Back to my Pack

5

     As he opened his eyes, Thomas was hit with a picture the most beautiful boy in the world, sleeping so close to him. He realized he was never so happy. He doesn't think so. He's safe, everything is so peaceful, he has his best friend back. Thomas doesn't think he wants more, needs more.

      And as if he read his mind, Newt opened his left eye, closing it back again as the light hit him in the face, which made him look even more beautiful, as if that was possible. "Morning." Thomas whispered, not to wake the others up.

      Newt smiled. "Good morning, Tommy." Thomas felt his heart skip a beat when he heard the nickname.

      He read the letter so many times he felt so familiar with the nickname Newt gave him, as if he heard him call that every day. Suddenly a strong feeling of sadness hit him.

      "What is it?" Newt looked worried.

      Thomas shook his head. "It's just..." He stopped, searching for the right words. "I never thought I'd hear your voice again."

      Newt smiled at him. "I'm here now, Tommy. Stop thinking about that."

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

      Monique said Newt was free of duty for at least a week, so he can properly recover from the operation and the long travel on the ocean.

      But Thomas could feel his eyes watching him as he helped Minho cover the doctor's hut in cloth. As soon as he turned back to see what he'd doing, he pretends to do something else.

      Suddenly, the door to the hut openes and Brenda comes out of it. She looks scared, worried. She looks as if she is about to cry. "Are you alright?"

      She jumps, as if she didn't know they were there. "I guess." She looked deep into his eyes, which suddenly made him feel weird. "Do you think you can walk with me?"

      Thomas looked at Minho, who had an annoyed look on his face. "Only if you finish your share later."

      "I promise."

      As they passed Newt, he could feel his eyes following them. Thomas looked back at him and made eye contact with Newt before his friend looked away.

      "And now Stan isn't doing great either!" Thomas realized that he didn't pay attention to Brenda. "Are you listening?" She said, frustrated.

      "I'm sorry."

      The girl sighed. "Lauren doesn't have much time." Her words hit Thomas hard. He had hoped not to lose anyone so soon after they got here. "And Stan's condition isn't improving either."

     "Stan's strong. He can fight it."

      Brenda shook her head. "You didn't see him today. He already looks like a ghost."

      Suddenly, Brenda's stomach started rumbling. She tried to cover it, but it was clear she didn't eat today. "You should go take something to eat." Thomas looked behind him, where Minho was working. "And I should finish my chore."

      They parted ways, Brenda heading for the eating hut, where Fry was, and the boy back to Minho. He passed Newt again, who seemed deep in thought.

      Minho gave him a questioning look. "What is going on between you two?"

      His question surprised Thomas. "What do you mean?"

      Minho shrugged. "You keep going on walks, ignore your duty when she asked you for walks. Something is happening."

     Thomas rolled his eyes. "She just feels guilty." He shook his head. "Not anymore, I guess. But she still needs a friend to talk to."

      "Not when you're working. From now on you should finish what you're doing and then talk to her, Thomas."

      The boy sighed, frustrated. "But I'm back on my feet, aren't I? Why does this is still a thing?"

       "I know you're doing better, you really are. And you're back to your job, but some people can't seem to forgive."

      "Whatever." He dropped the sticky thing. "I finished my share. I'll go now." Thomas didn't wait for Minho to say anything, he simply walked to Newt.

      When he got next to his friend and Newt didn't pay attention to him, Thomas thought for a second to leave him alone, but he decided against it. He sat down on the bench next to him. Thomas felt nervous for a heart beat, they hadn't stayed like this, in silence, for a while.

      Then Newt came out of his trance and looked ar him. Thomas felt bad when he saw his friend jump a little. "I didn't realize you're here. I was deep in thought."

      Thomas giggled a little. "I could tell." He paused for a second. "And I'm sorry."

      Newt sighed. "Why are you sorry?"

      "For scaring you."

      The golden haired boy put out a soft smile. "I don't think you could ever scare me, Tommy." He looked at his shoes and let out a soft laught. "Well, I was scared for you, not because of you."

      Thomas was surprised. "What do you mean?"

       "What could I mean? You made so many reckless things. You ran into the maze that time, to save Minho. You helped us out of WCKD even though you could've got killed if they caught you. That time when Minho got taken away, I really thought you'd die somehow." The blond paused for a second. "And you gave everything you could to save me."

        "That didn't really work."

       "Maybe it wasn't you who saved me, but it was you who got everyone here."

       Thomas realized how beautiful Newt looked in the sunlight. The sunset light made him look so vibrant, like he was made of gold. His hair looked so bright and his eyes were so beautiful, lighter than usual.

      Suddenly, a weird noise was heard from the doctor's hut and Monique came out, panic on her face. "I need help!"

      Thomas ran to her, Newt behind him. He wanted to tell him to stay back, not to worry. To follow Monique's advice, but there wasn't enough time to fight.

      Inside the hut, Stan was shaking violently, some weird substance coming out of his mouth. "Help me pin him down!" The doctor instructed the boys. Now that Minho was there too, and so was Jorge, who was relaxing close by.

      Stan's wife rushed over, Brenda behind her. By the time they got there the man calmed down, stopped shaking. The substance was drying quickly but Monique had enough time to take a sample. "Brenda, could you bring Ross here?"

      Thomas realized that close by was Lauren, lying in her bed. She was so still, he thought she was dead. "There's no chance she'll get better, right?"

     Monique sighed. "I don't like to admit it, but I hope her suffering will end sooner than later." Her words made Thomas flinch. He didn't realized how sick she got in such a short time.
    

      When Ross arrived, Monique kicked the all out, except for his wife. "I hope he gets better." Jorge said.

     Minho nodded. "Losing Lauren is a thing, but losing Stan too? And in such short time?"

      "Maybe we should find a way to stop those creatures from harming us any more." Thomas pointed out.

      "We should." Jorge agreed. "But we don't know how many are out there and what would happen if we attack more of them."

      "We should talk to Vince." Minho suggested.