Say You Won't Let Go

What about Minho?

I think Thomas feels the worst about what happened today. He said he heard Minho in that cart, now he feels that it's his fault we didn't get him back.

Newt and I follow Thomas as he walks into the room where Sonya is dabbing a wet towel on Aris. His eye is black and bruised. Cuts cover his pale face. Harriet sits in front of her friends. She hands them mugs of warm drinks, which I assume is tea.

"Took you guys long enough to rescue us." Aris jokes, lightening the mood a bit.

"What happened?" Thomas asks the boy.

"I fought back." Aris answers, "well I tried to." He gives us a reassuring smile, but deep down he looks broken.

"You're lucky you found us at all," Sonya adds. "They had us move around a lot. Felt like something big was happening."

"Any idea where they were heading?" Newt says from beside me. He holds my hand in his.

"They kept talking about a city." Aris replies.

"I didn't think there were any cities left," Harriet speaks.

"Cause there aren't," Brenda stands with her arms folded. "Not still standing." Her and I had gotten a lot closer too. She became one of my closest friends. It was nice to have a girl friend. Every girl needs one.

"Wait what about Minho. Why wasn't he on that train?" Thomas stares at Aris anxiously waiting for an answer.

Aris and Sonya look at each other. "I'm sorry Thomas," Aris pauses.

I take in a deep breath. Could it be?

"He was." Aris finishes.

Thomas looks down, then walks out of the room. That poor boy. He's got too much pressure on him. He needs to know it wasn't his fault. I stand up too.

"Where are you going?" Newt softly asks.

"To check on Thomas. I'll be right back." I let his hand fall out of mine. Once I'm out of the room, I spot Thomas walking in the small hall. "Thomas," I call. He doesn't look back at me. I quicken my pace. "Thomas!" I grab his arm, forcing him to look at me. His eyes are teary. "Come here," I take him into the empty room nearby.

Once I close the door Thomas breaks. He hides his face with his hands, trying to hide his sniffles. "I'm sorry," he tries to apologize. "It was my fault."

I walk towards where Thomas is seated and grab him in an embrace. "Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault."

Thomas wraps his arms around my waist. His face by my side. I brush my hands through his brown hair in a reassuring gesture. His tears fall to my jeans, but I don't mind. My friend needs me. Lately he's been too preoccupied in trying to be a leader and that's hard for a teenage kid.

"After everything, the maze, Chuck, the scorch, Winston, Teresa betrayal, Minho being captured, I can't-t," Thomas stutters.

"It's gonna be okay," I try to encourage.

We sit like this for a bit in silence. Finally, Thomas sits up, wiping away his last tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm not usually like this," he explains.

I rub his shoulder, "we all break at times." I assure him. "You don't have to bottle your feelings. I'm here for you, we all are."

"It's just hard." Thomas tells me. "Being a leader makes it feel like everyone else's lives depend on you."

"I know," I say. "But your doing great. You're not giving up and that's what matter. Okay?"

Thomas looks down and nods.