Chapter Text
Mary was only 21 when she committed herself to WICKED’s cause, brimming with a fierce, unshakable hope.
The cold, antiseptic air and the hum of fluorescent lights that filled the WICKED facility might have felt oppressive to most, but not to Mary. To her, the sterile atmosphere was reassuring—a haven of order against the devastation left by the Flare. The pristine white corridors and stark walls represented something transcendent; salvation, a future reclaimed. She threw herself into WICKED’s mission with the fervent optimism of youth, wholeheartedly believing in a cure.
As she stood outside Dr. Ava Paige’s office, Mary’s pulse quickened. She’d imagined this moment countless times, picturing her first encounter with the visionary at the heart of WICKED.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
"Come in," a woman's voice called from beyond the door, calm and self-assured.
Mary walked in and was immediately struck by the arrangement of white flowers on the doctor’s desk. Their fragrance—light, sweet, a strange contrast to the facility’s sterile scent—floated delicately in the air. Lilies, symbols of purity and renewal. Fitting for WICKED’s own purpose, a beacon for rebuilding in a shattered world.
Dr. Paige looked up, her blue eyes sharp yet welcoming, and stood, extending her hand with graceful ease. “Mary,” she greeted, her tone welcoming, “I’ve been expecting you.”
The doctor’s handshake was unexpectedly warm, softening some of Mary’s tension. She had expected someone more distant, someone with years of experience removed from the frontlines, but to her surprise, Dr. Paige looked no more than a few years older than her.
The office was minimalist, an embodiment of the woman herself. There was a sleek desk, meticulously organised bookshelves filled with research, and, of course, the lilies.
“Please, sit,” Dr. Paige said, gesturing toward the chair opposite her.
She leaned back, watching Mary with steady, perceptive eyes. “I wanted to welcome you to WICKED personally,” she began, settling with effortless poise. “I’ve reviewed your work. You show great promise—the kind we’re seeking for the Maze experiments.” Her gaze sharpened as though probing Mary’s resolve. “But the work here demands unwavering commitment. Absolute dedication.”
Maze experiments. The phrase stirred Mary’s curiosity, but she kept her expression steady. “I understand,” she replied. “I’m ready to give everything. I believe in what we’re doing. The cure is our only hope.”
Dr. Paige’s lips curved in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “Good. That kind of dedication is rare, and it’s what will drive us forward.” She paused, tracing her fingers along the edge of a glass paperweight on her desk. “There will be moments when our choices may seem…cold, even unforgiving. But every decision serves a higher purpose. Do you understand that?”
Mary nodded, her throat suddenly dry. “Yes, Dr. Paige.”
The doctor’s expression relaxed, a glimmer of warmth breaking through her professional façade. “Call me Ava,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “We’re not so far apart in age, after all.”
For a fleeting moment, Ava’s eyes drifted to the lilies, her gaze distant and contemplative, a sliver of vulnerability quickly veiled.
“They’re beautiful,” Mary said quietly. But it was more than the flowers; it was this moment, this shared purpose. Ava wasn’t simply offering her a role in WICKED. She was extending a chance to be part of something monumental.
The meeting concluded with formalities—assignments, expectations, timelines. Ava’s instructions were clear, her manner returning to the precise professionalism Mary had anticipated. But the air between them had shifted, the scent of lilies lingering in the background.
As Mary left the office, her heart felt lighter. This wasn’t just an introduction, it was an invitation into a future that mattered. As she walked through the clinical corridors, she understood that this was her beginning as much as it was for the world.