Keeping A Difficult Promise

Chap 2 "A New Journey"

Alessia's POV
A good six months had passed and I was ready for a change. I had to convince Thomas and Frypan to leave with me. I didn't want to leave my new found friends. The only one I couldn't convince was Minho. "Hey Minho," I walked up to him with my bag. "Are you sure I can't change your mind?"
"Alessia, are you sure this is what Newt wants?" Minho asked. "For you to abandon the safe haven?"
"I'm sure Newt would want me to be happy and there's a time when we're ready to leave," I nodded. "I'm ready to see if I can find something else out there. Besides," I showed him the necklace, "Newt's always near my heart. He would want me to do what's best for me."
"Are you ready?" Thomas asked. "Frypan's got the car started. Everybody's waiting to say goodbye."
"Just a second," I nodded as I handed Thomas my bag. He left. "Can my best friend walk me to the car?"
"Yeah," Minho nodded. We walked to the car and everyone was waiting, even Vince. "Are we going to see you again?"
"Most likely," Fry replied.
"Depends on what we find out there," Thomas nodded.
"Probably nothing," I stated.
"It was a good couple of years, Alessia," Vince replied. "You did a lot of great things for us."
"I had a great time here," I nodded.
"Your, uhm, boyfriend, he would be proud of how far you've come," Vince nodded. "I'm really proud of how far you've come."
"Thanks," I smiled. "And you've been a great dad."
"I don't think I can be your dad even though I am your father," Vince replied. "Alessia, you're more than I am. You've been through a lot."
"No, no," I nodded. "You're my dad."
"Alessia, daylight," Thomas pointed at the sun from inside he car.
"Right," I sighed. I gave Vince a hug and let go. "I'll find you if you're not here, Dad. I love you."
"I love you too," Vince smiled.
"Minho," I stated as I looked at him. "I really wish I could change your mind."
"I think I'll be okay here," Minho replied. I gave him a tight hug. "I'll miss you too, Alessia."
"I can't believe my best friend isn't coming," I sighed as I opened the back door. "I'll see you all soon. I want you all to follow Vince, my dad, just as you all have followed me. I know you'll treat him the same as you have me." I got in and closed the door. "Let's go, Fry." Frypan started driving. Thomas sat in the backseat with me. "You think we'll find any cities standing?"
"Well, we're going to find out," Thomas nodded.
"Alright, guys," Frypan stopped the car. "We're at the tunnel that's full of cranks." I got out my gun. "Why do I not like what you're thinking?"
"Just take it slow like we have," Thomas replied.
"If I see a crank, I'll shoot," I replied as I handed Thomas a gun from my bag. "When you hear that first shot, you might want to speed up."
"Okay," Fry sighed. He drove into the tunnel. "Anything?"
"So far, no," I nodded. I turned on the lights on the car. "Stop." Fry stopped the car and there was a crank standing in the middle of the road. "Can you go around him?"
"He's standing right in the middle," Fry stated. "There's no room to go around him."
"Thomas?" I asked.
"Yeah?" Thomas asked.
"What do you want to do?" I asked.
"Uhm, let's run him over," Thomas nodded. "It saves our ammo and it doesn't risk the other cranks coming out."
"That thing is going to cause noises," Fry replied.
"Do you have anything in that bag of yours?" Thomas asked.
"I don't know," I sighed. I checked my bag and got a barrel out. "I have a silencer."
"What does that do?" Thomas asked.
"It silences the gunshot so no one hears it," I replied as I put it on my gun. "Here goes nothing." I shot the crank and it fell to the ground. "Let's keep moving." Frypan kept driving. I took my silencer off my gun and put it back in the bag. We got through three fourths of the way and there was a small group of cranks waiting. "Oh no." Fry stopped the car. "We gotta book it."
"Floor it," Thomas nodded. Fry stepped on the petal. Thomas and I started shooting. We were finally out of the tunnel. "We're good."
"I'm out," I sighed. I opened my mag and reloaded. I reloaded Thomas' too. We sat in the backseat as Fry slowed down and drove at a good 40 mph. "We got through that."
"So, can you tell me what yours and Newt's relationship was like?" Thomas asked.
"I've already asked so much of you, Thomas," I nodded. "In the past month and a half we've been together, I asked you that you not push about Newt." I looked at him. "Every guy is different when it comes to relationships. I don't need you to be anything like Newt. I want you to be you. You already let me wear his necklace." Night started arriving and we needed a place to sleep. "We can't sleep out in the open because of cranks."
"Head towards that rundown bridge," Thomas pointed. Fry did and parked the car. We got out. "At least we packed blankets and pillows."
"Yeah," I nodded. We set up camp. Thomas got a fire going. He sat with his back against the wall. I sat next to him and laid my head in his lap and looked up at him. He looked down at me. "This is different."
"Why?" Thomas asked.
"Because, I feel like we're just on the run," I shrugged. Frypan was set up near the fire but he was already out cold. "Also, Minho should be here and Gally. You guys are like brothers. It just didn't feel right leaving them behind."
"We need to get some sleep," Thomas nodded. He kissed me. "You don't need to worry your pretty little head."
"Okay," I smiled. I tried going to sleep but I couldn't. Thomas was already out cold. I reached into my bag, that was next to me, and pulled out my memories journal. I flipped through the pages, wishing I could see Newt one last time. I sighed as I put the book away. I know Newt wants me to be happy, but was I moving on too fast? I'm not going to find the same happiness that I had with Newt, but I had to try. I heard the motor of a motorcycle coming up towards us. I quickly got up and got out my gun. "Thomas?" I shook him. "Thomas, wake up." I shook him once more. "Thomas."
"What?" Thomas asked as he opened his eyes.
"Someone's coming," I stated.
"Shit," Thomas sighed. "Hey, Frypan! Get up!" Fry got up and gathered our things. "Hide. Hide!"
"You guys hide," I replied. Thomas looked at me as Frypan got behind the wall. "Thomas, I'll be fine. Go." Thomas nodded and got behind the wall. I held my gun out in front of me as the motorcycle approached. It stopped in front of me but I couldn't tell who it was due to the helmet. "Who are you?"
"You really going to shoot me?" he asked. He took off his mask. "Really, A?"
"Gally," I sighed. "Guys, it's just Gally." Thomas and Fry got out of hiding. "Seriously, I could've shot you."
"You got the girl protecting you?" Gally asked.
"Hey," Thomas got me behind him. "If you wanna fight, you can leave. We're not causing any trouble."
"I'm here to come along," Gally nodded. "I tried to convince Minho, but he wouldn't budge."
"It'll be okay," I nodded. "We should get moving then. Since Gally here woke us up." I looked at the sky. "The sun's going to be up pretty soon."
"Alright," Thomas sighed.
"Did you get the back from Vince?" I asked.
"Yeah," Gally nodded.
"Ditch it," I replied. "You're lucky it didn't blow up on you."
"What?" Gally asked.
"Vince doesn't know how to wire things very well," Fry replied. "So, you're lucky to be alive."
"You're riding shotgun," I pointed at Gally.
"Lovebirds get the back seat," Fry replied. We got into the car. Fry was driving. "Got something on your mind, Gally?"
"You're dating Thomas?" Gally asked as he turned around in his seat. "When did this happen?"
"A month and a half ago," I replied. "Vince doesn't even know."
"So he was talking about Newt before you left," Gally nodded. I nodded. "Why Thomas?"
"We don't know," I shrugged as I looked at Thomas. "It just kind of happened."
"Right," Gally sighed.
"You and Fry are the only ones that know," I stated. "Minho doesn't even know."
"Wow," Gally replied. We rode in silence. I laid in Thomas' side as he slept. "Ever wondered how it would be if Newt was here?" I looked at him. "Do you miss him?"
"Every day," I replied. I handed Gally my book. "On the last page, there's a ring taped to it." Gally turned to the last page. "Newt made that ring. He was going to ask me to marry him." Gally handed me the book back and I put it in my bag. "It would be different if Newt was here. We would be married and the whole gang would be together on this journey." Something blew up a couple feet to our right, causing Thomas to jump. "That's not good."
A bomb went off in front of us. "Fry!" Thomas exclaimed as Frypan tried to swerve, causing the car to flip over. "Alessia?"
"I'm fine!" I exclaimed.
"Come on," Thomas stated. We got out of the car and grabbed the backpacks. I got out a gun out of mine and Thomas got out his. Seems like bombs were exploding around us. "Run!" Thomas grabbed my let hand with his right as we started running. "Is it bombs or are we being shot at?"
"It's a plane," I replied as I pointed to my ear. "You can hear it."
"Are they dropping bombs?" Fry asked.
"I think they're shooting missiles," I responded. We found cover under a platform. "They don't seem to be a good aim so I think we're good."
"Does your magic bag contain anything?" Thomas asked.
"Just let me check," I replied with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't pack my grenade launcher!"
"Noted," Thomas nodded. A car pulled up. I got behind Thomas. "Who are you"
"Come with me if you want to live," he stated. "That WCKD plane will eventually hit their target."
"We wanna trust this guy?" Gally asked as the guy took off his bandana to reveal his face. "Should we?"
"You don't have to but you should ask Alessia," he nodded.
"Get in his car," I nodded. We got in and he drove us to a location. A warehouse that's not on anyone's radar. I grabbed my book from my bag. "I'll be back, okay?"
"Be careful," Thomas replied.
"I'll be fine," I nodded. I went to go see the guy in his room. "Hey."
"Alessia," he walked up to me. He opened his arms for a hug. "How's my little sis doing?"
"I'm not welcoming you back with open arms until you answer my questions," I crossed my arms. "You left without saying anything to anybody, Brian O'Conner. You left me. Why?"
"I had to get WCKD off your trail," Brian responded. "When those boys showed up, I knew it wouldn't be long till WCKD found us."
"Well, we were found," I nodded. I looked at him as he put his arms down. "Don't leave me again."
"Your first boyfriend seems to be taking good care of you," Brian replied.
"He's not my first," I replied.
"Who was your first?"
"Here," I nodded as I handed him my book. Brian started flipping through it. "His name was Newt."
"What happened to him?"
"He was infected," I sighed. "There was nothing I could do about it. I didn't even know he was infected."
"I thought they were supposed to be ---"
"Immune."
"How long were you together?"
"Three years and two months before I lost him. Luckily, I'm the one who can remember the good memories. I didn't see him turn. I miss him though."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too," I nodded as Brian got to the last page. "He was going to propose with that ring he made. I would've said yes." Brian handed me my book back. "Come on." We started walking. "What about you? I see signs of a child but no girl."
"She was killed by WCKD," Brian nodded.
"And the kid?"
"I had to --- he was infected."
"Brian, I'm so sorry," I looked at him. "What about the rest of the crew?"
"We kinda split ways after Mia," Brian replied. "I was lucky to have been reunited with you in the Right Arm."
"Yeah," I sighed as we got to the rest of my friends. "You said the plane was WCKD. How do you know?"
"Everybody gets their intel one way or another," Brian replied. "Janson is still alive."
"That's not possible," Thomas stood up. "He died. Teresa and I took him out."
"Seriously?" Gally asked. "The girl even said Newt had time."
"We don't have the time to argue," I replied. We heard a car outside. "Brian, you know anyone out there?"
"No," Brian nodded.
"Hide," Thomas stated. We hid. I hid behind the column near the door. I had my gun in my hand as the door opened. Thomas was next to me. "Ready?"
"Do not shoot and ask question later," I whispered. I got out from behind the column holding my gun in front of me. "Take another step and I shoot."
"Don't shoot," Minho replied as he raised his hands up.
"Minho," I replied as I set my gun on the table. I ran up to him and hugged him. "What changed your mind?"