Escaping This Ivy Nightmare

Chapter 24

Thomas screamed a lot more than the others. His whole body was covered in stings, and he did nothing but thrash around. It didn't last as long, however, Audrey noted. He only screamed the first day, but he was out like a light the next two. On the second night, after the grievers had come, Newt had come into the room, hot tears streaming down his face. 

"Zart." He'd sobbed, before falling into her arms, shaking like a leaf.

On the third day, Thomas opened his eyes, coming face to face with Minho. "He's awake!" Minho shouted, alerting the others to come running.

"Shut up." Thomas groaned, wincing at Minho's raised voice.

"Sorry Shank, I'm so glad you're alive, I could just kiss you!" Thomas laughed at that, and Audrey smiled at the pair.

"He's not joking, he will actually kiss you." A thick accent traveled through the room. Newt stood by the doorway, leaning onto the top of the frame, his arms raised, and his toned stomach exposed. He had a lopsided smirk on his face. Holy shucking shuck. He is so hot.

"Good, you're here. You need to call a gathering." Thomas said, moving to sit up on the bed. 

"Why? What do you remember?" 

"It's a test, Newt. The whole thing is a test." Thomas said, trying to move more, but Audrey wouldn't let him. So instead Newt came into the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. 

"Like an experiment." Newt nodded. 

"No, you don't get it. They're weeding us out, seeing if we'll give up, finding the best of us. Throwing variables at us, trying to make us quit. Testing our ability to hope and fight. Sending Casey here and shutting everything down was only the last part. One more final analysis. Now it's time for the last test. To escape."

Newt's brow crinkled in confusion, and he spared a quick glance at everyone else in the room. "What do you mean? You know a way out?"
"Yeah. Call a Gathering. Now."

An hour later, Thomas sat in front of what was left of the Keepers. They hadn't let Casey in, and despite Audrey already overhearing half of what Thomas had to say, she wasn't allowed either. Both Minho and Thao were allowed in, however, since no one really understood what they should do about that issue.

"Alright Greenie," Alby said, looking much better as he sat in the middle of the semicircle of chairs, next to Newt. "Forget all the beat-around-the-bush klunk. Start talking."

Minho tired to pay attention to what Thomas was saying, he really did, but it was so hard to pay attention or that long. He listened intently as Thomas explained how he'd gotten back memories. He vaguely heard him mention something about a champion, or survivor, but it didn't really make sense.

He did remember Thomas telling them that they all had above-average intelligence, but he wondered how that could be true when Gally was here. He wasn't one to judge, however, as he was shamelessly staring at the back of Thao's head for quite sometime.

He was vaguely interested when Thomas explained that their names weren't actually their real names, and Newt was actually named after Isaac Newton. He wondered what his real name was.

Thomas said something about being analyzed and watched. They were just test subjects. Winston said something remotely snarky, and Minho had the urge to punch the kid. Thomas talked a lot more, but Minho was too tired to listen, he really wanted out of here.

"Survival of the fittest." The words tumbled out of his mouth, before he even knew what was going on. Everyone gave him a look of surprise at his sudden participation, and he gave them one right back.