Katherine stands in the sterile lab, her white coat stark against the cold, metallic surroundings. Beside her, Thomas looks equally out of place, his brow furrowed in concentration as they observe a girl through the glass partition. She stands out in stark contrast to the clinical environment, her skin luminous and pale as pearls, and her wavy, tar-black hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders.

Katherine can't help but feel an unexpected jolt of attraction. “Some girls make me question my sexuality twice. And she’s definitely one of them,” she tells Thomas, her gaze locked on the girl.

Thomas shoots her an incredulous look, his playful scowl making her laugh. “Hey!”

“Okay, don’t worry, twin boo. She’s yours,” she teases, nudging him with a wink. Laughter bubbles between them, warm and familiar, until they both feel the girl’s piercing blue eyes on them, their moment interrupted.

The scene shifts abruptly, the surroundings fading into a more shadowy figure. A woman stands before them, her features obscured, but the authority in her voice rings clear. “Wicked is good.”

In an instant, Katherine is transported again, this time to a training room. She is clad in black, facing off against a muscular guy whose confident smirk fades as she gains the upper hand. She lands a solid punch, sending him crashing to the floor.

“Is that all you can do?” a male voice booms from the sidelines, cutting through her triumph. She sighs, her frustration bubbling over. “Again!”

“You can’t be serious! I did my best!” Katherine retorts, exasperated.

“It wasn’t enough!” the voice snaps back. “It never was! Start again!”

Everything blurs again, the training room dissolving into flames. Katherine stands amidst the inferno, watching as everything around her turns to ash. A smirk curls on her lips, a victorious glimmer in her eyes. “Suckers,” she whispers, the thrill of feral chaos coursing through her.

Suddenly, the scene shifts once more, bright lights blinding her as she regains consciousness. She finds herself lying on a bed, a thin sheet draped over her. Faces hover over her, moving swiftly, running tests, their expressions a mix of urgency and concern.

As she turns her head, her heart swells at the sight of Thomas in the bed next to hers. They reach out instinctively, their hands finding each other’s. She squeezes his hand, a silent communication passing between them, both too weak to do anything but wait.

Katherine feels the warmth of their bond anchoring her amidst the chaos. She leans her head back against the pillow, whispering, “We’re gonna get through this, right?”

Thomas squeezes her hand in response, his eyes filled with determination despite their shared weakness. “Always,” he promises, his voice hoarse but steady.

The connection between them a lifeline. In this twisted world where nothing is certain, their bond is the one thing she knows she can rely on.

Together, they are stronger, and no matter what lies ahead, she is determined to fight for their freedom and protect the one person who understands her completely.

The surrounding shifts again, melting into a white void where disembodied voices swirl around Katherine like a storm.

“Katherine.”
“Wicked is good.”
“Don’t make it easy on them.”
“Everything is going to change.”
“She’s insane!”
“Wicked is good.”
“Katherine, you have to choose.”
“Thomas, we’ve got to get the hell out of here.”
“I have to tell her first.”
“Let him go!”
“Wicked is good.”
“This shouldn’t have gone this way if you and your twin brother didn’t betray us, Katherine.”

Katherine opens her eyes with a dramatic gasp, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging to her like a second skin. She looks around, disoriented, and realizes she’s back in Newt’s room, sprawled on his bed instead of the floor. Panic grips her. She’s late. The thought hits her hard, and she groans, the weight of it settling in her chest.

“These nightmares are killing me,” she mutters under her breath, pushing the covers off and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The chill of the wooden floor sends a shiver up her spine, but she brushes it off and forces herself to get ready for another day in the Glade.

She missed breakfast—again. Frypan is always kind enough to keep her plate warm for her, but the thought of food feels heavy in her stomach. After a quick wash and a glance in the cracked mirror, she heads out, the dull light of morning greeting her.

As she steps outside, she spots Thomas in the distance, perched on a fallen tree with Chuck, watching Newt and Jeff chopping at a tree. Relief floods her; seeing him helps ease the anxiety that grips her heart.

“Oh great!” she mutters under her breath, her gaze locking onto Newt. “Fucking great.”

Katherine walks towards them, passing several Gladers who eye her warily, as if she’s a madwoman. She chuckles to herself at the thought, her feet moving steadily closer to her destination.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me up?” she asks, plopping down next to Thomas, who turns to her with a mix of surprise and concern.

“Newt said you had nightmares throughout the night and wanted to give you a day off,” Chuck replies, his fingers deftly playing with the rope in his hands, a distraction from the grim atmosphere.

Katherine looks at Thomas, who opens his mouth to ask her a question, but his twin sister cuts him off.

“I’m fine. It’s just hard to take in all,” she assures him, though a hint of uncertainty lingers in her voice.

He nods, understanding shining in his eyes. “I know, right?”

She offers him a small smile, but inside, she feels a storm brewing. Thomas is going through the same nightmares, and somehow, he still finds the strength to face them. But for her, it’s different. She may be strong enough to fight physically, but mentally, she’s a wreck.

“But why would Alby go into the maze? I mean, he’s not a runner,” Thomas questions Newt, trying to keep the conversation afloat.

Katherine raises an eyebrow. “Alby went into the maze?”

Newt pauses, the axe stilling in his hands as he looks at her. “Yes, he did. Things are different now. Alby went to retrace Ben’s footsteps before sundown.”

He turns his gaze to Thomas. “Are you gonna help?”

“So he’s gonna go back to where Ben was just stung…” Thomas muses, glancing from Newt to Katherine, concern etching his features.

“Alby knows what he’s doing, alright? He knows better than any of us,” Newt replies, his tone firm, but Katherine can sense an underlying tension.

“What does that mean?” Thomas presses, clearly troubled.

Newt stops chopping again, scratching his neck in annoyance. “It’s like you’ve heard, yeah? Every month, the Box sends up a new arrival. But someone had to be first, right? Someone had to have spent a whole month in the Glade, alone. That was Alby.”

Shock washes over Katherine as Newt’s words sink in. She can’t imagine what it must have been like for Alby, all alone in the middle of a maze, surrounded by the unknown.

“I mean, it can’t have been easy. But when those other boys started coming up, one after the other… he saw the truth. And he learned that the most important thing… is that we all have each other. Because we’re all in this together.” Newt’s voice is steady, but Katherine can see the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.

Thomas jumps off the log, determination lighting his eyes as he starts to help topple the tree, swinging his blade at the base.

“Yeah,” Newt smiles at him, pride glimmering in his eyes. “There you go, Greenie.”

Katherine watches the two boys interact, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. The bond between them is unmistakable, forged through shared experiences and the trials of their existence in the Glade. But the moment is fleeting, and when Newt looks back at her, their eyes connect, and she quickly looks away, heat flooding her cheeks.

She knows she needs to gather the courage to talk to Newt, to sort things between them. Ignoring him isn’t a solution, no matter how much she wants it to be. They are stuck in this place together, and there’s no escaping that.

“Newt,” she calls softly, her heart racing as he turns his attention to her. “Can I talk to you?”

“Alone,” she adds, noting the curious glances from the others.

Newt nods, gesturing for her to follow him as they walk toward the Deadheads. She sneaks a glance back at Thomas, who watches her with an expression that mixes worry and intrigue.

The Deadheads is a small forested area with a makeshift graveyard in the Glade. The gentle gurgle of a nearby stream and the chirping of birds create a tranquil melody, a stark contrast to the chaos that often surrounds them. It’s peaceful and beautiful, but Katherine feels a knot of tension in her stomach as they find a quiet spot.

Newt stops abruptly, causing Katherine to bump into him, letting out a small gasp. “Are you okay?” he asks, concern flashing in his eyes.

“Yeah,” she replies, even as a small ache throbs in her nose from colliding with his chest.

The air between them is thick with unspoken words, a tension that feels almost tangible. Katherine takes a step closer, deciding to push through the discomfort. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“No problem,” he replies, running a hand through his messy blond hair, trying to diffuse the awkwardness. “Kat, about the ki—”

“You were desperate, and I was desperate, and we kissed. It was a mistake and it means nothing.” She cuts him off, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue. She sees the disappointment in his eyes, a fleeting expression he tries to mask, and she chooses to ignore it. There’s no point in dwelling on something that’s already been dismissed, right?

“How about we go back to being friends?” she suggests, offering her hand for him to shake, a gesture meant to rebuild what they had before. Anxiety gnaws at her, the fear of rejection looming like a storm cloud.

Instead of shaking her hand, he surprises her by pulling her into an embrace. “Sounds good.”

Katherine relaxes into his warmth, the tension easing just a little. They walk out of the Deadheads together, laughter bubbling between them as they talk and tease. It feels normal, as if the weight of the world has momentarily lifted.

As they approach the others, Newt heads off to help Zart with something, but Thomas suddenly appears out of nowhere, a knowing smirk plastered on his face.

“You wanna share what happened in the woods?” he asks, clearly eager for details.

“We just talked,” Katherine defends, shooting him a playful glare. “Now get back to work before I wipe that smirk off your face.”

Thomas raises his hands in surrender, a grin still spreading across his lips. They both burst into laughter, a sound that echoes through the Glade and feels like a moment of reprieve in their chaotic lives. It’s their thing—joking and laughing together, a small slice of normalcy amidst the insanity.

Katherine glances up at the sky, charcoal gray with a few pinpricks of light peeking through the clouds. She studies it for a moment, a sense of foreboding creeping in as a raindrop lands on her chin. She wipes it away, puzzled, when suddenly, the rain begins to pour down, heavy and relentless.

“Oh shit,” she breathes as the rain pours down in a relentless cascade, each drop drumming against the ground like a frantic heartbeat.

The Gladers scramble for shelter, their anxious chatter filling the air as they rush to grab their lunches.

Dark clouds loom overhead, the sky an ominous gray, and Katherine's stomach twists with dread as she glances toward the maze entrance. The closing time for the walls is drawing near, and she feels a heavy weight of worry settle in her chest.

“They should be back by now,” Thomas says, his voice strained, eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Alby and Minho. “What happens if they don’t make it?”

“They’re gonna make it,” Newt replies, his gaze fixed on the entrance, determination etched on his features.

“What if they don’t?” Thomas presses, his fear palpable.

Newt glances over, his expression unwavering. “They’re gonna make it.”

As the rain begins to let up, evening falls and the air thickens with tension. The Gladers gather at the door, their eyes glued to the maze, praying for the return of their friends. Katherine’s heart races, a desperate beat echoing her mounting anxiety. She can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong.

“Come on, guys, can’t we send someone after them?” Katherine urges, her voice trembling with worry. She can feel the tension in the air, thick enough to choke on, and her anxiety is mirrored in the faces of her fellow Gladers.

“That’s against the rules,” Gally states, crouching down, hands on his knees, his voice tinged with frustration. “Either they make it back or they don’t.”

“We can’t risk losing anyone else,” Newt interjects, his tone firm but gentle, trying to calm the growing panic.

A sudden gust of wind whips through the glade, sending dust swirling. Katherine shields her eyes, feeling her heart race as her hair tangles wildly around her face.

“Oh no,” Chuck mutters as the familiar thunderous sound fills the air, signaling the doors beginning to close.

A sense of horror grips Katherine, a cold fist tightening around her heart as she prays for Alby and Minho’s survival. They have to make it. They just have to.

“There!” Thomas suddenly points into the maze, his voice cracking with hope. Katherine’s gaze snaps to Minho, who is sprinting toward them, Alby slung over his back, unconscious and vulnerable. Her heart sinks. “Wait, something’s wrong.”

The crowd erupts in a frenzy, urging Minho on, desperation coloring their shouts.

“Come on, Minho, you can do it!”

“Go! You’ve got this!”

“Come on! You can make it!”

As the walls begin to shut, the cheers grow louder, but Katherine’s heart races for an entirely different reason.

“Minho, you gotta leave him!” Gally shouts, panic edging his voice.

“They're not gonna make it,” Newt states, the gravity of the situation dawning on him. Fear flickers in his eyes, and Katherine feels the ground shift beneath her.

“Minho! You can do it!” Katherine cries, gripping Thomas’s shirt, her knuckles turning white.

“Leave him!” Gally’s voice breaks through, but everything slows as Thomas takes a step forward, slipping past the moving slabs of rock.

Panic surges through Katherine, claustrophobia pressing down like the closing walls. The maze holds countless unknowns, and she knows that Thomas isn’t ready to face any of them. She can’t lose him. She can’t lose her brother.

“Thomas, no!” she screams, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear. She tries to move forward, to follow him, but strong arms grab her, pulling her back just as the massive stone walls crash into each other with a deafening noise.

Katherine’s struggles turn to sobs, her knees collapsing beneath her. Vulnerability washes over her like a tidal wave, and she doesn’t care what the others think of her tears. There’s no shred of self-control left; her heart aches, knowing she may have just lost her brother.

“Come on, love. You can’t stay here.” Newt’s voice breaks through her despair as he kneels beside her, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

The Gladers watch, a mix of pity and sorrow on their faces, as Newt carries her away. She leans into him, the warmth of his body a welcome comfort against the storm raging inside her.

“Kat,” he whispers gently, setting her down in his room.

“I can’t live without him, Newt. He’s my only family. He’s my other half. What if something happens to him?” she asks, tears spilling down her cheeks, each drop a manifestation of her fear.

“Nothing is going to happen to him. He’ll be back safely tomorrow with Alby and Minho,” he reassures her, wrapping his arms around her, drawing her into his warmth. She melts against him, resting her head against his shoulder, seeking solace in his embrace. His hand moves across her back in soothing circles, grounding her amidst the chaos.

The warmth of his presence wraps around her like a protective shield, and she feels safe, if only for a moment. Her sobs gradually quiet, and exhaustion seeps into her bones. A yawn escapes her lips, and she leans into him, the weight of the day settling in.

Newt cradles her gently, laying her down on the bed. “Get some rest, love,” he says softly, kissing the top of her head before he starts to leave.

“Stay with me. Please,” she implores, her voice a fragile whisper.

He hesitates, then nods, slipping into bed beside her. He holds her hand tightly, turning down the lamp, the room dimming to a soft glow. As he wraps an arm around her, Katherine feels the anxiety of her brother’s absence begin to dissolve for now, replaced by the comfort of his presence.

With Newt by her side, she closes her eyes, surrendering to the pull of sleep, knowing that she is not alone.