Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 33: The Great Sacrifice

Katherine slows as she nears the entrance of WICKED's headquarters, the glass doors looming before her like the gaping mouth of a beast, waiting to swallow her whole. A sudden, sharp pain lances through her skull-memories slamming into her with relentless force.

The Maze. The desperate escape. Sprinting through the endless corridors of WICKED, her breath burning, Janson's voice ringing in her ears as he hunted her down.

And now, after everything, after all the running and fighting, she's back. By choice.

A presence lingers behind her, silent but steady. She knows who it is before he even speaks.

"You don't have to come with me, Tommy." Her voice is quiet, but firm.

Thomas exhales, stepping closer, his warmth grounding her. "You followed me all the way to this point. Now it's my turn to follow you, whether you like it or not." His voice is edged with stubbornness, but there's something else too-an unwavering devotion that only a twin could carry. "I'm your brother, Kat. And remember, Brenda survived because of us. Not just you." His voice softens. "Besides, Newt's my friend too."

A flicker of something bittersweet crosses her expression. "Oh, yes. I do remember you two secretly dating behind my back. Guess you got your revenge for me flirting with Teresa back at the labs." She smirks, turning to him with a teasing glint in her eyes.

Thomas groans, rolling his eyes. "Shut up."

Katherine huffs out a dry laugh, but it doesn't last. Her chest feels tight as she stares up at the cold, sterile building before them. "Home sweet home," she mutters, voice hollow.

Thomas steps beside her, his gaze locked on the entrance. "I can't believe we're back here." There's something haunted in his tone, something that mirrors the gnawing dread in her own chest.

She glances at him, their eyes meeting-so much shared in a single look. "Crazy, huh?"

Thomas forces a small, weary smile. "Crazy."

They stand there a moment longer, bracing themselves, before stepping through the doors.

The bright white hallway feels suffocating, memories pressing against the walls, whispering through the air. Footsteps echo in the sterile silence as they move forward, their bodies tense, muscles coiled like springs. And then, ahead of them, Ava Paige stands waiting, expression unreadable.

Katherine doesn't hesitate. Her gun is in her hand in a heartbeat, barrel trained on the woman's chest. "Is it true?" Her voice wavers slightly, but her grip on the gun is steady. "Newt. Can we save him?"

Ava doesn't flinch. "You both can save us all." Her voice is eerily calm, and for a second, the weight of it crushes Katherine's ribs.

She barely feels the gun slip from her fingers as she drops to her knees, her entire body trembling. "Please," she whispers, her voice raw, broken. "Help him."

Thomas steps forward, jaw clenched. "You can have us. Just leave the others alone."

Ava meets his gaze. "I prom-"

A gunshot splits the air.

Blood blossoms against Ava's pristine white coat, her mouth parting in a silent gasp as she stumbles back before collapsing to the floor.