not worth your life

Part 1: The Cure

227.5.26 - Outside the WICKED Last City

Thomas stumbled through the crumbling ruins of the city, his vision blurring, and his body weakening with every step. The Flare had taken hold of him faster than he had expected, the infection gnawing at his mind and body, threatening to consume him entirely. His breath came in ragged gasps, his thoughts fragmented, but one name stayed clear in his mind.

Newt.

He was in the city, and Thomas just had to make it there.

He couldn't let it end like this, not after everything they'd been through. Not after losing so many friends. He needed to find Newt, to warn him, to say goodbye if nothing else. But deep down, a small part of him hoped—hoped that Newt would somehow have the answer, that he would know what to do.

Thomas's legs finally gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, the world around him spinning. He was barely aware of the figures approaching, of the hands lifting him, carrying him to safety. Everything faded into a dark haze, and he surrendered to the darkness, his last thought of Newt.

When Thomas awoke, he was in a small, dimly lit room. His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy, but the haze in his mind had lifted slightly. He turned his head slowly and found Newt sitting beside him, his face pale but his eyes bright with determination.

"Tommy," Newt's voice was soft but firm. "You're awake."

Thomas tried to sit up, but his body protested, and he fell back onto the bed. "Newt... the Flare..." His voice was barely a whisper.

"I know," Newt said, his expression unreadable. "I know you're infected. But you're going to be okay. We're going to fix this."

Thomas frowned, confused. "How...?"

Newt took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "I'm the cure, Tommy."

Thomas's eyes widened in shock. "What... what do you mean?"

Newt sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "After everything, after all the trials and experiments, it turns out that the cure was in me all along. My immune system, my blood—it can reverse the effects of the Flare. WICKED didn't know it at first, but they figured it out eventually."

Thomas stared at him, unable to process the information. "So... you can cure me?"

Newt nodded, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. I can cure you."

"But... What about you? If you're the cure, does that mean...?"

"It means I'm immune, Tommy. I can't get the Flare, no matter what. But it also means I'm the key to ending this nightmare. WICKED can't know about this. I can't let them use me. But for you... I'll do anything."

Thomas felt a lump in his throat, his emotions warring within him. He didn't want to be cured if it meant putting Newt in danger, but the alternative was unthinkable. He didn't want to die. Not now, not when there was finally hope.

"Are you sure, Newt?" Thomas asked, his voice shaking. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Newt leaned forward, taking Thomas's hand in his. "I'm sure, Tommy. You're my best friend, and I won't let you die. Not after everything we've been through. We're going to get through this together."

Thomas squeezed Newt's hand, his eyes welling with tears. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Newt."

Newt gave him a reassuring smile, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Just hold on, okay? This might sting a bit."

With that, Newt carefully pulled out a syringe and a vial of his own blood. Thomas watched as Newt drew the blood into the syringe, his heart pounding in his chest. Newt's hands were steady, his expression calm, but Thomas could see the tension in his jaw, the weight of what he was about to do.

"Ready?" Newt asked, looking into Thomas's eyes.

Thomas nodded, swallowing hard. "Ready."

Newt injected the blood into Thomas's arm, and almost immediately, Thomas felt a burning sensation spreading through his veins. He gritted his teeth, trying to focus on Newt's face, on the warmth of his hand still holding his.

The pain intensified, but then, slowly, it began to fade. The fog in Thomas's mind lifted further, and the weakness in his limbs started to ebb away. He could feel the Flare's grip on him loosening, retreating, and for the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope.

"It's working," Thomas whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek.

Newt nodded, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yeah, it is."

As the minutes passed, the cure continued to work its way through Thomas's system, purging the infection. By the time the process was complete, Thomas felt like a weight had been lifted from his soul. He was exhausted but alive.

Newt finally released his hand, sitting back with a sigh of relief. "You're going to be okay, Tommy. You're going to live."

Thomas reached out, pulling Newt into a tight embrace. "I don't know how to thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You saved my life."

Newt hugged him back, his voice soft in Thomas's ear. "We've saved each other, Tommy. And we're not done yet. We're going to find a way to end this, for good."