Disclaimer: I don't own The Death Cure to be clear.
Chapter Twenty:
Fire and chaos erupted with a massive explosion which blew up on the city wall's, rattling the nearby areas. We couldn't stop to look but the sounds grew closer as the guards traveled in huge droves to combat what ever had just happen. Lawrence… My mind raced he would have the power to rally enough people to invade the city.
"We were supposed to take down WICKED, not the whole damn city." Gally mused as the city came undone in conflict.
"We've gotta move." Thomas instructed as we kept ourselves away from the battle. But as we ran the notion of avoid conflict zones was short lived.
"The tunnels are right ahead." Gally called out as all crouch to stay out of sight.
A car went up in smoke around us as debris scatter around us as more guards rush to quell the violence. Pressing forward they feebly tried to push back those men and woman tired of living in fear of WICKED.
"We gotta go, we gotta go." Gally cried out as we get to our feet.
An all out war was being waged by the citizens left out of the city and WICKED. There was nothing we could do but flee the ensuring carnage. We couldn't risk stray bullets or being captured. My body trembled and my breathe was heavy and ragged. But I had to keep moving.
Minho and Thomas took on the burden of carrying Newt onward. I kept point with Gally rushing past each pocket skirmish we stumbled upon. Lawrence played us and was leaving us for dead. Minho didn't matter to him, he used Thomas altruistic behavior and naivety to further his ulterior motive. Which was to take a potshot at WICKED.
Lawrence is formidable foe, he used everything and everyone to his advantage. What was a few immunes went to their deaths, to his end goal. As the the city became sieged, he left us with a very short lifeline to grasp too.
"Brenda you there?" Thomas called out through the walkie-talkie.
"Thomas I'm here!" She replied almost instantly. The five of us were camped up in some alleyway as the fighting became more tensed.
"Where not going to make it." He said dejected. Unsure at this point of how to advance. Minho kept a good eye out on Newt, as I carefully surveyed for a possible attack on us.
"What are you talking about."
"Just take the others. Get everyone out while you still can." He said through labored breathes, practically pleading with her. It really was too late for us. This city would be our grave. I'm just fortunate to be beside the most important people in my life. Gally has done more to redeem himself in my eye's, I only wish I had the chance to properly rectify the past. Potentially even became friends.
"No!" She boldly denied.
"Brenda!" Thomas shouted.
"I'm not leaving you. So forget it." Brenda replied with a unwavering stance on the matter.
"Even though you should?" He questioned.
There was a break of silence, as I took a seat next to Newt, his eyes glazed over. I couldn't bare watching him suffer. With no concern given, I slip my hands into his and squeeze. Laying my head on his shoulders. The man I'm in love with, he's fading. Yet there isn't a goddamn thing I could do about it.
"Newt please, hold on." I beg him, gripping tighter than ever before. The guys look over momentary, getting the gist of the situation, they turn back around. If it wasn't obvious before it was now. If we're going to all perish, I want it to be beside Newt.
"Thomas, don't worry I'm coming to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"Our rides here." Brenda cried out. "Just look for us at the tunnels.
We had a chance, and with that being all the motivation to move, we did. Gally and I lead this time around our weapons aimed and prime to gun down whoever tried to intervene. I could taste our freedom, it was so close. And yet so far.
"Alright Newt, we're almost there." Gally points out.
"Just leave me." Newt replied weakly, each second more the Flare tore away at him.
"No way. Not now, not ever." I snapped before, being pulled back by Gally as a burning car went skidding across the road. Before stoping and exploding in a blaze of glory.
"Back, back." Gally shouted as we tumbled back into the alley. Suddenly the streets were teaming with angry civilians each heavily armed making more ground for themselves taking out WICKED armed forces. Things exploded, gun shots wailed and voices screamed in rebellion.
Next thing we all hear is a hovercrafts engines roaring overhead. We all looked up in awe.
"That's them, that's them, we gotta go." Thomas assured.
"Go without me!" Newt face now drooling a black liquid like mucus from his mouth. Coughing in a fit for a moment. Newt stared at Thomas, Minho and myself.
"Minho, you gotta run ahead. Grab the serum and get back to us as fast as you can."
"He right, I can cover you." Gally said.
"You two look after him." Minho replied.
"Of course, now hurry." I said softly.
"Thank you." Newt mouthed out dryly to Minho and Gally.
"You hang on. You hear me?" Minho said softly.
Ripping part of my shirt sleeve, I tried to dry the mucus off Newt's face but ultimately he denied me as Thomas saw them off.
I wanted to have optimism, if not for myself than for Newt. But I couldn't find any to spare, Thomas who usually undaunted and highly charismatic. He often radiated with optimism, even if he was casually of late a cynic. As my best friend, I often relied on his strength to push me forward. Now watching him studying his behavior. He was becoming more unhinged. The other's didn't see it, of course not. But he was out for blood even if this wasn't the time to bring upon his wrath.
Oh what he would give, if not having to be concerned with Newt, to send Ava Paige. My mother and previous captor to a swift end.
The reason why I knew this, because I too would give anything to put a pistol to Janson head. Pulling the trigger with no remorse. But this couldn't be my train of thought. Newt had to be my major concern as he began breathing faster, struggle to keep a steady beat to his heart. His eye now darker, only looking into the void. Each struggling breathe he took, chocked me on the inside. I could stand to watch him suffer.
If I could trade places with him, give my life for his. I would in a heartbeat, just to end his pain. My eyes strained slowly threatening to cry out.
"Hey, hey." Thomas tired calling out to him, trying to snap him out of his trance. "We gotta get you up, let's go." Thomas said as we moved into help Newt to his feet.
"No!" Newt struggled trying to pull away from us. "Thomas, get off. Ross just stop." He kept fighting us more and more.
"Hey come on we gotta move." Thomas insisted.
"Newt we can't stay here!" I cried out. Reaching out for him but it was only more resistance.
"Take this." He screamed at Thomas volatility. Newt began unfolding something trying hand him something. A necklace which he wore.
"Not now." Thomas motions.
"Just take it!" He commanded. "Please Tommy." He cried out and Thomas grab hold of it."Hold on," Newt pleaded as his hand scrambles into his pockets. Newt produced small bullet shell that seemed to be hollowed out and filled with something inside.
"Newt." I whined. As he placed the shell in my palm.
"Promise me, you'll hold on to it forever. I know it's not much, but it was last minute." He chocked out as I placed it in my pocket. I simply nodded to his request.
Thomas and I quickly got Newt up on his feet as we began leading towards the tunnel. With sluggish grunts and groans we moved out on the street where battles ensued. Pushing onward and onward, nearly reaching our way out
Newt was becoming dead weight in the literal sense. All of his weight just dragging him down like a dead body. Yet through the sweat and tears Thomas and I pressed forward, hoping Minho would be waiting with the serum.
More gun fire rained down around us, more object went up in smoke and subsequently exploded. Yet this did little to deter us. Shortly we made our way off the streets and toward a public platform away from the violence.
"We're almost there Newt, stay with us." Thomas said encouraging him to push onward. We made our way trying to cross this plaza before Newt gave a grunting inhale before collapsing to the floor.
"No, no Newt." I shouted leaning over him along side Thomas as his breathing became more hoarse.
Thomas rose up first and grab his arms if it meant dragging him along the floor. But I rush over to his legs, as Thomas and I draged/carried him along. But it was to no avail we all fell over, brunt out from all this running around.
Out of nowhere the city P.A. system came to life, not as warning to remaining resident to evacuate. Worse a familiar voice rang out.
"Thomas." Teresa called out over the airwaves. "Can you hear me? I need you to listen to me. I know you have no reason to trust me but I need you to come back!" She called out boldly.
"Don't listen to her, we gotta keep moving. She had her chance to help!" I yelled out looking over to his direction. But he kept looking onward ignoring me.
"Thomas, you can save Newt! There still time for him."
"Thomas please, she belongs to WICKED. You go there, and your back to life as some lab-rat." I protested with all my might. Grabbing him sternly by the collar of his shirt, starting him in his warm eyes. "We didn't come this far to start from square one. You'll have to kill me, before I'd ever let you run off to them." I declared.
"There's a reason why Brenda isn't sick anymore. It's your blood. You understand? She isn't sick because you cared her."
"What…" Was the only thing I could formulate out my mouth.
"She doesn't have to be the only one! All you have to do is come back, and this will be finally over. Please just come back to me." She pleaded.
"Thomas don't."
"Ross, I've done horrible things to you in the past. Things which for the rest of my life I can never make up for." Teresa said calmly.
"Shut up!" I screamed out aloud very angrily.
"There's been a reason all along, knowingly or not. You're vital in all of this, from the start you we're pushed the hardest out of all your peers. From the first time you manage to kill a Griever with your blood, to your immunity to their stings and lack of memory recovery.." She continued.
"Fuck off!" I bellowed out from all the anger pent up inside me.
"Please just come back, and I'll explain everything about yourself. Hopefully I can shed a light on your past... I know you two will do the right thing." She concluded just as power around the city began failing.
For a moment Thomas and I started outwardly then to one another. All before turning back to see Newt rising to his feet all on his own.
"Newt?" Thomas called out cautiously.
"Newt you ready to keep moving? I asked.
Newt didn't reply. Just uneven silence as he turned slowly to face us. The first glance I got was of pure terror. His was twitching something awful, more black blood ran from his mouth like a feral animal, his eyes black as coal with a sorrowful emptiness.
"Newt." The two of us called out to snap him back to reality.
Returning to reality was from the furthest thing he had done. Releasing out a sharp guttural shriek. I knew then and there our Newt was gone. He finally fell to the ravages of the Flare. When out of nowhere came barreling straight towards the two of us full speed ahead.
A/N: Here we are heading toward the last two to three chapters of the Death Cure and main trilogy. I'm hurting inside and not ready to write out Newt death, but it's unavoidable. But hey, there are more stories to tell inside this universe. Who knows what might happen.