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Dear Thomas,

It’s h data to create a blueprint My associates disagree with me on this matter, but I was able to stop this procedure and save your life It’s now our task to ith the data we already have and build a cure for the Flare Your participation, and that of the other subjects, is no longer necessary

You now have a great task ahead of you When I beca a back door of sorts to this building I placed this back door in an unusedyou to remove yourself, your friends, and the considerable nuathered Time is of the essence, as I’m sure you’re aware

There are three paths marked on the map I’ve enclosed The first shows you how to leave this building through a tunnel--once outside, you’ll be able to find where the Right Ar There, you can join theet to the Immunes The third shows you how to find the back door It’s a Flat Trans that will transport you to what I hope will be a new life Take thee, Chancellor

Thomas stared at the paper, his mind in a spin Another rumble sounded far away and jarred him back to reality He trusted Brenda, and she trusted the chancellor All he could do noas move

He folded the letter and the map and stuffed them in his back pocket, then slowly stood up Surprised at how quickly his strength had returned, he ran to the door A peek out into the hallway showed that it was empty He slipped out, and just as he did, two people calance at hiht Ar hi the black line that led to the tunnel It wouldn’t take long at all to get to it Hethe two other paths Chancellor Paige had marked on the map as he went

He had only gone a few yards when he stopped, stunned by what he was seeing He pulled the ht But there was nowhat it showed

WICKED had hidden the Immunes in the Maze

CHAPTER 64

There were two mazes on the map, of course--the one for Group A and the one for Group B Both must’ve been built deep into the bedrock that lay under the s of WICKED’s headquarters Thoo to, but either way he was going back to the Maze With a sickening dread, he started running toward Chancellor Paige’s tunnel

He followed theset of stairs that descended into a baseh empty rooms and then, finally, to a small door that opened to a tunnel The tunnel was dark but, Thomas was relieved to see, not co fro the narrow corridor After about two hundred feet he came to a ladder that had been marked on the map Up he went, and at the top there was a round metal door with a wheel handle that reminded him of the entrance to the Map Room in the Glade

He spun the handle and pushed with all his strength A diht came in as Thoes, a great gust of cold air blew over hi rock in the barren, snow-covered land between the forest and WICKED headquarters

He carefully hefted the lid to the tunnel up and over to close it again, then crouched behind the stone He didn’t notice any ht was too dark to see very well He looked up into the sky, and when he saw the saray clouds he’d noticed when he’d reached the complex, he realized that he had no idea howfor only a few hours, or had a full night and day coht Ars, probably with the explosions Thoo first He saw the wisdoroup--there was safety in numbers--and he had to let the from the map, the best option Thos farthest from where he’d co around the boulder and sprinting for the closest building He crouched as he ran, trying to stay as low as possible Lightning streaked through the sky; it illuminated the cement of the complex and flashed off the white snow Thunder followed quickly, ru deep in his chest

He reached the first building and pushed through the line of ragged bushes up against the wall He edged along the side of the structure but found nothing He stopped when he came to the first corner and peered around it--in the space between buildings were a series of courtyards But he still saay inside

He skirted the next two buildings, but as he approached the fourth one, he heard voices and iround As quietly as he could, he scooted along the frozen dirt toward an overgrown bush, then peeked around it to search for the source of the noise

There it was Rubble lay strewn across the yard in huge heaps, and behind the Which inated fro broken shadows on the ground Sitting on the edge of one of those shadoere two people wearing civilian clothes The Right Arripped his htly and he was jerked backward Another ar the ground; his feet burrowed through the snow Tho to free hi

They turned the corner of the building into another sround on his stomach His captor flopped hiain over Thoure crouched over him as well

Janson

"I’m very disappointed," the Rat Man said "Looks like not everyone in anization is on the saainst the person pinning hi to have to do this the hard way"

CHAPTER 65

Janson pulled out a long, slender knife, held it up and inspected it with narrowed eyes "Let ht of myself as a violent man, but you and your friends sure have driven me to the brink My patience is stretched to ato show restraint Unlike you, I think aboutto save people, and I will finish this project"

Tho hadn’t accoy for when the right opportunity presented itself It was clear that the Rat Man had lost it, and judging froet Thoood boy No need to fight this You should be proud It will be you and yourTho to let go of your ive you a nice poke with that blade of his Understand? We want you alive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a feounds"

Thoo of hio for it He swung his leg violently to his right and kicked Janson in the face The round The dark-haired man moved to tackle Thomas, but Thoain, this tirasp, skipping across the ground until it s

Thomas turned his attention to the blade, and that was all the squat ed at Thomas, who landed on his back on top of Janson Janson squirmed beneath them as they wrestled, and Thoh his body He screaht his way out fro with his hands and feet, he got loose and dove toward the building for the knife He landed next to it, grabbed it and spun around, expecting an i to their feet, obviously stunned by his sudden burst of strength