Daughter Of The Glade (A TMR Fanfiction)

Chapter 16: The End Of The Beginning

Thomas crawled to an empty spot of the helicopter, Chuck's figurine in his hand. He collapsed and his whole body weight leaned against the wall of the helicopter. Madeline stared at him sadly. She knew he was internally suffering because of his loss, just by looking in his eyes. Madeline felt it too. She had loved Chuck. The young boy sometimes was annoying but he was the cutest and the sweetest little boy. He gave up his life for Thomas, and that showed that Chuck was a real hero. Annoying and all. Madeline crawled over to Thomas, sitting herself close to his body. At first, the two said nothing to each other but Madeline eventually spoke up.

"I know how you feel." She said to him. Thomas looked up and glanced into her dark brown eyes.

"I know you do." Tears rimmed around his equally brown orbs. "It was all my fault." His voice cracked and Madeline shook her head, grabbing Thomas' hand. She intwined their fingers and she squeezed hard.

"This isn't your fault. Listen to me Thomas.. I know exactly what you are thinking. This happened to me when Peter died. You begin to believe it's all your fault and that you could have saved them." She shook her head again. "Don't do this to yourself. Don't do what I did." Thomas' eyes widened sadly.

"What did you do?"

"I believed it was my fault and that I could have saved Peter. I let that thought swirl around my mind and it has slowly eaten my brain alive. Now I am a psycho." Madeline looked into Thomas' eyes with compassion, but it was a firm compassion. Thomas squeezed the figuring in his hand and looked down at it.

"Yea... but I killed Peter. Not you."

Madeline shook her head for the third time, this time violently.

"I didn't know that then! And Thomas, don't bring that up. You're killing yourself."

"I can't help it." Thomas whispered. Madeline stared at him in a long silence before grabbing hold of his chin and turning it towards her.

"Don't." She said simply. Thomas slowly nodded and changed the subject.

"I never really thought about it until now... but your scar? I know how you got it." Thomas pointed to the long, thin scar running across Madeline's left eye. She hadn't even thought about it until then and she laughed softly.

"This stupid thing?" She ran her finger along the scar. "I'm sure you know. You watched that whole night of my family's assassination."

Thomas nodded sadly. "I saw the Griever I controlled slash you across the eye when you weren't looking... I'll tell you now, that part wasn't me." Madeline gripped Thomas' hand.

"I know." She leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

"Where are we bloody going?" Newt asked one of the men in black nearby.

"You're safe now." Was all the man said in response.

"So are they our rescuers?" Thomas asked and Madeline looked up at him.

"I don't know.. but somehow, something doesn't feel right." She whispered in reply. Thomas looked up at their mysterious "rescuers".

"I know.. I feel that too."

"I don't want to worry about it honestly. My head is beginning to hurt." Madeline squeezed her eyes shut at the sudden sharp pain in her head. She tried to get her mind off of it and she groaned softly.

Suddenly, her eyes shot open when she felt a pair of warm lips press against hers. Thomas grabbed her cheeks with his hands and immediately deepened the kiss. Madeline's heart fluttered and she pushed Thomas away suddenly. He looked at her, hurt flashing across his face.

"I'm sorry..." Madeline whispered and looked down.

Thomas shifted and grabbed both of Madeline's hands. He was about to speak but Madeline interrupted him.

"Thomas.. something is wrong with me... and all of this stress with my memories, us escaping, and wherever we are going right now are making it ten times worse. I am sorry... but now is not the time to kiss me." Thomas looked at her with confusion.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with you."

"Are you blind? Did you miss all my moments of hysteria? Did you not see me go half unconscious today during the Griever fight? I am losing my mind, Thomas!" Madeline yelled. She immediately regretted her loud tone when a few of the boys looked over at her. She felt her cheeks heat and she returned her gaze to Thomas who staring at her with a look of concern.

"I think you're traumatized. That's all."

Madeline shook her head. "This is more than that... you don't understand." She looked away and Thomas sighed. There was a few moment of silence until he spoke up.

"I have noticed that something is wrong. Every time you would go into one of your little... tantrums... I would see a look in your eye." Madeline shot her gaze up at Thomas.

"And?"

"It's like... in your eyes I see a flash of desperation."

"And insanity!" Madeline added.

"No. I don't see that." Thomas shook his head and grabbed onto Madeline's hand.

"It's getting worse..." She whispered harshly. Thomas looked at her for a second before replying.

"Maybe... when we reach wherever we are going.. things will get better. You will get better. And Maddy?" He cupped Madeline's chin with her hand.

"I'm gonna take care of you." He said softly. Madeline felt a part of her anxiety leave her at Thomas' words. She nodded and Thomas did his best to smile, although, you could still see the pain in his eyes. Madeline felt something new for Thomas she hadn't felt before as she stared into his desperate eyes.

She felt compassion for him even though there was still a tiny hint of bitterness in her towards him. She somehow wanted to show him that she actually cared about him. Without thinking, she pressed her lips into Thomas', causing his breath to hitch in his throat. Thomas was surprised at first, but it only took him about a second to recover and kiss her back. It was a long kiss, filled with genuine passion, and it sent pricks of ice down Madeline's spine.

Thomas placed his hand on Madeline's thigh and tried to push his tongue into her mouth, begging her for permission.

Madeline yelped in shock and pulled away. Thomas stared at her, dazed by the sudden kiss and break-away.

"I...." Madeline began but she stopped when she looked over to see Newt and Minho staring at them in disgust.

"Wow." Was all Minho said. Madeline felt her cheeks heat up intensely but her thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

"It's a long flight, guys. You kids should probably get some rest." One of the men yelled to them before turning back around to the pilot of the helicopter. The boys didn't waste time and they all either lied down in their spots or rested their heads against the side of the helicopter. Thomas softly tugged on Madeline's arm, pulling most of her into his lap. Madeline didn't fight him and she nestled her head against his chest.

She could feel Thomas' heart beat which was fairly quick as she curled up in his lap. Fatigue hit Madeline in a sudden wave and she immediately began to close her eyes. Thomas wrapped his arms around Madeline's body, tightly. He sighed and looked down at the small girl in his lap one more time.

"I hope it's all over."