Maze Runner Reprise: Path of Truth

Chapter 19: Another Glader

WCKD Facility

Thomas brought his dry lips to a closed fist and leans against the table. It was almost ten in the evening yet he hasn't left his computer screen. With his brows furrowed and eye lids blinking twice every now and then, the young boy was deep in thought. It's almost been two months since he was separated from his partner to join the Gladers of Group A. His partner was Mia.

"Why did it have to be you?" Thomas mumbled, scrolling down to the list of Gladers in Group A. The room was so cold he could see his breath fogged up the clear augmented reality screen. His thoughts were then interrupted when a glass door slid open.

"Get some rest, Thomas" the hunk spun his spinning chair and saw another one of his considered friends in the building. His elbow created a sticky, scratchy sound as he dragged it against the tabletop. "I thought you were with Aris"

The red head grabbed an extra seat to face him while he averted his gaze back on the screen, "He's asleep and I wondered where you were. Turns out you never left this room." she aided, looking around the empty chasm.

"I'm just worried about Mia" Thomas added

"If there's one thing I know about her is that she's strong and that she can take care of herself" Rachel denoted playing with her fingertips.

"Yeah but she's reckless at times" the older boy let out a promising sigh making Rachel ponder if Thomas noticed how hypocritical he started sounding like. Rachel too cares about Mia as much as Thomas and Aris there was no denying that. She deemed her as a younger sister or a bestfriend like no other. She too loved her to pieces. The day Ava Paige took Mia away from them she and Aris bawled their eyes out, screamed in a manner that most employees in the facility were irritated. Rachel remembered it loud and clear. Two protected guards in silly looking black amours held her and Aris back, Thomas was different. Four were assigned to keep him away from Mia, one even pointed a stun gun at him like he was a criminal who robbed a bank.

Thomas shrieked so thunderous he could actually break the stained glass, a sharp ringing noise roaring in their ear canal as an aftermath. The next thing they noticed was the raven head shot with the stun gun, the loud sounds simmered down to a meek voice. Aris and Rachel's eyes widened up a bit as they saw their friend with one knee of the ground. He was still crying Mia's name like a broken record.
His face still had a shade of red, that's what Thomas all had to offer until he completely blackened out. After that haunting scene Rachel knew that no one would ever love Mia as much as Thomas does.

"You really love her, don't you?" rubbing her palms against one another after recalling a tremendous past. Thomas nodded with no hesitation.

"She was the only one who understood me, the least I could do was to stop her from drawing attention to herself"

"We see her everyday through the help of the Beetle Blades..." the wavy haired girl tried convincing him to go straight to bed. Thomas didn't get enough sleep for the past days his bags were completely visible.

"Sure Rachel but that doesn't changed the fact that they took her from me, from us" he pressed, nibbling on his thumb fingernails. After a few moments of silence the same glass door slid open again.

"I knew I'd find you two here" the two teens turned around and saw the person they least likely to see in situations such as this. "Hello Tom, and Rachel?" the other girl clarified gaping her straight in the pupils.

Rachel inaudibly bobbed as the newly arrived lass motioned towards Thomas and powered off the computer. She crossed her arms and dealt with the two who were consistently calm with their behinds stuck to the chairs. "You still have work tomorrow. Off to your bunks"

It was a miracle that Thomas didn't pass her a dirty expression and stood up. His little actions made Rachel followed him instantly. As they were about to head to the doors, Teresa halted them and handed a folder with few crumpled papers inside. The boy's heart sank to the depths of the ocean, he knew what this folder was for and so does Rachel. They've done this over and over he didn't have to question the giver.

"I'll be sure to check on this" he timidly said scraping his left cheek bone. His hands were shaking.

"Okay. Goodnight" Teresa leans forward expecting a kiss but none was given. She slowly pulls away and brings her foot heels back to he ground

"Night" Thomas simply replied. He gently pushes an open palm on his companion's back to signal her that it's time to leave the room. Teresa was left dumbfounded, scanned her personal ID on the card reader to secure the room. Little do they know, she does feel guilty for what she is doing. Slightly, she just wants to gain Thomas' trust.

Upon returning to their chambers, Aris was sound asleep like what Rachel foretold. He was facing the walls of the room with his blanket covering a portion of his head. The only girl smiled and adjusted the cloth a little lower to cover-up his exposed leg.

"Hey Rachel. Thanks for today" the hunky lead climbed on top of the two level bunk. "And thanks for understanding how much Mia means to me"

"That's what friends are for" she headed to the bathroom after that.

Thomas yawned softly as he opened the folder Teresa accorded to him. He's eyes browsed up and down the informations while he let his fingers flip though the pages that was sealed properly.
"Charles" he mentioned the name

"Named after Charles Darwin, a 12 years old boy" he continued running his tips on the words. A bitter tear escaped his orbs. There was another pang on his chest. How cruel can they get? This was by far the youngest kid they were going to send to the Glade, in Thomas' case at least. He wiped his tears dry and slammed this body on the mattress.

"Forgive me, Charles and be a good friend to Mia" those were the last words that came out of his lips and lulled himself to sleep.