PRE-INTRODUCTION
▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎ BY KIM!
cassie pov

"we had a deal!" cassie said as two strong hands had a hold of her arms restraining her from attacking the woman in front of her like she desperately desired to do "you said you wouldn't send her! you said-"

"I know what I said cassandra I agreed not to send her for as long as you were needed" doctor ava paige said as her face was calm collected she had no regard for how this affected cassandra "we no longer need you"

her breathing was erratic, as she fought against the hands holding her back "bullshit! she's been gone for almost a year! you lied to me!" cassie voice was hoarse she didn't care how she looked or sounded however her main goal was to wrap her hands around Ava Paige's throat

the woman sighed and glanced behind cassandra "yes well none of that matters now!" cassandra was frantic shouting curses and threats as ava turned away from her "you promised me ava! we had a deal!"

"yes well plans change cassandra you're serviced are no longer needed" doctor paige said before walking away that was the last thing cassie heard before she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head and then everything went black

THREE YEARS AGO FROM PRESENT DAY: the beginning of the maze project

"cassie?" the girl looked up, seeing her friend standing in the doorway "are you okay?" cassie smiled through her frustration, nodding

even though kamari was older by a year, cassie saw her as almost a younger sister someone to protect. "yeah, I'm okay"

"are you sure? you didn't come to dinner and I overheard-" kamari said walking over, sitting beside cassie

"I'm fine mari, really I promise." cassie said smiling again, attempting to reassure the girl "did you eat?"

"yeah, a little I didn't get to finish it though!"

"why?" cassie said with a frown

"ava pulled me aside she was talking all about his well I've done, and how she's proud of me something about using me for more useful purposes?" cassie furrowed her brows slightly
"that's weird"

"yeah I know right? I just kind of smiled and nodded I didn't know what to say!" cassie let kamari trail off, as her brain put the pieces together kamari was 14 wasn't there an age to these things? the project called for boys only no, they only will send boys that's what ava said girls are needed here girls"

"we are considering taking the experiments to greater lengths-" cassie stood abruptly, cutting kamari off "where is ava now?"

"what? um probably in the labs, why-" kamari said confused and worried

"I have to go, l'll be right back okay?" cassie said giving her a hug

"what?" kamari stood up at well "where are you going?"

"I said I'll be back just stay here" and with that, cassie raced down the hall, checking room and asking person after person, trying to find doctor ava paige

"'I'll do it." cassie said out of breath she stood in the doorway, a couple scientists and ava stood in the room "cassandra to what do I owe the pleasure?"

''Il do it." ava looked around, and then looked at one of the men in lab coats.

"go on, you can speak freely here." Cassie was unsure, but continued anyway, straightening her posture

"'Il do what you want I'll work for you" she starts "but only under one condition" ava raised a brow, now very intrigued

"I'm listening." cassie walked closer into the room

"I know your planning on sending kamari"
she starts, and ava nods slowly "I never said a thing"

"you didn't have to I know you are." she glared at ava "I'll work for you, but only if kamari stays out of the maze!" the scientists, who tried there best not to ease drop, glances at the girl, who kept her eves only on ava. "don't send her, and I'll do whatever you want"

"that's very noble of you"

"do we have a deal or not?" ava smirked slightly, sighing, before looking back at cassie
"you do understand what your agreeing to yes?"

"yes"

"alright then, cassandra" ava held out her hand "for as long as you are needed kamari will not enter the maze" cassie stared at her hand, before hesitantly shaking it

TWO YEARS AGO FROM PRESENT DAY:

"hey kamari-" cassie walked into the empty room, frowning where was she? "kamari?"

she walked out into the hall, looking in the lunch room where other kids sat and enjoyed there meals she asked the guards, the scientists, and other kids, until she finally got an answer "oh, kamari? didn't you hear?" her heart dropped "hear what? where is she?"

"well I didn't see it, but apparently she passed out on her way to the bathroom last night they said she was sick, and so they sent her away to get treatment!" cassie's mind and body all froze at once, her eyes a little wide "what? what do you mean they sent her away?"

"to another facility just for a little, until she gets better." the kid shrugged

"they've sent other kids there and they've come back fine I bet she's fine too" cassie stopped listening she ran, back to the labs going to find ava "oh, cassandra, she were just looking-"

"where did you send her?" cassie said demanding and with a black face making ava frown
"I'm not sure I know what you-"

"don't do that where is she?" ava tilted her head slightly, until it clicked "oh, you must mean kamari truly, it was tragic the poor girl wasn't eating properly she was sent to get treatment this morning"

"bullshit I don't believe you" ava's eyes narrowed, but she held a smile on her face she looked over, as some scientists handed her a tablet, showing the screen to cassie the screen showed a sleeping kamari in what looked like a hospital bed

"she's on 24/7 watch I haven't broken are deal cassandra now if you would get back to your post, please" she couldn't argue because that was kamari in the screen It was live what proof did she have that ava was lying? and so, she did as told

"as she spoken yet?" a man asked walking into the small shelter the other man shook his head.
"nope not a word" the man sighed, and walked closer to the girl her knees to her chest and head facing away, covered by her hair

"wonder why they sent a girl this time." another one asked, and the one approaching shrugged.

"he-" she flinched away from him moving backwards

"hey don't be scared it's okay I'm alby do you know your name?" she glared at him, and then looked at the guy still not saying a word.
"that's okay, most of us didn't"

"do you remember anything?" the other two guys in the room stared at her with this sense of fascination and almost pity she shook her head.
"It's the same pattern, except, ya know she's a girl."

"minho, newt, can you two step out for a moment? I think all of us being in here is freaking her out." alby stated, and the other two glanced at one another before nodding.

"what is this place?" her voice was harsh but alby was just happy she was speaking

"we call it the glade we don't know why we're here, or who sent us but it's not all bad." he smiled she didn't "that's all you know?"

"they send us food and a person once a month that's it"

"have you ever tried leaving?"

"multiple times yes." he laughed slightly.

"but there's no way to escape the glade!" she looked away again she was quiet for several seconds.

"It's really not all bad we have rivers, and food, and as long as you pull your weight you'll fit right in"

she didn't look at him she considered his words carefully, and alby was honestly shocked she was handling this so calmly

he stood to give her some time alone."well then If that's all-"

"kamari"

'I'm sorry?" she finally looked at him, as he stopped walking away.

"my name, It's Kamari"

DEDICATIONS
iiveraione Biggirl568 -MissSwan bnnyskirt
erin_elephant shuug_0 HalleCarey Cloudlstwriter banksieswife -pixiegardens lalax0x0 -lumifalls folkcreswift ashlynhawkinsnotes simpskingdom -venusflytrap
essiientially killwes HeavensMostWanted-

KIM SPEAKING
huge thank you to shuug_0  for helping me write this pre-introduction also sorry if it's small <3