Sacrifice

Chapter Seventy-Two

A/N: We're at the last chapter of Sacrifice...time for me to get a little emotional. 

First of all, if you're reading this, thank you for reading to the end. This story means a lot to me and words cannot express how much I appreciate you taking the time to read this. I first conceived Claire and this story about three years ago when I finally sat down to watch the first two movies. I had read the trilogy back in middle school but had sort of forgotten about the series. Then watching the movies made me re fall in love with the characters and the series all over again. Then I came up with Claire and thought she would fit into the movie verse nicely. Like most people, I wanted Newt to have love and happiness, and I also wanted Teresa to have a female best friend. I'm a big believer in positive female friendships and I always try to work those into every story I write. 

It took a lot for me to finally sit down and write this thing, and then I ended up writing multiple drafts so I could get the best version of this story possible (at one point I had this idea that Claire finds out she's pregnant while she and Minho were WCKD prisoners, I think I was tired from studying when I came up with that one, glad I scratched that idea). Then last summer I finally gathered the courage to write this final draft and actually post it. 

Thank you to my friends who helped me during the writing process (you know who you are). You're editing and letting me bounce ideas off you was invaluable and I don't think I could have finished this without you. 

And lastly, I want to give a special shout out to Hela_Odinsdottir. I'll never forget sitting in the hallway, waiting for my first class of the semester to start and seeing my phone blow up with notifications from you saying you voted for my chapters. It made me so happy knowing there was at least one person who liked my little fan fiction enough to vote on the chapters, and I loved reading your comments. Also your Random Quotes and Inspirations are great pick me ups for when I'm feeling down, so thank you for publishing those. 

Anyway, I've rambled enough. Thank you again for following Claire on her journey, and I hope you enjoy the last chapter! 

Almost everyone was still asleep when Claire woke the next morning. The only person awake seemed to be Vince, who was sitting just outside one of the tents and gazing out at the ocean. Claire climbed out of her cot as quietly as possible so she wouldn't wake her friends. As she headed out she noticed that Aris and Sonya had pushed their cots together and were now asleep in each other's arms. 

Claire smiled, she imagined how Newt would react if he saw his little sister asleep with a boy. But in the end he would accept it. Aris was one of the most caring people Claire knew, he loved Sonya and would never do anything to hurt her. They deserved to be happy. 

Then Claire noticed that Thomas's hammock was empty. She soon spotted Thomas at the pillar, carving a name. By the time she started making her way over to him, Thomas had already finished and was now walking further down the beach. When she got to the pillar, Claire saw that there was a new name added near Newt's. 

Teresa. 

Some people still had mixed feelings about her, and Claire couldn't blame any of them, especially Minho. But they all agreed that, in the end, she had done the right thing when she saved Thomas. 

And despite everything, Claire missed her. She and Teresa had grown close in the Maze and the Scorch, that was a bond that couldn't easily be forgotten. 

Claire made her way over to Thomas, he was maybe the only person who could understand what she was feeling. When she found him, he was staring out at the ocean, this time, he noticed her approaching.