Thomas pulled her down to the floor and then he crawled under his bed.

"Tommy? What..?" Jina started.

Thomas poked his head out from the bed with a mischievous smirk. "Did you think you were the only one with secrets? Come on, Boss Lady. Let's go!"

Jina actually let out a small laugh. She got down on her stomach and poked her head under his bed. "Aris showed me how to sneak around the vents. It's been helpful." He grinned.

"What? And you never told me?! Thomas! Look at you with secrets." She teased. Thomas looked back at her, he was so proud of himself she giggled again.

Thomas went to pull the grate, when there was a loud bang on the door. Jina jumped and smacked her head on the bed frame. Thomas froze like a deer in headlights. There was another loud pound on the door.

"Thomas! You have three seconds to open up or this door is forced open."

It was Ramirez. Thomas scrambled out from under the bed just as the door swung open.

"Thomas!" The Guard captain barked. He stopped when his eyes landed on Jina sitting on the floor beside Thomas.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

"We were going over details for tomorrow's maze insertion." Jina lied.

She felt Thomas fidget, and she prayed he would keep it cool, sometimes his lying skills under pressure were terrible. But he kept a poker face. Jina narrowed her eyes as the guard glared at the two of them.

"Is there a problem?" Thomas asked.

"Just making sure everyone is where they're supposed to be. We wouldn't want people getting lost."

Jina's stomach twisted and she felt heat rise in her body, but she swallowed the rising panic.

"Well, we're both here." Jina sniffed. "It's not a crime to be working with my work partner, is it?"

Ramirez glared at them and growled.

"Remember you got a curfew."

"Yes. 11pm. And its-" Jina checked her watch. "946pm."

"Door stays open."

"So you can spy on us? What are you worried about? We can't go anywhere!"

The huge guard spun on his heel and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind him. Jina instantly deflated and flopped forwards her face hidden in her hands and squished in her lap.

"Holly shuck, Boss Lady!" Thomas whispered. "How do you come up with that stuff so fast? My brain froze! And then you talked back to him! He's huge! And scary! Shuck, I'm kinda scared of you now!"

Jina straightened up and couldn't help but giggle at the look of shock and bewilderment on Thomas face. She giggled harder and harder until her stomach hurt and she was crying and she was gasping for air.

She probably lost it, something deep inside her snapped and there was no fixing it. Maybe everyone lied to her and she got the Flair after all, because she found the whole situation hilarious- not in a good way, but in a 'if she didn't laugh she would break down and cry' kind of way. They were absolutely prisoners in this place. She was just as much a test subject as the maze candidates. And if she thought Anderson, Randell and Leavitt were bad... Paige and Janson were snakes full of cunning and poison.

Thomas watched her with a bemused expression until she gasped and giggled so hard she snorted. Then he broke into a big goofy grin.

"Did you just snort?"

That made her laugh even harder. It was a long time before she got herself under control. And when she did, she felt better. Her situation hadn't changed at all, it was still hopeless and desperate, but the tight ball of panic and anxiety loosened slightly.

"Well...I guess that's out of the question." Thomas sighed.

"Ya..sorry Tommy, it was a very sweet idea. But...my outburst in the control room probably didn't help. I'm sure they knew I'd try and go see Minho the night before he goes up. They were probably expecting it."

"I'm sorry." He reached out and squeezed her hand. "but Ava said you were helping with the insertion, so...you can see him and say good bye then."

"Ya...he was really angry though when I bumped into him. Calling me a traitor and stuff."

"You're not though." Thomas insisted.

Jina raised an eyebrow. Thomas smirked at her and leaned forward and whispered, "well maybe you are...but not in the way Minho thinks."

Jina knew Thomas was trying to make her feel better, but it made her sad. She wished she could tell her brother what she was doing. Maybe tomorrow she could somehow find a way. She didn't want him going into the maze thinking she actually enjoyed this and thinking she didn't care about him. She was positive that's how Sonya and Harriet must feel about her right now. She wasn't even there to say goodbye and that made her heart hurt.

She sighed and ran her hands through her hair making the twist at the base of her neck even more messy. She sighed and pulled the pins and elastics out, letting her hair tumble down her back and shoulders in a curtain of thick black hair.

Jina noticed Thomas watch and saw his cheeks go slightly pink.

"Thomas?" Jina asked quietly.

"Huh?" Was his response, he wouldn't stop staring at her long hair. His eyes were big and his jaw muscle clenched a few times as his cheeks and tips of his ears went pinker.

"Tommy..." She called quietly again.

He still sat almost frozen, and unresponsive. Jina bit her lip to keep from giggling. She shifted so she was sitting in front of him, even closer now. She raised a hand, which trembled slightly. She could talk back to Ramirez, who was a full grown man trained and proficient in killing with no issues, but physically touching a boy she really liked made her want to run away. But she placed a hand on his cheek. His eyes, if possible, went even bigger. But they finally focused on her eyes.

He opened his mouth but nothing came out. He swallowed hard. Jina smiled shyly up at him. 

"Ummm..." He stammered, his voice was slightly higher than normal. "I really...umm.." he cleared his throat and tried again. "Jina? I kinda wanna kiss you. Umm... I mean- can I? I mean I can, but umm, may-may I?" He clamped his jaw and swallowed hard again. He was cute when he was flustered.

She felt her face heat up again and her stomach flipped. "Only kind of?" She asked, with some weird burst of confidence, Jina placed her hand on his chest, feeling his wild heartbeat. And she moved a bit closer.

"Definitely way more than kinda." His voice now had dropped and it was breathy and raspy.

"Same." She whispered.

He slowly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and then slid his hand into her hair and pulled her. She tipped forwards into his lap.

"Sorry." She whispered.

He didn't say anything, a little cocky smirk and then he pressed his lips to hers. She was shocked at first, even though she knew it was coming and she was hoping for this- it still took her by surprise. It only took a moment and she sunk into it. Shifting closer and snuggled into his chest, and her eyes slid closed. Thomas slid an arm around her back, holding her closer. Her other hand made its way to the back of his neck. She felt his chest rumble under her hand.

He pulled away, leaving them both panting. He stayed close, his forehead resting on hers. He had a big goofy grin on his face. She didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything, just smiled sheepishly. Thomas only let her catch her breath before he was kissing her again. His lips were soft, and somehow tasted minty. He kissed her hesitantly and cautiously.

They sat on his bedroom floor and kissed, all Jina's worries and anxieties melted into the background. All she knew was Thomas's hand on her back, his other one playing with her hair and his wild heartbeat under her hand and his lips on hers. That was until the door barged open again. They ripped apart, startled.

"What-?" Thomas started.

Jina had to blink a few times, the happy fog that clouded her mind disappeared rapidly, reality slammed back into her face. Teresa stood in the doorway. 

"What? Tom Wh-what is this?" She stammered. Her face morphed from shock to anger to hurt and then something that made Jina actually shiver.

"Uhhh...?" Thomas stammered.

"It's what it looks like Teresa." Jina said regaining her self faster then Thomas, he still had his hand buried in her hair and his other wrapped around her, holding her close. Jina watched as Teresa's face went red, and her eyes narrowed.

"Tom...how...how could you?" She started.

Jina pulled away from Thomas and stood up. "Oh, don't start Teresa. You're not stupid. I'm sick of you making everything into a competition. And this-" she gestured to Thomas and her, "Stop. Just stop. It's embarrassing to watch."

"Tom? Is this true?" She looked at Thomas, all the anger was gone, instead she had tears in her eyes and she looked so dejected Jina almost bought it. She was a good actor, and it made Jina feel sick. A small seed of doubt sprouted in her chest- what if he was just stringing her along and him and Teresa really did have something... 

Thomas looked very uncomfortable as he stood up from the ground. He shifted from foot to foot. "Umm look- Tess..." He started. He took a deep breath, but then looked down at Jina, and hooked a few fingers with hers, and gave her a small shy smile, "I really like Jina....I uh, I thought you knew that." he looked back up to Teresa. "I've told you that before...umm sorry if- if I wasn't clear. I hope...this doesn't make working together weird or whatever. I hope you can understand...your still my best friend!"

"Oh, I understand perfectly." She hissed, she voice was dripping in venom. Her eyes narrowed on Jina, "this isn't over."

Thomas recoiled at her sudden mood change. Jina however straightened up. She knew this wasn't over, just the beginning and she would have to watch her back- even more now.

"Enjoy your study session." She spun on her heel and marched out of the room.

Thomas melted into his desk chair, his head in his hands. "Well that didn't go well."

"She's always like that." Jina shrugged, and sunk down into Thomas's bed.

Thomas looked up, horror struck, "What? Seriously? When I told her I liked you, she was...not like that at all."

Jina sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Well...you believe me now?"

"Ya." He sighed, and then deflated.

They sat in silence for a long time. Jina's small bubble of happy was gone. Washed away complete by reality. She hated her life. With a heavy heart and the weight of the world back on her shoulders she got up. "I should go. It's been a long few days. And I need sleep to deal with tomorrow."

"Jina?" Thomas looked up at her, his eyes were filled with sadness, his body slumped in defeat. "Jina, I'm really sorry."

She stepped closer and held his face gently. "It's not your fault Tommy. Okay? We're in this together, remember? I can get through all this if your with me."

He smiled up at her, "Together."

< • >

The next morning Jina stood beside Thomas. Both of them anxious and tense. Teresa stood leaning on the wall a few feet away. Teresa had been cold, but surprisingly easy to work with. Jina didn't mistake that for anything. It was some game she was playing. Right now the three of them stood waiting for the medical teams to get the Maze A guys lined up and ready.

There were forty boys lined up along the wall, getting ready for their last medical examination. Orderlies walked up and down the lines prepping them to entre the medical rooms- taking temperatures, blood pressures, checking eyes that sort of thing.

Newt, Alby, Gally, Siggy, Jeff, Nick, Winston, Dug...Minho. She knew all their names. Having worked with them and their charts and lab results for four long years. She knew each and every one, and today she felt overwhelmed, she would have no more friends left- other than Aris, Rachel and Thomas.

Maybe missing the girls insertion yesterday was a kindness she didn't realize. She had lived with the girls for four years- she only truly got to know a few of the guys. And even those few made this feel awful. She could feel the tight ball of anxiety and dread forming in her chest.

They don't look happy. Teresa stated, her cold voice cut through her mind, ripping Jina from her swirling thoughts.

Jina looked at her with a frown. Of course they aren't. That was a dumb thing to say.

No...but look at Minho... Thomas answered. He indicated slightly with his head.

Minho was about ten boys away from where they stood, and he had been fidgeting all morning. But now it turned into something worse- his body reminded Jina of a cocked and loaded gun, his muscles coiled as if he were about to spring into action. 

There's no way he'd try something again...right? Thomas said, Not now!

Although there were plenty of things to upset him- inside the medical rooms, clearly visible from their place in the hallway were the menacing devices that hung over each bed- the horrible robot masks with tubes and wires, the ones she was positive they used on her. Jina wasn't sure why they were in this hall. They weren't actually using those rooms, they were using the rooms adjacent.

Come on then Teresa said. Follow my led.

Jina hung back, unsure if her presence here was a good thing. Minho was deliberately ignoring her. Thomas gave her hand a quick squeeze and then followed behind Teresa who marched through the hall. She had an air of authority so the medical staff left her alone. She stopped when she got to Minho and put a hand on his shoulder. Jina stiffened just as tense as Minho now. Why was she touching her brother.

He flinched, and for an instant she thought Minho would hit her. She actually kind of hoped he would. But then he looked at her and then up to Thomas. And some kind of calm washed over him. Jina pushed off the wall, and slowly started to make her way over. But stopped dead in the middle of the hall as his head turned and his eyes scanned the hall, as if looking for her. When they found her, Jina's heart broke as tears filled his eyes.

She rushed the last bit of hall and slammed into him, wrapping her arms around him as he squeezed her back.

"Don't make it worse by fighting!" She whispered. "Please Minho! You have to trust me! Everything will be okay once your up in the maze. You'll see."

"Aren't you coming with us?"

The response took the Jina by surprise. And apparently the other two as well.

"Uhh...well..." Teresa sputtered.

Jina knew the answer- eventually they would be going. At some point- even if Chancellor Paige said otherwise. Jina knew that if they were considered elite top candidates there was no way they wouldn't be going. You seriously had to be lying to yourself if you thought otherwise. But apparently Thomas and Teresa had no idea.

"Not yet." Thomas answered. At least he figured it out. Or he was just saying that to ease tensions.

Jina pulled away from Minho, and was now standing in front of him. Jina saw the anger flush his face, but this time it set firmly. "Seriously? So you're telling me not to fight them? Are you sure you don't mean us? What exactly are you doing here? I don't see you being poked and prodded like cattle!"

Before Jina could answer, Alby just a few feet down the hall, turned to look at them. "Yeah," he called. "He's got a good point, if you ask me. You're just gonna throw us into a big experiment, then go back to your cushy bed and relax? Were you even gonna tell us? Or just let us think you were going in, then, surprise!"

Thomas and Teresa were silent.

"What? Forgot the script you were supposed to follow?" Alby asked, he directed his bitter words at Jina. "Or are you just worried about upsetting your buddies?"

"Come on guys..." Teresa started. "We're no different from anyone else - we just do what they ask."

"Say whatever makes you feel better," Alby answered. He folded his arms and leaned back against the wall, and looked the other way.

Jina couldn't help it, but she let out a sharp laugh full of derision. Minho's rage filled eyes flicked to her.

"You gotta be on a whole other level of stupid," she hissed, making Alby look back around, clearly upset about being called stupid. Jina narrowed her eyes at Minho and clenched her jaw.

"I'm sure you didn't call me stupid."

"If the shoe fits!" She hissed, poking Minho in the chest. "You gotta be stupid, if you think we have soft and safe jobs."

She could see the other boys looking at them, even Newt's face was twisted in anger and resentment. They all thought they were on some other level, some superiority clearance level. They had no idea the things she had to go though every single day. She was poked and prodded like cattle, just like them. She was manipulated and studied just like them. But they wouldn't know that.

"You think we're different?" She hissed. "try again, Minho."

Minho shoved Jina off, "Alby's right. I've tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, Jina. Figured you were going to be able to help us. But now it's obvious what you're doing."

"And what do you think I'm doing, Minho?" She challenged.

"You've been helping them the whole time. It's all been about getting ready to do this to us. Hasn't it! Tell me the truth Jina, for once in your shucked life." He yelled the last line, getting spit on Jina's cheek.

"Minho, listen.." Thomas started.

"Get out of my face!" He snarled.

Jina stood stiff, unmoving. She somehow, calmly, whipped the spit from her check. She could feel the world falling apart. But with burning tears in her eyes she straightened her back and lifted her chin.

"You're right Minho. It has been. I've worked with them for years, helping organize this, but that doesn't mean I'm any different." Her voice was hardly above a whisper it was so low and dangerous now. "You saw what they did to me after you tried to escape. Use that finchen' brain and think. Safe job my ass, Minho."

Minho opened his mouth to argue. She could see the white hot anger melted just slightly at the mention of her torture experience.

"Look at my face Minho, my neck, and tell me I have a safe and cushy job."

He snapped his mouth closed. She could see the muscle in his jaw clenching. His muscles were still wound tight, his hands in fists, but she could see the wheels turning. From the corner of her eye she saw a Doctor step out and start ushering kids into rooms. It was now or never.

She pulled Minho into a tight desperate hug. "Please Minho, trust me when I tell you I will make them pay." She hissed in his ear. He stiffened and tried to pull away but she clung to him. "They will burn. I'm going to destroy them, one stolen piece of information at a time. Starting with Chancellor Ava-fucken-Paige. Trust me. I'll get you out. I promise."

Minho was ripped away from her by a guard. He looked confused and now he looked terrified and desperate.

"Jina!" He cried trying to throw off the guard.

"Minho, don't fight them. Please." She cried. She went to step forward when someone grabbed her from behind. Thomas wrapped her up in his arms as she now struggled against him, desperately needing to get to her brother.

"Jina!" Minho yelled, "No! Let go of me!" He screamed at the guard. There were more guards converging on him.

"Minho! Stop fighting!" She cried, struggling herself against Thomas's iron grip.

"Thomas!" Minho screamed, "Take care of her! Keep her safe! Promise me!" He screamed, as the guards knocked him to his knees.

"Ya...Minho, ya I will."

"Minho!" Jina screamed as a guard jabbed him with something and his body slumped. "Minho! I love you!"

"Jina...don't forget...your- your promise." Minho slurred and then his eyes rolled into his head and he collapsed to the floor. The guards picked him up and carried him through the medical door.

Thomas held Jina tightly, unmoving as the rest of their friends were now dragged through the doors.

< • >