Hey everyone! Welcome back to my story.
Thank you to the first 10 viewers who had read my story. Comeback is never fine but I know the rules.
Teresa has had bad three days, and the next one is going to be even worse when her worst fear comes true. What will happen to her? Also, what is going on for Thomas right now? Let's find out!
Chapter 2: Conflicted
(Thomas)
I'm conflicted.
All I can think right now is, I am conflicted.
Standing at the catwalk just below the top of the wall, I see the building where WCKD keeps Minho captive, possibly used for the infamously immoral serum modulation that we have been desperately trying to escape. My blood pumps through my entire body, boiling my undying will with greater drive than ever. My friends told me it is impossible, but I disagree with that. I am going to break in, rescue Minho and destroy WCKD for good for ruining the lives of myself and everyone I cherish-
Cherish…
Huh…
For the entire year, I tried my best not to give a shit to that particular person anymore, and it actually worked out pretty well, simply by focusing on the present. But at that very moment, the moment I saw through the monocular, I know the effort I've built has just died in an instant.
"Teresa…"
"I said I had a way in… I didn't say you're gonna like it."
Damn right, Gally.
Yes, the hot-headed leader Gally who antagonized me back at the Glade, the Gally who threatened to offer me and Teresa for the Grievers, the Gally who killed Chuck in front of me. It was supposed to be me, Thomas, or whatever name WCKD threw into my head.
###
For some goddamn coincidence some people in masks captured us when we were near the walls. Jorge nearly killed herself trying to protect his partner Brenda when a person suddenly said we were friends to them to calm the situation down.
Guess what?
Right.
He was Gally.
I had every reason to punch his head into a pulp, I guessed Chuck would be proud of that too, so I almost did not find out he was allowing me to do that until Newt talked me out of it.
Apparently, we left him to die as he said and these people found him and patched him up, turned out he was an Immune too, no protection against Grievers but the Flare. He told us there was a way into the city and he led us to his boss Lawrence, who was infected but managed to survive by the serum. He wouldn't live long, but sure as hell was he ruthless. His half-Crank half-human face and his party necrotized nose confirmed it if I was having any pint of doubt.
In exchange for his help, I, Gally and Newt must break into the city and comeback in one piece. Jorge, Brenda and Frypan are leverage. Using the subway system and the train station, we managed to break into the city and sneak to the wall to have an idea what the Last City is and how we are going to rescue Minho.
###
"Thomas?" Newt called me but I couldn't answer due to all the conflict I am going through.
"Thomas!" A hit to my shoulder. I turn to face him. "We don't have much time, we gotta go!"
I nod and the two of us plus that asshole sneak back to the train station, the subway system and back to the manhole of the rebellion's hideout. Everyone runs to us and hugs us.
"Glad to see you're safe!" Brenda exclaimed.
"Man, took you guys long enough." Frypan said.
"Congratulations. You are back Thomas." Lawrence spoke, his eyes were as icy as ever. "It's too late now to do anything, we're discussing the plan tomorrow. Grab some food and get some rest, and get outta this room before I bite any of you." His last part was a whisper to my ear, a bad lullaby.
Very threatening indeed, but at last I have got his help.
Midnight comes, everyone is sleeping at an empty room Lawrence "generously" reserved, but I don't have the mood for it, for there is a big day tomorrow and some unresolved conflicts. I quietly get out of the room and go another empty one above it.
I go to the balcony, or what remains of it, looking at the busy crowd below who were either watching for any possible threats or packing things up. Gally wasn't kidding when he said he had a plan and the needs to go through it: there were many jeeps, SUVs, some Browning M2s mounted on the back of the jeeps technical-like, many guns inside the boxes and if I wasn't kidding, several RPGs and its warheads. WCKD would seriously have a hard time facing them and were I still their scientist, I would die for sure.
"Hard time sleeping Greenie?" Someone suddenly said behind me.
"Gally?!" I gasped. "We're not at the Glade anymore, stop calling me that."
He stands beside me and keeps talking like nothing happened. "Why not?"
Was there some uncertainty? I do not know. "I'm a Runner." I reply with a hint of coldness.
"Then you used to be." He said. "Get some sleep, I'll keep watch."
"Everyone down there is doing that, no need for you to."
Now he is uncomfortable.
"You're… different, Thomas. Why are you so cold now? Don't you… don't you need some help?"
I don't say anything but my increasing rage does it for me.
He sighed. "Look Thomas, I know what happened in the past between us. But please-"
I had been holding myself together to avoid doing anything to him to protect my group, but now we are alone in the dark, no one around.
CLICK!
That was it. The shocked and scared eyes of the bastard. My trusty SIG P226 does the job nicely.
Gally nervously raises his hands up. "Thomas…?"
"I never forget it."
"Thomas what are you doing?"
"I never forget what you did." I grit my teeth, trying to keep at least some control. "You opposed me every time! You tried to leave us and Teresa to the Grievers, then you killed Chuck! That little boy, that fucking little boy! He was barely twelve and you fucking killed him!"
"And you're telling me to trust you now? Where do you get that right to do that?!" I pull the hammer down, just a slight 4.5 pounds trigger pull and his head is toast if he asks for it.
"Thomas… please…" He pleaded. To hell with it. I am too angry to care anyway.
"I don't trust you! I don't fucking trust you! I can't trust anyone else anymore!" I pushed him back to the wall with my left hand, causing a pretty loud thud.
"I don't ask you to. I just want to help."
"Help what? Help me get Minho and you think you'll be forgiven? I can do this without you."
"Please Thomas, I really want to. You gotta believe me."
"Then tell me!" I scream. "Tell me WHY, should I fucking trust you?!" My gun was pressed on his temple now.
Both Gally and I breath heavily. He remains quiet for a moment. We both calm our breathing down before he answers.
"I'm not sure… but first off, I'm really sorry. I'm sorry Thomas. I never meant to kill Chuck, he was a good kid… I was losing my shit after I got stung… I got my memories back, and I just wanted to kill you."
I have to admit he has a point. I was on the same side as Teresa now back then.
"I blacked out after Minho threw his spear at me… but I still remember his face, his lifeless face… when I came to, days later, they told me the place is toast, no body left to bury… The only thing left I could do to that kid… and I couldn't." He looks away, his eyes start getting watery. Without realizing it, mine were too…
"Tell me Thomas, you worked for WICKED before, do you feel any guilt for everyone you and Teresa put to the Glade? Do you feel it when you watch many of us die?" Now was his turn to attack me.
I hesitated for a bit, not sure of what to say.
"Not before, but after I got out, yeah. Sometimes it's hard to sleep."
"Same goes to me. I don't know if it's better or worse than yours, but I was never at peace after that. If I can do something to say sorry to them, to Chuck, I would do it, and helping you guys is one. So please, trust me."
I know he was right, he was having a hard time just like all of us, even worse for him maybe. And it would be to hypocritical to blame someone for their one bad deed while I was doing basically the same thing so many times. I still remember his angry and screaming face when we were about to erase his memories for the first time.
I de-cock the hammer and put my P226 back to my holster.
"Thomas, just remember we need Teresa for our plan. Can't break in without some insider." He reminded me. No thanks.
"Get some sleep." I ignore that, walking past the tired Gally.
Maybe I was too angry to understand, I was so hurtful to trust anyone, and I am dead sure Gally's words do not reduce it one bit. But maybe I shouldn't do that all the time. And I can't help but wonder:
"Does Teresa feel guilt for what she did?"
"No, there's gotta be another way!"
"Like what? You've seen the building, she is our only way in." Gally reasoned.
"You really think she's gonna help us?"
"I don't plan on asking her."
Brenda adds in. "Am I missing something here? This is the same girl who betrayed us right? Same dick?"
"Oh I like her." Gally joked. Of course I am uncomfortable.
"What's going on?" Haizz…
Brenda, you really know what's going on right? You know why. Do I need to tell you what happened after you kissed me in that brothel?
She was right obviously, but at heart I do not want to use her for this plan. Damn it, I hate love.
"What, are you afraid your little girlfriend's gonna get hurt? Hhm?" Thank you Newt. For reminding. "This is honestly never just about rescuing Minho, isn't it?"
Newt was getting angry. "Newt, what are you talking about?" I try to drive the conversation to another direction.
"Teresa! Is she the only reason that Minho's even missing? Now we are finally able to get him back and what, you don't want to because of her?!" He suddenly erupts and menaces me. "Because deep down you still care about her right?! Just admit it."
"Newt-"
"DON'T LIE TO ME! DON'T! LIE! TO ME!" He presses me to the wall and lashes out. This is not the Newt that I know, so I was legit scared.
Newt stands back, realizing he was going too far. "I'm sorry." And he runs out of the room. I notice his left arm is clutching his right one. Is there something wrong?
I go after him, finding him sitting on the ledge of the rooftop, still clutching his hand.
"I'm sorry about that. Guess I can't hide this anymore." He rolls up his right sleeve, revealing the black veins.
Oh god…
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I think I can make a difference… All I know is WCKD must have put me in the Glade for a reason… Maybe to tell the difference between Immunes like you and people like me…"
"You know we can still save you. Okay? We can. Just stay behind-"
"Don't worry about me. It's all about saving Minho. Now he needs us. So if there is even a slightest chance that we can save him… we get him outta there and we have to take that… no matter the cost." I really wish we could bring more people now, but I respect him. I know how much he wants to break Minho out of that shithole.
"Okay I hear you…"
One more problem to worry about. Damn it, the situation's getting out of control…
I've lost a lot of friends already, and I cannot accept losing Newt, but he was one hell of a persistent idiot. Is there anything I can do now?
"Maybe this will?" I decide to tell him.
"You know what Newt?" I said, he looks at me. "When I was at Marcus' brothel with Brenda, we were forced to drink some hallucinating liquid. You remember?"
"Yeah…"
"I saw some of our friends… turned into Crank… Winston…"
I hesitated, but I have to.
"And you Newt…"
Newt looks genuinely surprised, looking like he was thinking I was wishing him dead. I just hope he wasn't feeling that.
"Why are you telling me that?"
"I want to tell you that because…" I put my hand on his shoulder. "It's not gonna happen. We're gonna break in, get Minho out, and after all of that, we're gonna give you the serum okay? I promise."
Newt flashes a smile, appreciating my encouraging.
"Thanks Thomas."
"No problem. But we need to tell everyone about your condition."
"Whatever…"
(Teresa)
"Teresa?"
"Yes Chancellor?"
"Ready to convince your friend, he's not corporating."
I thought a pane of glass between us and I could stay away from him, and yet, it is happening in reverse now.
Sitting at the interrogating table and about to face my friend, I have to try to get into him, but why me? Ava knows he hates me very much, his death glare back in the chopper towards me is the very proof that I don't want to be near him in any way or form. And a simple answer from Janson "because we can't but you can" made me want to punch him.
After a really bad night I had to go back here, pretending to be normal and inhuman, at least for my friends anyway. All of this was for the greater good I reminded myself, but at the same time the accumulating guilt also took a seat in the scale of my psyche. I wonder how long I can keep doing this.
The door opens, two guards bring him in. His eyes were lacking any sign of life, his mouth slightly opened, but I know his rage is boiling. We were now face-to-face, once again after a year.
I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm and cast out any fearful thoughts.
"Minho." I start the talk, returning to my professional persona. "Can you hear me?" No response from him.
"There's a little girl here, her name is Shai Lun. She was infected three weeks ago; but Minho, you are going to save her, and you can save so many others."
"Everything we're doing here, it's working." I briefly smiled. "Do you understand? That's why it is so important."
Minho still does not response, I know my convincing is not working.
I get up and tell him. "I just want you to know." Then I start getting out-
"Teresa…" A small whisper. I begin to panic. His vulture eyes were glaring at me again.
"Minho?" I attempt to remain composed, but anyone could notice a slight fear in my voice if they were.
I cautiously walk towards him, getting closer.
"Minho?"
"You're a TRAITOR!"
As fast as lightning, he grabs me and slams me down the table.
"WE TRUSTED YOU!"
He slams me down again.
Thankfully the guards come in to restrain him, but not his raging voice.
"Get off me!"
"GET OFF ME!"
"I'LL KILL YOU! YOU TRAITOR! YOU KILLED EVERYBODY!"
I fearfully get out and close the door. The guards use a taser to knock him out, but not before he let out his haunting scream. I was incredibly lucky not to die there. Before I have my chance to calm the hell down a scientist ran urgently to me.
"Teresa, they need you at the med lab, it sounds serious." She says. I follow her. As I go in I see guards going in the lab and saw Ava standing there. She looks at me… regretfully?
"I'm sorry Teresa."
And the scene inside tells me why. Shai was screaming, her eyes were red, the infection resumes…
The serum did not work…
I stand there completely shocked, feeling like an utter failure. It was supposed to work right? The serum derived from Minho was supposed to cure her right? How can I… accept that?
"It's not your fault… you did everything you could…"
"That's the third time you told me that in front of Shai! And how many more before her?!" I said in a fit of rage, throwing Ava back in shock.
I bite my mouth to stop sobbing, but I cannot hold it if I continue seeing Shai like that. I go out of the building, feeling empty. 100%, empty.
I just keep walking, ignoring the people there, not noticing the sky was already dark. I just keep walking, and walking, and walking…
I got to the apartment where I stay. I find a step hidden in the shadow and sit down there, at that point I start sobbing. It eventually turns into hiccups and the tears keep running out of my eyes.
Too many failures yet there was no definite solution, is this what I get for betraying Thomas? Am I condemned to forever be trapped like that? Am I doomed to fail and be hated?
"Mom… everyone… I'm sorry… I wish you were here now…"
A gust of wind, and a wish seems to be answered…
I feel like someone I know is watching me.
I look up and nearly gasped at the sight.
Yes, someone is watching me.
But I did not expect that person.
"Thomas…?"
(Thomas)
"All right I'm in position at the catwalk."
"Copy that Gally. The target should be back from the lab by now. Find her quickly."
With that monocular over there, finding the target should not be a problem.
Yes, I am saying target, I don't want to be conflicted right now. Bury emotions deep into the limbo to maximize efficiency. As for me, I was staying under a five-story apartment near the train station with my hood on and surgical mask worn, making me look just like everybody else down the street. Poor these people though, the Last City is going to go through one hell of a ride tonight and I hate innocents crossing the field, but it's war right? Innocent people always die in war just like in where they called Middle East or Mexico hundreds of years ago.
She, on the other hand, was anything but innocent. She betrayed us for some cure that cannot be found, especially by using us. How stupid and callous was she? But deep down, I don't want anything bad to happen, I just want to save everyone.
"All right Thomas, I got Tango on my sight, she's walking fast down the street, five blocks from you. Wait until I tell you to move.
"Copy that."
A bit later, Gally reports. "I can see her. She's turning left two blocks from you.
"Get down quick and keep track of me."
"Got it."
I follow her, wondering why she would be walking that fast. She gets to an apartment and sits down the steps.
Then, to my surprise, she starts crying.
"Teresa…"
What is going on? What is happening to her? I could not help but question myself. Just seeing her that weak and defeated hurts me so much that I forget my mission for a bit.
Was she feeling guilt just like I and Gally?
Was she…
Quit it! I force myself to forget. I walk down the street and take off my mask. I stare at her and she notices me.
She seems really surprised. Good, Tango bit it.
I turn around, guiding her to follow me.
"I'm drawing her to the train station, get in position now Gally." I report; "Copy that I'm running." was his reply.
I keep playing cat and mouse with her until she gets down near the spot.
"Thomas, I'm in position."
"Good. Get ready." At that point I go out, finally meeting her again. A bad reunion I say. Her face still had stains of her tears, she probably just hastily wiped them.
"Thomas…" She said in a low tone.
"Hi Teresa…" I said back, between tender and icy. Heavy tension fills the air.
"You shouldn't be here… If Janson finds out-"
"I won't be here long." I walk towards her. "It's just… I want to see you…"
I decide to get to the point. "I just want to ask you something… do you regret it? For what you did to us?"
She sighed, zoning in and out, clearly feeling uneasy.
"Back then I wasn't… I just thought I was doing something right… but now, I'm not sure anymore…"
"I regret it every day… But there's no going back for me… I'll keep doing it… I'll keep running down the path I've chosen…" There is clear pain in her voice. Was it true guilt, or just fake?
Just leave it for later.
"All right…" I whisper and whistle.
Teresa now knows why I am really here. Before she reacts Gally comes out, takes out a tranquilizer dart and stabs her hand from behind with it.
She looks at me with shock, gasping out a single word before she blacks out.
"Thomas…"
I catch her and bridal carry her.
"Still has a soft spot for her Thomas? It's not gonna be good."
"Shut up Gally. Now let's go back."
We go to the tunnel and took a long walk down there. I look at her sleeping form, noticing the similarity between this and when we found her at the elevator. This sinful girl is just like everybody else when she's sleeping, just as innocent-looking as ever. Just how could she do that to all of us?
"Gally?"
"What?"
"You and me, we both had a change of heart… do you think Teresa can do that too?"
He stared at me for a moment before answering, filled with doubt.
"I don't know… that depends on her."
Voila! Done! Hope all of you enjoy it.
Please review my story so I can continue writing this. I've put all of my will on this project so please support me by liking and reviewing, this really means a lot to me. Also I cannot know what to improve on the next chapters if no one gives and ideas.
Until next time, out.