Wastelands → Newt [Movie Trilogy]

24 → "CAN'T RISK IT"

24 → "CAN'T RISK IT"

Adeline fell a sleep around 10 o'clock, but Newt stayed awake for a short while after. As he left her alone to sleep peacefully, for the first time in six months, Newt limped around, searching for Frypan, who he found seated by the edge of where the sand met the main land, a cup in hand as he sat, almost as if lost in his own thoughts — like he too was now processing the mainly successful, but also failed, rescue mission. Newt settled beside the Cook.

"Hey man." Fry turned to the boy. "How's the girlie holding up?"

"She's putting on a brave front." Newt huffed. "I don't know what those bloody lugs did to her — to them, or are doing to Minho, but Adeline's not the same."

"Yeah, I can't imagine what they've done." Frypan admitted.

"I know." Newt sighed. "And that's what I wanted to talk about. About Minho. Look, I have every reason to believe that Tommy is gonna ignore the orders of Vince about going to the Last City. And I have every right to believe that he will go alone, knowing the shank."

"Yeah, I know how the shuck - face thinks. And, knowing you, you will follow him." Frypan turned to meet his gaze. Newt gave something in between a grimace, nodding. "Look, man, I'm with you one - hundred percent if you're going to try get Minho back from the shanks who sent us up into that Maze for three years, but I'm also Adeline's friend, and know that you won't let her go with us after everything that has happened to the the poor girl. And that's not fair on her."

"I know." Newt huffed. "I know it's not bloody fair on her, Fry. We can't tell her, either, because she will still try. And I can't risk her gettin' caught again."

"Are you sure you wanna do this, man? You just got Adeline back." Frypan pointed out. Newt huffed.

"I don't wanna leave her here after everythin', but we gotta save Minho, and I'm not riskin' Adeline's life — can't let her get caught by WICKED again. I won't." Newt stated. Frypan stared at his feet, then nodded.

"Good that." Frypan agreed.

—

Adeline felt the hammock tip slightly, causing her to wake from her — thankfully nightmare less — slumber. As soon as she had felt the hammock tip, waking her up in the process, she heard the sound of footsteps, then whispers.

"Hey, Newt?" Adeline recognised the voice to belong to Frypan, which was lowered to a hushed whisper. "Ya ready?"

"Almost." Newt whispered back. "Ya got our packs?"

"In the storage room." Frypan responded.

"Good that." Newt responded. "I'll meet ya there, 'kay?"

"Good that." Frypan replied, before Adeline made out the hollow footsteps, obviously from Frypan's boots, as he wandered away towards the storage room. It was almost pitch black, so Newt couldn't see that Adeline was awake, curled up on her side. As she laid there, pretending to be asleep inside the hammock that she'd shared with Newt for the last few hours of the night, she almost jumped when Newt placed his hand over hers, gave it a squeeze, before he placed a kiss to her forehead.

"I don't wanna leave you here." Newt whispered. "But we gotta get Minho, and I can't risk losin' you again, love."

Adeline blinked, staring at the darkness. She couldn't believe what he was doing — going to save Minho, leaving her behind here. From what she'd overheard, she knew that Vince was eager to get to some place — the Safe Haven, as he'd said. What if they didn't come back and they — the survivors — left for the Safe Haven, without them? Adeline, when she was sure he was gone, quickly swung her legs over the side, put on and laced up her boots, then rushed away from the area of the hammocks. She managed to catch up, quietly and carefully, following behind Newt as he made his way towards the storage room. Newt disappeared inside, and as she approached the storage room, she heard rustling from inside. A few chuckles. But, when both boys began to approach the door, Adeline backed away and hid around the corner, thankfully both boys not realising she was following them, before she moved away from the wall and continued to secretly follow them. They stopped at a parked jeep, Frypan clambering at the drivers side, whilst Newt leans against it. In the moment it took for them to do this, Adeline heard more footsteps, hiding once more.

"Where do you think you're going, then?" Newt's voice breaks out through the silence, then a lamplight flickers on, and someone — Thomas — comes to a stop.

"Newt ..." Thomas mumbles. "I ..."

"Don't be a bloody twat about it." Newt states. "I'm already in. Come on."

Adeline watches as Newt takes Thomas' backpack. As she hides, eavesdropping, Adeline tries to find the time and figure out a way to question Newt's actions — on leaving her here — but Thomas protests, preventing her from speaking up. "No. No, Newt. Not this time. Look, even if we find Minho, there's no guarantee we make it back from this."

"Well, you'll need all the help you can get then, won't you?" Newt challenges. The drivers door swings open, revealing Frypan. Newt hands Thomas' pack to Frypan. "Well, we started this together. May as well end it that way, too."

"Guys, I'm serious, you can't —" Thomas protests, then looks to Newt. "What about Adeline, Newt? You just got her back, and now you wanna join me to save Minho?"

Suddenly, before Newt can reply, Adeline's feet react before her mind seemingly does, and she steps into sight in front of the three boys. Newt realises first, his mouth dropping, eyes widening. Frypan stares at the girl, whilst Thomas swivels around on his feet, eyes darting from Newt to Adeline.

"He's right." Adeline's voice breaks out, motioning to Thomas. "What about me?"

Newt stares at her, caught in the act. His eyes widen, realising that Adeline had woken up, and knew that he was leaving her behind to go find Minho. "Did you think you could leave without me?"

"Adeline, you can't —"

"Stop." She snaps at him. "I don't give a shuck that you want me to stay behind. I'm comin' with you three. As you said, Newt, 'we started this together'. Do you forget that I escaped the Maze, too?"

"Adeline, I'm not riskin' you getting caught again—"

"I understand why you're worried." Adeline moved towards the blonde boy, taking his hand in hers. She squeezed them in reassurance. "They took me for six months — but, they still have Minho. And you know what Minho did for you back in the Maze, Newt. Well, you're not the only one with a reason to save him — besides the fact he's our friend, of course. Minho — he saved me back with WICKED. That's why I'm joining. To make it up to him."

After some persuading to Newt and Thomas, they agreed. Although, Newt reluctantly did so. Adeline clambered into the back of the jeep.