Wastelands → Newt [Movie Trilogy]

28 → "NOT FEELING LIKE MYSELF"

28 → "NOT FEELING LIKE MYSELF"

Newt found her. She was seated on the roof ledge, staring at her feet. As he neared, Newt suddenly faltered. But, Adeline had sensed him from behind her. Adeline peered back at Newt. She grimaced. Newt stepped closer, watching her closely, for any signs that she might snap at him as well. But, she didn't. Newt settled beside her.

"I'm sorry." Adeline fiddled with the end of the sleeve to her jacket as she said that. "I'm not feeling like myself."

Newt reached for her hand. Adeline jerked it away. Newt ignored the twinge in his gut as she did. Something was wrong. He knew something was — her behavior with Thomas, and the fact she pulled her hand away from him, more than confirmed it.

"Adeline, what aren't you telling me?" Newt stared at her for a long moment. He watched as she continued to fidget with the end of her jacket sleeve.

"I guess I can't hide this from you anymore." Adeline sighed.

"What do you mean?"

Newt watched as the brown haired girl rolled up the sleeve on her right arm, before doing the same with her left leg. And once she did, he saw the blackened veins on her arm, the deep scratch on her leg. And his heart dropped in his chest at the sight of it.

"I'm infected, Newt." There was a flash of sadness in her eyes at those words. Newt felt suddenly sick at this news. Newt grabbed her hand, and Adeline let him this time.

"The tunnel before the last City ..." Newt realised. "When the Crank got your leg."

Adeline nodded, before she buried her face into his shoulder. Tears were pooling in her eyes. She wiped a tear as it streamed down her cheek.

"I'm sorry." Newt apologized, although he wasn't sure why he was sorry. Sorry, that they lived in a world where the virus existed? Sorry that she got infected?

"Stop saying sorry." Adeline's voice cracked. "I don't want this to be real."

"Neither do I."

"I thought I was immune." Tears welled in her eyes once more as she said that. "I thought that was why they wanted me. Why they wanted to drain me six months ago. I guess I was wrong. I'm not immune. I obviously can't be if I'm infected."

Newt held her for a long while. He muttered sweet nothings to her, muttered reassuring her everything would be OK. Adeline remained silent. After a while, Newt got to his feet, but Adeline wanted to be alone for a while. Newt agreed to her wishes.