TITANIUM || The Death Cure • Newt [3]

Chapter 13

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After saying our final goodbyes and wishing luck to our friends, we dispersed to get this show on the road. Thomas, Newt and I walked back into The Last City, not drawing any attention like I had hoped. But even if we were able to get in unnoticed, it was to not only fool the citizens, but to fool the rest of W.I.C.K.E.D. My heart was pounding in fear as I saw W.I.C.K.E.D. tower up ahead, just barely a few feet away as patrol cars and W.I.C.K.E.D. soldiers were going around, doing a perimeter check. I tried to stay calm as best I could, because I didn't want this plan to go south. I couldn't afford to get anyone killed. I cannot. I won't let it happen.

Now we were at the doors. They opened up automatically for us, and there were more guards inside than outside. Thomas and I kept a firm grip on Teresa, making sure we wouldn't let her out of our sight in case she tried to run; all the while, blending in. Just a few inches away were the scanners. Time for the moment of truth. I held my breath as we walked through the scanners... then the lights turned green, accepting access. We're in.

I sighed in relief as Thomas and I kept ushering Teresa forward. However, we were only able to walk about a few yards ahead before a masked guard stopped us. My heart pounded once again, but only to be relieved when the guard in front of us cocked his head to the side, motioning us to follow him. Newt had already gotten in through the front door. We followed close behind him, not saying a word in fear of someone would be around to hear and recognize our voices. He took us down a flight of stairs where large windows were lined up to see that it was a garage. Soon after, another guard fell in line with us. It had to be Gally. So far, everything was going to plan.

Up ahead, there was a locked door where you had to use a thumbprint to get in. We let Teresa do that, and the door opened. All four of us piled in after her, raising our guns to make sure there was no one around. There were more flights of stairs we had to walk down, so we began making our way down. But then, Gally stopped us as he observed the electrical box mounted on the wall.

"Hold on. I can get in here."

He lifted his mask as he began tampering with the utility box.

"Stay here," Thomas instructed the three of us, then turned to Gally. "Throw me the walkie."

Gally quickly tossed the device over to Thomas, and he made his way downstairs. I stayed right beside Teresa, eyeing her to make sure she wouldn't go anywhere. That is, until Newt lifted up his mask and began to have a coughing fit. I clenched my jaw and shut my eyes, trying to block out that horrible noise. When he stopped, I opened them to find Teresa staring at Newt curiously. She doesn't even know what's going on with him. Newt turned away from her view, trying to catch his breath like he ran all the way up here. Teresa then glanced at me with a questioning look, but I cast my eyes to the ground.

Shortly after, Thomas came back while speaking into the talkie.

"Frypan, we're in. How you doing?" he asked.