Within These Walls

"Subject A0, you may now proceed to the cafeteria" "Yeah, yeah. I'm going now, Dr. Clark" The girl carefully placed down her knives onto the pristine metallic table. Using the last of her strength, she wiped excess sweat from her forehead, and left the room with guards escorting her towards her given destination. She tiredly guided herself to a table which sat her best friends and brother. "You look like hell" An Asian boy stated. "You don't know the half of it, Min" She muttered, sitting down and folding her arms on the table, laying her head down onto them. "She works harder than any of us - give her a break" A British voice intervened. "It's okay, Newtie" She mumbled, "It's just been really tough lately" "Since when did you start becoming so protective over her?" The Asian boy smirked. "Since when did you start calling him 'Newtie'?" A boy with blue eyes, and dark brown hair snickered, playfully punching the British boy, earning an eye roll from him. "I agree, what's up with you and 'N e w t i e'?" The Asian boy joined in. "I swear they're attempting to train me to be some goddamn assassin" The girl said, trying to switch topics. "For real" The British boy agreed, ignoring the two boys, "Honestly, if I didn't know you for you - I'd be b****y scared" "Thank you for the inspiring speech" She sarcastically replied. "Still doesn't answer our questions!" The blue-eyed boy cut in. "Slim it, Thomasssss" The girl groaned. "Come on, we're your best friends! You can tell us anything" The Asian boy, Minho, continued, whilst chewing on his food. "Like she'd ever trust you with something like that" The British boy added. "Exactly" The girl said. "Ha! I knew it! I knew something was going on between you and Newt!" The blue-eyed boy, Thomas, exclaimed. "That proves no b****y point" The British boy, Newt, replied. "You never denied it" Thomas shrugged. "I hate you both" The girl sat up, "Especially you, Minho" "Aw, that's no way to talk to your friends!!" Minho's teased, "..Wait... You don't hate Newt?" "Of course not" The girl scoffed. "And that, right there, proves it, Newt" Thomas smirked. "That means nothing. If anything, it could be worse than hate" Newt said. "Uh-huh" Minho replied, unconvinced. "Are you sure it's not... Love?!" Thomas queried, wiggling his eyebrows. "If I weren't your best friend, I'd be ready to drag you into the training room with me, and stab the living daylight out of you" The girl glared at him. "Is that a threat I hear?!" Thomas sarcastically questioned. "I think she'd rather take her 'Newtie' in there with her instead" Minho chuckled. "Ugh, you guys are the absolute worst" The girl grumbled. "Well-" Newt started, but was cut off by loud speakers. "Subjects A0 and A5, please report to Lab 8, immediately!" "You have got to be kidding me" The girl groaned, "My legs are like jelly, and I just started my break" "Looks like we don't have much of a choice" Newt added. "Why don't you just carry her? According to the scales, she's pretty light" Minho snickered. "Oh, shut your b****y trap, Minho" Newt sighed. "I wonder why they want the both of you" Thomas chuckled. "I wonder why you want Teresa" The girl glanced back at Thomas. "Come on! Don't play me like that" He replied, whilst the girl still glared at him, "..Whatever, fair game, fair game" "Thought so" The girl grinned. "SUBJECTS A0 AND A5!" "Jesus! Come on, Newt, don't think we should keep them waiting" The girl said. And with that, she grabbed Newt's hand, and rushed towards the cafeteria doors, whilst the two boys joked around about the hand-to-hand interaction. "Hello" A woman said, "I presume you both must be Subjects A5 and A0, correct?" "Yeah" Both of them answered. "Now, Dr. Paige.. Has she informed you about the upcoming surgery we will be conducting on you two?" "What surgery?" The girl questioned, her voice quivering. The girl knew she absolutely despised them; after the last time they forced her into one. "Ah, I see, I see" The woman stated, "Best get on with it then" "What surgery?!" The girl asked again, irritated, but with panic and anxiety laced within her words. "Subject A0, do not raise you voice at me!" The doctor yelled. "She's not a b****y subject! So stop treating her like one!" Newt intervened. The doctor glanced up. "Very determined" The woman smirked, "I'm glad Dr. Paige chose you two for this procedure" "You haven't answered my question" The girl stated, cautiously. "You'll see soon enough, Dear" The woman replied, looking back down to her clipboard. "What procedure?" Newt asked wearily, growing concerned. "Guards, take Subject A0 to Surgery Room 12, now!" The woman said, sternly, "We will trial on the girl first" The girl struggled against the older men dragging her away. "NO! PLEASE!" The girl shrieked, "I DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS! LET ME GO!" Newt stood frozen, dumbfounded, and completely oblivious. The boy couldn't move, even if he tried, his feet wouldn't oblige to his commands. "NEWT!" The screams and shouts of the helpless girl's cries blared though his head, only stiffened him up more. "Don't worry, she'll be just fine" The doctor approached Newt and placed a cold, firm, hand on his shoulder, which caused him to shudder at her touch. Once he had regained his senses, he could feel the poison burning up inside of him. Why didn't he help her? Why did he let her go? Why are they doing this? She sat up almost instantly; the intense throbbing suddenly enveloped her entire head, causing her vision to blur. Groaning, the girl gingerly placed her hand on her head which unconviently caused more pain. With that in mind, she sighed, trying to recollect the past events that had led her to this situation. She remembered screaming for Newt as guards were dragging her away. Newt. Was Newt okay? Gaining her vision once again, she stumbled out of the bed. At this point, her head was about to explode, but it was the least of her concerns. Her eyes examined every part of the room, searching for the British boy, but closed them in defeat. "Don't worry, Dear, Subject A5 -- or Newton -- is in Surgery room 15" Approached a voice from behind her. The girl spun around to meet the owner of it. Ava Paige. "Can I see him, please?!" The girl panicked. "Of course, come with me. Be careful, now, you're still recovering" Dr. Paige replied. "W-What surgery did we participate in?" She questioned nervously, glancing up at the doctor. "Unfortunately, I am not the one to explain" The doctor smiled, and held out her hand for the girl. "O-Okay.." She said, taking Ava's outstretched hand. "Sorry for the way they had treated you earlier" The doctor stated, frowning, with slight sorrow. "It's fine" The girl mumbled, "I-I was just really scared, it wasn't their fault" "Glad to see you're alright, then" The doctor said, whilst guiding her towards the surgery room Newt had been assigned to. Finally entering the room, she let out a relieved sigh, and let go of Dr. Paige's hand. "N-Newt are you here?.." She queried, "Father? Why are you here?" "Come here, Sweetie, A5 is resting. You may speak to him momentarily" The father replied. "Yes, Father" The girl said. She walked over to Newt and her father, who exchanged a calming glance towards her. "When will he wake, Father?" "I suppose he could wake quite soon" "What happened to us, Father?" "I'm truly sorry we had to conduct... Surgery on both of you, but it was for the best" "What was it?" "You will be able to figure it out on your own, sooner or later" "But, Fa-" "No, you have to trust me. You can do this on your own" "Yes, Father.." "Janson! You are required in Lab 3" A doctor called from the door. "Yes, one second!" Janson yelled back, "Now, Sweetie, why don't you stay with Newton, yeah?" "Okay, Father" She smiled. "That's my girl" Janson grinned back, returning the gesture, "Now, I will see you tonight" "Goodbye, Father!" The girl exclaimed, while her father approached the door. She leaned over, and sunk herself down onto the bed, and glanced intriguingly at Newt. 'How could someone be so perfect, yet, so peaceful?' She thought. She could sense another presence in her head. Almost like it had been listening to her thoughts, but she shook off the intimate feeling. The girl softly placed a hand on his, and silently admired the sleeping boy. -- two yearslater -- "I'm so boreddd" The girl stated. "I couldn't agree more" Newt chuckled, "Y'know I might accidentally steal some of your dessert tonight-" "You wouldn't!" She teased. "Oh no, I b****y will!" He replied, getting ready to tickle the poor girl. "Noo! No tickles, Newtie!" "Too bad!" "Only if you can catch me first, then!" The girl speedily took off down the hallway with Newt not far behind. CRASH "F-Father? Sorry! N-Newt and I-" She hesitately explained, heaving herself up from the cold floor. "Not a problem, Sweetie. Actually, I was just looking for you, so this is convenient" Janson said, picking up his clipboard and papers. "What do you need father?" She asked. "Hey, is everything okay?" Newt queried. 'He must've caught up', she thought. "Yes, we're okay, Newt" She replied, turning her gaze to him, "I accidentally bumped into my father" "Oh, sorry about that, Janson" Newt apologised. "No need to worry, Newton. I'm going to have to snatch my daughter off you for a while, is that alright?" Janson said. "That's fine" Newt replied, "I'll see you later, Love" "Okay, Newt, see you soon!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the boy's larger frame. "Come on, now" Janson cut in, impatiently. The girl let go of a confused Newt and proceeded to follow her father. "Where are we going, Father?" She asked. "We have to run some quick tests, then you can see Newt, and.." Janson paused, "..And, yeah" "O-Oh?" "Don't worry, Sweetie, you'll be fine" "Yes, Father" "Now, come in" The girl stepped into a room that smelt of disinfectant, with strange, large machines, huge needles, and more horrifying equipment. "Don't worry, we're only going to be scanning your brain" Janson said, seeing the girl stiffen up. "G-Good" The girl stuttered. "I'll be back soon, yeah?" Janson told his daughter, trying to reassure her. She quickly nodded, and Janson led her towards one of the machines. While she got ready for the scanning, her father spun on his heels and motioned towards the entrance of the room. He stopped just before the doors, and faced his daughter. "Be a good girl, okay?" Janson grinned coldly, which sent chills down the girl's spine. A couple doctors had made their way to the room when Janson left, and began the scan. Once they had enough information, the guards pulled her across to another room, which was just as horrendous. Her brown eyes widened in surprise, and the nauseating feeling in her stomach begun to show. The guards shoved her, and she tumbled in, and heard a clicking sound, which indicated a lock. She couldnt escape. Why had she been taken here? It must've been some misunderstanding. She searched her surroundings and came across the dreadful sight of a boy -- her age -- hooked up to a container filled with a green, sickly substance. Nick. The girl ran about, utterly appalled, attempting to find something - anything; to break to glass and set the unconscious boy free. A lock clicked again, and she was now face-to-face with Ava Paige. "W-What is this?!" The girl stammered. "I'm so, so, sorry, Dear" The doctor said, ignoring her question. "What have you done to Nick?!" She panicked. "Nothing that you need to know of" Ava replied, pulling out a needle from her pocket, "Guards! Hold her down!" Analysing the current situation, her eyes grew wider as they knocked her down, and pinned her to the floor. "STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" She screamed. "We are going to give you the Swipe" Dr. Paige stated calmly. "SWIPE?! LET ME GO!" The girl protested, attempting to wiggle herself out of the grasp of the guards. "If you stay still, it'll be easier" Ava said. "NO! FATHER! HELP!" She shouted. "Oh, well" The Doctor sighed, and held her arm, "Like I said, Dear, I am truly sorry.." "NEWT!...." "Remember, WICKD is good.." "HELP ME!-..." The girl soon became limp, and descended into darkness. The doctor carefully picked up the girl, and carrier her away. - elsewhere - "I honestly hope she's okay" Newt sighed. "She'll be fine, I promise" Thomas reassured him. "I-I don't know, just just feels bloody.. Off" Newt muttered. "She's probably running another test with Janson" Minho stated. "Something just doesn't feel right" Newt said. "Dude, she's fine, I swear" Thomas promised. "...Did you hear that?" Newt questioned. "Hear what?" Minho asked. "NEWT...!" Came a faint voice. "Okay, I definitely heard something there" Minho said, standing up. "Was that.. My name?" Newt queried. "No, no, it's probably just your brain playing tricks on you or something" Thomas added, trying to convince the two boys. "We should check it out, just in case, yeah?" Minho said. "Let's go" Newt agreed. "NO!" Thomas yelled, but they were already off. "I can't let them know yet.." Thomas muttered, chasing after his friends. The three boys ran around, attempting the follow the screams. "It's coming from there!" Minho pointed out. "Guys, we really shouldn't-" Thomas started. The door burst open. "B-Boys?!" Ava Paige stuttered, startled, almost dropping the unconscious girl. "W-Wait, what are you doing with her?" Minho questioned, cautiously. "She.. Fell, and I'm taking her to the medical ward now" The doctor lied. "Guys, I told you-" Thomas said. "Why do you have a needle? Why was she screaming? What are you doing with her?!" Newt yelled. "Hold the the boys down. Thomas, come with me, we need to prepare! Now!" She shouted. "What are you preparing her for?!" Minho said, struggling against the grip of the guards. "The Swipe" The doctor stated, "We are taking her to the maze. She will be our first candidate" "WHAT MAZE? WHAT SWIPE?! GIVE HER BACK!" Newt screamed. "I'm sorry, guys" Thomas replied, softly. "You're in on this too?! Hell of a friend you are, Thomas!" Minho exclaimed. "It's the only way.." Thomas glanced back at Newt and Minho with an apologetic expression, "You'll see her sooner than you think" "DON'T TOUCH HER!" Newt called after the two figures walking away. "HEY! LET US GO! TELL US WHAT THIS MAZE IS! WHAT IS THIS SWPIE?!" Minho added. "NO! DON'T TAKE HER!" Newt continued. But Thomas, Ava, and the girl were already long gone.