The Memoriam Files: Hearts ✔

| Chapter 39, Paradise

|Hold me now, 'til the fear is leaving. I am barely breathing

|Song: Hold me now, Red

|||

Lisa's P.O.V.

Brenda and I stumbled into a small shed. My eyes slightly widened as I noticed the shed was filled with all kinds of equipment. Shovels, rope, buckets and even a few tiny bags that seemed to contain seeds. Gladers were walking in and out, carrying the stuff outside. And when Frypan took the last box away, silence filled the little shed and for a second that seemed to last forever, all I could hear was my own breathing. My eyes landed on Minho who stood in the dooropening with Dawn's lifeless body still in his arms.

I turned around, frowning at the silver screen as I watched Thomas stumble through. He was alone but Teresa had been with him. Then his eyes landed on Dawn and he abruptly stopped walking.

'Teresa?' Brenda whispered.

Thomas gave a slight shake of his head and whispered Dawn's name in return. This time it was my turn to shake my head. And even though I had never seen eye to eye with Teresa it still stung to lose her. Once I wished her dead, but we'd lost enough people and now her death was hurting me.

Brenda took a sharp breath before walking towards the control panel on the side of the Flat Trans. She started pushing a few buttons and I knew immediately what she was up to, she was going to destroy the Flat Trans.

'You three get out,' she said with urgency in her voice. 'I have to do one last thing.'

'My shuck brain can't spend one more second thinking. Just let her do whatever she wants,' Minho said to Thomas who was staring numbly ahead of him.

My feet carried me forwards and I placed my hand on his shoulder. He shivered, his eyes slowly turning to me. 'Come on,' I whispered.

The first thing I noticed once I stepped outside of the shed was the smell of something salt and the sound of waves hitting the shore. Frowning I turned to my left and a small gasp left my lips. On my left stretched out an ocean, disappearing into the horizon, as far as I could see. The waves were calmly hitting the shore, creating a peaceful sound that somehow calmed my aching heart.

We stood at the top of a hill above a field of tall grass and flowers. To our right the hill descended into a valley of trees that seemed to stretch out just as far as the sea, ending in a wall of mountains that stood proudly against the clear blue sky. Not the same brown, dry mountains we'd seen in the Scorch. These were breathtaking, grey mountains with snow at their tops.

I hadn't even dared to dream places like these still excisted.

All the people we'd rescued were walking around, jumping and cheering in happiness. While most of the Gladers were standing a few feet away from us, as if waiting for Thomas to tell them what to do.

Next to me I heard Minho let out a low whistle as he looked around but as my eyes fell on him I noticed he looked tired. His trademark smirk was gone.

The sound of a door closing made me turn around. Brenda came walking out of the shed just as flames started eating away the wood. 'Just making sure?' Thomas asked.

She nodded. 'Just making sure.'

A soft nudge against my shoulder made me turn to look at Minho and he nodded towards my sisters body that he was still holding in his arms. I offered him a small smile, walking towards the pile of equipment from the shed and taking two shovels, before sending the others a look and walking after him towards the tree line.