| chapter - two |

\ those who're welcome /

Avery's battered combat boots clicked on the tiled flooring, as she headed down towards the basement of Wicked Headquarters, also known as the Scorch Banks. By her side, Alfred and Brittany followed, Avery being in the middle.

"So," Brittany carried the word out for a little bit. "Any answers on why Group A - out of all Groups - were the last ones to arrive?"

"Um, yeah-" Alfred agreed entirely with Brittany, trying to keep up. "-I mean, you would think they were the first ones here, not the other way around..."

Avery shrugs, "I honestly don't know. All I know is, its mother's orders. And as she always says, everything happens for a reason."

Alfred nodded, understanding. But Brittany had one question that was gnawing at her brain. "Did you even get to see them finish the Maze Trials? I'm sure they watched all of us finish."

"Yes-" Avery was about to say, but stopped herself. This is when she realized, she doesn't even know if she did or not.

Avery stops in her tracks, as her two friends follow suit. She squints her eyes in confusion, trying to wrack through her brain to find any sort of memory of watching Group A finish their first set of trials.

"No? Yes?" Avery shook her head, unsure. "I really don't know..."

Just the thought of it really got her thinking, she was trying to search through her memories, anywhere that it could possibly be. And it just wasn't revealing itself. Her friends really got her stumped on this one, and that was rare. She usually always had answers, but not this time.

"We heard about a guy named, David, we think?" Alfred mentioned. "At least, I did. Brittany just wanted some gossip on secrets."

He then asked, "What happened to David?"

"The Maze," Avery dragged on, not completely sure of her facts. "... I think? I'm not entirely sure, actually..."

"Is there anything that you do know?" Brittany pushed. She didn't blame them, she'd be just as curious.

"I-" Avery tilted her head, still trying to think about it thoroughly. "-I don't remember."

"What's the last thing that you remember?" Brittany continued to push, she began to feel a bit concerned for Avery. This wasn't like the blind girl, at all.

"I remember David saying something about how there was nothing to do here but watch them run the Maze." Avery explained.

"And?" Alfred crossed his arms, curiously.

Avery continued, "I don't really know, I must have been really out of it and exhausted, because the rest is a complete blur."

"Uh-huh..." Brittany and Alfred hummed in unison. "And when did this happen, exactly?" This was Alfred.

Avery tried wracking her brain for any answers once again, "Well, mother claims that it was recent. So, I'm guessing not too long ago?"

Alfred and Brittany gave each other strange looks, they weren't fully convinced. The situation seemed uneasy to them, like there was more to it than just a sudden blur. And they knew that listening to your guardian probably wasn't always a good thing, they felt that this was that exact case.

"Anyway..." Avery began to trek her way through the hallway once again, as both of her friends follow next to her. "... Mother told me - us - to greet Group A, and if I'm correct, she said Janson should be there already. We just need to catch up to them."

***

"Hello, Avery." Janson grinned, thoughtfully. "I'm guessing you're here to greet them too?"

Avery nodded, "Yep, and so are my friends here, Brittany and Alfred."

Janson looked back at them, and nodded as his way of welcome. "What about your mother?"

"She had to go somewhere-" She raised her brows, signaling him that this was a secret that only Wicked should know. "-for some business and more work, so she sent me instead."

Janson caught on instantly and nodded solemnly, "Ah, good. Thanks for the input." Avery smiled back.

Avery hated keeping secrets from her two closest friends, and though they did know some secrets. But she knew just a little bit more, not enough though. Ava only let her friends know a few things, just as long as her daughter could make sure they don't speak a single word to any of the other 'subjects', as she called them.

"You have my word, mother." Avery smiled, almost proudly.

Janson had them wait in the hallway, near the basement as he went and got the Group that had just arrived. And the moment Avery sensed vibrations of multiple footsteps coming their way, she knew Janson had them following him and was coming back. So they could discuss some certain things.

They rounded the corner, and met up with Avery and her two best-friends. And Janson introduced each of them to the Group.

"I want you to meet these three, who will most likely help you along the way here." Janson smiled, vaguely.

"This is Avery-" He pointed towards them one-by-one. "-Brittany and Alfred."

"Welcome." Brittany and Alfred said together, smiling sweetly.

Avery smiled just as kindly, and waved, "Hello." as she brought her arm back down, and held her elbow with one hand in a comforting manner. balancing on one foot, giving the other a semi-break.

That's when the figure with blue particles began to look back at her strangely, Avery looked around her, not sure of the boy's intentions.

"W-Wait..." The boy with blue particles stuttered in astonishment. "... Nova?"

Avery tilted her head a little, furrowing her brows, muddled. "I'm sorry... who?"

Not only did the name "Nova" not ring a bell in her mind. But, she will admit. The blue particles are slightly familiar, but not enough for her to pin-point it.

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Here's chapter two! :)

What was your favorite part of this chapter?

Sorry it's kinda short, it's still the beginning of the story.

Also, I forgot to mention; you'll learn more about Cassie in "Erupt" in The Fever Code. :)

Xoxo <3