Scorched // Thomas (The Scorch Trials)

XVI

"Teresa..." Thomas began, realizing what she had done.

"Please don't fight them, Thomas. Please, Ariella."

"What have you done?" Thomas asked. "What have you done?"

The whirring got louder and Thomas and Ariella ran back to the ground.

"No!" Thomas cried as a plane loomed closer to the camp.

The plane fired, and part of the camp lit up in a bright orange blaze.

Cars blew up and people dropped and started tasing the kids from the maze.

The Gladers couldn't find Thomas or Ariella, so they immediately went to help and soon, were loading guns to shoot them.

Thomas and Ariella ran to look for Brenda and saw that the medical tent was on fire. "Brenda!" Thomas called.

"You dumbasses." Brenda said, pulling Thomas. He pulled Ariella as Brenda yelled, "Come on!" They ducked behind a car with Jorge. "Are you trying to get yourselves killed?"

"We have to go. Now, while we still have the chance." Jorge said.

Ariella frowned. "We need to find our friends."

Thomas stood up to move and Jorge grabbed his collar. "No! Look! Look. You two can't help them."

Their friends were in deep trouble, between gunfire and all the insanity going on. One of the guards threw a taser bomb into the truck Vince was in and it went off, tasing everyone around the truck.

Thomas sat in defeat, his back to the car. Ariella took his hand and stroked the back of it. "I'm sorry." Jorge said. "There's nothing either of you can do for them. If we don't move now, we won't be much better off."

Thomas slowly looked up at Brenda and Jorge. "You guys gotta go right now."

"What?" Brenda asked in disbelief.

"They're not looking for you. You'll be safe, but you have to go now."

"Thomas..."

"We can't leave without them."

"Go." Ariella encouraged.

"Good luck, kids." Jorge said. "Bren, we have to go. Come on. Come on. Let's go, come on. Come on!" He helped Brenda up and the two of them left.

Thomas noticed a bag and he and Ariella shared a look.

"Where's Thomas? Where's Ariella?" Janson asked.

"Right here." They answered.

"Freeze!" A guard said.

Thomas and Ariella walked up to Janson. "Thomas. Ariella. Get them in line." The two of them were forced down and put in line.

"Okay." Janson said. "Bring her in."

"Why didn't you two run?" Minho asked.

"I'm tired of running." Thomas answered.

Ariella smirked. "Besides; I'm pretty sure we'll get out again."

Minho frowned. "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

"Hey, you never know."

Another plane appeared and landed. Ava Paige walked out, from behind four guards. "Is this all of them?"

"Most of them." Janson replied.

"It'll be enough. Start loading them in."

"Yes, ma'am. Okay, you heard. Let's go! Get 'em on!"

Chancellor Paige walked up to the two kids who had been causing her the most trouble. "Hello, Thomas. Hello, Ariella." She turned to see Teresa walking up. "I'm glad you're safe."

Minho stepped closer to Thomas. "What the hell?"

"Teresa?" Frypan asked.

"Wait, what's going on?" Newt wondered.

"She's with them." Thomas informed.

"Since when?" Minho questioned.

"Teresa's always had an evolved appreciation for the greater good." Janson said. "Once we restored her memories, it was only a matter of time."

"I'm sorry." Teresa said, looking at her friends "I had no choice. This is the only way. We have to find a cure."

"She's right." Chancellor Paige replied. "This is all just a means to an end. You used to understand that, Thomas. You as well, Ariella. No matter what you think of me...I am not a monster. I'm a doctor. I swore an oath to find a cure! No matter the cost. I just need more time."

"More blood." The doctor of the camp said.

"Hello, Mary. I hoped we'd meet again. I'm sorry it had to be under these circumstances."

"I'm sorry about a lot of things, too. But not this. At least my conscience is clear."

"So is mine."

They heard a gunshot and instantly turned.