I felt cold. That was the first thing I noticed. I blinked a few times, the bright light hurt my eyes. I blinked a few more times, and sat up, my hand held over my eyes to shield it from the light.

Once my eyes were used to the light, I took a quick look around. Getting slowly to my feet I turned in a circle, confused by what I saw. My forehead scrunched and my eyebrows knit together. Slowly turning in a circle, trying to register what I was seeing.

I was in the Glade.

No wonder I was cold, I was laying in the middle of the grassy field, covered in early morning dew and the fog still clung to the grass. My confusion only increased by the second. There was no one around. No Gladers, no animals, not even beetle blades.

The Maze doors rumbled open. I checked my watch, 7am. Right on time. Without hesitating I ran head long into the Maze through the South Doors.

Take the twists and turns with ease. Pushing further and further into the familiar passageways. The familiar ache in my legs and burning in my chest, the stead thumbing of my heart. It was all familiar. But something was off.

It was quiet. Too quiet. I didn't have a running partner. There was no heavy breathing beside me, or the echoing slap of their feet. It was just me. And even my noises seemed muffled.

But I pushed on. I knew I had to make it. Something was at the end of this section, I just knew it. The longer I ran, the more apprehensive I became. My stomach started twisting.

I made it through section 7. The walls were all back in place, the corridors were free of stones and debris. I flew past the rows of metal blades. Not pausing to look around or question my surroundings. Sprinting over the wall-less hall. The Griever Door slid open with a loud grinding, I slipped through, Thomas style and ran down the dark hall to the door outlined in light.

That was my destination. I was almost there. My heart was beating so fast and hard against my ribs, and it had nothing to do with the running. Sweat covered my body, making my t shirt stick to me and my hair clung to my neck and face.

I reached out a hand, pushed the door open and stumbled. I was back in the Glade. I skidded to a stop. Twisting around to see the door, but it was the North Door I just came through. Confused I walked briskly across the Glade to the South doors.

I repeated the whole process. It took me all night to rerun the Maze, through section 7, the blades, Griever hall and tunnel, through the door at the end, surrounded by light. Pushing the door open I ran through the North Doors into the Glade. I repeated this over and over.

My body stirred. I let out a small whimpered. Everything hurt. I tried moving, but it shot more pain through my whole body. I stilled. Trying to figure out what was going on. Why did everything hurt? Where was I? What's going on?

I tried to pry my eyelids open, but they were heavy and didn't move. I tried listening but all I could hear was a constant quiet beep. It was coming from beside me. It smelt like sterile, like a hospital or dentist. I was laying on something firm, but soft and it was surprisingly warm.

There came a quick click clacking, heels on a tiled floor. It was getting steadily louder. There was a click and the sound of a door and the sliding of a divider sheet being pulled back.

I must be in some kind of medical room.

The click clack of heels stopped. I knew there was someone close by, but my eyelids still wouldn't open. I tried to talk, it was only then I realized there was something in my mouth. I tried to spit it out, but it was stuck, it wouldn't come out! I tried swallowing the panic, but I couldn't swallow properly! The thing in my mouth went all the way down my throat.

My panic shot through the roof. I was taking shallow breaths, but it was hurting so much, and not just my lungs, my chest hurt, my stomach was shooting shape pains along with the constant dull ache.

"Subject A3! You need to calm down." The voice was sharp and demanding.

I had no idea who the voice belonged to or what subject A3 was; it didn't do anything to help squash my raging panic.

"Enough! You are intubated." The sharp voice snapped. "I'm sedating you until you no longer need the assistance of intubation."

I felt something cool flow into my arm and through my body. My muscles relaxed, the sharp pain subsided and my mind slowed down until it stopped panicking and I was swallowed back up by the seductive blackness.

_________________________

I came too again. My eyes didn't feel so heavy, and I could slowly peel them open, blinking multiple times. My throat hurt, but I could close my mouth and swallow without panicking. The sharp pain in my abdomen wasn't so bad anymore, a constant ache. My limbs were heavy, but not as bad.

I groaned and blinked a few more times getting used to the light. Turning my head I saw the course of the noise. It was a heart monitor. I was also hooked up to an IV bag. I had a small breathing tube hooked around my ears, situated under my nose.

Without warning the curtain around my bed was yanked away. The sudden noise and appearance of two people made me jump, which turned into a wince and groan.

"Now, now, Doctor Crawford, we don't want to be scaring our patients." The man scolded.

I blinked at the people standing at the end of my bed. The lady was a middle aged black lady, who would have had a kind face, but she looked slightly haggard and stressed. The man beside her was a bit older, thin and looked fragile. His smile was thin, it didn't reach his dark eyes. His long nose hooked at the end. But what caught me was his voice. It was thin and reedy. Almost like he was talking through his nose.

I frowned at them. I didn't know what to say, so I just stayed quiet and watched. I watched apprehensively as the woman, Doctor Crawford, went to the monitor. She started to fuss over it and the other monitors.

I flicked my eyes to the man. There was something about him. I was watching me with beady eyes. I couldn't detect what was on his face; mild interest, contempt, disgust, and an eagerness. It was very unsettling. But it slid easily into a concerned frown.

He stepped up to the side of the bed, pulled the chair out and sat down. Lacing his long slender fingers together.

"So, my dear...how are you feeling? You gave us quite the scare!" He asked, he sounded sincere.

I tried talking, but my throat was dry and scratchy. I coughed, which sent pain from my stomach through my body making me hold the area and gasp.

"I'm terribly sorry! Here! Here, let me get you some water."

He reached over to a small side table and poured water into a plastic cup and held the cup for me while I sipped a little from the straw. It soothed the scratchy throat.

I nodded in thanks.

"Now, tell me how you're feeling."

"Like klunk." I whispered. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

I frowned. Making my forehead crease.

"I...I remember... pleading with Gally...chaos and then pain. Thomas crying...and being cold."

The man hummed. He rubbed his chin, and frowned.

"My poor dear. You were shot. We found you with a bullet wound in your abdomen! Your heart stopped and we had to jump start your heart. That was 2 days ago. I'm surprised how well you are doing."

It all came flooding back. All the details, the pleading, the chaos, Gally collapsing, his eyes clearing for the last time, I saw the pain and sadness, the brokenness and the regret. I watched the spark of life leave his beautiful intense steel blue eyes. Tears filled my eyes and the tight thick feeling of my throat getting tight, the tears slid down the side of my face.

Gally was gone. He was dead.

"I'm sorry, Dear. That must be hard news to hear." He patted my hand with his.

"My...my friends?...my brother...?" I whispered, my throat was still really rough.

The man frowned. "There was only you and another young man, with a spear in his chest. He was already dead when we found you."

A few more tears slid down my face.

"When you..found me? Where am I?"

He smiled, he had naturally thin lips so when he smiled it looked more like a forced thin liked smile.

"It is a sanctuary, safe from the horrors of the outside world. You can think of it as a way station. Kind of a home between homes."

"Home?" My interest peeked.

"A home of sorts. Sadly, there wouldn't be much left of wherever you came from. But we do have a place for you." He smiled again, folding his hands and leaning back in the chair, crossing his legs. "Once you are healthy, we have a refuge, outside the Scorch, where WICKED will never find you again."

"You..know about W.I.C.K.E.D?" I gasped.

The gasp made my dry throat scratch, which made me coughing, causing pain to shoot through my again.

"Dr. Crawford? Is there something we can give for the pain. I hate to see this dear one in so much pain."

The lady nodded curtly. And a moment later I felt something flowing through my IV into my system. I sighed quietly. I felt the pain fadding.

"Thank you."

"It's all right, it's I'll right." He smiled again. "And to answer your question, yes I do know about that organization. Everyone has heard of it."

"Oh." I squeaked.

He leaned forwards, his eyes intense all of a sudden.

"What do you remember about them? We found you in one of their... facilities." He asked eagerly.

I paused. I wasn't sure what to tell him. He claims to be against W.I.C.K.E.D ...and they did save me. But honestly I don't know much anyways.

"I...I remember...I used to work for them. I remember they sent me to the Maze ...I remember watching.... watching my friends die and they did nothing."

He nodded, and slowly sat back, rubbing his chin. The Doctor beside me started to fuss with a stethoscope and the blood pressure band and a few other things.

"Umm, sir?" I asked quietly.

He looked up at me and hummed.

"Do you...you don't know anything about where my ... friends went?"

He looked down at his lap and shook his head. I closed my eyes and took a shuttering breath. How would I find them again? Who knows where they are.

My eyes flew open. My mind link.

I glanced at the Doctor beside me and I glanced at the thin man in the chair beside me. I closed my eyes

Tommy?

There was nothing.

Tommy?

I tried again. I didn't even feel a buzz.

THOMAS!

I screamed inside my head, I didn't even feel his familiar presence. With an internal sigh and groan I tried Teresa

Teresa? Come in E.T.

Nothing.

I bit my lip trying hard not to cry again. I lost that connection now too. I was alone. Alone in a hospital bed, recovering from a bullet wound shot by my deranged boyfriend, who was actually just a pawn in A.I.C.K.E.Ds twisted games, he lay dead on a floor somewhere along with my love and heart, all my friends were gone, my brother's mind link snapped. I was utterly and truly alone.

"I should go and let you rest."

He got up. He was at the door when I called quietly, "Who are you? What's your name?"

He looked over his shoulder, and with his weird thin nasil voice answered.

"You can call me Mr. Janson. And I run this place."

_____________________________________________

**And you thought I killed her off! 😉**
**Well what kind of Emotional Damage can I sprinkle into this story?**
**TRAUMA TRAIN IS STARTING UP ITS ENGINE! EVERYONE GET YOUR TICKETS READY!**

❓QUESTION❓
Do you guys like Chapter names or just numbers?