Hope for Us (NEWT) [COMPLETED]

Ch 71 - For Newt's Sake

~Sara~

"Newt can't go out there with us," said Brenda, intensifying Sara's anxiety.

A day of travel had passed more or less, and things were still as frustrating as ever.

Sara shook her head, many things running through her mind. "Why did we bring him if you planned to leave him behind? He also needs his implant removed, you know?"

Rebecca wrapped her arms around Sara as they sat on one of the beds. It wasn't easy to promise Newt that they'd fight until the end, and then immediately listen to her other friends talk about leaving him behind.

"Sara, Denver is one of the few refuge cities still standing," Rebecca told her. "People there don't joke around. And nearly anyone is welcome until they get sick. Then they get taken to the Crank Palace, or any abandoned site outside of city walls. They test everybody, and if they find out he has the Flare, they'll exile him, or even kill him."

People wanted to turn the Immunes in to authorities anyway. Sara's friends were already in danger, yet they were planning on running straight into more. 

Sara wanted to think of a different plan, but nothing that included leaving Newt behind. 

Why did everything always have to come with a cost?

Sara looked over at him, but Newt held an idle expression.

"Not to mention, there's WICKED patrol in the city," said Brenda. "The guards roam the streets to keep watch, and people turn each other in if someone shows the slightest hint of sickness."

Jorge scratched his head. He'd been busy the last couple of hours while the berg had been on autopilot mode. "I created new identities for us. There's a sweet reward WICKED put out there for whoever finds you guys, though. Especially Sara. We just need to get to Hans, but it's not gonna be easy," he said. "It'll be better if Newt waits for us in here."

"He can wear a face mask. I'm sure many people in the city wear one," Sara insisted.

"Listen, niña. I don't wanna separate you from him, but he can't put himself in further danger, and we can't risk him exposing us without meaning to." Everyone was glancing at each other, none of them feeling too comfortable with the decision that had to be made in the next few minutes. The city wasn't too far away anymore.

Sara was really scared. She knew they were right, but if Newt stayed, the Cranks could break into the berg wherever it'd be stationed, or WICKED could find him and hurt him, or use him to get to the rest of them.

"He's in danger already," she argued. "We all are if we're stepping foot in the city."

Newt surprised everyone by imposing his opinion. "I'm dying anyway, Sara!" he shouted. "How do you think it'll feel knowing I ran around a city of healthy people and infected them all? And I'd rather die in here than putting any of you in danger out there." He gave her an earnest look, but he was desperately trying to calm himself. She knew he was fighting it, but the virus was quickly eating him away. "I'm staying, it's okay," he finally said, and everyone was stunned.