Thomas was going to visit Newt, but he could hear him talking with Sonya, and he let them be. It was late when she finally emerged from the hut, eyes slightly damp, but a blazing smile on her face.
"How'd it go?" Thomas asked, excited concern written over his face.
"Really well. He's asleep now." Without saying goodbye, she raced past Thomas and crashed into Aris, talking a mile a minute excitedly. Thomas watched with a small smile as he pecked a quick kiss on her lips to get her to quiet down. Then he took her hand and led her to her tent, happily listening to Sonya's story. Thomas turned back and peered through the small door window into Newt's room. He was fast asleep, the moonlight creating a perfect silhouette across his peaceful face.
"Get some sleep, okay? He'll be here in the morning." Minho clapped Thomas on the back as he passed, steadily leading Thomas away from the hut.
The next morning brought sun again, glinting off the ocean and tanning bare skin. There were only 4 people inside, yet only 1 who had to be. The other 3 were determining what to do with said person.
"The Medstaff told me we can start giving him small, whole-food portions." Vince said, standing in the Medical Hut with his hands on his hips.
"Yeah, but isn't that hard to eat with him laying down? Someone would have to feed him." Thomas protested.
"That's why I think we should assign 1 or 2 people to be his 'round the clock guard. Help him with anything, and make sure he doesn't get worse," Vince said. "And I think it should be one of the doctors."
"Why only one?" Minho asked, his eyebrows constricting.
"So not to overwhelm him."
"Do I not get a bloody say over here?" Newt asked, but the circle by the door ignored him.
"Well, we're going to need a whole different schedule. Different meals to be eaten laying down, scheduled, dispersed visits, the whole 9 yards."
"No." All three looked over at Newt, who was struggling to sit up. "I've been horizontal for too much time." He threw the blanket off, wincing slightly. "I want to see everybody my own way." He put his feet on the floor, and tried to stand, but fell back on the bed, pouting slightly.
Thomas rushed to Newt's side and acted as a human crutch, Minho supporting his other side.
"Now hold on Newt. That might be a bad idea, you're still healing." Vince warned, holding his hands up as if to stop them.
"I've been healing all of my life. My leg, my chest, my lungs, my mind...all I've been told is to take it easy, just rest, you'll be fine. Y'know what the result of that was? My leg is still shucked up, I'm haunted with memories, I died because I needed to rest in the bloody Last City. I've been to hell and back twice, and I know I'm not going to heal unless I see people whom I need. "
Vince looked unswayed.
"Please Vince," Newt pleaded.
Vince heaved a sigh. "You two, stay with him, alright?"
Thomas and Minho nodded in sync, and together, they three hobbled across the hut. Minho looked over in concern at Newt's slightly pained expression.
"You good?"
Newt nodded. "I just want to see my friends."
Light streamed through the door as they opened it, and Thomas's first instinct was to shelter Newt's eyes from the harsh sunlight, but a side-eye from Newt made his hand stop halfway. Thomas had to smile though as Newt's face broke into a beam, as he glanced around the Safe Haven. The bright blue waves crashing against the sugar-sand shore, wind whistling around the towering cliffs, survivors laughing and mingling around the fire.
It was magical.
Especially to someone who had only ever seen hate, fire, war,fear, misery and concrete.
Minho tightened his grip on Newt, hardly containing the half smile that had crept onto his face. With difficulty, but determination, they hobbled over to the central group that was gathered around the always-burning fire. It was Frypan who noticed them first.
"Newt!" He stood up abruptly, a wide smile spreading over his features. He leapt up off the log and bounded over to them, and pulled the British boy into a bone-crushing hug. Newt let out a small whimper of pain, and Frypan immediately released him, a look of concern clouding over his face.
"I'm so sorry, did that hurt?"
But Newt only smiled, and gripped Frpyan's shoulder. "It's great to see you Fry."
The black boy grinned, and put his hand on Newt's shoulder as well, both of them exchanging broad smiles. He finally turned, and led Newt to the rest of the group, all standing now, and eager to finally see him. Brenda emerged from the group, smiling wider than Thomas had ever seen her smile, and embraced Newt cautiously. He rested his head on her shoulder, and murmured a quiet "thank you" into her hair. When she pulled away, she had the tears brimming her eyes. Thomas shot her a cheeky grin, and she flipped him off before standing back with the front of the crowd.
"Good to see you upright, Newt." Gally was smiling wider than Thomas had ever seen him smile, and he shook Newt's hand firmly.
"Thank you Gally." Newt spoke with such surety that it made Gally's smile grow even larger.
"Anything for you, shank."
Each member of the surrounding group approached Newt, whether it be with a handshake or a hug, but each left with a bright smile. The embrace between Jorge and Newt brought tears to Thomas's eyes. Vince greeted him with a warm handshake and smile. Until soon, the crowd eventually parted, standing behind the trio with giddy happiness. And then, Teresa stepped forward, Adris holding her hand.
"Adris?" Newt asked, astonished. The small girl raced forward and threw her arms around Newt's legs. She slowly sank to her knees. "I-I-I thought you were going to die! I thought they were going to kill you!" she exclaimed, burying her face into Newt's knees, and Newt leaned down and ruffled her hair affectionately. "I'm glad you made it, Adris."
"Thank you," her voice was muffled. "Thank you for telling me how I could be free."
She finally released him, just in time for Teresa to approach, and the entire crowd seemed to hold its breath. She waited, a flicker of doubt behind her eyes as she bit her bottom lip.
"I heard you determined that I was still alive." Newt said. "Thank you."
"I'm happy you're alright Newt." she said, her tone still wary, as if expecting him to add a snarky comment. But instead, he reached forward and pulled her into a hug, which made her startle, but eventually returned the warm embrace, a relieved smile breaking out on her face.
"Show me around this place, yeah?" Newt asked, his head turning to take in all the hustle and bustle of the compound. "It looks brilliant."
The crowds parted to let the three hobble slowly away, and they started weaving through the compound, pointing out people and places as they went.
"See, there's the mess tent, some of the cooks are no better than Frypan."
"That's Nicholas, he's one of the better lumberjacks around here."
As Thomas and Minho talked, Newt just kept nodding, his head swiveling in all directions, an easygoing smile on his face. Thomas stole a glance in Newt's direction, to see the afternoon sun glinting off his hair, it being tossed carelessly in the sea breeze. Thomas felt the last remaining weight lift of his chest as he watched Newt take in the scenery, as he watched Newt smile brightly.
He looked free.
Finally free.
"Hey, what's that?" Newt suddenly pointed to the large rock standing in the centre of the compound. They limped closer to it, inspecting all the names carved into the granite. Newt settled on a log next to the rock.
"Memorial." Thomas said, his eyes glued to the names. "Everyone we lost along the way."
Three sets of eyes scanned the deceased, until Thomas noticed a set of names that weren't there before. Crooked letters were carved close to Chuck's name, an awkward, familiar scrawl: Sebastian; Lily.
Thomas looked questionally at Minho, who mouthed "Gally."
The word Janice was written close to her children's names. But Thomas frowned as he noticed one was missing. He picked up the knife laying next to the stone, and slowly began carving letters, almost touching Janice. D. O. M…
As the Ferreras family was laid to rest, the three stared solemnly at the rock, until Newt held out his hand for the knife. "May I?"
Minho pressed the knife into his hand, and Newt stood shakily, bracing himself against the rock for support. Slowly, he began carving a name. C-l-a-r-r-i-s-s-e.
"She saved our lives, y'know." he remarked as he finished. "Doesn't matter how much I hated her, how much of a sadistic bastard she was. Truth of the matter is, if she didn't throw herself on that grenade, none of us would be standing here today."
"Wait, hand me that," Minho grabbed the knife and gave Thomas full support of Newt. They watched as he found the name he was looking for, and slowly, methodically, crossed off a name on the rock.
Newt.
"This rock is for the dead." Minho said after he'd finished, his eyes glazing over as he stared at the name. "The ones who we have to remember, to honour." He turned back to the other two, eyes shining with unshed tears, voice shaking. "I don't need carved letters to remember Newt. I need to look at that crossed out name and remember how close I was to losing him, and how lucky I am to have him back." He took a couple of steps towards the distant beach, his voice rising in intensity and emotion. "You see that rock over there?" he pointed to the side of a far off cliff. 'That rock is for the living. And we're going to carve our names into that rock. Just us three. So we know that no matter what comes our way, no matter what we have to face, we will do it together! Cause we have each other again! And you don't know how much you need them until...until you thought you lost one."
Minho's shoulders slumped forward as he broke down, a single tear running down his cheek. He stumbled forward and pulled them into a hug, and the three of them hugged tightly, as if they let go, they'd lose one another again.
And when they released, it took all the energy they had, but they hobbled across the beach, knife in hand, to the smooth cliff face by the ocean shore. And they each carved their names into the rock, interlocking lines, to show that they would always be there.
No matter what would come their way.
The titanium of the metal chipped away at the stone, the tears of their joy washing away their anguish, replaced by the happiness of a trio finally reunited.
A few hours later…
The entire camp had settled in after supper around the fire, rows of people on logs, steps and stumps. The main fire was roaring behind Vince as he stood in front of the survivors. "Behind me is our memorial." He addressed the crowd. "Unfortunately, I discovered that new names had to be added. Names of people who paid the ultimate sacrifice for some people standing here today. Let us raise our glasses to those who fell." A general murmur fell over the crowd as they toasted the dead, thanking those who weren't with them anymore. Thomas stole a glance at Gally, whose mouth was set in a grim line as he toasted.
"But I am gladdened to see that one name has been crossed off. One name who we thought we lost. One name that sparked a perilous journey, one that evoked terror, pain, anguish. Yet hope. Because many people who I have grown to love, people I would call my family, were affected greatly by the loss of this one name. And I can not be more overjoyed to welcome back this one name. Newt, welcome, to the Safe Haven!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as Thomas and Minho helped pull the struggling Newt to his feet. Thomas stole a glance at Minho, who was looking happier than he had since, well never. And he looked back at Newt, waving at the crowd, slightly self consciously, a beautiful smile gracing his features.
Gally was whistling as he clapped.
Sonya had a tearful smile on her face.
Teresa's eyes had softened as she cheered.
Frypan was whooping, and throwing his fist in the air.
Brenda was probably breaking her hand from clapping so hard.
Jorge had an arm around Brenda, and was smiling so wide, his face probably hurt.
And suddenly Thomas had a thought, as he looked around at all of his friends. The pure joy in all of these people, the prospect of a new life, the reunion of somebody so amazing, the hope that so many had lost suddenly regrown. Had it not been for one group, he would not be as euphoric as he felt now. He would not know these people. He would not have these bonds. He would not feel this love.
So maybe, just maybe…
WCKD is good.
The End
Wow...what a journey. All I can say is thank you so much for sticking around to the end. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Depending on the response I get, I've got a few ideas churning for a sequel, but don't quote me on it.
For any Newtmas fans out there, I will be adding a Newtmas epilogue.
Have a wonderful 2021!