Jina and Aris sat at their table in the back. The guys from A hadn't shown up yet. And Jina's anxiety was getting worse.

"Just relax. They said they would be here." Aris hissed, leaning over his plate.

Jina sat stiff and straight, staring at the door to the dorm rooms. She refused to call Thomas via min link, she didn't want to seem desperate, they had spent all morning with the guys. With a huff she pushed her plate away. She had started to sink down, deflating in her confidence when her mind buzzed.

Hey Boss Lady. Your brother has taken forever in the shower and made us all late. I swear he's worse then a girl.

Jina stifled a laugh. Aris looked at her funny. But she shook her head.

Hey Tommy. I was wondering if you had stood Aris and I up.

Never!

Tell my puffed up egotistical brother no matter what he does with his hair, I'll always outshine him.

She sensed him laughing. I'd say. And then she felt his horror and embarrassment. Jina's stomach flip flopped and her heart fluttered.

"Is he mind flirting? Sheesh that boy is down bad." Aris rolled his eyes.

Jina pressed her hands do her cheeks and bit her lip trying to suppress a smile.

On our way. Finally.

A few minutes later the door to the dorms opened up and Thomas and Minho led the group into the cafeteria. Heads turned in their direction. A few of the guys had smirks on their faces, including Minho. Thomas scanned the crowd and found them at the back in the corner. Without a word he made a straight beeline towards them. Heads swiveled as the guys walked past. A few girls, Jina noticed, were looking hopeful, trying to bat eyelashes and other silly things. Thomas slid onto the bench beside her, followed by the rest of the guys around them. The girls around them all glared at her.

"I'll have you know, I look shucken fantastic and it takes a lot to look this good." Minho said pointing a finger at her.

"Ya. A LOT of work. Me? I'm just naturally fantastic." Jina snarked back.

There were a few oooohs from the guys. Minho gasped and looked appalled. Jina smirked.

"Okay. So...can you explain to these guys what you showed me?" Thomas pleaded looking at Aris and Jina. "They don't seem to get it."

Jina and Aris leaned forward and whispered. As they explained everything, again, the tension and rowdiness of the kids increased. They knew what time it almost was. It was annoying that a few of the guys still didn't believe them. Jina had to raise her voice just to be heard over the ruckus. Jina had just finished explaining, again, when the door to the cafeteria opened and Janson came striding into the room. Followed by David and another few guards.

David is on shift. Jina told Thomas. She saw him nod. His eyes glued to the door and Janson and everything else. He sat ridged and stiff, his hands clenched tight in fists on his knees, except his knee which bounced.

Got an idea what you're doing?

Working on it.

Jina could feel his unease and stress. Janson had started his speech, the same one he did every evening. Something about a farm and how he'd love to take them all...blah blah blah. Thomas looked slightly pale, his jaw muscles clenched. His muscles were all coiled ready like a spring. Her hand worked before her brain caught up. Her hand shifted, it was her turn to wrap a finger around Thomas's. She felt him exhale slowly. Then his finger curled around hers too. Jina kept her eyes locked onto Janson as he pulled his clip board out with flourish. Jina repressed the urge to roll her eyes.

"Alice. Barry. Walt." He read off. Each kid got up to round of cheers. It was completely lost on Jina how these kids couldn't feel or see how off everything was. Was she just different? She glanced at Thomas, he had narrowed his eyes. His bouncing leg had gone still.

"...Edgar. Samantha-"

"I wanna know what's through that door." Thomas muttered. 

Jina nodded. "I'm with you." She whispered back.

"-Aaron-"

"Now, we've been over this. You said they were covered up, so you don't know what you saw." Newt hissed, leaning over the table. He looked stressed and very exasperated with Thomas.

Did you tell them anything about getting the card?

Uhh. No. I didn't think it was a good idea. 

Probably for the best.

"-Dennis-"

"It could've been anything under there." Newt continued. Like he knew Thomas was about to do something drastic.

"I know exactly what I saw." Jina hissed back at him, shocked he still was skeptical.

"They were bodies." Thomas said. His eyes hadn't left the door and guards. Jina could see his mind working.

"Sally."

"Look, guys, Aris and Jina said they bring in a new batch every night."

"And we trust them because...?" Another kid asked.

Jina turned her cold stone eyes onto the boy.

"-Henry. Tim-"

"Because I've been here longer than you. I know what the fuck is going on and you don't. So shut the hell up."

"Well, I'm sold." Minho said with an eye roll. Jina didn't know if that was sarcastic or not but she clamped her jaw shut. And narrowed her eyes at her brother.

"And last but not least, Dan. Thank you for your attention. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

Thomas was almost vibrating with nervous anticipation. He squeezed Jina's little finger in his, like he was keeping himself anchored. Newt seemed to understand Thomas was even closer to doing something because he suddenly leaned forwards, a hand laid on Thomas arm, like he was trying to keep him at the table.

"Okay, but until we know anything for certain, we should just keep our heads down." Newt hissed urgently, he was desperate for them to stay here.  "And try not to draw any buggen' attention to ourselves, all right?" 

The doors at the front had slid open and the kids were being led through. David was at the back and glanced around. Jina caught his eye.

Now, Tommy. It's now or never.

You coming?

Hell ya. Let's go cause a scene. I've been waiting for this!

Thomas jumped up. Jina right behind him.

"What are they doing?" Newt cried, throwing his hands into the air.

"I think they're drawing attention to themselves." Frypan said dryly.

Jina followed right behind Thomas. She had no idea what his plan was- if he even had one. But she followed him none the less.

"Hang on. You weren't called." David said loudly, holding a hand up.

"I know, I'm just gonna be a second." Thomas said, trying to get around him.

"This is a restricted area, kid." David glanced at Jina, she could see his eyes shift back and forth between them, trying to think fast, trying to figure out what they were doing.

"I just wanna see my friend." Jina said. "Can you let me through, she was called a day ago to the camp, I want to see her, say good bye, do I need a special pass to get through the door or what?" She said.

She saw understanding and something close to relief in his eyes. David knew she knew. He knew she had heard the staged conversation. Jina swore he winked. 

"Get your ass back in that chair." David said, his hand now on Thomas's chest, giving him a shove backwards. He really didn't sound intimidating. And his shove was half hearted.

"Just remember, you are always being monitored. Breaking the rules...Tim is always watching." David said, as he twisted his body, conveniently left hip towards them. Thomas also noticed.

"Back off!" Thomas yelled, now really trying to push and shove, trying to break past David. "What's your problem, man? What the hell, huh?"

By this time another guard had come over, the jackass who led Jina and Aris to the cafeteria the day David was gone. He looked ready for a fight. He grabbed Jina roughly, yanking her away.

"Back off!" Jina yelled trying to break the iron grip on her arm.

"Why won't you let me see them? Where's Teresa, huh?" Thomas yelled.

Jina could see his distress, he was suddenly really worried about his friend. The guard shook Jina rather aggressively, as she tried to wiggle free. He ended up back handing her, smacking her across the mouth which made her shriek in pain. Which made Thomas turn at the noise and shoved the guard holding Jina. He ripped her away, and held her close to himself, possessively, an arm around her back.

"Control your friend!" David cried. Jina looked around and saw Newt, Minho, Aris and the others all crowded around, trying to pull Thomas and Jina away from the guards.

"What's happening here?" A Reedy sniveling voice droned. Jina looked the other way. She was still held close to Thomas's chest. Her heart was racing, and she wasn't entirely sure if that was the closeness of the boy or the harsh interaction with the guard. Janson stood in front of them, a look of something on his face, disapproval, or disdain, maybe. But it seemed to mock them and it made Jina angry. He looked at them like naughty little children.

"Thomas? Jina? I thought we could trust each other. You know we're all on the same team here."

Jina pulled away from Thomas and spat a mouth full of blood onto the floor by his feet.

"Are we?" Thomas asked, having her back. Jina had seen him flinch slightly at the blood splatter on the white tile. Jina looked up and narrowed her eyes at the twitchy rat like man. Janson didn't seem to like that, as he regarded the blood at his feet. He looked up at David, and flicked his wrist lazily in their direction.

"Get them to their bunks."

David nodded and stepped forwards. They were now surrounded by guards. Two of them grabbed hold of Jina and Aris, and pulled them away from the guys, Thomas and the others where shoved and pushed in a different direction. Thomas and Minho seemed to make a fuss, twisting and trying to throw the guards who held them off, turning their heads around to see if Jina was alright. Jina was yanked and shoved through the crowd of kids who had gone silent watching the huge scene. They were dragged down the hall and to their room. 

"Get your asses in there!" The guard yelled as he shoved Jina and Aris inside.

"What the hell was that about?" Aris asked rounding on her. She was already wiggling under the bed and into the vent, but she twisted and Jina smirked.

"Come on." Was all she said. Aris followed with a huff.

It took them less than two minutes to get to the guys vent. She shoved it out of the wall and rolled out from under the bed, and into the middle of another heated argument.

"You didn't really think they were just gonna let you through?" Newt was yelling, poking Thomas in the chest.

"Nah, of course I didn't. I'm gonna find out what's on the other side of that door." Thomas said quite calmly.

"Hello boys." Jina said as she picked herself up off the floor dusting her hands off.

They all twisted around, jumping into the air with a scream. Jina laughed. They were so easy to scare.

"Stop bloody doing that!" Newt scolded.

"Pay more attention to your surroundings." Jina shrugged, she had turned to hold a hand out to Aris who was now pulling himself from under the bed.

"Ya...Newt, they're hiding something. Okay? These people are not who they say they are."

"No, Thomas, you don't know that!" Newt cried in frustration. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, like he was an exasperated overtired mother. He took a slow breath. "The only thing that we do know is that they helped rescue us from WICKED. They gave us new clothes. They gave us food. They gave us a proper bed. Some of us haven't had that in a long time."

Jina frowned. Was he trying to guilt trip? It made Jina angry all over again. What was his deal?

"Yeah, but..." Thomas started, he looked a little lost as Newt stepped closer to Thomas and poked him hard in the chest, again.

"Some of us, a lot longer than others."

Jina stepped closer and smacked his hand away from Thomas. And glared at the tall British blond. "Open your fucken eyes. Look around! Does this not feel wrong to you? This whole damn operation screams suspicious. And sure, you were probably an original in your maze. I get it. It was tough. I was there for half the time. It was horrible as hell. But.... don't discount what we think just because you all think working for WICKED was soft and squishy. I can see it in your fucken faces. You don't trust me. Or Aris, and you're trying very hard to discredit Tommy. I can guarantee it was not an easy soft safe job. Sure Tommy, Aris and I- even Rachel and... this Teresa- ya we worked for them. I had some memories resurface, and trust me..." Jina clamped her eyes and shivered. "But we were just as much fucken test subjects as you were. So don't give me this shit. Shut up and let us investigate what's actually going on. You don't believe us? Come along, see for yourself!"

"Dude, she swears just as much as Minho!" Someone whispered.

"Fucken rights she does!" Minho smirked, holding a hand out for Jina to high five.

"This is why we came up with substitute words!" Newt said through clenched teeth, rubbing his forehead.

"Hey Newt? Fuck off." Jina snapped, giving Minho the high five he was waiting for.

Newt and a few others gasped. Minho was biting his fist to keep from laughing. Jina rolled her eyes. Aris looked slightly embarrassed, but he was used to her bad words. And the corner of Thomas's lip was twitching, his normally confused looking eyes held some amusement in them.

"Ya...we had to come up with some sub words too..." Aris shrugged.

"Is that why you say the weird words like finch?" Frypan asked.

"Yes." Aris nodded. "But shuck is a weird word too"

Again Jina huffed and rolled her eyes. She turned to Thomas.  "You got it, didn't you?"

Thomas smirked and out of his pocket pulled a swipe card. "Yeah. Of course. I told you I would get it. And I got it. Let's go."

"This better not have anything to do with trying to impress the girl. 'Cause shank, that's my sister. And I just found her. And I'll make sure she's safe...no matter who or what stands in my way." Minho said. His face was cold, his voice low and even. Jina shoved her brother in the chest.

"I've been look after myself for longer than you've been around. Stuff it ya crackhead!"

"All right, look, maybe you guys are right. Maybe I'm just being paranoid." Thomas said and held a hand out in a passive gesture, "but I gotta find out for sure. Just cover for me. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Aris was already under the bed and crawling away. Thomas was right after, on his heels. Jina was just about to follow, when someone grabbed her arm. Jina looked over her shoulder, Minho was crouched down beside her.

"Be careful." He said quietly.

"Careful doesn't get answers and carful won't get us free, Minho. You ran the maze, you understand."

"But I just found you... I can't loose you again." His voice seemed small suddenly.

"I'll be fine. I'm with Aris and Tommy."

"Tommy?" Minho said with a small smirk and raised an eyebrow. 

Jina waved a hand dismissing him. Her cheeks were pink but she turned away and crawled under the bed and into the vent. She had to speed up to catch up to the guys. They made it to the hall without any trouble. Jina peered through the vent.

"Okay...it's only just after 7pm. The beds don't come until 12:15am. Last rounds are at 1145pm. So...let's go." Jina whispered.

Thomas popped the vent off and Aris dropped down to the ground. Thomas jumped down and then motioned for Jina. He reached up and caught her as she jumped down. Jina's heart stopped and her face was red. She looked up into his face. He was already looking down at her, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. His hands still held her waist. Her lungs forgot to work. His big beautiful whiskey brown eyes framed in thick dark lashes, his dark hair fell into his eyes just slightly. She could count the few freckles and marks on his face that made him Tommy, she was devouring his looks. Her stomach was just a cage of butterflies. She still had both hands holding his biceps. She could see his cheeks flush slightly pink, his breath fanned her face-

There was a throat clear. And Thomas and Jina sprung apart. Thomas was rubbing the back of his neck, and Jina refused to look at anyone, staring hard at the door.

"Card?" Aris asked, giving Jina a very hard look, and she refused to look at him. Thomas pulled the card from his pocket. And Jina punched in the code she had memorized. The door beeped and the door slid open.

Thomas's finger found hers and wrapped around it. Jina gulped. Beyond the door held the answers they were looking for. She hoped.

< • >

Jina and the boys stepped through the door with some weird high powered sterilizing air machine. Jina just thought it was more for show then anything useful. Like the wind down the main hall right before the doors closed. It was a cool effect, but did nothing.

They slowly walked further into the room. Jina stopped and then gasped loudly. The room was full of rows of kids. But not alive kids. They were strung up like some kind of weird martinet doll. They all had tubes and wires and monitors all over them. Some kind of IV tube was hooked into their neck and a clearish liquid was slowly dripping into vials. They all had some kind of breathing apparatus over their mouth and nose.

"Are they alive?" Aris whispered, his eyes wide in horror.

"No." Jina said flatly. "But they aren't exactly dead."

There was an IV bag hung by each of the kids that slowly flowed into them. She suspected that it was something to keep them sedated in the half dead half alive state they were in.

She felt a sick awful feeling in her stomach. Thomas and Aris slowly walked further into the room. Thomas slowly came back and took her hand, Jina was staring at one guy in particular. And then her eyes slid to the kid beside him and she felt a punch in her gut.

"It's Shortstack." She whispered. "And Dozer. They showed us around our first day..."

"I'm sorry Ji." Thomas said quietly. He gently tugged her away. He looked distraught, as his eyes slid from kid to kid.

"What the hell?" Thomas gasped, he let go of Jina's hand and stepped up to a girl, she had long black hair. "Teresa?" He whispered horrified. He moved her hair out of her face gently.

"Oh...it's not....it's not Teresa." He sounded relieved. Jina saw him flinch at his own words.

"Janson wants her. Just like us. He wouldn't do this to her. Doctor Crawford is...is working with her. I'm not sure what they're doing. But I trust Doctor Crawford...she's in good hands Tommy." Jina tried to reassure him.

She had stepped up behind him and placed a hand on his back. She felt him inhale slowly. He slowly nodded and stepped away, letting the girls hair fall back. He turned away. Aris had walked further into the room.

There was a loud buzzer and a hiss and the weird blowing air went off. Thomas whipped his head around. He dove behind one of the weird contraptions that kept the kids strung up. Thomas had yanked Jina with him. There were voices that came from the door. One in particular she recognized and it made her growl in anger.

Thomas pulled her into his chest, so her back was right up against his chest and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Shh." He whispered in her ear, as he pulled her further into the shadows.

Jina wasn't sure what emotion was coursing through her. Janson walked into the room followed by a few guards.

This wasn't good.

< • >