A/N: As we reach the end and finish the story I would just like to thank everyone for reading this story I truly hope you enjoyed it, this ending definitely made me a bit teary eyed and happy seeing it with Newt still with them and writing it in a happier way. I also want to give an extra special thank you to LoveFiction2021 for leaving a review on just about every single chapter. Thank you so much for your thoughts I am glad you had fun with this story. There will still be alternate ending chapters going up within the next few days or so, so stick around if you're interested in checking them out! XOXO
(I also highly recommend playing 'Goodybye' from The Death Cure soundtrack where I marked a *. Definitely adds a layer of emotion while reading it.)
Thankfully the rest of the ride wasn't too long and the base was now in sight as Jorge started his descent. From what Mel could see it looked like some type of a work site. Seeing it all by the water made her look on in wonder. The last time she saw the ocean like that was when they were traveling and she was with her whole family for the last time. A brief memory of sunlight reflecting off the small waves.
Once they touched the ground everyone was quick to get up and out. Gally, Minho and Vince all gathered to help Elise carry Thomas to a room so they could make him comfortable and check him over again while everyone else packed up what they needed. Mel walked off the Berg with Newt and they followed close behind them. Meanwhile everyone else went off to do what they needed to, but stayed nearby incase anything was needed.
"Alright everyone, grab what you need, leave what you don't need. Once we have that ship running we're all loading up and heading out." Vince announced to everyone that had gathered.
Looking around Mel could see there were people everywhere, survivors. All around her age it seemed, teenagers. Save for a few adults she was able to find scattered about. Were they all part of WCKD's game? Was her brother and his group not the only one? It made sense since all children had been taken that fateful day, but she made a note to ask later on when it was appropriate. For now she took the chance to rest and reflect on everything that had happened all in this one night.
She looked up as Elise came over and gave a light smile towards her, "We're all ready in there if you are." She said offering her a spot in the room. Mel nodded gratefully and followed her in, glancing at Thomas' sleeping form in one of the nearby beds. No one was sure how long he'd be out for, but they all knew he needed the rest more than anyone. They were just glad they had Elise around to make sure he'd recover as best as he could. She found a chair and brought it to sit next to Newt as he was on another bed, leg bouncing nervously. Elise already had her tools out and was using a solution to moisten the bloodied bandage that was used on Thomas, instead of waiting for him to wake up and asking to draw any blood.
Elise then extracted what she needed from the bloody solution, and took one of the vials of serum. The boy that held the bag had a look of pride on his face at having been able to do his job which made everyone smile. Gally patted him on the back before sending him off to join the other kids. Turning their attention back to Elise she was now mixing everything together, as well as making sure there was extra in case there was anyone else who would need it as well and showed signs one day of being non-immune.
Newt took a shaky breath as he watched, the veins along his skin had lightened and weren't as visible anymore, but they were still feint. His eyes were cleared up better as well. He had been silent as a mouse ever since Mel had jabbed him with the first dose over an hour ago. Elise only gave an encouraging nod as she offered her hand out for him, waited for him to place his arm forward, and then after sanitizing the area she made a small poke and administered the contents into his bloodstream.
Everyone watched with bated breath, expecting to see some sort of physical change in him after being cured. But all he did was blink his eyes a few times as he felt the slight sting from the needle. Once it was over he pulled his arm back to his side, rubbed the sore spot and looked up to see everyone watching him.
"Alright shows over, I think my crank days are officially done now." He said causing everyone to smile and laugh.
They then started to go off on their own business and help around where it was needed, glad to see their friend feeling better and back to his usual self. Newt looked at Elise and gave a nod, his eyes honest. "Thank you Doc."
Elise only smiled in return and started to clean up. Mel turned to him, that scared look in her eyes once more as she asked the question she wanted to know the whole ride over.
"Why didn't you tell me.." She started softly, eyes cast down before forcing herself to look him in the eyes.
Newt gave a heavy sigh as he contemplated what to tell her, before deciding that the truth was the only and best option. He knew he needed to be honest with her and tell her everything. They were family after all and he didn't want any more secrets.
"I guess.. I thought by not telling you, I could spare you from any further pain. Hearing everything you told me about our family, and then being all alone for all these years, I just couldn't bring myself to add to it." He met her gaze to see her shaking her head, a soft smile forming.
"You could never. It hurt more knowing that you kept it from me. If I had known we could have tried to help you sooner. Elise could have made something for you." Her tone was a bit firm as she watched him nod in agreement.
"Your right, I'm sorry. I was a shank for not speaking up. You'll get nothing but the truth from now on." He confirmed, deciding that he would wait for a better time and place to also come clean about the story of his limp. After all that's happened in the past months and what they just went through he knew it would be best. But he wanted to stay true to his word and give her all the answers.
They made their agreement and hugged each other, Mel's arms tightening just slightly before letting go. She could tell that the cure was starting to take effect, seeing the color start to return to his face, and his overall good mood. He then stood and took a moment to make sure that he actually felt ok, then offered his arm like a proper gentleman and suggested showing her around.
She agreed and looped her arm through his before they took off side by side. He couldn't help but glance at Thomas along the way, and Mel assured him that they could come straight back to check on him.
As they walked they could see everyone else was gathering and loading up supplies onto the ship. They offered to help but Vince waved them off saying that they were almost done, and that they could help instead by going through the buildings and doing a sweep, making sure everyone knew to start heading on board. So they did just that as Newt continued to give her a tour and share small stories of their rescues and how they hijacked a train car trying to rescue Minho.
They continued to announce their departure as they came upon stragglers, and as they made their way back checked that no one was left in any of the buildings or around. The last area was the one they started in, seeing Thomas' still form right where they left him. Elise confirmed she had everything and took whatever else she could as she exited. Vince and the boys had come back to help with Thomas again and getting him loaded onto the boat. Newt and Mel offered their extra help and were the last ones on board.
*Mel leaned against the railing as she watched the sun slowly rise. The cool air leaving goosebumps on her arms as she watched the shore slowly disappear in the distance. Gally came up behind her and wrapped a blanket around her. She looked up and smiled in thanks as she held on to the edges and wrapped herself up better. He draped his arm around her and held her close as they just stood in silence watching the horizon.
"We came here on a boat. And now here we are leaving it just the same." She mused as she leaned against him and laid her head back along his chest.
Gally hummed in agreement and placed a kiss to the top of her head, "We'll be somewhere better. We're all together now, you won't be losing anyone this time or ever again."
Mel smiled and they went back to silence, enjoying their moment together as they thought of the future.
It took them well into the next day before they arrived to an island. The trees and hills were lush with green and all kinds of nature, Mel wasn't sure if she'd ever seen anything as close or beautiful to it before. They got as close to the shore as they could before dragging out their smaller makeshift boats they made to get them the rest of the way. It took many trips back and forth until everyone was off. They left most of the supplies until they had a proper place to store it all.
Everyone was in mutual agreement about getting to work and starting on shelters and gathering wood for a fire. Having so many hands and people to work with they were able to work fast and efficiently. Gally helped oversee some of the building since that was his job in the Glade and knew a few tricks. Vince and Jorge went back to the ship to start unloading their supplies and anything else that was brought along.
A medic hut was the second high priority for Thomas. Once the basics of it were up and ready they made a bed and placed him on top of it. He had woken on the ship once while they were sailing, he was feverish and was making words they couldn't quite decipher. Elise had given him medicine to help reduce his high temperature and made sure he had clean bandages, then just like that he was out again. Elise stayed near the hut as often as possible to keep monitoring him. His stitches were holding well and she stated that it was up to him now when he was going to wake.
Days had quickly passed since their arrival. They had made tons of progress and already had a garden going that Newt was happy to take charge of with Sonya and a few others, along with a kitchen/cooking shed for Frypan, and the beginnings of a farm. It had become a community, and everyone did their part in helping it grow and thrive. Mel had just finished helping at the farm and collecting eggs from some chickens they had found and herded into a fenced area, along with a special coop made by Gally. She had dropped them off with Frypan when she noticed someone walking out of Elise's medic hut. Looking further she realized it was Thomas. He was finally awake.
The others seemed to notice as well as they all gathered together and watched Thomas make his way to them. When he first woke he was a bit disoriented and confused as to where he was. But when he sat up and took it all in and hearing birds chirping in the distance he realized that they were no longer in any city. He glanced at his stomach and lifted his shirt slightly to see the fresh bandage on it. Gathering as much strength as he could he stood and slowly made his way outside where he was greeted with fresh air and the small waves crashing along the shore.
As he looked to the side to see everyone walking about and working he began that way. Looking at everything that had been made and completed since their arrival. As he got closer in, he noticed everyone together, watching him. It was a moment that needed no words as Thomas' eyes fell on Newt, then Minho, and everyone else beside them. His friends were alive, Newt was alive and looking well. All signs that he once had the flare were gone, he was happy and healthy and they couldn't have been more thankful. And Minho, Minho was saved and here too. All that was missing was Teresa. The thought of her bringing up unwanted pain for him. But he knew that with time it would get easier and he would be able to forgive himself one day. With teary eyes he walked forward and grabbed both Newt and Minho into a hug. Followed by everyone else taking turns with hugs and welcoming him to their new home.
They showed him around the areas they had established so far and what was still being worked on. They got him some much needed food, then let him be on his own until Vince had called everyone to a bonfire meeting once it was dark enough. Thomas sat between Minho and Brenda, Frypan and Jorge right behind them while Newt, Gally and Mel were together on Brenda's other side.
Vince stood in the sand as he spoke in front of everyone, a stone slab behind him that had been carried from where they found it by a nearby cave on the other side of the beach.
"We have come a long way together." He started, taking a moment to look across everyone's faces.
"So many have sacrificed so much to make this place possible. New friends, new family." Brenda glanced to them all happily at the words 'friend' and 'family'. Mel and Gally joined hands as well giving emphasis to the meaning as her and Newt shared a look.
Vince raised the cup in his hand, everyone else following his lead, "So here's to the ones who couldn't be here. Here's to the friends we lost, this place is for you. It's for all of us. But this-" He then motioned behind him at the rock, "This is for them."
"In your own time, in your own way, come make your peace." He placed a knife down before raising his glass once more and shouted, "Welcome to the Safe Haven!" and everyone cheered, finally and officially celebrating their freedom from WCKD and the failed world they left behind.
Everyone began to stand and celebrate. Frypan ran to bring out the feast he and a few others had prepared, while the rest broke out into groups. Some hugging and cheering their own, others laughing and sharing their stories. Mel stood beside Brenda as she and Jorge talked with Aris, listening to the conversation. And one by one everyone who was ready made their way to the stone and taking the knife and a hammer they started to carve names into it. To remember all the people who couldn't be here with them. Mel watched as the names grew. Julie, Sarah, Zart, Chuck. As she looked at the names she pulled out her small picture and looked down at it. Taking one final look at her parents faces. She knew she needed to make her peace just like Vince had said. She was ready.
Grabbing Newt's hand she brought him over with her along with one of their makeshift nails they had for the buildings. Newt followed willingly, curious as to why. As she looked at the stone, she held the picture one last time and placed a gentle kiss to it before glancing to Newt. He caught on quick and nodded, taking one last look himself as he touched the picture and said his own goodbye. Mel then took the hammer and carefully nailed the picture to the stone in a spot that wouldn't be in the way from anyone else adding names. Newt wrapped his arm around her in a side hug as they took a step back and reflected on it a moment.
Eventually they found their way back to one of the firepits and took a seat. Gally coming up beside her, and the rest following one after another. Their small little family together in one place. Mel placed her hand to her necklace, the tiny butterfly she thought would make all her wishes come true. And looking around at everyone she realized, it did.
She was home. They all were.