-Amber's P.O.V-

The human body can only resist so little without eating. It can get sick from the lack of sunlight. And your bloodstream can get infected from disgusting Crank bites.

I understood that WICKED was looking for a cure to heal the human race. It was the way they were doing it and choosing who was worth saving that had me flaring.

The dearth of my past life was what kept bugging me whenever I slept. I could only see blurry faces, hear no words but those that were cut and stammered.

Aris, my brother, my older brother, the last remaining of my family was somewhere in this big building, but I was still far from him. He must be so worried sick for me and if he wasn't - he better be. I'm here because blood is thicker than water. For him, I'd go to the end of the world.

Without being able to see him, this started to become...worthless. I know that this may sound like I'm giving up on seeing my brother. But when you've been locked up for two weeks after yet another experimentation with my already fragile body, not having the strength to eat, hope starts to become thinner.

Thomas always had hope. I remember we had a small conversation one night in the battle with the scorch that hope was the last thing I should ever lose. That's what keeps us human. At least a real hope from the one WICKED has.

When I tried moving from my position on the ground, my stomach turned and I almost puked. Again. I didn't get a chance to have a second shower today, I shouldn't waste it getting myself dirty again.

Taking a deep breath, my trembling hand tries to reach over and grab the thin pillow that sits on the narrow mattress I was given. My vision blurs till the point where I see nothing, then it comes back.

I feared becoming blind.

If I did, I won't be able to see my brother's face again. Not be able to see Thomas when we reunite after he silently promised me to find his way back to me. I won't see our victorious smiles when we finally bring Ava Paige and Jansen to the ground along with their WICKED.

I won't see how this place crashes and burns. Becoming blind was not an option, yet it was my eyes decision to make. Suddenly, the big metal door busted open and a heavenly bright light covered my eyes. I yelp backward as I pull myself back and cover them as best as I can.

The light was hot and it felt exactly how it did when we were in the desert.

"Turn it off...turn it off!" I tried screaming but all I got out was a hoarse and raspy voice that was too weak. An old lady could scream louder than me.

A thud fell on my floor again. My floor because this has been my room for the past two weeks. They changed my locations every now and then. There were no patterns nor reason why? They just did.

Being this clueless and manipulated made me almost go insane.

The light was finally shut off and I couldn't open my eyes. It was hard. I was terrified that if I did, I'd see nothing. My ears perked up and my arms tried to pull me up when I heard a thud yet again. It was a male from how deep he groaned.

"Idiots." he mumbles but I heard him. At least I wasn't deaf...yet.

"Who is there?" I asked, trying to blink my eyes to clear, but they wouldn't. Come on, brain! Make them see again!

Whoever he was, he seemed to have been surprised that I was here because he made a lot of scattering noise. His breathing was loud and...and...and he was wearing no shoes! Just like me.

"The fuck?" he curses making me flinch. There is a silence that makes me gulp and my heart pound. What if he was a Crank? I just called his attention, how stupid of me.

I wanted to cry, not ready to fight him or not even be sure I could survive another bite. They keep cleaning and disinfecting these bites, but they don't use the serum to stop the ardor.

I won't turn into one, that's sure by now. This is a lot worse news than thinking that I could turn. If I could, then I'd be ready to take the bullet between my eyes. But since I don't, I have to prepare for bites and needles. Along with endless hours on a bed with cables stuck on me.

One was even stuck in me for six hours or so. It was put in my stomach.

I fell back after finally being able to sit up when the shadows breathing fanned on my face. I felt my body shiver and turned my back to him while repeatedly shaking my head. "No more please...no more." I begged him, but if he was borderline insane, why would he listen to my pleas for mercy?

"Why the fuck did they bring me to a cell with you?" I swear his voice almost and I mean by 0.9% sounded like Thomas. But it wasn't him.

Thomas was somewhere out there trying to look for me. He had to be.

"A-a-" my voice stammered over and over. I couldn't bring out more than the a. "Are-are you a...a-"

"Crank?" I nod. Could he see me? This room was dark. One very, very small lightbulb stood hanging down on the ceiling. Yet, the light dimmed with every passing day. "No. I'm not a Crank."

Who was he and why was he in my cell?

"Why-why-" I could barely speak with a sore throat! Stuttering got me on my nerves.

"Why am I here?" I nod once more to his correct guess. "I don't really know..." silence then speaks again. "One second I was asleep in the bed up top, the next I'm put in here with you."

My mouth forms an O shape. I still couldn't see him, my eyes still hurt. "That's-"

"Weird?" how is he guessing everything I'm saying correctly? "Yeah, most definitely is. No offense, but I'd rather be upstairs than down here."

I shrug. When I hear him slump on the floor, I take that as my cue to relax my shoulders. If he was a Crank, he would've attacked me already. When I bring my knees to my chest, I form my fingers into a knot to hold my legs in place.

"What's your name?" you have no idea how much it took for me to not stutter. I winced at the hard efforts.

"Lincoln. Yours?"

"Amber." if I was now stuck here with him, even for five minutes. He could know my name.

"Well," there's a shift and then I feel his presence close making me crawl back in instinct. "Relax. I'm just putting my hand out for you to shake."

Gulping I keep my hands to myself. I've lost trust in everyone who I used to not know before I was locked up. When he didn't see I would give my hand out any time soon, he retrieved to his corner.

"Very well, we keep our distance," he now sounds a few steps away. I relax once again. "It's nice to meet you, Amber."

(A/N) Hello peeps!!

New character alert?! Lincoln you are quite an important part. Amber is suffering like no other and it's all because she wanted to keep her promise to stay close with Aris. But they're not letting her see him. I HATE WICKED. Hope you're all liking it so far.

Btw, I just started college so my updates may be even more infrequent, BUT this doesn't mean I'll stop writing. Never.

Sorry for any misspellings :)

Remember to stay safe <3

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