WICKED told them the Trial was over -no more tests, no more lies, but Frankie had been deceived enough to know that the statement alone could never be true.
Truthfully, she wanted to die. She wanted to leave this cruel world of being experimented an...
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"SHOULD I STAY?"
Everyone, even Brenda, turned to look at Frankie in bewilderment.
"I can't run to save my life, and I can't leave that shank alone."
"Stop," Reggie retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Are you jacked in the head?" Minho added in irritation.
"I hate to break this to you, hermano," Jorge said, "But the girl's right. We may need to act fast in the city —who knows what kind of trouble is waiting inside. And we can't take any weapons with us. I made fake documents for all of you, sayin' we're certified Berg pilot. It's kinda hard fitting her in the plot, with her condition and all."
Minho crossed his arms, "Are you sure it's not because we're a shucking burden you want to get off your skinny back?"
"If that's the problem here, I'm leaving you behind."
Brenda scooted closer to Frankie's side and whispered to her ear, "France, I don't think Newt's in a good place right now. I don't like the idea of you being alone with someone that bad-tempered for days."
"We'll be fine."
"Frances—"
Frankie whispered back, "I can take care of myself."
Brenda sighed in surrender and spoke up, "Jorge's right. Once we get Hans to fix you two, we return. Then we'll think about what's next."
"Should I stay, too?" Reggie interposed, pointing to himself.
"You better come with us," Jorge said, "We need more manpower in the city. Frances can take care of that cranky boy."
"Hear that, Newt?" Minho hollered, hoping Newt hadn't go too far, "Frankie's gonna stay with you!"
They went silent, but there was no reply.
"That went well," Minho muttered, "Guess the Gathering is over."
〰️
FRANKIE PUT ON her orthosis a few minutes before the Berg landed at Denver's airport.
She glanced at Minho, who couldn't stop pacing around and sighing every five seconds. Physically, he was ready —he had changed into one of Jorge's shirt, combed his hair into perfection, and washed his face as told. But his nerves were lighting up in anticipation like a swarm of fireworks, despite Brenda and Jorge's quite detailed explanations about what the world outside of WICKED's control was like.
She could feel the Berg dipping under the horizon and she knew that they were now descending to enter the uncharted territory.
If she was feeling this agitated, she could only imagine how Minho, Reggie, and Thomas were feeling.
