The week flew by and Mel and Gally thought things were finally starting to look up for them and the city. But they couldn't have been more wrong.
Although Lawrence now had his serum, he only seemed to be spiraling as he was coming to terms with the reality of his situation. Elise reassured everyone that it was working and keeping him from succumbing to the virus. But at times he acted far from it. His dark veins were already visible on his neck and arms before the serum, but once he had it it seemed like it only magnified their look, to show that he was truly infected. And on his first day, one of the guys had spoken up and called him out on his sickness, saying how he wouldn't be fit to lead them anymore. A fight broke out and the guy ended up punching Lawrence so hard he broke his nose. In a scary way Lawrence only shrugged it off saying how 'Rose took my nose long before'.
He didn't even care to go to Elise to have it fixed and put back in place. Instead he went with it and continued on with their plans of getting into WCKD's walls. He'd also starting riling up the people. Giving speeches about how they would not survive any longer if they didn't start acting now and rising against WCKD. To Mel's dismay there were many that agreed with him saying 'enough was enough'. The late afternoon's were now filled with groups of them all marching up to the wall's and shouting at whoever will listen to them.
As for Mel and Gally, they would never openly admit it as the foreign feelings made them shy if someone openly brought it up, but they knew their friendship was growing into something much more. It had started with hugs, just a simple gesture of comfort and support. But then it evolved into Gally sometimes sneaking his hand into hers as they sat next to each other or were taking walks.
And Mel thought it was an amazing feeling. When first meeting him she only saw him as a snarky mouthed teen that could give her the answers she needed. But she could see over the time she got to know him how much he had changed and come out of his shell. He was more confident as he stood taller, more open as some nights he'd share fun stories he and the boys in the Glade would have. And it made Mel learn that she wasn't alone anymore. She had someone again, even if it wasn't her brother, but it helped her learn trust and have hope that a better future could be out there.
The sun was slowly starting to make it's way down, signaling the evening time. Mel had finished up at the med room, just a regular flu from one of the market workers and she had him off to his home for bedrest. Taking her leave she took a moment and leaned against one of the old destroyed buildings and just enjoyed the last of the warm sun on her skin. A sound in the sky drew her attention for a moment. A berg, they had recently come to learn the name of, was taking off into the sky and away from the city. More and more had been coming in and out they noticed which they thought was strange, but didn't think any further of it as it didn't concern them yet.
Gally was out in the city again. After their first adventure, Lawrence had wanted to send him and some others back to try and gather small intel for them all. Normally Mel would have been against it not wanting him to risk it, but after having been there with him for the first time, knowing what was on the other side, she felt more comfortable with it and wished him well when he went out.
She knew he would be back soon so she decided to go wait in his room for him like she has done a couple of times now. She walked past the now regular crowds of people shouting and yelling in front of the walls and headed towards the end of the hall and into his plain but cozy room. He didn't have much inside of it, just his few pairs of clothes he wore more than others, his extra pair of boots, and a few random knick-knacks he had found and decided to keep. His room was slightly bigger than hers since he was taller and needed the extra bit of space compared to her so he was able to have a full desk which she decided to sit next to while she waited.
It was no more than twenty minutes later that he came into his room, an uncertain look on his face as he peeled off his jacket and tossed it into his bed. Mel watched him a moment before frowning and standing up.
"What is it, you ok?" She asked reaching out to him as he moved to sit on his bed.
"Me? Oh yea, I-I'm good. Yea I'm good." He said not at all convincing her it was the truth.
"Did something happen?" Her voice gentle, not wanting to be pushy in him giving her an answer as she sat next to him.
He looked ready to say something, paused and looked down at his hands as he thought of how to answer. He liked being honest with her and being able to finally speak his feelings. In a way she made him feel like he could tell her anything, as if she was his own personal therapist who he knew wouldn't judge him for the things he said. Would she laugh at him sometimes? Of course, but it was never in a teasing way or to make him feel like he was stupid. It was always in a light manner.
"Remember my stories and how I'd say that the Glade was full of boys? And then how a girl came up before we got out that started all the chaos?" He asked glancing at her.
She nodded silently encouraging him to continue, "Well, I saw her. Teresa."
Mel wasn't sure how to respond so she formed her words carefully, her mind connecting the dots and recalled back to the beginning when he said she was among the boys when they escaped the lab after he killed the boy named Chuck. Newt being one of those boys.
"I don't understand. Was she brought in? Was there anyone else with her?" She inquired growing nervous.
He only shook his head, "No no. She was in a tall building, one of the labs I think. But the thing is, this isn't the first time I've seen her."
Mel could only stay silent as she let him continue, her nerves continuing to grow.
"A few days ago on our scouting trip. We were able to find a good lookout spot in an area of the wall, a spot that wasn't being watched or patrolled anymore. Looked like an abandoned construction site down below. Anyways, we set up our scope to have a look around and I swear I saw her through one of the windows. When I looked again she was gone." More silence as he licked lips his lips.
"Then today we headed back to check more buildings, but I looked at the same one again to see if it was really her or not, and it was. She was in a white coat, and was moving around the room as if she'd been there for awhile, she knew the place. She was alone though, I couldn't see anyone else with her."
Gally stayed where he was having finished, Mel stood up needing a moment putting her thoughts together. If she was here, that meant the others couldn't be far away. She gave a hopeful smile to him and having that connection through their eyes he could only sigh.
"I know what your thinking, and we wouldn't even know where to start looking. And you know we can't even get close to those buildings without guards being around everywhere." He reasoned with her.
She only shook her head at him, "No I know. I've learned to keep your realistic thinking and not jump in head first anymore. But Gally, this could be it. Either he's here, or he's nearby. If that Thomas guy really cared about her like you said he did, then you know they wouldn't be far from each other." Gally stood up and gave his best look of confidence he could.
"Well tomorrow we're doing crowd control, but the day after, I'll see if we can get in again and try to find anything out."
Mel grinned even wider, her dreams becoming more real and she jumped into him hugging him and laughing. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh of his own. The rest of the night he spent with her as she imagined all the different ways she would see him again. The two joking together and enjoying the night before eventually falling asleep on his bed, Mel on the inside facing the wall and Gally pressed against her back with a protective arm around her.
She had woke with a start and looked around confused, guessing by the amount of natural light in the room she decided that she had slept in. Looking to the side she saw Gally was gone and figured he had already left with the crew for the protests and making sure no one got hurt amongst themselves. She rubbed her tired eyes and was about to lay down for a few more minutes when the loud sound of something being fired went off, screams and shouting filling the air. She was quick to her feet putting her shoes on as fast as she could before dashing outside to see what was happening.
Everyone was running past her to take cover and get as far away from the walls as they could.
"What's going on?!" She asked to people running past her.
One of them could only point behind towards the commotion and continued to run. As she looked forward again she could see the dust filling the air and the sound she was hearing earlier. What looked like big guns on top of the walls were shooting at them. Her mind was going crazy trying to think of why they would all of a sudden start shooting at them when they knew they were harmless. She immediately ran into the commotion, her basic medical side - thanks to Elise - needing to see who was wounded or needed help. She cried out as one of the shots landed a few feet away from her.
Getting to one of the first bodies she saw they were gone, no sign of life. She held back a sob as she then moved on to the next, one crawling their way to safety and she was quick to help them up and get to better cover. Dust was filling her lungs and she had to pull her sleeve down and use it to cover her nose and mouth so she could breathe better. She found a few more dead before having the sudden realization that Gally was out here. What if.
"Gally!" She called out as one last shot rang out. Everyone originally in the area long gone and hidden except for the unlucky ones.
A hand landed on her shoulder and she turned hopeful only to be met with Elise. She had her bag with her to help anyone she could find herself.
"We're gonna need help, find Gally, grab whoever you can and bring them over." She said before running off.
Gally. She needed to find him first. She tried calling out for him one last time desperately, only hearing crying from the injured in return. She began walking back quickly hoping to see him along the way, asking whoever she could if he was seen.
"T-The crew. They took off in the vans and headed back to Lawrence." One of the guys said as he had stayed behind, holding his arm after being struck by debris. Mel thanked him and helped him wrap his arm before taking off toward their hideout.
As she got closer she could hear shouting inside and hoped no one else was injured, she knew the medical room would be full by the time she got there. Jogging down the hall she finally saw Gally, he was talking to someone, multiple someones in fact all with their backs toward her. She didn't care about them though, all she cared about in the moment was Gally and seeing him safe.
"Gally!" She called out, running past the strangers and right into his arms. He held her tight and sighed in relief, forgetting about their guests for the moment.
"Thank God, I heard all the shooting and when I came out everyone was already running out, then with all the dust I couldn't find you." She said feeling like she could relax, but that feeling was soon replaced as she remembered that Elise was waiting for her.
"Elise needs all the help she can get." She said finally pulling away ready to leave with him, but she stopped and looked at the group in front of them. Scanning each of their faces not recognizing any of them except for-
"Mel just hang on a sec." Gally had started to say reaching for her but she was already taking a small step forward, staring at the boy in the middle. His features becoming familiar, her mind clearing as if the final piece of a puzzle was put in place revealing the full picture.
Newt.
A/N: We finally made it!