Jina followed behind Aris through the vents. They had done this for the last week. They explored. They had found a vent that was over the Medwing. They watched as more kids were brought in every day. Usually it was in small groups no more than five or six. These kids looked different.

Do you think all these kids came from mazes? Jina asked.

Doubt it. Maybe from surrounding towns? David said on the Berg, kids who were immune had targets and most of us were orphans... Maybe they were just taken?

Hmm. Good point.

Jina watched as a girl was brought into a room with Doctor Crawford. She looked dirty and sunburnt and kind of drunk, stumbling all over the place.

The scorch? Jina asked.

They must be from the scorch... Maybe David would tell us. He seems okay with giving hidden answers.

Aris was right. David would come get them each morning and as they walked down the hall, he answered most of their questions. Jina had learned quite a bit from just listening to him talk. Each day she slowly trusted him a bit more. Same with Doctor Crawford.

She had x-rayed and taken some other medical pictures of her ankle, and explained everything and why she still had pain. She showed her how to strengthen it and given Jina some fancy tape to use on her ankle if she ever needed it.

She also sat down with Jina on day three and explained that she had had surgery before she went into the maze, and she had figured out Jina's menstruation cycle issues.

"Do you remember having one before?" Doctor Crawford asked.

Jina shook her head, "No. I only have a few memories and I don't remember anything involving periods."

Doctor Crawford nodded and laced her fingers together. "Well. Before the maze, I'm learning from you and other females who have been in their mazes, have the same issues. Each one of you have had your memories wiped. And the females have had a suppressant surgery. It's a small device that's inserted through the vagina and into your uterus. A hormone is released into your body and it suppresses the regular menstrual cycle. It also acts as a contraceptive- you won't get pregnant."

"Oh...well...at the moment that's not an issue- you know...maze of all girls and all. But umm...is it reversible?" Jina asked.

"Very." Doctor Crawford smiled gently. "Just remove the device. Your body will take a few months to readjust to a regular ovulation cycle again. But yes, it's a simple procedure to reverse it."

"Oh...well..." Jina fidgeted with her fingers. "And there's no health issues with it right now?" Jina asked again.

"All your vitals are good, blood work has come back as healthy and all your other numbers look good. And I see none of the side effects in your results and charts. So as of right now, no. There are no other health issues. By the sounds of it, you'd like to keep it in?"

Jina nodded. "For now. Eventually I'd like it out...but it's kind of nice not having to deal with cramps and klank."

Doctor Crawford nodded and made a quick note. And Jina was free to go.

< • >

Jina and Aris slowly backed away from the Medwing and made their way to the other hall they had been watching.

The same weird boxes were wheeled down this hall and into the room that required a card lock and key pass. (Which was easy enough to see from their spot on the vent.)

Somehow we gotta get in that room.

Ya...but how? We need a swipe key. Aris pointed out with a dramatic eye roll inside her head.

I know... And I doubt David would hand his over.

Doubt it.

Jina watched as a line of five of the weird boxes were rolled in. Each one had a screen on the top lid, and on the screen, it had a picture of a digital human, and it was beeping in different colours. One looked like a heart monitor while another looked like oxygen levels.

There was definitely something else going on.

Aris...I don't think those kids being called....I don't think they ever leave.

I think you're right, Ji.

Jina felt a shiver as the last beeping monitoring box was brought in and the door sealed shut.

We need to get into that room.

Ya...but how?

That...I have no idea. Maybe we just steal David's pass card?

Might come to that.

< • >

Each day they had been in the Waystation was the same. They had been in the station for 7 days now, and the routine was the same; David came at 8am lead them down the hall. Breakfast, monitor the going ons from their back table in the corner. Lunch at 12. Their group was called for more medical tests and blood work at 1pm. Jina would run on what she learned was called a treadmill, shower and back for supper at 530pm. And exactly at 645pm Janson came into the cafeteria with his clip board.

< • >

Jina instantly felt sick, as she laid her fork down- the food was mediocre at best. But tonight she felt extra tense and apprehensive. The restlessness each night made her want to throw up. And tonight was no different. Janson cleared his throat, held his clip board and made his normal stupid speech. The room had grown silent and tense. The tension grew.

"Fred. Dalton. Missy. Sammy. Bridget. Kevin and lastly Flossie."

Jina blinked a few times. And released the breath she was holding. They were safe. Jina turned to Aris and Flossie and then her heart stopped. Her face lost colour. She only registered now that they had called Flossie's name.

"Ji...?" Flossie squeaked. "Aris...?"

Jina didn't know what to say. She didn't think her voice was going to work. Aris spoke first.

"I'm sure it's going to be okay..."

"But...you guys said you saw stuff..."

"There's no proof, Floss. We don't have hard evidence." Jina finally managed.

"Flossie." Janson said again. Louder and more demanding. Heads were turning back and forth, trying to find the girl who wasn't jumping up and high-fiving everyone.

"Go on Flossie. It'll be okay." Aris nodded with a small smile.

I don't like this, Aris!

Me either. But what are we gonna do?

Flossie slowly stood up. Her face was white and her hands were visibly shaking. A guard showed up. When Jina looked around, it was David. He looked at all three of them in the eye, then looked at Jina very pointedly, "she will be fine. Trust me. I'll personally see her off to safety."

"Are you sure?" Jina challenged.

"Captain? Please hurry up, we're behind schedule." Jason called.

David nodded to Janson at the front of the room. He looked back down to the table at Aris and Jina.

"Come on kid." David said to Flossie who looked ready to pass out.

David guided her away. Jina was half standing not sure what to do. She watched as the line of kids was ushered out the door. As the door slid closed, Jina caught Flossie's eye one last time and then David was guiding her down the hall after the others. The doors slid shut and then the noise of the cafeteria was back. Everyone talking at once. Everyone who left, out the door into the restricted area, "off to a better life"  was forgotten. These kids had no care in the world. Jina shoved her supper tray away and got up.

Jina! Where are you going?

We can follow them.

Uhh..Ji? The vents don't go into that section.

Don't care, and maybe we just haven't found the right one. I'll follow until I can't. I'm not leaving her!

Ji. We don't....those bed things- we can't tell what those things are.

I don't care, Aris. We both know something is up and I'm gonna do something about it.

What about what David said? Aris asked.

Jina chewed her bottom lip and ran a hand through her hair nervously. I don't know. I thought maybe...but now...? I don't know.

Jina stormed between a few tables, some of the kids around them who had heard the exchange with David, watched as they left. Jina noticed a few people lean over and whisper to their neighbors. She gave them a harsh look; jaw clamped, eyes narrowed- her cold look of stone. Some of them averted their gaze. Jina stomped out of the cafeteria, passed the guards at the door and down the hall to their room. She flung the heavy steel door open and threw herself onto her floor and slid under her bed.

"Jina..." Aris followed her and closed the door. He had crouched down and peeked under the bed. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. But I can't sit back and just let them take Floss. Something's not right Aris, and you know it!"

"Ya I do. But they just took her, what happens if someone comes making sure we're here? We didn't exactly stay under the radar just now."

"I don't care. I'll go. You can stay and cover for me." Jina replied yanking the cover off.

Aris sighed. "Fine. I'll stay and cover, but you keep me updated the whole time."

"Deal." Jina called back, she was already wiggling through and into the vents. Jina knew the way. As quickly and quietly as possible she crawled her way through the vent to the right hall. She waited. Hoping. Praying something would happen.

She waited. Muscles tense, jaw clamped. She was so tense her body was sore and her head started to hurt. Her legs became cramped.

Ji? What's happening?

Right now? Nothing. Made it to the hall before the Medbay.

Jina was about to give up and go back when there was some noise from down the hall. Feet. Hushed voices. And then Jina saw a row of kids.

I see them! It's the same kids! And I see David at the end with Flossie!

What's he doing?

Ummm. Don't know. Hang on. They have them all stopped just before the sliding door thing, waiting lined against the wall.

Her heart was beating so loud, it was loud in her ears. Jina's feet were becoming numb and her legs were cramped. She tried to shift as silently as possible. But of course nothing ever goes her way. And she bumped the side. She bit her lip to keep from making any more noise. She peered down through the cracks of the vent. David glanced up at the vent cover. Jina could feel the sweat beading on her forehead and running down her temples. Her heart was racing so fast, and she was trying to control her breathing, but it was coming in short gasps.

The sliding door opened and an old doctor with fluffy white hair came out. He was so bent, Jina was surprised he could still be working.

"Ahhh. Off to the new life, eh?" He said rather loudly. The kids all nodded eagerly, except Flossie.

"We just need a general check up, some last minute blood work, your last injection of vitamins and off you go."

The old bent doctor pulled the clip board and his nose was just about touching the paper to read the names.

"Fred...room 1. Dalton. Room 4, if you please. "Missy....uhhh 2 please dear. Sammy, room 5. Bridget, room 3. Kevin room 6. And Flossie-"

"She is being screened by Doctor Crawford. Janson's orders." David cut in.

"Eh?" The old doctor called. "Speak up man!"

"Flossie will be checked by Doctor Crawford. Janson's orders, there was a red flag on her health chart. Hall 3 in section B. I have the paperwork."

"Fine fine..." The old man waved a hand. "What Janson wants, Janson gets. Now shoo." He waved a hand. David shot the vent cover in the ceiling another quick look and steered Flossie away from the others.

Jina was frozen. What was going on? Why did Flossie need a special check? Did David know she was in the vent? Hall 3 in section B...

She backed up, sliding on her stomach as far away as she thought no one would hear she spun around and crawled as fast as she could.

Aris! She yelled in her head.

What? Ji? What's going on?

Come on! Meet me in section B, hall 3!

Umm. Okay?

Move it Blondie! Jina yelled.

I'm coming! Sheesh. Stuff it ya stick! I'm coming! But what the finch happened?!

As Jina crawled as fast as she could to the other side of the facility, she explained what she observed from her spot above the hall.

She came to the vent in hall 3. David and Flossie were already standing there. Almost directly under it. A moment later Jina heard the unmistakable sounds of Aris crawling.

Shh! You're as loud as a hippo! Dude stuff it!

Sorry. You said hurry! I'm hurrying.

Well hurry quieter.

Aris showed up from around the corner and slowed down as he crawled closer. Jina held a finger to her lips and pointed down. David and Flossie stood under them. Flossie was still pale and shaking. Shifting from foot to foot. A door opened and Doctor Crawford stepped out.

"Good evening, Flossie, Dear. How are you?"

"Umm." She stammered, she looked close to tears.

"No need to be scared. We'll get you sorted out. And then off to a wonderful camp."

"Camp?" Flossie asked, "I thought it was a farm they sent us to?"

"A farm? Who told you a farm?"

"Umm...I...I think Mr Janson said it was a farm."

"Oh, no dear. This is a camp. For children like you, immune to the disease, away from the thumb of WICKED, where you can grow up and and be teens. How does that sound?" Doctor Crawford asked.

"Umm..." Flossie stammered. "What about...my other friends? Jina and Aris? How come they can't come?"

"Soon. Very soon." David said. "We are hoping they will be right behind you...if everything goes smoothly in the next few days." David assured her.

"Oh. Not now?"

"There are many moving parts in this, my dear." Doctor Crawford's dark eyes crinkled when she smiled. It was hard not to trust her and feel at ease when she smiled like that, it always reached her eyes. "And right now. We can get you to the camp. The others will be right behind you. I promise."

It looked like Flossie got a little more defiant, she stood straighter and lifted her chin. "I've been promised things before and they were all broken."

"I understand. But I did give Jina a promise. And I don't go back on my word. Now if you please would allow Doctor Crawford to do her job...we do have a time crunch." David swept his arm towards the room.

Flossie didn't have much of a choice. She pushed the door open and stepped into the room out of the view of the vent. Once the door was closed Doctor Crawford turned to David.

David glanced up at the vent. Aris let out a gasp and Jina slapped a hand over his mouth.

Shut up! Jina hissed in his head.

David glanced at the vent again, "how's that cargo?" He whispered, rather loudly.

"The cargo is ready. Midnight, Berg 4, it will be with the other shipment. Larry will be flying. Stopping at the Wearhouse and then to Mary. Before we stop and pick up group A."

Doctor Crawford nodded. "What of B3 and B1?"

"They both are suspicious, and as of right now," David shot the vent another glance, so quickly Jina almost missed it. "I believe trying to figure out what's going on."

Again Doctor Crawford nodded. "Good. They understand the need for card swipe passes? If they try anything, they need pass cards to get through anywhere. And that surveillance cameras will pick them up in the halls, unless in very specific locations down certain halls..."

"I'm sure they are aware, Doctor. I know Tim is in surveillance for the next few days. So, he'll give them a hand if needed." David whispered, loudly. "If they have listened at all, I'm sure they will piece things together. Now...I must get going. Rounds will be happing soon."

Jina felt like this whole conversation was a set up- like it was staged. A lot of hidden information was shoved into this conversation. Aris was frowning.

"Good night David."

"Good night Diana. See you tomorrow."

David watched as Jina's doctor went into the room after Flossie and he glanced one last time at the vent in the ceiling and then spun around, looking at his watch and walked away.

Jina didn't know what time it was, but she knew David was giving them some major hints about something. She knew he knew they were there. Like...he expected them to be there. She frowned trying to think. Aris tapped her shoulder breaking her thoughts.

We gotta go! David is right. Rounds will be happing soon! We can pretend to be sleeping and then go back see if the floating monitoring boxes go through.

Yeah...yeah your right.

< • >

Jina rolled out from the bed, Aris hit the lights and they both scrambled into bed. Jina pulled the blankets right up to her chin. Their dresser clock said it was 1144pm. Lights out and the last round, making sure kids were in bed, and doors were locked at 1145pm.

Their door creaked open, Jina closed her eyes and lay as still and quiet as possible, pretending to be asleep. The guard shown his little light around and then closed the door, the lock clicked and Jina flung the blankets off. Aris right behind her. They scrambled back under her bed and into the vent. They had fifteen minutes to get to the hall in section B, where the boxes went through.

They got there and waited. And right on time. Midnight. The line of boxes with beeping lights and monitors showed up. Jina counted them. There were only five.

Only five. Six kids were called tonight.

Flossie was six. It's always been the same... Five kids called yesterday, five boxes go in. The day before, seven kids were called, six boxes went in. The day before that five were called, five go in. It's some kind of pattern.

Yes...but Flossie didn't go into the Medbay. She went to section C with David and Crawford.

Do...do you think, Ji, she got out?

I hope so. But something is definitely going on. We just need to figure out what!

< • >