The Scorch Trials - completely different version :)

Couldn't leave

The lights switched off, but it seemed to come from my mind like my eyes were not working. It seemed to only go on for a few seconds because before I could figure out the feeling, the lights were back and I could see again. Nothing made sense anymore so I've just given up trying to talk myself into a suitable explanation.

There she was, lying on the small bed the exact same as the room we found Aris in, the only difference was how she kept the sheets flat over her small frame, unlike when we first came in on her. She looked very peacefully, deep in a dream I wished I could see, find out the types of scenarios she slept in when trying to escape the mental punishment of the real world clouding the happiness she deserves. The happiness we all deserve.

Should I wake her? Who knows how much time I have before they send me back. I touch her shoulder which is clammy with sweat. I shake her. She wakes almost instantly, startled as if she was waiting for someone to wake her, waiting for me.

"Teresa, hey." I whisper, instinctively running my hands into her hair, the loose curls running in between my fingers like black silk. Her eyes squint as she finds it hard to focus.

"What the? Thomas?" She mumbles in confusion, sitting up on the bed, nervously pulling the covers up over her body. I pretend not to notice for her sake.

"They let me come see you, I don't know how long I've got but I needed to know you were alright after what happened back at the other dorms," I say quickly. She looks puzzled, pulling her legs around so she is sitting next to me.

"What happened in the other dorms?" She challenges, standing up, she is wearing basic clothes: A plain white vest top and pale grey trousers, cuffed at the ankles. I look up at her troubled face, her pale skin looking even paler against her messy black hair, tickling the side of her face. I itch back the impossible urge to push her hair behind her ears.

"You know, the dead bodies...You acting very, strange." I have to pick my words carefully at this point, if she doesn't remember this it might make her overwhelmed. Maybe they have made her forget what happened, is that a good thing?

"Tom, I..." She starts, running her hands through her black curls, I could see in her eyes she had no idea what I was talking about.

"Just forget I said anything," I say finally, pushing all the confusion away from the front of my mind. I wonder if they're just going to leave me here, and I think about the others, I will be able to see them though, right? I also know now that I've seen her I won't be able to leave her here, alone.

"I won't be able to come back with you, Thomas. You'll have to leave me." She says in a tiny voice almost reading my mind, wrapping her arms around herself in comfort. My heart leaps to my throat as she carefully slumps to the floor.

"What? Teresa...What are you talking about?" My voice sounds distant like I'm watching from the outside, looking in on our conversation. She looks up, her knees tight to her chest.

"I take it you were too stubborn to hear about it...Phase two." She says, slowly.

"You guessed it." I say, trying to sound light but instead, sounding hollow.

"I'm not sure what you have to do but it certainly doesn't involve me, I was replaced for a reason Thomas." She starts, she doesn't give me the chance to speak.

"It has something to do with getting to the other side, apparently it's a desert full of the infected willing to destroy everything and everyone to get their hands on us," she stops, looking at the ceiling.

"They're out of their minds, you saw it too didn't you? There's not going to be bars this time." She adds. My heart beats faster with every word, my head filling with a sick dizziness.

"They wanna section us to our genders, that's why you have to boy. He was always meant to be with your maze, not me." She buries her head in her hands.

"These girls won't help me, they're a pack who fend for themselves," She stops, looking up at me with glassy blue eyes, darkened with sadness and fear, "I think this is when I'm expected to die, I don't think they want me to survive this." She finishes. looking down at the floor. I instantly jump to my feet, unsure of what I plan to do. I kneel down, grabbing her shoulders.

"I don't know what they've done to you but I know you don't give up. You're going to survive." I say, my hands shake at the sight of her trembling bottom lip, curved into a frown.

I kiss her forehead, it's all I can do now without breaking down; it was crushing to remember how a couple days ago I thought we were saved, I thought things were going to be alright. Now, this.

"I need you to go now, Thomas." She whispers, wrapping her arms around my shoulders in an embrace. I blocked out her words, unwilling to comprehend what she said. She collapses backwards, standing to her feet. I stand with her.

"I'm only leaving if you are coming with me." My voice shakes, I try to steady it but the dizziness in my head is getting worse, partly from hunger and thirst, partly worrying about Minho and the others back in our dorms and partly for Teresa having to do this on her own.

"They'll hurt you if you stay here, Tom. Trust me." She says, leaning her body weight on the bed, her arm outstetched onto the mattress, almost like stopping herself from falling. My heart jumps.

"Teresa...Have they? Have they...Hurt you?" I ask quietly, noticing the peircing sadness in her eyes, she doesn't need to speak for me to know the answer.

I'm going to kill them.