𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ★ 𝙏𝙈𝙍

[36] The Plan.

Elsie sat cross legged on a wooden crate, her machine gun still strapped across her torso, the heavy fire arm resting against her chest. She looked around at all the destruction. the feeling of fear and dread in her stomach still hadn't gone away. The camp had been completely destroyed. all the tents and structures lay in crumbled heaps, dead bodies and resources scattered all across the area. The sun was shining down brightly over the wasteland that once was a bustling camp. There was smoke in multiple areas and even some fires that hadn't gone out just yet.

she felt awfully guilty. the right arm had built everything up over such a long time, recruiting people and attacking WICKED. if the Gladers had never come to them, WICKED would have never destroyed everything they had worked for and taken away Minho and Aris. it was all Teresa's fault. 

she looked over at Thomas in the distance. he hadn't spoken much since last night. sat beside him, was Katie. the two of them spoke together in low tones. well, Katie was doing most of the talking. Elsie imagined she was probably telling him all of her stories. she smiled to herself. seeing them together reminded her of when she would spend time with Newt in the glade. she could feel the deep connection snapping between Thomas and Katie, and it made her feel happy. Love and trust can survive the most tragic situations. she thought to herself.

Thomas and Katie only had each other, but the two were separated when Thomas was sent up into the maze, all his memories of his little sister wiped as she escaped the facility, yet they had still found each other, and uncovered that bond between them despite the memories lost and everything that had happened.

"What do we do now?"

Elsie looked up at Frypan, and looked at him carefully. he was staring off into the distance, just as lost and conflicted as the other Gladers. "We pick up what's left of us" said Vince, who sat across of the Gladers with a silent Harriet beside him. "We stick to the plan, we get you kids to the safe haven. Then we start over, I guess"

Thomas and Katie walked over to the group of Gladers hand in hand, Katie slipping away from Thomas and running over to Elsie who greeted her with a hug. Elsie watched as Thomas picked up a bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Im not going to the safe haven" he said. 

"What?" Vince exclaimed. everyone looked at Thomas in confusion. "What do you mean Tommy??" Katie asked, her eyes wide. "I made a promise to Minho. I wouldn't leave him behind, I have to go after him" Thomas said determinedly. 

"Hey, kid, look around you!" Vince scoffed, gesturing to the destruction around them. "WICKED just kicked our ass! You think about where you're headed."

"Im not asking anyone to come with me" Thomas replied. 

"No!" Katie cried, her eyes brimming with tears. "We only just got together again! you can't leave me all alone, not again Tommy! you promised you'd stay with me!" Thomas looked grim. Elsie wrapped an arm around a distressed Katie, trying to soothe her. 

"Thomas, listen to me." Newt spoke up, walking over to Thomas. "I've known Minho for... Well, as long as I can remember. So if there were any way that we could help him, trust me, I would be up there standing next to you. This what you're talking about, is impossible."

"More like suicide" Jorge added, walking over to the group with Brenda following not too far behind. 

"Well, we all know Thomas has a thing for getting himself into dangerous  and fatal situations" Elsie said sarcastically. 

"Maybe. but I know what Im supposed to do now" Thomas persisted. "it's not just about Minho, its about all of us. its about everyone WICKED's taken, everyone they will take. They'll never stop. So im going to stop them. Im gonna kill Ava Paige"

"I have to admit. I'd like some revenge" Harriet admitted. WICKED had taken away her best friends and destroyed everything she ever knew. 

"Well, that's a good speech kid." Vince shrugged. "So, what's your plan?"

everyone turned to look at Thomas, who stood silently, deep in thought. 

[END OF THE SCORCH TRIALS]