The Return

Chapter 2

Thomas lay there that night next to Brenda, reflecting on all the events that ever happened since the day he came out of that cold, dark box in the glade. Although Thomas had experienced many bad things throughout his time as WICKED's "experiment" he had made many life long friends.

Thomas woke up to the sound of chopping wood. He saw Brenda who had somehow during the night moved right up against his chest, and was laying there in a clump. Thomas felt a rush of heat rise into his cheeks, he had never experienced being so close to a girl before, he didn't know if he liked it or not either. Brenda started to stir and opened her eyes, "morning."

"Morning to you too"

"What's that sound"

"I think Minho's got someone to start chopping wood in the forest"

As soon as Thomas said that he saw his friend jog towards them,

"Rise and shine lovebirds, ready for a new day, new life in this shuck place?"

Brenda smiled at Minho's mention of "lovebirds" but Thomas wasn't smiling. "We're not lovebirds slinthead"

"Well it looks that way to me Tom" Minho gestured to us,

"you're lying there like a newly married couple, makes me want to puke all over you."

At that Thomas got up and saw a little bit of disappointment in Brenda's face. It was still too fresh, everything he'd been through, he wasn't ready to settle down just yet.

"Anyway shuck heads I've assigned jobs to people from group B and the rest of the gladers, Brenda, you're in charge of first aid and Thomas, you're with me today. Like old times in the glade."

"Yeah fun times" Minho gave Thomas an uneasy look and said,

"Look I know this is hard, loosing all your friends and all, but just remember we're the leaders here shuck face, you've got to put whatever's going on in that shuck brain of yours behind you. We have to show these people that everything is fine. It's a new life here and we can't take it for granted"

"It's not that easy Minho, you don't understand, even though Teresa betrayed me it still hurts that I've lost her! She saved my shuck life and she died doing just that!" Thomas didn't know where this surge of anger was coming from but he was angry, angry at Minho, angry at Teresa and especially, especially angry with WICKED.

"I do understand shuck face! I do! Leaving Newt was the hardest thing I ever remember doing! He was like a shuck brother to me, and now he's gone! He's probably feeding off

some shuck human body! It kills me to think he was left to slowly go crazy!"

A pang of guilt struck Thomas, the thought of Newt was too much. It was his fault, he killed him. If we were to ever venture out of this place and Minho's goal was to find his buddy, it wouldn't be possible. He's gone. Forever. Minho gave him a questioning look, "do you know something Tom? Are you hiding something from me? Cause if you don't tell me I'll smash your shuck face!" Thomas didn't know what to do he just stared blankly at Minho, fighting back tears that tried to trickle down his cheek. "HE'S DEAD! He's dead too, OKAY? And do you want to know why Newt's dead Minho? It's because I killed him, it's my shuck fault that he's DEAD!" Thomas didn't know what possessed him, he dropped to the ground and started wailing like he was dying. He cried and cried and cried just like he did in the maze after the last griever fell off the side of the cliff. Brenda bent down to reassure him but he shrugged her hand away and yelled at her. She looked hurt and Thomas felt guilty but he kept crying and she walked away.