"Okay, tell me again."

She's sitting across from Jorge, a small table the only thing between them. She has to sit on her knees to properly face him. That's how high the table is.

"You're going to train me. I will act like I'm a lost immune and then they will allow me into WCKD's building. This will happen around the age of ten," she says formally.

There's been a lot of formal words ever since she decided to leave with Jorge.

"Yes. And what will you do once you're there?"

"I will kill one specific boy and one specific girl. They are really smart and need to be dead."

"Why exactly?"

"Because they are building an experiment that isn't supposed to be there. I need to kill them before they finish the project."

"Very well. And then what?"

"And then I'll really be apart of this place."

"Yes. You will kill them before it's too late. WCKD isn't good, Siren. You will kill both of the kids as my men distract the rest by intruding."

"Yes," she says.

"Tell me, how will you be kept safe?"

"You will insert a chip that makes my body work to dissolve WCKD's bullets before they even hit my veins."

"Perfect. And how will you always remember from which group you are?"

"My tattoo." She points at her ankle. See-through foil is still wrapped around the freshly made tattoo. Three circles, intertwined in a line.

He nods in satisfaction. "Yes. And how come this is not Brenda's task?"

"Because Brenda is not immune and you're afraid she'll freak out and forget her job when she sees her brother, who is immune and currently at WCKD."

He nods once again. "That's it. Easy peasy."

"Yes." She swallows, hard. "Easy peasy."

"We'll be training for that the coming years. It can't go wrong. We'll be able to destroy them forever."

"...but they're making a cure, aren't they?" She peeps quietly. "Why do they need to be gone? Aren't there kids?"

"Yes and yes. They're not using the right methods, Siren. And once we have destroyed them, we'll be rich. We'll finally live a proper life, without the nasty potatoes."

Siren looks down at her hands, fidgeting with them. Back in Australia, she had short nails. Ever since she got here, they've been bitten off.

"I... I don't know if I'm capable of killing kids, sir," she whispers with closed eyes.

"You will be. That's why we're going to train you," he explains. "But okay, enough for now. Go get ready for bed."

Nodding, she starts making her way to the little bathroom they have up here. This building is large. Three floors. One that the Cranks guard, one where Jorge's men and the other people he helps sleep, and lastly, the part where Siren, Brenda, and Jorge sleep, where they have stimulations, and basically all the important belongings.

After brushing her teeth, the little girl splashes cold water onto her face. She feels like crying. She would have, if only the reason had been decent. But it isn't. This is her job now. Kill some kids and get rich along her new family.

How would it be in that department, though? With all those kids? It's just Brenda here. She likes Brenda, but something is keeping them from being the closest best friends.

What would it be like to have proper food? They must have that there. She has seen the building in so many stimulations. Wouldn't it be nice to be away from all the rats running around in Jorge's place? Surely they don't have stinky guards.

She walks out of the bathroom, passing Amery on her way to her tiny bedroom. The girl mutters an almost inaudible greeting before she vanishes inside to put on her night clothes; a shirt so oversized it's like a dress.

"Hey, Siren?" A knock on her door just when she finishes. "Are you okay? You seem a bit upset."

She opens the door. Amery is so tall compared to her that she has to look straight up. "I—" she starts, then trails off. "I don't know."

"Do you want to talk?" He asks.

"...can you help me?"

"I'll see what I can do."

They enter her room. Siren stacks her pillow against the wall and sits down against it. Amery sits on the tip of her bed, eyebrows raised.

"Jorge wants me to kill people. Kids. Kids my age," she says. "I've seen one of them before. Saw his mom deliver him to WCKD and I saw him in a stimulation. I don't think I can do it."

"Have you told Jorge that?"

She nods. "But he doesn't care. He said I'll learn. If I even have a choice, what do you think the right thing is?"

"I say you try a few trainings and then see what you think of it," he suggests. "That's all I can really say for now."

"Okay." Siren lowers her head. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Come on, I'll tuck you in."

She puts her pillow back down before lying down herself, eyes on the wooden, unstable ceiling. Amery spreads the blanket so perfectly that it covers her whole body.

"You don't have a stuffed animal?" He says, tone clearly confused.

"No. I tried really hard to hide it below my clothes, but Barkley found it and destroyed it."

Amery sighs out loud. "Oh, no. What was their name?"

"Crackie. He was a woolen bunny."

"Crackie," he repeats. "I haven't heard that name before. I like it."

"It was my own idea. Daddy used to yell it at the phone. I was only three back then, so I didn't know many names. Well, Daddy yelled crackhead, but I couldn't pronounce it. I made it Crackie."

"...crackhead isn't the nicest word," he says slowly. "But the idea behind it is great."

"It's a genius idea," she corrects, yawning. "I'll go to sleep now."

"Okay. Good night, and let me know if Barkley is being stupid again. I'll destroy him, like he destroyed Crackie."

A laugh leaves her mouth. "I'll keep it in mind. Thank you. Sleep well."

He smiles, running a hand through his beard. "Good night."