Chapter 14
Thomas woke up tied to a bed. He had black, Velcro straps running across his body in 5 different places. The closest one spanned across his shoulders – allowing him to only barely move his head.
He looked to his left; Teresa was positioned like he was. The only difference being that she was still sleeping.
Thomas tried to remember how he had ended up in the position that he was – but he couldn't. He remembered the talk with Minho…talking to Teresa, but he didn't remember falling asleep and he certainly didn't remember being dragged here.
Thomas knew struggling would only exert his energy – so he tried to remain as still as possible.
Teresa eventually woke – panic flared into her eyes as she became aware of her situation. She attempted to wriggle herself free – but only managed to make herself more uncomfortable. They were in a plain, white room. To the left, there was a door that they had inevitably come through. On the left, there was a massive window that appeared to only show their reflection. Thomas guessed people were watching them on the other side. Apart from that, there was nothing else in the room apart from Thomas and Teresa – and the two beds they were strapped too.
After a short while – the door buzzed, and Paige walked through. Thomas almost spat at her presence – remembering her betrayal.
She simply smiled at him.
"Hello Tommy and Teresa"
Neither of them responded, they gave each other a brief look – agreeing on silence.
"Okay that's fine, to be honest, only I need to talk for this bit. As Minho said to you – we need some final bits for the killzone plans which we are constructing. Oh and by the way, you'll be pleased to know Minho is making his way back to 'paradise' to act as the long lost leader. God wait till you hear what he has up his sleeve."
She paused, her eyes surveying them both for some kind of reaction.
They didn't give her one.
She continued
"Okay so, during the trials you went through. We collected information based on your reactions to conflict, aggression, confusion, betrayal, and isolation, loss, and emptiness – a number of horrible things that us regular humans wouldn't like to imagine. However we missed something vital. You see there must be some sort of key to being immune to the Flare – and in order to figure that out – we need everything. When your control chips were removed – we could no longer track your responses. I admit shamefully that I led you to believe we had everything anyway; it was mainly my fault that we lost control of you. But we need something – something really vital"
Thomas couldn't hold his anger in any longer.
"So what is it then? What could you possibly want from us that you haven't snatched away already? My best friend is a traitor, as are you; I've seen too many friends die in front of me. What more klunk are you going to throw in our faces!"
Thomas was so angry that his veins had begun to pulse – sticking out in his skin. He thrashed, kicked – attempted to move from his restricted position and attack her.
He barely moved a centimeter.
Paige hadn't even flinched.
"Well since you asked so eloquently young man – I will tell you" she replied curtly – her sarcasm scraping out of her throat.
"Thomas. In order to get the last bit of information – we need to record an Immune person's reactions to love. Love is rumored to make the world go round. It can increase a person's heartbeat in an instant – it can dilate someone's pupils so much they look like a demon. This emotion is something that we failed to record because none of you were ever succumbed to it. Though I don't blame you – given the environment you were in. So as soon as we replace the chips in you and Teresa that you both removed…we need you to have sex so we can record your brains reactions. That – will complete our plan. That – will save the world"