It Wasn't Real

Chapter 18

"Everyone calm down!" Arthur called, silencing them. "I know you are upset about your memories. I would be too, but yelling won't solve anything. Teresa said she could return your memories. Your real ones."

"Why should we trust her?" One of the Gladers yelled.

"Yeah. She betrayed us in the simulation. How are we supposed to know she isn't planning anything!?" Another exclaimed. Many Gladers shouted in agreement.

"I'll go first!" Thomas exclaimed. "She wanted to hurt me most. If I return unharmed you will know she isn't planning anything." Everyone reluctantly agreed.

Arthur turned to Teresa. "What will you need?"

"Just a room with a bed and chair." Teresa replied. "Preferably away from others. I don't know your memories so I can't tell you whether they are happy or sad. Thomas, you will be reliving every event before I took your memories. Something like that won't be pleasant."

Thomas nodded. "I'll be fine."

"I'll get the room ready." Arthur said as he left. A few minutes later, Thomas and Teresa stood in front of the room. "When you are finished, come to the grand hall." They both nodded and went inside the room, shutting the door behind them.

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It was a few painfully long hours before Thomas and Teresa returned, everyone becoming and turning their gazes on the two as they entered. Arthur, Chuck, Newt, and Minho walked over to them.

"Well?" Minho asked.

Thomas nodded looking at them sadly. "I remember everything."

Arthur nodded smiling. "So, who wants to go next?" He asked.

Minho moved forward, for once nervously. "I would." Teresa smiled slightly and led him out. When they were out of sight, Chuck, Arthur, Thomas, and Newt all sat back down.

'Hey Newt?' Newt heard Thomas' voice.

'Yes Tommy?'

'Can we talk?'

Newt smiled reassuringly. 'Of course. Do you want to talk here?'

Thomas shook his head. 'Can we go somewhere with less people?'

'Sure. Follow me.' Newt and Thomas stood from their seats, swiftly exiting the room.

Newt led Thomas to the old fighting grounds, which were empty as everyone was in the grand hall, and sat on the bench.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"The Government. They were monsters, far worse than we thought."

Newt furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"When I was younger, before they kidnapped me, I had a mother and an older brother, Joshua. He was only a year older than me, but he acted much older. We were celebrating my ninth birthday when they stormed in." Thomas closed his eyes. "They shot Mom before she could even turn around." Newt placed a comforting hand on Thomas' shoulder. "My brother yelled for me to run, but I was frozen in fear. He tried to fight them, tried to protect me. They shot him Newt."

Thomas looked up at the blonde, tears streaming down his face. "He wasn't even armed. Who would shoot a ten year old? And do you want to know the worst part?"

"What Tommy?"

"I didn't even try to fight back, after all they did, I just walked out the door with them as if they were my friends."

"You were only a kid. You were terrified."

"So was Josh, but he fought back. I abandoned them, their sacrifice was in vain."

Newt was close to tears, at the sound of his friend's pain filled voice. "You shouldn't think like that. It wasn't your fault, it was those monsters who did this." Thomas sighed but didn't answer.

After a few moments of silence, they decided to walk back to the grand hall. Minho was back from recovering his memories, and Chuck had left to recover his.

"Hey. Sorry we weren't here when you returned. How are you?" Thomas asked.

Minho looked up from the table. "I'm good considering all that's happened." He smirked. "How was your talk with Mama Newt?"

Thomas snorted, and Newt glared but sat down choosing to ignore the two childish Gladers. "It was nice to get everything off my chest."

"Can I have a Mama Newt inspirational speech too?"

This time Newt playfully hit Minho over the head. "Not if you keep calling me that, Shank."

Minho snorted. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry."

A/N: Thank you AG2000 for proofreading!!