Another Girl (Book 1)

Chapter Ten- Safe

"Who the hell are you?" Thomas asked, looking at the people before them. He already knew the answer, he was just in as much disbelief as the person next to him.

"Hello again, Thomas." A woman said. She had blond hair pulled into a neat, tight bun and wore a lab coat. "Sam, I am happy to see you."

I glanced at Newt in confusion. He had the same expression as me. I looked back at the lady.

"Answer the damn question." I growled.

"I'm Ava Paige." she said, looking right at me. "I'm shocked you don't remember me, Sam."

"Stop calling me that." I snapped.

"As you wish, Samantha." Ava said calmly. "You've definitely gained an attitude since you chose to enter the Box."

"I didn't choose, you forced me. You forced all of us!" My voice raised with each word I said.

"The others, yes." Ava nodded. "But not you, Samantha. You just had to go find him, didn't you? You promised, after all."

"Who?" I asked.

"Newt." she replied. "Don't you remember? Look at your right hand."

Reluctantly, I looked. A faint bruise was there, going across my knuckles.

"And Newt, won't you tell me what you see under her left jaw?" Ava asked smugly.

Newt looked. "A bruise," he whispered to me.

"What happened, Ava?" I asked, my voice practically a shout.

"You had to find him." Ava looked at Newt. "So, you fought a guard who hit you with his gun in the jaw. You punched him and went into the Box, you even chose to swipe your own memory."

"That's bullcrap!" I yelled.

"Think what you want, Samantha." Ava said. "Besides, before you decided to enter the Maze, you almost agreed with us on our theory with the Flare."

My mind flickered with a memory.

"The Flare is a virus that slowly eats away at the brain, eventually turning its victims into bloodthirsty and irrational humans who consider cannibalism an everyday objective." A voice was telling me.

I recognized her as Ava Paige. She was telling me about what he Flare was and the Immunes and Non-Immunes.

"I don't care." I snapped. "I don't care and I never will."

"We're close to find a cure." she told me. "We could save your mom and dad, you know."

"Don't you dare talk about my parents." I said through gritted teeth.

"They're not immune, though." Ava reminded me. "You could save them from becoming a crank."

"What the hell is a crank?" I asked her, my eyes sending her death glares.

"Watch your language, child." she said.

"I'll do as I please." I spat.

"Cranks are people who were infected by the disease and are slowly growing crazier and will soon reach past gone. Once they have succeeded past the gone stage they can no longer be cured." Ava explained. "But here at WICKED, we can find a cure and save your parents."

"What about Miranda?" I asked.

"We can save her, too." Ava told me.

"Are you serious?" I asked. All I ever wanted to do was save my parents.

I forced myself out of the memory, not letting myself get caught up in something while this was happening.

She stepped to the side, and I saw a boy with a hood over his face. I had been so busy talking to Ava, I never noticed the boy standing there.

She took the hood off, and revealed to us who it was. I couldn't believe my eyes, it was—

"Gally," Thomas breathed out.

"It's all your fault." Gally said, his eyes were wild.

"He's been stung," Minho whispered.

"It's all...your...fault Thomas!" Gally screamed, spit flying everywhere.

Gally finally revealed a knife. I stepped back a little, grabbing Newt's hand for reassurance.

Before I could realize what was happening, the knife was released from Gally's grip and was aimed towards Thomas.

"No!" Chuck screamed, running and jumping in front of Thomas. I saw as Chuck fell with a thud, his body shaking, blood seeping through his shirt. The knife was plunged through his heart.

"Chuck!" I screamed, tears already making their way down my face. "Stay with us, Chuck!"

Thomas was at his side. Thomas kneeled, his own eyes filled with tears. I sobbed uncontrollably, I buried my face into Newt's shirt as he wrapped his arms around me.

All of a sudden, a boom was heard from the room. I looked up, my head still on Newt's chest, my arms still around him.

An army of adults came in, guns raised. They began shooting at scientists who were at their computers.

"Come with us!" One of the people yelled. "You're safe now!"

He led Newt and I to a helicopter. I took a seat next to him. I sobbed, cried until tears didn't even came out.

Newt pulled me in for a hug, and I didn't pull away. I let him hold me, let myself be held. Although so much had happened in the last ten minutes, I finally felt safe in his arms.

"He didn't deserve to die," I whispered. "It should've been me."

Newt pulled me up, so I had to face him. "No, it shouldn't have. It shouldn't have been any of us."

Other Gladers joined us, some were crying like I was, some were silent. I was next to Thomas, who held a tiny figurine.

"What's that?" I asked quietly. As much as I hated people treating me like I was fragile, as this moment I felt fragile. I felt as if I were going to shatter at any moment.

"Chuck gave it to me." Thomas said, his voice breaking. "He told me to give it to his mom when I find her."

Thomas' hand held tightly into it, his hand smeared with blood, but at this point, nobody cared. We just wanted Chuck back.

"We're safe now," Minho said, his voice barely a whisper. "We don't have to feel afraid anymore."

"Then how come I don't feel safe?" I asked, my voice still shaken from crying. "I lost two of my friends and I saw them both die. I witnessed their death, and I just stood there. I could've saved them!"

"It's going to be okay, Sammy." Newt said. "We'll be okay."

***END OF BOOK ONE***