Conflicted

✩Chapter 17- Waiting✩

Our footsteps fell into sync eventually. The limp was even matched, stride for stride.

He wanted to comfort me in some way, I could almost feel the urge radiating off of him. But I didn't let him. My mind had gone to that dark, lonely place, a place where if you didn't tread carefully, the vicious jaws of despair and grief would tear you apart, limb from limb.

We walked. And walked. And walked.

I only followed the sound of the other Gladers footsteps, as I stared off into space.

Teresa.

Why would she do this? From what Minho had told me, the Group B girls surrounded them, took Thomas and left. Not without protest, of course. And Teresa's tattoo had the words, "Subject A1, The Betrayer." Well, she lived up to that title.

But I could sense that her intentions weren't bad, but they came off in the wrong way. What I wasn't so sure about was if Teresa would actually kill Thomas or not. Would she go that far?

~

I saw light up ahead. The boys started hollering and whooping like the boys they are, and started sprinting towards the light source. Even Minho started jogging. It wasn't a dim cavern light, like the one the crystal cavern had been washed in, but actual, real sunlight.

I squinted my eyes as we stepped outside. I sure was glad to see the sun, but after being in that mountain for so long, the brightness hurt.

Minho picked up the pace, and eventually everyone was jogging. Then he paused abruptly. So abruptly, in fact, the Gladers almost did the domino effect.

"What the hell, Minho!" someone shouted.

"Shut your shuck face!" Minho growled, whirling around dramatically.

"What's wrong?" I yelled. He had obviously stopped for a reason.

"We're here," he said simply.

"What?" several Gladers had shouted, including myself and Jorge.

"You heard me, you slintheads. We're here," Minho said, pointing to the ground.

All that was there was a small flag that said, "Safe Haven."

"Well, we're screwed," this came from Frypan, of course.

I couldn't help but agree.

~

We didn't know what else to do. So we sat. And waited. Minho, Newt, Jorge, and I sat right next to the tiny flag. It was ironic, because how could something so simple crush all of our hope?

Minho was talking about how maybe WICKED would pick us up, since we were an hour early, until someone hollered an alarm. More people were coming. Girls, to be more specific. And a whole lot of them.

Group B.

And to our most glorious relief, Thomas was with them. Alive.

I refrained from going up to the group approaching and hugging Thomas and punching Teresa, because for some reason I felt like Teresa's intentions were good, even if they didn't come off that way. I was also mad at Thomas, for getting himself into that kind of situation. I wonder, what did he do to stay alive?

Also to my most utter surprise, the boys did not attempt to attack the girls, who had very hostile and defensive poses, except for the two leaders. Or I assumed they were the leaders, at least.

"Teresa," Minho growled, his voice bland, the hostility in it loud and clear.

"Minho," Teresa nodded, her voice icy cold.

While the two had a stare-off, the two leaders of the girls pushed Thomas forward, sending him stumbling into the Gladers.

The one with red hair spoke up, "We're sorry for our rude introduction. We're group B, and I'm assuming your group A?"

She moved on before anyone could answer.

"I'm Sonya, this is Harriet. We're the leaders of this band of girls... I mean, before your Teresa chick showed up," Sonya whispered, jabbing her thumb in the direction of Teresa.

After playing catch-up, the boys actually got along pretty well with the girls. No ripping each others faces off, no sulking around each other and avoiding eye contact. I didn't feel like talking to anyone though, so I sat down by myself.

Was WICKED going to pick us up? It's been well over 30 minutes since we arrived.

And that's when the ground started to move.

~

I'm so sorry, this chapter was extremely boring! This was sort of a quick filler which connected the last chapter and the next chapter, which would be confusing without this little filler haha. But yes, sadly, if you know the plotline of TST, this story is coming to a close soon. But no fear! There is a sequel planned, taking place in TDC, so it's not really ending, not yet. Thank you for your continued support, and 300 reads? That's crazy!

Much love, Kalespia