Divided // The Death Cure [Book 3]

TWENTY-THREE

"Newt?" Thomas softly asked as his friend's back was turned to him. Newt slowly turned around and held an animal-like expression in his eyes. His eyeballs were bloodshot and a dark liquid was oozing out of his mouth, staining his lips.

"Newt..." Thomas repeated before his friend leapt forward with a growl. He was just in time to jump aside and Newt crashed to the floor. He didn't stay down for long though as he got back to his feet and took another attempt to attack Thomas. "Newt, it's me!" 

The Flare had reached Newt's brain and he couldn't think for himself anymore. The beast inside him had been awakened and was now taking over his entire body.

Newt jumped to clasp his hands around Thomas's throat but Thomas pushed him off, losing his balance in the process. He fell on his back on the floor and Newt jumped on top of him. Thomas rolled over in an attempt to throw Newt off. 

In the meantime, Leah had reached the Berg with Minho and Gally. "Brenda, the serum!" she shouted and Brenda tossed it in her direction. Leah knew Thomas had told her to stay here but she refused to sit around and wait when she could be the one to save Newt. Or, at least, prolong the inevitable until Teresa could help them cure him.

She whipped back and Minho and Gally barely had the chance to go after her. "Leah!" They sprinted after the red-haired girl who was determined to save her best friend. She dashed through the war zone and miraculously didn't get hit by the soldiers furiously shooting at each other. 

Newt sat on his hands and knees for a second, breathing heavily as a sliver of dark saliva dripped from his mouth. "Tommy!" he growled. "Kill me!" 

Thomas believed for a second that his friend was back, but he was wrong as Newt took another leap and threw Thomas on the ground again. Newt tried with all of his might to wrap his hands around Thomas's throat, but Thomas was slightly stronger and managed to take Newt's forearms in his hands to push him off. "Newt, please!" he pleaded, but as a response, he received nothing but dangerous growls and grunts.

Thomas continued trying to calm his friend down but nothing seemed to work. "Newt!" he heard a female voice exclaim and Newt froze. His breathing steadied slightly. It was Leah, and she held the serum in her hands. 

"Leah?" Newt breathed and turned to face his best friend.  

 "Newt, it's me. I have the serum," she smiled hopefully and held the serum in his direction. Newt turned back to Thomas. 

"I'm sorry, Tommy," he breathed softly. "I'm sorry."

Thomas let out a sigh. "It's okay, it's okay." He patted Newt's hand on his chest. 

"Newt, I have the serum here. Please, let go of Thomas," Leah said softly and slowly approached the pair.

Something inside Newt's eyes shifted again and he whipped out the gun attached to his thigh. He loaded it, took off the safety and held it to his temple.

"NO!" Thomas beat the gun out of Newt's hand. The gun bounced on the ground and remained still a few feet away. Newt let out an animalistic cry and Thomas shoved him off of him. 

"Thomas!" Leah exclaimed, moving to step forward. 

"NO, STAY BACK!" Thomas shouted and Leah froze. 

Newt rolled aside and sat still for a second before his hand moved to the knife in his belt. He jumped to his feet and thrust toward Leah, but Thomas grabbed his arm and harshly pulled him away from her. 

Newt growled and lashed out with the knife. He nearly hit Thomas's face, but he was in time to duck. Newt pushed him to the ground and pointed the end of the knife at Thomas's chest, pushing it down with all his might. Thomas fought him with everything he had left but he wasn't strong enough. The knife pierced his skin and he let out a pained scream as he felt the blade sink inches into his skin.