Twisted

Chapter 32: Control and Cults

I watched as Thomas fought desperately against whatever had taken hold of him. It must be Janson! They knew he was here in The Last City. Did they know his exact location? Or just that he was close enough to control? Either way, they needed these chips out now.

"Thomas, they've got you!" Brenda yelled. "Fight it!"

I watched as Thomas's hand pushed her face away, sending her tumbling to the floor. Jorge moved to protect her but Thomas reached out and punched him in the chin with a quick jab. Jorge's head snapped back; a little spray of blood shot from his lip. I gasped as I watched. Newt had scrambled away.

Again the robotic motioned voice was forced from Thomas's mouth. 

"I can't ... let you ... do this!" 

Brenda had gotten back to her feet. Newt stood dazed, his face a mask of confusion. Jorge was wiping the blood off his chin, his eyes lit with anger. Thomas started moving toward the door in lurching steps, shoving Frypan out of the way. As he half stumbled past the Medical counter, his hand reached out and grabbed whatever was sharp, scissors and a scalpel. I could see his grip on the handle was turning his knuckles white.

"Tommy!" I finally shouted, breaking out of my shock, lunging forwards, towards him. Gally also shook his head and yelled springing forwards at the same time, "Fight it, man! Get those shuck people out of your head!"

Thomas turned to face them, held the scalpel and scissors up. I could see the panic in his eyes, but his body wasn't responding. Thomas spun back around towards the door, Hans had just walked back through. He stopped dead, and raised his bushy eyebrows. 

"What is going on here?" He demanded.

"I...can't...let you...do it" Thomas repeated.

"Hmmm. Yes, I was afraid of this." Hans sighed, like his life was threatened every other day. "Well come on then, I'll need some help."

"I ca—" Before he could finish, I slammed into him from behind, knocking the scalpel and scissors from hand. He crashed to the floor. Gally had also thrown himself into the fight

"I'm not letting you kill anybody," Gally said.

"Get off me!" Thomas yelled.

But with the help of Gally, I had pinned Thomas's arms to the ground. I hovered over him, heaving to catch my breath. "I'm not getting up until He lets your mind go."

"It won't stop until I fixes him," Hans said. 

The older doctor knelt down next to Thomas Gally and I. 

"I can't believe I ever worked for those people." 

He almost spat the words, shaking his head in disbelief. Gally pressed down, trying to get his legs in position to sit on Thomas's back. But whatever was controlling Thomas seemed to release adrenaline, giving him a spike in strength. Thomas managed to overcame Gally's and he threw him off, twisted around and threw a fist. I managed to twist away, so I didn't get the full brunt of it, just glanced off my chin. Thomas was on his feet in an instant. He grabbed the scalpel off the floor and dove toward Hans, lashing out with the blade. Gally had shoved Hans out of the way at the last second, and threw his arm up to deflected the hit, a red gash appearing there as the two of them collided and rolled across the floor, struggling against each other. Thomas was now screaming, but it sounded strangled, like whatever it was was trying to keep him quiet. But the knife kept slashing as Gally kept dodging it.

"Get him!" I yelled, and lunged forwards.

I managed to grab his arms. Newt gripped him by the hair and yanked back. Thomas screamed in agony, then slashed blindly with the knife. Jorge and Brenda also threw themselves forwards to help me and Newt pull him off Gally. Thomas crashed onto his back and the knife was knocked from his grip; Jorge kicked it to the far side of the Med room.