"After the Maze, I got picked up by a group headed to the city," Gally explains as he leads us through their headquarters. "They realized I was immune, patched me up, and they brought me here to Lawrence." That name sounds familiar, but I can't quite place where I'd heard it before. I try to rack my brain, desperate to remember, but I can't. "This group's been at war with WICKED ever since they took control of the city. But WICKED can't hide behind those walls forever. The day's gonna come and they're gonna pay for what they've done."

Thomas walks beside me, holding onto my hand as we walk. He glances down at me, but my eyes are glued to the back of Gally's head. I still can't wrap my finger around the fact that the boy I'd believed to be dead for months is here, standing right in front of me, breathing, his heart beating. I feel like I'm hallucinating; like this is all just another one of WICKED's simulations so that they can study my brain waves or some shit like that. It doesn't feel real.

He's somehow grown taller. Maybe not by much, but he's definitely at least an inch or so taller than he was in the Glade. He has more freckles, too. I noticed that earlier. His hair is buzzed once again, only shorter this time. He holds himself with more confidence and strength rather than simply trying to show off to anyone. He's not quick to anger, either. He seems to control his emotions better now. He's not the boy I knew in the Glade anymore. He's a man.

We stop quickly, Gally turning around to face us. His eyes flick down to mine and Thomas's intertwined hands before flicking back up to our faces. His gaze flicks between us all.

"Listen, uh, he doesn't get a lot of visitors. So, let me do the talking, alright? And try not to stare," he adds before leading us into a room that has been turned into an indoor garden of sorts. The strong, sweet scent of roses fills my nostrils the moment we step foot into the room. I can hear a man inside muttering something under his breath, but can't quite see his face.

We walk quickly down a flight of steel stairs. Gally sets down his gun before walking further into the room, the rest of us following behind. Thomas's grip tightens slightly on my hand.

"Gally!" A deep voice calls out from in front of us. The man who it seems to belong to is leaning over, trimming back the rose bushes, his gaze fixed solely on them. We walk towards him, another man standing just a few feet away. "Glad to see you made it back. Jasper told me what happened." The man straightens up. I notice something attached to him, a tube of sorts. An IV. His face is enveloped in shadows, making it difficult to see him.

"It was a slaughter," Gally replies, his voice calm and collected. "There was nothin' we could do against those guns."

The man doesn't turn to look at us, too busy admiring and twirling a rose he'd plucked off the bush in between his fingers. "No, but they can only poke the hornet's nest so long before they get stung." He brings the rose up to his nose. "Now, who are these people? Why are they here?"

Before Gally can respond, Thomas steps forward, his hand slipping out of mine. "We need to get into WICKED," he replies. Gally stares at him, mouth open slightly. "Gally said that you can get us through the walls."

The man finally turns to look at us, though his face is still in the shadows. He hesitates for a moment before turning his head once again. "Well, Gally should know better than to make promises that he can't keep." He pauses, shooting Gally a pointed look. My gaze flicks up to Gally, who's eyes are cast to the ground. "Besides, that wall is only half your problem." The man grabs hold of the IV attached to him, turning to face us. I hadn't noticed before, but he's holding a cane as well. "Getting inside WICKED is impossible."

Gally shrugs, finally speaking up. "There might be a way now." He pauses before adding, "but it doesn't work without Thomas."

"Is that so?" The man asks, his interest peaked. He begins limping towards us unsteadily, bringing his IV with him. "Do you know what I am, Thomas?" He asks, finally coming into the light. And suddenly, I understand what Gally had meant when he said not to stare. I recoil slightly, inhaling a sharp breath. The man is missing half of his nose. He's missing chunks of his skin in some places. His right eye is completely white. The skin on the right side of his face is bubbled, thick, bulbous, black veins covering his face. The veins remind me of Ben and I feel my hands start shaking again. I try to steady them by fiddling with my necklace, but I can't get the image of the blonde boy out of my head. "I am a businessman," the man whispers, leaning close to Thomas. The brunette doesn't flinch; doesn't even recoil. He leans back, his voice a little louder now. "which means that I don't take unnecessary risks. Why should I trust you?"

"'Cause I can help you," Thomas replies without hesitating. "You see, if you can get me through those walls, I can get you what you need."

"And what is it that you think I need?"

"Time," Thomas replies, nodding at the IV. "Every last drop." The man lets out a low chuckle, looking over to Gally, who's staring at the two with wide eyes.

"Is that what I need?" His gaze flicks back to Thomas, his voice dangerously low. I can sense the tension between them.

"WICKED has something we both want," I say, stepping forward, brushing off Newt's hand as he tries to reach for me to pull me back.

The man's gaze falls on me. He studies me for a moment, letting out another low chuckle. "Venus Paige," he says, grinning wickedly at me. I shift uncomfortable, but stand tall, straightening my shoulders as I stare at the man. 

"How did you..." I trail off, finally remembering where I'd heard his name before. Jorge had mentioned him briefly after what happened with Marcus; had said something about how Lawrence knew everything about everyone. That's how Marcus knew about me. Because of Lawrence. "You knew Marcus. You told him about me."

Lawrence nods, his eyes glued to me. "Before he worked with WICKED, yes." He pauses, grinning widely, showing his rotted teeth. "They'd pay me a pretty price for you, I'm sure."

"Funny, that's exactly what Marcus said before I put a bullet in his brain," I snap back. I take a step towards Lawrence, standing right in front of him now. He stares at me, his expression hard to read.

And then, he turns to Thomas. "I'll tell you what. Two can go for now. The rest stay down here with me. Just a little... insurance to make sure you find your way back." Thomas nods, turning to look at us. I open my mouth to volunteer, but Lawrence cuts me off quickly. "She stays, too." Thomas turns back to the man, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "If you don't hold up your end of the bargain, I sell her back to WICKED, along with the rest of them. I'm sure her mother would be more than thrilled to have her back." He glances over at me, smiling again before turning back to face Thomas. He holds out a hand. "We have a deal?" Thomas glances down at his hand, which looks about the same as the right side of his face, before taking it and shaking it. Lawrence smiles, staring at the brunette in front of him. "Gally, show him the way."