The Death Cure - Gally oc

Haven

Finley's POV.

"We have come a long way together." Vince preached to everyone that night at a campfire. "So many have sacrificed so much to make this place possible. Your friends, and your family." I smile sadly, reassured by the presence of Gally to my left and Aris on the step behind me. "So here's to the ones who couldn't be here. Here's to the friends we lost." We all raise our metal cups high in the air. "This place is for you, it's for all of us. But this," Vince turns and points at the simple grey boulder behind him. "this is for them. So in your own time, in your own way, come make your peace." I feel a tear fall down my cheek, but for once I don't try to hide it, knowing I'm not alone. "And welcome to the safe haven!" He cheers and the crowd cheers with him in celebration.

I find myself in the company of a small group of people who though I mostly don't know, are the closest I've felt to having a proper family. We stand together near the rock, Gally approaching it first. Slowly carving a name into the stone, Chuck.

He walks back to where the group stands spread out on the sand, I instantly take his hand again. "You've done well by him you know." I whisper eyeing the name.

Frypan takes the hammer and chisel next. Carving Winston, just bellow Chuck. Another name featured on occasion in Gally's tales from the maze.

Aris steps up, writing out the name Rachel with great care. The two girls from his maze embracing him as he returns, I know I'll learn about her and his past few years in due time. But it aches to know he's hurting.

Minho goes next, and the world feels small as he finishes with the t. Newt. He would never be forgotten, and I realized, neither would any other name on this rock. Something sad but reassuring.

Noticing the stall in names being carved I realize it's my turn. I swallow hard, taking the tools from Minhos outstretched hand.

I pause for a short moment with the chisel pressed down on the rock. A handful of names run through my head, Poppy, Mandy, Don, and even Laurence comes to mind. But I take a deep breath and force myself to spell the name I hadn't let myself so much as think of since I was nine, holding a seven year old crying Aris in my arms. Martha. When I finish I put the tools down on a stump and return to the group.

"Who was she?" Gally asks sadly.

I hesitate knowing my voice is gonna come out shaky, I look at Aris and meet his eye. "Our mom." I tell him simply, I stare back at the name I just carved.

"What happened to her?" He asks softly, asking about events he was there for.

"She got sick, took off before she could hurt us. WCKD found us not long after." I find the courage to look at Aris's curious stare, one that remained the same from when they were children. "We were so loved Aris, never doubt that." He steps closer and puts an arm around my shoulders; I find myself blinking away tears, once again standing tall, not hiding anymore.

I never once thought I'd see the ocean, hear the waves crash, smell the salt in the air.

I also never thought I'd find Aris alive and well but here he sat, next to me around a campfire, asking all sorts of questions. With every answer I find him and his friends, Sonya and Harriet, leaned in a bit more.

"What was I like? When we were kids?" He says slowly, probably unsure of what he wanted as an answer.

"Well you were shy, and worried about pretty much everything all the time. You didn't talk a lot except to me, which made me feel special." I grin. "And even though you were supposed to be my little brother you always found a way to be protective of me, it was cute, you were so scrawny."

"Oi!" He protests, smiling from ear to ear. "Sounds like we were close." I nod, my eyes drawn to Gally who was standing alone, ankle deep in the water looking at the horizon thoughtfully. He'd been there for nearly twenty minutes, unmoving. "Go on." Aris prompts having noticed my distraction.

"I haven't seen you in years, Gally can wait a few more minutes." I hear the withdrawn tone in my own voice.

"For Christ sake go to him, you should've seen his face when we found you covered in blood." Minho interjects having suddenly appeared on the other side of the fire.

I look at Aris, hesitant to leave his side again. "I'm not going anywhere, go." He says almost sounding entertained.

Feeling unnecessarily reassured by this I jump up and make my way down to the water.

I join Gally, enjoying the cold water on my feet. "You've got your head in the clouds again Gal."

He jumps slightly at my voice. "Hey." He smiles, realizing its me. Trying to ignore the fact that we probably have an audience of my brother and co. I move closer.

"You okay?"

He nods, "We've been trying to survive for so long, the thought of just getting to live now is..."

"I know what you mean." I lace my fingers with his.

"I mean, we have the serum, Thomas has the cure." He gazes at me, with a look in his eyes I'd never seen on him before.

My smile only grows along with a giddy feeling that fills my body, "We can have a life together."

"I love you." He says strongly.

My surprise only lasts a second, brought on by his new lack of hesitation before saying something vulnerable, something we were both usually terrible at. I wrap my arms around his neck, his embrace nearly lifting me of the ground, my toes just touching the sand. "I love you too 'munie."

"That nickname's not going anywhere is it?" He chuckles in my ear.

"Never."

The end.
Thanks for reading!