INNOVATION -
EPILOGUE

⚘ REAWAKENED ⚘

When her eyes eventually peeled open, she was momentarily blinded by light.

Kalisa let out a low groan, her mind reeling with uncertainty as she tried to take in her surroundings. She was laying down on a med bed it seemed. The room around her was all white, and only furnished with her uncomfortable bed and a few beeping machines. She was alone.

Kalisa tried to sit up only to find that she was held back by a strap wrapped around her legs, chest, and arms. Her breathing became labored as she thrashed and moved, hating to imagine how vulnerable she was. However the straps held strong, and the only thing the girl succeeded in was rediscovering her old injuries.

Her chest was burning, her nose throbbed from when it had cracked. She had cuts and bruises all over her body and her muscles felt as though they weighed a ton. But the worst part about her condition was the buzzing in her nerves from the electroshocks. They had stopped now- but the sensation was something Kalisa would never forget.

It had been a pain like no other, and the girl swore on everything in her, that if she ever escaped she would never complain about any other inconvenience again.

Kalisa fought against the restraints again, once more having no luck. She grunted in frustration- tired, but not unfamiliar with being clueless.

Where was she now? Who were these people? What did they want from her? What happened to her friends?

What happened to Newt?

His face flashed through her mind like a sudden wave of calmness. Had they managed to escape in time? Or had their plan failed?

Kalisa lay defeated on the bed, unsure of where to go from here. She was tired of fighting. Tired of running. She had lost her friends, her home, herself. What now?

As if the universe was listening, the door to her sad room slid open abruptly, revealing a man and two soldiers.

The man had elvish features, with a pointy nose and beady eyes, almost resembling a rodent. He wore a grey turtleneck and black slacks, with the familiar logo, WCKD, embedded into them.

This is bad.

The two guards seemed much more intimidating. They wore bullet proof vests and black masks, and Kalisa couldn't help but wonder, if she had torn the cover away, what would look back at her? A man? A mother? Someone closer to her age?

"Kalisa." The Ratman spoke, voice filling the small room for the first time. "It's good to finally meet you."

Kalisa stayed silent, eyeing the soldiers guns warily.

Ratman followed her gaze and gave her a lazy smirk. "Don't worry, we aren't here to hurt you. What happened back at the Maze was purely precautionary. Just a little something to ensure your cooperation."

Kalisa looked into the mans eyes, hatred pouring out of her gaze. "You killed my friends."

He shook his head. "I did no such thing. Everything that happened in your little... 'Glade', was necessary to humanities continued survival. You kids are the answer- well, most of you."

Kalisa rested her head back on the bed in confusion. "What are you talking about? Who even are you?"

Ratman smiled and nodded towards the soldiers. "You can call me Mr. Janson. And over time you will learn what I mean, sooner than you think actually." The soldiers had left the room, leaving to two of them alone, though Kalisa wouldn't be surprised if they were still watching them somehow, just like in the Glade.

"You aren't making any sense. I want to go home, take me back!" Kalisa pulled against her restraints.

Janson peered down at her as she wiggled against the straps. "You want to go back?" He gave a small chuckle and started fiddling with the machine. "But you gave everything to get out. Was it all for nothing Kalisa?"

The dark haired girl stopped fighting and fell limp, eyes involuntarily filling with tears. "I don't know. I don't know anything!"

Ratman flipped a switch on the machine before turning to face her, eyes alight with a sick sort of interest. "What if I told you I could change that."

Kalisa furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Janson stepped closer. "What if you could remember. Would you?"

The words left Kalisa's brain as she lay there, gaping like a fish. After all this time, he was giving her the opportunity to know. Where she came from, her family, her friends, her home, the Right Arm. Everything. Her whole life could be her's again.

Then, she was sucked back down to reality.

"No."

"Really?" Janson questioned, surprised by her answer. "And whys that?"

"It doesn't matter where I came from, not anymore at least. There's no point to all of that stuff because I have- had, a new life. With new friends. Thats why you need to let me go- please." Kalisa held her breath, hoping, praying that Janson would change his mind.

She didn't like the look of that machine.

"So, you don't want to remember?" Janson looked confused.

Kalisa nodded as best as she could in her position, feeling a momentarily relief as the man smiled. Then her blood ran cold as he stated, "I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice."

"What?"

"Wicked see's it fit that you are under immediate investigation due to your criminal acts committed on July 9th, just before you arrived in the Maze. You are under trial for acts of arson, breaking and entering, identity theft, hacking, stealing our data, wreaking our supplies, and murder." Janson looked oddly excited by his words.

Kalisa blanched, "But- I didn't do that! I swear I didn't"-

"But you did." Janson cut her off. "And you will pay the price of your actions. From our understanding, you are aware of an organization known as the Right Arm, correct?"

Kalisa stuttered out a denial, but Ratman brushed it off, "Don't bother. This little... rebellion won't hold against us. However they are rather annoying, and I want them out of the picture, so we can either do this the easy way, or the hard way."

Janson looked down at her, eyes running cold. "Tell me where they are, or I will force you to."

Kalisa shook her head, frustration growing. They didn't understand, she had zero recollection of this group. "I don't know, I promise!"

Janson tsked and nodded to the door, a moment later two doctors entered the room wearing white lab coats. "Wrong decision Kalisa. For you I mean- I think I'll enjoy this."

Kalisa thrashed against her restraints once more as the doctors prepared a large looking injection. "I hope you've learnt a valuable lesson today Kalisa. Wicked is good, and by the time we're through with you, you'll never forget that again. See this as the consequence of your actions."

Kalisa fought with everything in her, but there was no use. The restraints held strong. As the doctors closed in on her, Kalisa spat blood towards the Ratman who had stepped back. The red stained his perfectly pristine uniform, causing the man to scowl.

"I'll see you soon, Infiltrator." Then the girl felt the needle inject into her arm, sending a hazy wave of sleepiness over her body.

This is it. Once they get my memories, I'm done for.

That was all she could think of as she fought the drugs from taking her. The Gladers had lost. They should've never left the Glade. Alby had been right, death in there sure beats death out here.

At least they knew what to expect in the Maze.

Now, she was faced with an eternity of problems. Most, that wouldn't reveal themselves until the future. Home was a concept she had been dreaming of ever since she first awoke. But she knew now that it was impossible.

Her battle had only just begun. And as her consciousness slipped away like water through her fingers, she vowed that this would not be her end.

Kalisa was going to find the Gladers. She was going to escape and destroy Wicked and everything they stand for. She was going to find the Right Arm.

And then, the world went numb, and Kalisa blacked out.

OMG I finally finished!!! I'm so excited, this is the first full book I've ever completed! I hope you all liked it, I had so much fun writing it and am super excited for the sequel. Thank you to everyone who has voted, commented, followed me, added it to their reading list, and all around supported me and this book, without you guys, I wouldn't do this! I hope this epilogue has left you curious and intrigued for book two, Oscillation, which holds a plethora of plot twists and answers! I hope to get it out soon!

Until then, Happy reading!

5/9/24

1487 words