𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

FIVE

I waited my turn as Teresa removed the tags from the back of our necks. She started with Gally, her whole demeanor showing that she was surprised to see him alive, much like we were. Only he wasn't as reluctant to share how he had been rescued. He didn't pay her any attention as she worked on him and didn't even flinch when she finally pulled the tag free. He got up quickly and then it was Frypan's turn.

Newt allowed me to go before him and even though I wanted my tag to be gone, I didn't want to spend more time with Teresa than I had too. But it had to get done one way or another.

I sat in the chair, not even looking at the girl with the blade. I knew we should be kinder considering she was at the most vulnerable part of our body. If she wanted to, she could kill me now. But then she would have to deal with the others. And as much as she was a traitor, I didn't think she killed unnecessarily.

"You've grown." She said as she moved my hair and placed the tip of the scalpel to my skin.

"It happens." I gritted my teeth as the sharp metal pierced the nape of my neck and felt the blood drip down. She wiped it away and grabbed tweezers to pull out the tag.

"You must be happy that Gally survived." I dug my nails into my arm and groaned as the tag got caught and she cursed under her breath. "I'm sorry."

"Apologies get us nowhere."

I felt her cool breath on my neck as she sighed. "I'm not going to apologize for what I've done. I did-I'm doing what I think is right. I'm only sorry you guys got hurt because of it."

I felt the tag come loose and stood up, grabbing the rag she was going to use to clean my blood. I held it to the back of my neck, holding back the flinch from the sting it brought. "You're not sorry. Because you would do it again if you had the chance."

I didn't wait for her reply and walked away, Newt taking my place. I should have been kinder to her. I should have asked about the Bliss. Instead I let my anger and hurt get the best of me.

Thomas went after Newt and the blonde disappeared into a room. I chewed on my lip and pulled the rag away, not as much blood as before. The rest would just crust.

"She enjoyed that." Gally threw down his own rag.

Frypan chuckled. "You're probably right."

Newt came back with WICKED suits. How he had found those were beyond me, but I was grateful for the disguises. "See if these fit."

The jacket was a little too big for me, but it didn't matter, I would only need it to get inside. Something told me I wouldn't need to wear it for long.

Gally had found me some pants back at the resistance building. He said they would help me blend in more than my bloodied and tattered pants. Thankfully there had been a belt in the pile.

I pulled my hair into a ponytail at the back of my neck and ignored the irritation it brought to the incision.

A chair squeezed against the floor and I saw Thomas and Teresa talking. He was angry. I tapped Gally and motioned at the pair. He went over asking, "Everything okay over here?"

"Yeah." Thomas answered. "We're done." He came over to us and Newt handed him a jacket. I saw Teresa's hand inch towards the table, but Gally grabbed her wrist, the scalpel clanging against the wood.

"Nice try." He grabbed her and pulled her away, but I saw her slip a rag into her pocket. What the hell?

We finished getting ready and went our separate ways. Brenda would be finding a way to get a bus and Frypan would be going to a crane we saw on our way here.