Scorched // Thomas (The Scorch Trials)

VIII

The next morning, Thomas was the first to wake up. He noticed a crow pecking at something of theirs and said, "Hey! Get out of here!"

Minho's eyes opened and he asked, "Are they gone?"

Thomas stood up and looked around. "Yeah, I think we're safe for now. Okay, we should get moving. Let's pack it up. Aris, come on. Fry, Winston. Let's go."

He offered a hand to Ariella and she accepted. He pulled her up with ease and she rubbed her tired eyes, blinking in the sunlight.

They stepped into the open to see a demolished city. "What the hell happened to this place?"

"I don't know." Newt answered. "It doesn't look like anyone's been here in a long time."

"I hope the whole world's not like this."

Thomas, who was trailing in the back with Ariella, heard a noise above and said, "Hang on, stop. Do you hear that?"

They listened to hear a plane. "Get down!" Thomas cried. "Everybody, hide! Hide! Hide!"

He ducked into a crevice. "Get in here. In here, in here!"

"Oh, shit."

Once the plane passed, one Glader said, "They're never gonna stop looking for us, are they?"

Thomas didn't answer. Instead, he climbed out and they started climbing up a mountain of bricks.

"Everyone good?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah."

"A little further, guys."

They reached sand dunes and noticed mountains in the distance. "Those mountains, that's gotta be it. That's where we're going."

Newt looked out at the mountains. "That's a long way off."

"Then we better get moving."

Winston stepped forward and fell to the ground. He was struggling to breathe and they got him on a stretcher. Ariella ripped her shirt and rebandaged his wound. "It's the least I can do right now."

Thomas kissed her cheek and they started walking through the desert. Soon, the wind started picking up, and dust was flying in their faces.

When it calmed down, they managed to find a place to rest. While the others sat, Ariella tended to Winston. She didn't have a lot of medical supplies, so there wasn't a lot she could do.

She made her way to Thomas and Teresa to hear that she remembered things from her past.

Teresa turned to see Ariella and smiled. "I remember the first time they brought you in. I was taller than both of you then. And faster."

Ariella frowned. "I don't know. I'm pretty fast."

Teresa continued. "And I remember why we were there. We thought we could fix all this. I think we should go back."

Ariella narrowed her eyes as Thomas asked, "What?"

"Just listen to me."

"What are you talking about? Go back? After everything they've done to us. Ari's mom put her in the maze."

"No, it's not that simple." Teresa protested.

"Yeah, I think it is that simple."

Ariella crossed her arms as Thomas said, "What don't I understand?"

"Everything was fine until you..."

"What?"

Teresa closed her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing."

Thomas frowned. "Teresa, what aren't you telling us?"

The sound of a gunshot caught their attention and they heard the guys yelling. "Hey!"

"Guys, get down here!"

"Winston, what are you doing, man?"

They ran over to see Winston hunched over. He puked up something and lifted up his shirt. His abdomen was a disgusting black and purple color. Black veins seemed to be moving across his body. "It's growing...inside me." He paused. "I'm not gonna make it. Please. Please. Don't let me turn into one of those things."

Newt handed the gun to Winston and Thomas said, "Wait, Newt..."

"Now, get outta here."

"Goodbye, Winston." Newt said softly.

Several boys said their goodbyes, and soon, the only ones left were Thomas and Ariella. Winston looked at them and smiled. "It's okay."

"I'm sorry." Thomas said.

"Thomas. Take care of them."

Thomas knew Ariella would want to stay and help, since that was her job as a Med-Jack, so he pulled her away.

Tears started streaming down her face and then they heard a single gunshot. They stopped, remembering their friend.

Thomas turned to Ariella. "It's not your fault. You did everything you could. He was already infected."

Ariella choked back a sob and nodded as she linked her arms through Thomas'.