Fade

                                    

                                          
  A door slams behind me. I snap around and see him standing there. He's in the familiar grey turtleneck and sweatpants. His hands are wrapped in bandages.
                          
  "Newt, please, I can explain," I say, putting my clipboard down.
                          
  "Explain what, Olivia? That you've been cheating on me?!" He yells.
                          
  "No, no no no. Please just listen to me." I beg, taking a step towards him, hands shaking.
                          
  "What does he have that I don't?" He asks me. My lip quivers. "Why him? I haven't even gone into the Maze and you're already looking for someone else?!"
                          
  "No! I'm not looking for someone else, please Newt please! It was one kiss. One time and I didn't mean for it to happen!"
                          
  "Oh really? How am I supposed to believe that?"
                          
  "Newt! You're the one I love. Please, he kissed me. Please, just understand." I grab his arms, holding them to his side. "I'm in love with you."
                          
  A tear runs down his face. "You love me?" His voice is gentle, soft, meaningful.
                          
  I nod my head quickly. I finally said it. After so long, after so much waiting, I finally said it.
                          
  His hands wrap around my waist, pulling me in. He presses his forehead to mine, noses rubbing against each other. "I can't tell you how happy I am to hear you say that." He leans in, closing the space between us. His lips on mine, warmth filling me, its everything I ever dreamed of. One kiss replaces thousands of words. I am melting into him, enveloped by his love. Its a seal of promise. I was made for him and he was made for me.
                          
  We break away, my lips longing for more. "I love you too." He whispers as he holds me in his arms. I never want to let go.
                          
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  "Shhh," I whisper to Newt as we crouch by the door, pressing our ears against it as if we are little children. I strain to listen to what they are saying, their voices barely audible. Muffled argues sound from inside the room.
                          
  "What are they saying?" Newt asks me. I just shrug my shoulders and continue to listen.
                          
  "It has to be done," I hear a woman's voice say from inside. 
                          
  I turn to Newt, but he looks just as confused as I am.
                          
  "What if they aren't prepared?" A man's voice asks.
                          
  "Its a Variable. They aren't supposed to be prepared. It would spark patterns we haven't studied before, ones that we may never get the chance to map. Just imagine." She reasons.
                          
  "Are you sure?"
                          
  "She's ready for this." The woman says.
                          
  "Okay. Then Olivia and who?"
                          
  "Why not him? They're close, and we need to go to the extreme."
                          
  "Sure. Variable 117, the Betrayal."
                          
  "Sounds perfect."
                          
  I assume the conversation is over so I stand up and walk down the hallway, clutching my arms in my hands. I suddenly feel really cold. Anxiety fills my chest.
                          
  "Olivia. Olivia!" Newt calls after me. He quickly runs in front of me. 
                          
  "What are they gonna do to us? They were obviously talking about you and me." I say, panicky.
                          
  "Shh, shh, love. Its gonna be alright. Nothing can break us apart," He pulls me to his chest, one hand on my lower back and the other run running through my hair, gently stroking it as his head rests on top of mine. "You're gonna be safe, as long as you're with me."
                          
  I bury my head in his chest, his warmth, his hugs are the best. He's like a little teddy bear. I wish I could stay like this for hours.
                          
  He kisses the top of my head.
                          
  "I love you so much." He whispers, rubbing my back.
                          
  "I love you too." I say back, looking up and pecking his lips. My panic attack dies down.
                          
  "I'll always be here with you." He says and takes my hand as we walk down the hall.
                          
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  I watch the screen in front of me, looking through the lens of a Beetle Blade. Its night in Maze A, and the whole Glade is asleep. Except one boy. Newt.
                          
  He sits against the walls of the Maze, holding his bandaged leg against his chest. I wasn't there when he got hurt, and I can't remember what happened. Tears roll down his face as he stares at his leg.
                          
  "I just want to get out of here." I hear him say to himself. His sniffles echo through the speakers and my heart rips in half.
                          
  My hand grazes the screen, tears threatening to escape my eyes as I stare at the boy I love. He is miserable, depressed and he doesn't even remember who I am. So many have died, so many were killed. And for all I know, they might make him next.
                          
  I can't let it go on. I can't watch my friends die right before my eyes. I can't eat I can't sleep. I can't sit here while the one person I care about is in so much pain. I won't be able to live with myself.
                          
  The door behind me opens and I turn around, setting my tablet down.
                          
  Ava stands there, Bonnie standing behind her.
                          
  "What's this?" I say, voice catching in my throat. I wipe my face and attempt to gain my composure.
                          
  "You said send the trigger earlier. Bonnie is ready to undergo the Swipe." Ava says.
                          
  "No," I shake my head violently.
                          
  "Olivia-"
                          
  "No! I am not letting her go into the Maze. Not a chance." I refuse to let my best friend go into the Maze. I've already watched everything I care about fall apart. I can't let go of Bonnie too.
                          
  "Well what do you expect me to do?!" Ava says, raising her voice.
                          
  An idea pops into my head. An awful, stupid idea that I will probably regret. But I can't just watch them all die. I have to help them, I have to get them out and I have to stop WICKED. This is it. I have had enough.
                          
  I push past Ava and Bonnie.
                          
  "Where do you think you're going?" Ava asks me, a weird pitch in her tone makes me nervous.
                          
  I turn back around. "I am going into the Maze. I am the trigger."
                          
  A sinister smiles creeps up on her face. "Fantastic." She says and snaps her fingers.
                          
  Two of Wicked's guards grab me from behind and pull me away. 
                          
  Ava laughs.
                          
  Bonnie has her hand over her mouth, she's crying.
                          
  And the next thing I know, I am strapped to a table, needles and machines hooked up to me.
                          
  I close my eyes.
                          
  I talk to Aris.
                          
  And the whole world fades away.
                          
  Suddenly, I am cold.