release // control sequel

epilouge.

January 3rd, 2003

     Thomas kicked at the dirty clothes on the floor, freezing when he saw a crumpled hoodie on the ground. He bent down and picked it up, holding the fabric to his face. It still smelled like Newt.

     Thomas closed his eyes as he held the fabric tighter. He would kill for Newt to get mad at him and kick his legs or refuse him cuddles. Thomas would give anything to have Newt call him pretty boy and keep him awake with the soft kisses he pressed all over his chest. There was a Newt sized hole in his heart and no amount of like smelling hoodies could fill it.

     Thomas took the hoodie and laid on his bed, formerly their bed, and clutched it tight to his chest. Newt's pillow still smelled like him, Thomas refused to move it. He wouldn't go near the left side of the bed. Five months. Thomas was without Newt for five months and he didn't feel okay at all.

     The guilt ate away at him day after day, he barely ate or left the room for that matter. He was skinner than he was before he came to the school.

     The room was supposed to be their safe space, like nothing bad could touch them in the room. With Newt gone, it just felt like any old room, it wasn't a home.

     Thomas was startled with a soft knock on the door.

     "Yeah?" He croaked out. He didn't even remember when he started crying.

     The door creaked open and El peaked her head in. "Can I come in?"

     Thomas wiped his eyes and nodded, sitting up on the bed. "What's up?"

     El played with the hem of her shirt. "I think I have an idea."

     Thomas cocked his head, indicating for her to carry on.

     "Do you know Kitty?"

     "No."

     El let out a breath and held out her hand. "Follow me."

     Thomas took it and followed her. El was always a very pretty girl but she looked like shit. Thomas guessed she learned how to live with Kis, but she didn't know how to go on without her. They took a detour so they didn't pass Minho's room, it hurt too much. The school halls seemed gloomy and dark now, like nothing was the same without their three friends.

     El stopped in front of Hank's lab. She gave Thomas a half smile before pushing it open.
Everyone was there, the professor, Hank and a small girl Thomas assumed was Kitty. They were surrounding some weird looking medical table thing that made Thomas feel uneasy.

     "What's going on?"

     X looked up at Thomas, beckoning him closer. When he stepped closer the professor gave him an unreadable look. "Thomas, I don't need to tell you what you already know, so due to the outcome the infiltration of WICKED hosted five month ago, I believe that we all can agree that it was a failure."

     Thomas nodded, feeling his heart clench.

     "I know you punish yourself enough for it, I'm not here to yell at you."

     "Good to know," Thomas said softly as he looked at the man he idolized. Somehow the words he was saying made him feel better.

     "I think we've come up with a solution."

     "A solution to what?" Thomas asked, feeling utter confusion. A solution to his grief? There was no way he'd get over the loss of his friends and he'd never stop thinking about Newt.

     "A solution to the mission's outcome. I think we have a way to reverse what happened that night."

     Thomas felt his heart skip a beat. "H-how?"

     The three exchanged an unsettling look.

     "Well my dear boy, we're going to send you back in time."