The Defective Soldier || Newt

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟔

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕟𝕖

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"Come on, Janson," said Chancellor Paige, disregarding the fact that a gun was being pointed at her heart. "We've got no time to lose. Load them up. And all these people, get rid of them."

With his hand pressed against his chest, Janson narrowed his eyes at William, who was battling his own mind to pull the trigger. He had done it before. His memories were clear, and it hadn't been that long since he had killed Cranks, or even threatened somebody. So why was he doubting? Why couldn't he shoot Ava Paige or Janson?

"Soldier S5, drop the gun."

His body moved on its own, fingers slowly detaching themselves from the cold metal. The gun fell, and with it, his sense of reason evaporated. As if frozen by fear, William kept the posture, though his eyes didn't leave the ground. He watched the gun, lying perfectly still on the ground, almost like begging for someone to dust it off and use it.

Newt's attempts to snap him back were useless. Nothing could distract William, not the hand on his shoulder or Newt's voice trying to get him to come back.

"Now, Soldier S5, go to the Berg."

His mind and body fought a silent war. Either he listened to the orders, or he stayed by Newt's side. And, despite how much William wanted to grab a hold of Newt's hand and never let go, his mind's resistance disappeared like mist. Like a mindless robot, he walked past Teresa, not noticing her attempt at grabbing his arm to stop him.

"Sonya! Aris!" Harriet cried, snapping William back to all his senses.

He turned his head around, meeting Teresa's surprised expression for a split second before seeing why Harriet had shouted. Aris and Sonya were being pushed to the Berg, away from her and the others. The intruder behind them kept the gun and head on them at all times, not showing signs of being aware of his surroundings.

Sometimes, convincing oneself that the battle was won too early could be as dangerous as not ever giving up on fighting.

Not having enough time to plan, William used his body to push the intruder back, causing them to stumble and fall, and the electric gun flying away from their grasp. He rushed to it, racking the gun and shooting at the person. Somehow, watching them twitch in the ground, knowing how painful it was, made him feel oddly satisfied. He wanted to pay back the pain and suffering, though not to the person in front of him. He wanted to make Ava Paige and Janson pay for everything they had done, not only to him and his team, but also to his friends and the other Immunes.

Did nobody truly deserve to be treated inhumanely?

Perhaps it was the lingering crankiness surfacing for a moment, or simply that his mind had gone on a downfall since the beginning of the mission, but William believed there could be an exception. Some people deserved the pain, for they had caused it to others.

And Janson and Chancellor Paige were in that group.

No immediate violence was carried out, though, since Thomas created a distraction. He elbowed an intruder behind him while taking out a bomb and its detonator from his jacket's pocket.

"Get back!" Thomas shouted. "Everyone, stand back!"

Most people froze at the sight of the bomb. Harriet, however, tried to get Aris and Sonya to go back to the others, but Aris didn't listen. He stood by his brother's side, trying to snap him out of the silent orders that were forcing his body to remain still.