Sacrifice

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The survivors hid out until morning. 

The camp was a complete mess. Nearly all the tents were destroyed, there was smoke coming out of the barrels. Some people were sorting through stuff, determining what supplies were salvageable. Others were covering the dead. 

Harriet walked over to Vince, who was covering Mary's body. 

Mary and Vince had started the Right Arm together, fought to keep immune kids safe from WCKD. When Harriet first met them after getting rescued from the Maze, she knew she'd follow them anywhere. Half of their survivors from their Maze, like her and Sonya, had been rescued by the Right Arm, and the other half, like Aris, had been taken by WCKD. Some of the girls had chosen to move onto the Safe Haven, while Harriet and Sonya decided to stay behind and help fight. Now Sonya and Aris were gone, and Harriet was alone. 

Tony came over and joined them, he didn't look too good. He'd been shot in the arm and was recovering from that. Then there were the emotional scars. Tony had watched some of his friends get killed, including his best friend Max. 

Tony never really talked about his past, but Harriet knew he ran away when he was twelve. He'd met Max, who was a couple years older, while on the run and the two of them had been as close as brothers ever since. Vince placed a comforting hand on Tony. 

Thomas searched through the remains of the Medical Tent, not that there was anything left that could be of much use. That just made it harder for him to distract himself. He was taking Teresa's betrayal harder than anyone else. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he should have known something like this might happen. Teresa had grown quieter than usual, she barely talked to the group. Hell, she'd told Thomas outright that she wanted to go back to WCKD. He'd been too caught up in what was going on with Winston to take her words seriously. He'd stupidly brought her to the Right Arm. He had believed she was on their side, right up until the moment she called WCKD. Now Minho and Claire were gone. 

Thomas spotted Newt sitting all alone. He hadn't spoken a single word since Claire was taken. Newt had tried sorting through supplies, but he couldn't seem to focus on anything. A few times Thomas caught his friend glancing over his shoulder, as if he was looking for someone who wasn't there. By now Newt had given up trying to do anything productive and just sat on a box, staring at the ground. 

"What do we do now?" Frypan asked, breaking the somber silence. 

Newt didn't even look up. 

"Well we pick up what's left of us," Vince answered. "Stick to the plan, get you kids to the Safe Haven. Then we start over, I guess." 

Barley a day ago, thoughts of the Safe Haven filled the Gladers with hope and excitement. Now the idea of going there felt...empty. 

"I'm not going with you," Thomas declared, standing up. 

"What?" Vince said, voicing everyone's thoughts. 

"I made a promise to Minho that I wouldn't leave him behind," Thomas continued. "I have to go after him; him and Claire both." 

Newt was now standing. Thomas could see the gears starting to shift as the Newt he knew came back to the surface. 

"Hey kid, look around you," Vince said, gesturing to the ruins around them. "WCKD just kicked our ass. Think about where you're headed." 

"I'm not asking anyone to come with me." 

"Thomas, listen to me," Newt said, finally speaking up. "I've known Minho for as long as I can remember, and Claire..." Thomas nodded, showing that he understood. "...If there is anyway that we can help them then trust me I will be up there standing next to you. But this what you're talking about...is impossible." 

"More like suicide," Jorge added. 

"Maybe," Thomas admitted. "But I know what I have to do now. It's not just about Minho and Claire, it's about all of us, it's about everyone WCKD's ever taken, everyone they will take. They'll never stop, so I'm gonna stop them." 

"I have to admit, I'd like some revenge," Harriet said. If there was a chance to save Minho and Claire, then that meant there was a chance to save Aris and Sonya. There was a chance to get back at WKCD and avenge every girl lost to the Maze. 

Newt felt a new sense of hope light inside him, replacing the despair that had consumed him the night before. 

I'm coming, Claire. I'll always come for you. 

"That's a good speech, kid," Vince said. "So what's your plan?" 

"I'm gonna kill Ava Paige." 

***************** 

The first thing Claire heard when she started to regain consciousness was the roar of an engine. She felt the cold, metal ground she was laying on. When she opened her eyes she saw all the people crowed around her. Then she noticed Teresa standing over her. 

For a moment, Claire was relieved to see a familiar face, then she remembered what the other girl had done. 

"Claire," Teresa said, kneeling down. 

Claire stood up and tried to back away, but they were in a tight, crowded space. The furthest she could get was backing into the wall behind her. Claire looked around, realizing that they were still in the aircraft. All the previous events came flooding back to her. Teresa's betrayal, the attack on the Right Arm, getting captured, Newt...

Claire quickly looked around and was relieved not to find him here. But she did see Aris and Sonya further back. Aris caught her eye and nodded in the direction opposite from her. That's when she spotted Minho. 

Minho caught the blonde girl's eye and mouthed 'are you okay?' 

Claire nodded, but Minho knew she was anything but okay. 

Teresa took another step toward Claire, looking like she wanted to say something. But Claire backed away and refused to look at her former friend. 

Just then the pilot announced that they would be landing in two minutes. 

Claire felt her heart begin to pound even harder. Two minutes, then what would happen to them? Would they be strung up and drained like the kids Aris and Thomas found? Or was something worse waiting for them? 

They were completely at WCKD's mercy. 

After they touched ground, the doors opened to reveal a large building in front of them. Claire saw that it was a different building than the compound they fled when they had escaped into the Scorch. WCKD must have a new plan for them. 

Janson, Ava Paige and Teresa were let out first. They stood off to the side and watched as soldiers led the Immunes off the Berg and into the building. 

Claire used the opportunity to slip through the crowed and stand beside Minho. 

"I got your back, Girly," the former Runner promised. "No matter what." 

Claire nodded, making the same vow. She didn't know what was in store for them. But they were Gladers, they would always look out for each other. 

"You did the right thing," Dr. Paige told Teresa. "I know it couldn't have been easy going against your friends, especially Thomas. I'm so proud of you, Teresa. Because of you, we have a chance to save mankind." 

"Thank you," Teresa said. 

Minho and Claire passed them. Minho was glaring daggers at Teresa. She tried to catch Claire's eye, desperate for a chance to make the other girl understand why she did this. As if hearing her silent plea, Claire did look at Teresa. But there was no warmth, or friendliness she offered Teresa. Instead, Claire looked at Teresa with raw anger and hurt. 

Teresa felt her heart sink, knowing that Claire wasn't going to forgive her. If she couldn't, how could Teresa earn anyone else's? 

"You promise they'll be safe?" Teresa asked as they two Gladers were taken inside. 

"You have my word." 

"What have I done?" 

End of Part Two