"Come on, baggers'll take care of him," Alby stated. Stricken horror www placed on Thomas's face, staring at Ben, before looking at me. I felt hollow, what had just happened to my friend was all my fault. That was the second time this has happened.

I turned to Thomas who was limping out of the woods. He had a hand lathed on his shoulder bite, and winced with his steps. His complexion was green, and he turned to the side to vomit in the bushes. I didn't have the urge, surprisingly. My stomach was rock hard.

My back screamed out in pain, with little tiny pinpricks of agony. The wood from multiple graves were digging through my skin like a thousand ant bites. My body was already sore from the fight with Newt and Minho.

The blood was now nasty, coated in dirt which was probably extremely unsanitary. I could still taste blood in my mouth from Newt, but now, I was unsure if it was actually mine. I hastily licked my teeth to check for all of them.

Thank god.

I glanced over at the retching boy. He had only been here for a day. One day, and he has gone through hell and back. His body must be working on hyperdrive or something.

We made our way to the medjacks. I was tremulously helping Thomas along, before being yanked aside. "Bloody hell! Joannah what happened? What's going on? Bloody hell you're bleeding everywhere?" Newt exclaimed. "Holy shuck! Newt calm down! She's passing out!" I think that was Minho.

But whoever it was, was right. Darkness was coming, a soft fading, with streaks of light permeating my vision. Suddenly, dull green grass met my vision, before something brown slammed against my back. I was sliding down something, in an attempt to stay balanced. It was a horrible decision as now the pinpricks of pain were shooting down my spine, paralyzing me.

I must've screamed extremely loud, because a vibrating ring jarred my head. My mouth felt stretched as my body involuntarily convulsed against cool, green grass. I felt someone loft the back of my shirt, but I didn't even care anymore. Honestly I was wearing a bra.

But my usual cover up attitude around the boys vanished, when I realized the actual grave danger I'm in.

I felt a cool hand gingerly touch my back, a sticky sensation wrenching one more scream. I don't understand why my body hasn't relished into unconsciousness. The pain was well past tolerable, and the noises, were deafening. I felt a clammy hand grasp mine, their fingers curling around my own. There was violent shaking between our grasp, and I realized it was me.

The tension in my body went rigid as I felt a sensation of soothing. I could hear a voice, yes that was the soothing, but just the sound waves itself calmed me. I could sense the darkness coming, and welcomed it, before heading one clear sentence.

"Keep holding on,"

*****

"Here, do you approve?" A man asked, tossing a pile of folders. "Well let's have a look-see," said a younger male, only a child. The red headed kid handed me half the stack. So, this was another memory.

Adam raised his eyebrows while glancing through. "She's impressive," he scoffed. "Indeed, she's... Special," the man answered. I turned my attention to my pile. "What's this?" I asked. He sadly smiled, "well, not everyone will be the final candidate. Not all of our subjects are immune, but brilliant all the same. We call them the control group," he started, and I flinched at subjects, "of course, we will have a leading controller, depending on special kill zone waves. And, will be a certain motivation for them and their friends," he explained. I gulped while I glanced through them.

I paused at a folder, "who's he?"

"Well, his WICKED name is Newt, and he is actually from Britain origin. Maybe strike some worldly recognition in subjects," he said. My eyes widened, "that I.Q..." But the man only laughed. "Yours is about the same or even higher, that's expected of our subjects,"

I looked up at him, "and my brothers?"

"You seem to be the brightest, but the other two are just in different skills," he explained. Adam seemed to glance at my file, "what's his real name?" He asked. The mans jaw stiffened, before snatching away the folders.

"That's classified,"

*****
Sucking in a large breath I sat up, rigid. But my sudden movement arched my back before I writhed to the floor. Clint, who was sitting on my bed, apparently applying bandages, leaped up, lifting me to the bed. His cold hands on my back were jolting, and I began to hyperventilate. I was wearing the sports bra like earlier, and a corner of it from what I could see, was stained with blood.

Newt rushed through the door, assisting Clint in my outburst. I immediately became self conscious, drawing the covers over my entire body. My confusion befuddled my vision, a mass of blur and color.

And the memories came back, all of what had happened. The fight, the run, Ben, and my blackout. "Joannah, please, we need to finish your bandages,"

I peaked out from the covers, to find that Jeff had joined, and Newt hadn't left. I began to sit up, slowly. Newt place a hand on my ribcage, gesturing for me to lay on my stomach. I felt a tingle of fingers, followed my pressing. Hands were under my stomach, pushing me upwards as the wrapped white cloth throughout my torso. I occasionally winced, but was soothed by permeating creams.

After the ordeal, a shirt was pulled over me, and I drank scolding soup.

Clint and Jeff exchanged a glance with Newt, before exiting. I dreaded what would happen, especially when I noticed the scab on his lip. "Joanie..."

"Newt... It... I-" I stammered, but was cut off when his lips pressed against mine. Thinking I was losing control once more, I flinched and pulled away. His hurt look explained to me that it was him. "I can't," i croaked. "Okay, one step at a time,"

He wasn't understanding. I didn't want to hurt him again. And I realized, that with all the craziness happening, I wasn't going to physically hurt him, but only emotionally. "No..." I whispered. He seemed to catch on, because he rushed towards me. "What- nothing-"

"Newt, I'll hurt you..." I whispered, "like Adam," I choked out. He stroked my face but I pushed away. "But..."

"He cares about me, and so do you. And I'm dangerous,"

"No youre not!" He intensely muttered, his eyes turning glossy with what I recognized as oncoming tears. Once more reaching for my hands, I pushed him away. "I heard you," I whispered, "you said keep holding on,"

He nodded, gaining hope. "Time to let go,"

He didn't give me a second glance before walking out the door.