowed my eyes and growled. My jaw clenched and my hands formed fists. He needed to back off. It's my decision, and I've already made my decision.

"I think she's fine." Vince said waving his concern away.

"Vince-"

"It's been made." Vince said, he left no room for argument. And I smirked.

Vince split the rest of the group up and gave them their orders. They were dismissed and Rd they had one hour to get ready. Bucky waved his team over. They had a small group discussion and then were left to go to the weapons room and get ready.

"My...my little she wolf." Ann slid out from the shadows and took hold of my hand. She grabbed tight and pulled me with her down the hall.

"Nana! I have to go!"

"This cannot wait." She said sharply and continued to pull me. She pushed a door open and close it, flicked a light on and turned to face me.

"Nana! What is so important?"

She eyed me up for a minute. And then stepped closer, her hands cupped my cheeks. And then she smiled sadly.

"You are your Mama's pup."

I stayed quiet, not sure what she was getting at. She shook her head and then turned around and walked to a bag on the table. I nervously spun the ring around my finger.

"Come here here here, closer please."

I stepped up beside her, out of the bag she pulled a whole bunch of things I recognized.

"Your Mama's Wolf Pack uniform."

"No way! You have my mom's stuff?"

"Some some some-part of it." She smiled at me, "some is mine."

"Nana..."

She shook her head. "No no no, My young Huntress has her own pup to take care of, take take take- use the protective armour."

"What about you?" I ask, suddenly scared to loose Nana, what if something happened to her.

"My little Missy," she said gently. "I have had a long long long- full life. But I don't plan on going going going down without a fight. I'm just as angry angry angry- furious with WICKED. But but but. I won't be on the front lines. Mary and I will be with the wounded. You need need it more than I."

Nana helped me into the clothes and armour. I turned to her with my arms wide. She smiled, her eyes filling with tears. She gently pulled me into a tight hug.

"Please please please...be safe." She straightened up, "I love love love you, little one. Be safe."

I nodded. Nana walked with me to the loading area, up on the roof. When we got there Teresa, Aris and Bucky were dressed in similar attire, their old Wolf Pack store, or at least similar. And they found something for Gally. Now they all looked like a proper squad.

Bucky nodded when I came over. My stomach flipped, I felt a surge of energy. The nervous energy right before a battle. This was very different then what we where used to, this was a war, our group was used to fighting alone. But the nervous and battle excitement was still the same- or maybe it was baby making me feel queasy.

"We will wait until they are all loaded and then we'll take the train tunnels. It'll get us closer to the compound then the bergs and helicopters." Bucky informed us.

"What about the guns or air sticks around the complex?" Gally asked.

Bucky shook his head, "Vince and the other Berg Pilot distroyed most of what was left of their air support. They aren't as well equipped as they come across, we have been slowly taking them out over the last two years. We are looking at a good chunk of their air support."

"Well isn't that lucky." Aris said dryly.

I saw Winston and hurried over. He pulled me into a tight hug. "Be careful." He whispered into my hair. "Okay Jay, I planned your shuck wedding, and I can't let that go to waste!"

"Don't worry Winnie. It'll all over soon and then we'll have all the girl talks."

"Promise?"

"No. Girl talks suck." I rolled my eyes. And he chuckled.

"Jay. You have been the best friend and I love you. Be safe!"

"Don't do anything stupid until I get back!"

"How? Your taking all the stupid with you!"

I smirked, "That I am!" I pulled him back for another hug. "Later Soilder."

As I walked back I saw Sonya and Jason and pulled them into a tight hug.

"Jess...your hugging people." Sonya laughed sadly as I squeezed her tight.

"Character development, Sonya... character development."

"Take care of her Jason! If something happens to her I'll kill you."

"Not that I need a death threat to do so, but always."

"Thank you Jason."

"Always, Jessie, my CoKeeper. Go get him back."

"Be safe."

I stood with my little group as I watched the Right Arm Soilders and what was left of my family load onto the bergs and helicopters. I held onto Tessa's hand. I could feel the nervous getting worse. What if its the last time I see some of them. What if something happens to them or me? I shook my head and took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Alright Wolves. Let's go." Bucky said. He turned and led the four of us back down the stairs.

"Wait. There's something I need to do." I said suddenly.

"Will it take long?" Bucky asked.

"No. Wait for me at the hole."

I spun around and went the other way. I felt Bucky's eyes on me as I matched away. I'm sure he knew exactly where I was going but he didn't say anything. I followed the hall to the other side of the building and then down the stares where we had the doctor locked up.

"Move aside." I said curtly to the loan man who was standing in front.

"My job is to stay-"

"Move yourself or I will." I snarled.

He stepped back shocked.

"You're relieved of duty. They need all the available bodies."

"What are you-"

"Leave." I snarled.

"Whatever."

He threw his hands in the air and walked away. I watched him leave and up the stares. I unlocked the door and pushed it open. Sitting in the corner, was the doctor.

"Get up."

She lifted her head and looked at me with terror in her eyes.

"Oh how the tables have turned, hey doctor? I wish I could torture you endlessly for hours and days and weeks on end. You don't deserve a quick death." I slid a knife from around my thigh.

"Wait... your going to kill me?" She whimpered.

"Yes."

"They said...I was a prisoner of war! A prisoner!"

"Well they aren't me."

I had walked over to her and grabbed the front of her shirt. My hand was clutched so tight my knuckles were white.

"All your hard work failed. Minho broke through mind control, and brain washing, he broke through your high jacking. You made me suffer, you fucked me up for life!"

I pulled her up by her shirt with a savage snarl as my knife came up into her stomach. She gasped and sputtered. I twisted the handle and yanked it out. I stepped back, as I let her go. I watched her crumple in a heap. She shook and shivered as her body lost blood. She started coughing and blood splattered from her mouth. I squared down and watched, my jaw clenched tight and my eyes watching without express, almost bored. It only took a minute and I saw the life leave her eyes and she took her last breath. I wiped my knife on her shirt and got up paused.

I had to close my eyes and breath through my mouth for a second. Filling my head back I tried to will the nausea down. It didn't help. I ended up throwing up. Leaning in the wall, my stomach emptied itself.

"Dammit pup. Those pills were supposed to help!" I moaned, wiping my mouth and hiding my stomach. I gave myself a few extra seconds, then pushed off the wall I left without looking back. I locked the door behind me and went to meet Bucky and the others.

Entering the room with the hole I saw them all waiting. Without acknowledging anyone I closed the door and walked to the tunnel and started down the ladder. Bucky watched me, his eyes narrowed but didn't say anything to me.

"Alright team. Let's go."

We all made it down the ladder and Bucky took the led down the train tunnels.

•×•

× channelling our inner Black Widow ×
× sorry, I hope this chapter makes sense... Felt..klunky and awkward ×