Pulling The Heartstrings (Thomesa)

Exchange

Set in the Scorch Trials au
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The berg hovered carefully down to the ground, WICKED guards surrounded its perimeter as Dr. Ava Paige calmly watched. She saw her friends tense up ready for a fight and felt herself being doused in icy water as she froze when her eyes briefly locked with Ava Paige.

Teresa stared back into her cold eyes, slight shivers ran down her back as she heard Thomas shouting at Ava Paige. Janson stood confidently beside the guards, smirk plastered across his face as he awaited orders.

"You ruined our lives and tortured us. There's nothing you can do to reverse that. You must be crazy if you think you're saving us." Thomas shouted angrily, adrenaline rushing through his veins as he tried to control his frustration. Minho and Newt stood cautiously behind him, the other Gladers stood with The Right Arm people as Teresa stared, worried.

"Thomas, please try to understand. We do everything for the greater good. If you come with us, you'll be safe and no one will get hurt." Ava Paige spoke, sternly looking at Thomas as she painted over her dark motives.

"No. We won't be your lab subjects." Thomas responded, angrily as he determinedly stared at Ava Paige. Janson's hands twitched closer to his gun, she could see him narrowing his eyes at Thomas as she shifted nervously at the sight. She didn't want Thomas to get hurt.

"Thomas, it's precious that you think you have a choice. You and your friends can either come back with us or be brought by force." Ava Paige threatened as the soft smile on her face contradicted her harsh words. Thomas gritted his teeth, his mind busy trying to figure out what to do as rage clouded his brown eyes.

Teresa was panicking inwardly, her friends were going to be captured by WICKED unless she did something. Her mind immediately sent her back to a past memory of her and Thomas being the final candidates or top subjects, favourited by Ava Paige herself.

She knew what she had to do, her blue eyes instantly filled with unshed tears as she quickly decided it was worth it to save her friends. To save Thomas, even if she would never see him again.

"Take me. Only me." Teresa shouted, breaking the tension in the air as she determinedly stepped forward. All heads snapped to her, causing her to let out a shaky breath as she fixated her gaze towards Ava Paige. She briefly heard the confused mumbling with The Right Arm people with her outburst.

"Teresa....What...." Thomas spoke, shocked as he intently stared at her. He saw a single tear escape from her beautiful blue eyes as she turned to look at him, her hands slightly trembled.

"I'll go with you. Just leave my friends alone." She spoke softly, still looking at Thomas's brown eyes as if trying to imprint them to her mind. Newt and Minho were gazing at her, now understanding her words as a pained expressions fell across their faces. The other Gladers were watching Thomas, nervous on his reaction as they knew he was quite protective towards Teresa.

"Subject A1, I'm glad you came to your senses. I accept your deal." Ava Paige spoke, intrigued as she heard Teresa's interesting words. Dr. Paige's cold voice broke Teresa's memorising as she turned to walk towards her, her body slightly trembling. She didn't know what she was getting herself into, didn't care honestly as long as Thomas was safe.

Tears blurred her vision as she slowly walked towards her new home, WICKED.

A firm hand quickly grabbed her wrist, making her turn around and becoming face to face with Thomas's intense gaze. His brown eyes swirled with unknown emotions as he stared into her watery blue eyes.

Teresa gently tried to make him let go but he only tightened his hold and brought her closer to him.
"I'm sorry, Tom. It's better this way. I'm doing this to protect you and our friends." She whispered softly, caressing his hand holding her wrist as they stared at one another.

"No. Your not going anywhere." Thomas spoke, firmly as he watched her pink lips tremble. Her beautiful blue eyes sparkled with tears as she gently placed a hand on his chest, trying to make him understand.

"I have to, Tom. Please let go." She whispered softly, feeling herself becoming lost in his brown eyes as she willed herself to stay strong. She saw his jaw clench, a stubborn glimmer in his darkened eyes as he silently stared at her.

"No. I'm not leaving you." He whispered, determined as he gently wiped her tears with his thumb. Her hand slowly clutched his shirt, desperately wanting to stay with him but she knew she couldn't, she had to protect him. He softly caressed her cheek, his fingers wet as more of her tears escaped her blue eyes.

"I'll miss you, Tom." Teresa whispered, shakily as their eyes remained locked. She felt his hand tighten even further on her wrist, his brown eyes still holding that stubborn glimmer as he brought her more closer to him. A few inches apart.

The Gladers stood silently behind them, knowing they needed a moment alone as they knew Thomas wouldn't let Teresa go to WICKED. They were honestly shocked that Teresa would go to that extent for her friends especially Thomas.

"Thomas, I would advise you let go of the girl. She gave herself over. I would stay quiet if you don't want to get hurt." Janson spoke, loudly as he interrupted the heartfelt moment between the two. He had a sick smirk on his face, staring at how close Thomas and Teresa were standing as he waited for subject A1 to aboard the berg.

"I have to go, Thomas." She whispered in a broken voice, missing his warmth as she released her hand from his shirt. Thomas clenched his jaw, flicking his darkened eyes towards Janson and Ava Paige as his hand remained tightly wrapped around her wrist.

"Tom...." Teresa begged, quietly as she tried to make him let go. She was trembling, leaked tears streamed down her cheeks as she desperately tried to yank her hand away. He was too strong.
"I'm sorry, Teresa. I can't let you go." He muttered under his breath, softly as his thumb caressed her wrist.

"Alright. That's enough talk. Thomas, I will shoot you if you don't let her go right now." Janson sneered, his eyes narrowed impatiently as his hand drifted closer to his gun.

The sudden threat loomed in the air and startled her into action as her watery blue eyes nervously flicked to Janson. Teresa mustered all her inner strength and yanked her wrist from Thomas's grip, making her instantly miss his soothing touch.

"Don't hurt him." She spoke, loudly as she clenched her hands at Janson's smirk. She could distinctly feel Thomas's intense gaze burning the back of her head as she silently walked up to Ava Paige.
"Come now, Subject A1. Before I change my mind." Ava Paige spoke calmly, watching Thomas stiffen at Teresa now standing next to her.

Teresa saw Newt place his hand on Thomas's shoulder in comfort, his face was twisted into a pained look like he just lost his most treasured person. Her eyes remained locked with Thomas as she tried to hold back more tears from spilling, slightly causing her body to tremble.

His brown eyes quickly changed and captured hers with such a intensity that she couldn't look away as she began to follow Ava Paige on the berg. The door closed and her cheeks flushed red as she knew that intense look, he was coming back for her.

Author's Note: Please do comment what you think so far of the story. It really helps motivate me by hearing your thoughts. I'm hoping to update soon :)