HB_Lowelle
Addison wakes to white light and the taste of metal-WCKD's captive, strapped into fear simulations that won't let her breathe. She has learned to survive by counting: breaths, heartbeats, doors between her and the people she loves. When the walls finally split open, it's Thomas-her twin-and Newt-her anchor-who drag her back into the world. The rescue is messy and fast and not a cure for what was taken, but it gives Addie the one thing she needs to keep going: choice.
Beyond the desert lies the Last City, a fortress wrapped in steel and lies. Minho is somewhere inside. To reach him, Addie and the others will move through curfews and checkpoints, through alleys that swallow sound and rooftops lit by riot-fire. Old friends are found again in unexpected places; new lines are drawn between mercy and revenge. A scientist who once called them family may hold the key they swore they'd never use. Trust becomes a map they redraw by the hour.
At night, when alarms fade to wind, Addie relearns breathing: one for herself, one for the boy who keeps her steady, one for the family that won't let go. Every choice costs. Every step forward leaves a mark. But there is a way through-stolen minutes on rooftops, a promise pressed into a palm, and a boat aimed toward a horizon that finally opens.