Everbloom ღ Newt TMR²

17. Step Aside

So, my holidays are over, and it's a new year!

Question of the Chapter: What was your favorite thing you got for Christmas? I got a pack of polychromo pencils!

Other Question: Do you think Newt and Lori's relationship will ever be the same?

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Lori and the others stand, looking at Teresa, who continues to approach them. How were they supposed to react to seeing her again? Lori wanted to approach her friend and welcome her back, but she was very wary of the blade that she wields.

As she moved closer, no one dared to approach her. Her face is stone-cold, looking as if she would kill any one of them. Even Thomas.

Who, at that moment, took a step towards the girl he had feelings for. But before he could move any further, something happened.
All around Teresa, more girls appear.

Lori turns in a circular motion, to see that they are being surrounded, distracted by the reappearance of their friend. Her group of girls also hold weapons, a varying array of blades including knives, swords, and machetes. Some even have bows and arrows, already aiming the tips at the Gladers. Where the hell did they find damn bows and arrows? We're barely finding food!

Within seconds they were completely surrounded. Everyone stands in an awkward silence for a few moments, before, Minho speaks up. Why am I not surprised?

"What's this crap about, Teresa? Nice way to greet your long-lost buddies."

Teresa didn't bother to answer, leaving everyone in silence once more.
Newt steps forward to stand beside Minho, his tall figure towering over Teresa.
"Teresa? What the bloody-"

"Shut up," she says. She didn't yell or get angry. She kind of said it calmly, yet strongly.

This frightens Lori slightly, but she decides to stand up for her friends anyway. She steps forward, facing Teresa, "No, Teresa. We haven't seen you in ages, and it's only fair that you explain where you were. Or why you have your little posse aiming arrows at us."

Teresa's facial expression remains neutral, as she swings her spear up, and holds it to Lori's neck. The girl tries to stay calm, attempting not to look frightened.
Newt goes to grab the spear, but Lori quickly swings one hand up to grab his, stopping him from getting himself hurt.

The darker-haired girl turns the spear away, walking deeper into the group of Gladers. She stopped briefly in front of Brenda, Lori can only see Brenda's face, and she does not look happy. Teresa continues, until she stands before Thomas.

He went to talk, but Teresa hit him with her spear, right in his cheek. He went straight down, hand rising to cover his blooming red cheek.

Teresa violently lifted him to his feet by the collar of his shirt.

"Is your name Thomas?" She asks, pointing the spear at said boy.

Thomas' mouth falls open, eyes widening like saucers. "You know who I-"

But once again, she didn't let him finish, swinging the spear around and smashing the butt of the weapon into the side of the boy's head, right where his ear is. Thomas didn't fall this time, just cried out, smacking his hand to the wound. "You know who I am!" the boy screams at her.

"I used to, anyway," she replies, bitterness lacing the words she spat out. "Now I'm going to ask you one more time. Is your name Thomas?"

Lori stands beside Newt, hands still gripping onto the other tightly, as the lethal scene before them plays out.
She couldn't help but worry for Thomas. After everything they've been through, this is the least they deserve, having someone else's memory taken away.