Chapter Twenty-Two:
There had been panic and strife all throughout the nearly abandon building. Alarms wailing to alert staff to evacuate. The war blazed on, in and around the surrounding streets. An endless siege laying waste to this once bastion of hope. Now it's quickly falling the same wall's which once shunned these very people. Staff and scientist alike working for WICKED had gotten caught up in the mess, it was hopeless for them. This was no longer their home. Nowhere from them to evacuate too. Which not blistering wastes or crawling with Cranks and plague? Had they done more, provided more for these people well this would of been a different tale to spin.
But Newt's died, this is no longer who's right or wrong. It's about vengeance for Thomas. And the truth for myself. Each step I took I shoulder past the deep pools of emotional pain, threatening to take hold of me. Newt, after all this time. It isn't fair. But life never really is. The only solace I have marching onward is this, shall I perish tonight. Would I soon be seeing everyone I've lost. Newt, Chuck, Orwell, Toven and everyone else from the Glade from where it all began. That's all I have hope in. Being reunited with loved one's, cause life has seem to lose all of it's color.
Then I realize I would be leaving Thomas in the hands of these monster's who only want to use him. Drain him dry and move on. I won't allow that to happen. Not now, and I suppose not ever. I can't afford to think selfishly when so many people need me alive, despite not wanting to be. Moving forward taking a step at a time. It's how we'll manage to press onward.
We walked our way into a very long hallway, wide window's aside another. You could see the carnage taking hold. At the halfway point she stood, long and dark like a tired silhouette. Her white outfit stood out along her fading blonde hair. Ava Paige, head of WICKED. Behind every single horrible thing that has ever happened to any of us. Here she was, my mother come to seek her fate...
"Mother…" My voice rang out like a hollow bell. No emotions. We took slow steady steps approaching her, Thomas pistol gripped tightly. He aims at her with anger.
"Is it true?" He asked his hands trembling with the gun. She looked onward to us as I held my pistol to my side. "Newt, I could of saved him. Her prolong silence was unwelcomed
"Well?" I shouted at her longing for a answer. A way to make any sense of this night.
"You can save us all." She admitted with no fear across her worn face.
"Please tell me, why'd you do this? To any of us. To me, your son. What so special about me?" I demanded to know. Thomas over taken by grief drop his weapon, he couldn't do anything to quell that storm in his heart. Mother began walking over to us Thomas trembling on the urge of tears.
"It's okay, everything will be explained."
"Just leave the others alone." He cried out cutting her off.
"I promise-" A bullet shot rang out and suddenly Ava Paige fell blood dripping from her chest.
"Mom! Mom! Come on, mom!" I shouted loudly to her... There holding the gun was Janson making his way over. I wavered out my own pistol but was interrupted.
"Put it down, our Thomas gets a hole in his chest!" He warned. Before I would let that come to pass I threw my gun across the floor. "Good!" He said applauding my obedience.
"Just you wait!" I muttered under my breath.
Suddenly Janson swung a hand at Thomas. Slamming something into his neck. Thomas wobbled for a second. Janson acted before I could react and did the exact to me. I felt something sharp prick my neck and suddenly was overcome with drowsiness. Thomas pull out the needle. Just as I did, both of us went collapsing on the cold marble floor.
Thomas tried reaching for his pistol but Jason swiftly kick it from his reach. Mines was far from reachable.
"You two should of run. You really should had run!" He mocks as my visions fade from my eyes.
"You know what this place is Thomas? It's a life boat. The whole world is sinking. Do you really wanna go down with it?" I heard as I began to stir awake, finding myself restrained to a bed along side Thomas.
"My head, it's ringing." I outwardly complained.
"How much longer?"Janson asked.
"It's almost done." Teresa replied as I notice all the medical equipment surrounding us.
"Why don't you just kill us?" Thomas barked
"That's all you've been trying to do." I added.
"Kill you two? Why would we want to do that?" He spoke with a viscous smile."We going to take special care of the both of you. Thomas you a bit more so." He ranted.
"We're just a sick game to you, the variables you worked so hard to produce is that it?" I replied bitterly so.
"We'll keep you alive and in return give life to the rest of us. The one's we chose to save anyway. As he will govern who lives and dies. The world will be balanced once more." Janson said eerily to the both of us as he walked the room in circles.
"Your lying!" I hissed. "We will never do your dirty work." I yelled this time fighting against the restraints.
Janson slowly walked over to a small metal table and picks up an electronic syringe which lit up with a LED lights. He mulled over to Teresa who was working on a blood culture, likely Thomas's.
"Of course there's not going to be enough for everyone. Hard choices going have to be made. In time the Flare virus will burn us out. The only question is who will be left standing." Janson continued as Teresa prep the syringe as Thomas and I fought to break free.
"I do mention, this much stress is likely to burn him out. We need Ross fully cognitive if we're to quell infection rates." Teresa spat.
"Of course, there was one small thing I neglected to mention. Ross you'll never be free from this curse. For you and virus are one in the same. Born with Flare, its attached to every last bit of your DNA. The last of a dying breed." Janson rambled.
"What are you saying?"
"As a carrier, you and the Flare have a symbiotic relationship. Unlike the others, your Kill-zone is protected with a high density fiber lined wall. Resulting in us having to use unconventional variables, in order to test you."Teresa said informing me but none of it makes sense.
"Ahem!" Janson coughed stating she perhaps said too much. Janson held the syringe tightly. His attention directed directly at Thomas this time. "Thanks to you, Thomas we finally get to choose. The future is of our own making. Humanity will live or die by our hands. And it's thanks to both of you!" He said pulling up his jacket sleeve revealing dark veins similar to Newt's.
"You're infected!" I spouted out. "It suits you." I snared. But Janson ready to inject his forearm with the device. Just before administer himself with the Cure he turns to us.
"To your health!" He cheered victorious." Just as he said that Teresa swung a glass container into Janson head. He crumpled to the floor lifeless and bloodied.
"Okay let's get you two out of here." She said sprinting to free Thomas first. What they both failed to notice was I had made considerable amount of leeway on the restraints.
With one hand free, I forcibly tug at the fasten loop of the restraint almost nearly free. Out of nowhere a figure stood up behind Teresa. Janson wasn't out just yet, as he flung across the table. She met the floor with a hard crunch. Thomas boiled up in anger struggling to brake free. Janson pounced after her as she tried her hardest to fend him off. She held the Cure in her hands.
"Give it to me!" He roared trying to retrieve the syringe. Pulling her up by her hair he struggled as she had a grip on it. Becoming more enraged, Janson slammed Teresa's head with a heavy thunk on the table. Slowly she slips from his tight grasp.
"Teresa!" We shouted as I nearly was free. Seconds after Thomas ran and charge Janson into a glass window and out into the corridor. Finally free I look over at her limp body. Something primal came to life inside of me. Bewildered I jump through the open window and slam my fist into Janson jaw. Right as Janson punched Thomas.
"Two on one," I laughed lunging at him on the opposite side. He threw a right hook and I caught it with my hand. And Thomas used that to his advantage to strike him twice in his face.
Janson wobbled back, once then twice as I kicked him in his shin. His face crunched against the wall hard and Thomas grabs him. Janson quickly evaded swiftly knocking Thomas down to his knees, with one fist. Connecting his second fist with my left ear sending to glass covered floor. For a second I panic thinking he's busted my eardrum as all I can hear is low ringing in the distance. I've lost all equilibrium in my body.
Janson unfazed, grab Thomas by his shirt collar twisting it around pulling hard as humanly possble. He had Thomas in a choke hold and wasn't holding back as Thomas struggles in vain.
'Get up!' I yelled at myself trying to move. But my legs wobbled like gelatin and I couldn't stop. 'Come on, he's going to kill him.' I shouted. My brain has gone numb, my body weaken. I just need to stand up. Suddenly when I wanted to stop resisting, something clicked and for a moment I grab out to seize it.
It was like for this short moment, logic had turn off and this animalistic instinct grabbed hold of my body a second time. One blink I was still on the floor. A second blink somehow I was on my feet. My third blink, Thomas had gain a chance to push back. When I came to, my fist landed straight into Janson temple freeing Thomas.
But Thomas got knocked to the floor once more as ran at Janson. Janson was so quick responding he swept his foot out in a swift arch tripping me. At the speed I was running I ended skidding across the floor nearly colliding with Thomas.
Thomas was leaning over in pain, I extended my hand and boosted him upward as he propel at Janson. Thomas connecting fist after fist in savage flurry. I soon join him and took one good swing at Janson throat. He swerves out of the way before I land the shot.
Janson savagely lifts his knee into my gut, before side stepping behind me. Before I could catch my own breath his boot goes crashing down on my spine send me skidding across the glass covered floor. Shards haphazardly slashing and gashing expose flesh on my arms.
Janson clearly fed up was now catching Thomas blows and returning them in equal measure. He swiftly grabs Thomas and tosses him at me. We're now side by side badly hurt. He was beating on us like rag dolls. He was a formidable fighter. All this time I figured the rat-man with the salt and pepper hair was a pushover hiding behind a gun with little of combat skills..
I had this notion back at the time he ending up spraining my ribs. Which I assumed was a lucky shot. Due to our time in the Scorch which worn us down. But no, Janson held a terrible strength behind his ego, wit and charm. If he could dispatch us two this easily. I was never a match for him alone. And now he has us where we wants us.
"That's enough." He stated pulling out his gun aim at the two of us." Facing down a barrel wasn't how I saw myself dying. Teresa finally came too rush out the room and saw the state we're in.
Out of nowhere something slammed and exploded at building rattling it and all of us. The shockwave knocked Janson down as well. More explosive rocked the building which threaten to collapse on us. But the three of us had already began running away the moment Janson had collapsed.
"Why?" I mutter out as blood still drip from my lips. Wanting to understand her change of heart all of the sudden. But that was brought to abrupt stop.
"Teresa!" Thomas shouted shoving her out the way. Janson quickly opened fire at us with no remorse. The three of us ra faster and faster down the corridor. We soon came to a near dead end as we entered a storage area. Cold air and vapor greeted us as we bolted inside.
"We need to get out of here." But Thomas face turn sullen rather quickly. "What's wrong?" Teresa ask.
He slowly revealed that he'd been shot in the stomach. Blood leaking from his wound staining his shirt.
"Thomas..." I cried out.
"Thomas!" She screamed in a frantic voice as he slowly collapse on a table then on the floor, as we ran to help. Crouching beside him, he lifted up his shirt. Thomas was most certainly shot in the stomach. Teresa began panicing as she rushed and grabbed a pad to hold on his chest. "Put pressure on it. Hold it." She instructed.
"Thomas hang on, I'll think of something..." I stumbled on what to do.
"You gotta go…" He pleaded. "You both gotta go." He said each breath a struggle.
"No, not without you." She aruged.
"Listen he gonna find us-" Before I finshed the air parted blasting in new cold air as the door way opened. Janson was here. I gave Teresa a nod and quickly scooped up a few items to distract him. I crouched lowly going around the table.
"You know Teresa, you had me fooled. I thought we were friends." Teresa tipped over something and I could see him dart in that direction, as we quickly shuffled spots. "Maybe it's human nature to betray those closest to you. I'm certain our two hero's are gonna be at each other's necks before long. It's in their blood to be drawn so close and yet seek to destroy another." He ranted like a mad man. This time in anger I knocked over something which drew his attention away. But in response he fired a bullet toward our assumed position. Teresa was helping Thomas move at the right time, I was the unofficial target which was fine by me.
"C'mon let not prolong this." He continued as he moved in a fast pace looking to find us. "You three know there no way out of here." He said so assured and he banked around a table which I manage to get a glimpse of. "Let's not make this anymore painful then it needs to be." He said growing closer and closer, my heart beating was so fast I was certain it would bust out of my chest. "Thomas… Teresa… Ross…" Janson slowly began creepily to call our names out as we crawled more and more to evade him. Teresa crawled outwardly to find a route as I stood close to Thomas.
With a small gasp I knew Janson had found her. But I couldn't risk our location to save her. It was her or Thomas. And for the first time in a long while I felt terrified of lossing her. She was a traitor but she was also confused and lead astray. She was my friend a term I haven't thought of her in over a year. I froze watching her squirm away backwards from that monster. What was I to do?
"I think you have something of mine." Teresa rose to meet him, Cure in hand. She wasn't afraid of him. She was taking back herself from the man who molded her into a picture perfect worker. She held on a tight grip of the vial. "Not that. Where is he?" He demanded.
"Just take it! Leave him alone, leave them both alone."
"What is it with you two. You think he so special. He's a lab rat, he was born with a gift. He never had to fight for it. He never had to earn it, he doesn't deserve it. And your other friend is a walking virus, he'll be standing all alone with blood trailing in his path. He's better off dead!"
"Maybe but it's his. Maybe your afraid of dark, but I promise you. Ross isn't the monster lingering there, it's you." Teresa retorts.
"What about you Thomas, what do you have to say? Don't you have enough blood on your hands already? What about you Ross? Not terrified by the fact your a human virus, you ought to be. But never mind all that, Thomas you might have been afraid to shoot her, but I'm not!" He declared his threat forthright thinking we would reply. "Okay fine, have it your way."
Before I could stop him Thomas grabbed a metal bin and rose to his feet to face him. "Janson!" He cried out and flung it toward him. He evaded it without much effort but it did collide with a glass holding cell full of Far-gone Cranks. I was able to catch Thomas as he slid back down.
"Missed you little shit!" He laugh with venomous crack in his voice.
"Did I" He laughed back.
"You really should of taken the hit." I smiled and pointed toward the cell. Janson turn back to face a cracking containment cell shattering all along it's glass frame.
"Shit!" He gulped for the last time. Just then two Cranks swarmed him ripping and tearing. Bitting and gnawing into his flesh, as he tried to squirm away from the hungry pair. The Cranks have him pinned to the floor as they ate. Janson let out a guttural scream but it was drowned out but the rapturous nosie of the feasting Cranks. Teresa darted over to us grabbing held of Thomas as we got up off the floor.
"Come on we need to go" Teresa calls out.
"Where too?" I question. As we scramble around the corridors which were in a state of disrepair.
"This way." She said as we led Thomas in the other direction. The two of us had a hard time moving him around our bodies battered and sore. It seem like we had no where to go or had any hope of escaping.
Lights sparking and live wires swung loose the further we walked.
Teresa led us to a stairway but there was smoke and fog everywhere making it hard to breathe. Fire raged from the floors below making our only option up. I felt the heat lash across my skin the smog clogging my lungs. I stood in back helping push Thomas up. The situation was growing dire each second passed. I felt fear like I haven't before, the building was going to come down at any time as we shuffle up the flights. I could feel death outstretched to take me.
At long last we reached the roof, but to our dismay it too was engulfed in flames. As I coughed sucking in what little clear air. This was it. End of the line. Just as we tried turning back the door erupted in flames trapping the three of us like rats now.
Thomas fell over and Teresa rush over and held him tenderly as I held them from behind. I held on to my friends with dear life unaware of the coming end.
"No matter what happens, just know I love you guys." I said softly as my tears evaporated.
Thomas wound began squirting more and more blood out. Tears and sobs wept uncontrollable. My face was pale as I couldn't do more but watch him bleed. I took off my shirt and shoved it in her hand to put more pressure, the heat tearing into my exposed skin from the little protection of my undershirt. I let her hold him.
"Ross… I."
"It's okay Teresa, I forgive you." I said giving them space to say farewell to each other.
"I'm sorry, I tired." She cried out sorrowfully ashamed of the path she took and what she done.
"I know." He said in a timid voice scared of his last moment's. The two of them exchange a passionate kiss. Then Thomas looked over to me. "Thanks for all ways staying by my side through thick and thin, Ross." He wept out softly.
"Thomas, if it wasn't for you, who knows where I'd be now. Thanks for always having my back" I replied before closing my eyes waiting for death.
But it didn't come only salvation. The familiar sound of rumbling jets engines. It was the hovercraft from before. It wings fanning away the flames. Teresa got him up and I bolted up aside them. Quickly I got my hand around Thomas moving him forward. "Come on." She said. The surrounding buildings were giving way.
Suddenly the hatch opened and out popped Vince, Minho and Brenda calling out for us. Flames began to sweep after us as we pushed onward.
"Listen I'm going to jump first, I can do it unassisted. Then I'll pull you two in." Together we pushed onward past the storming waves of flames. The building adjacent was becoming more unstable as floors erupted into flames. Time wasn't on our side.
"Get closer." Teresa cried out.
"Jump!" Vince shouted. Three pairs of hands reached out to pull us in.
I let go of Thomas just a few meters away from the hatch, sprinting quickly before propelling upwards into the hovercraft. Upon impact Minho caught my hand adjusting me, so I could turn around and lean outwards to pull them in. I knell along side Vince getting ready to lift.
Vince quickly seized Thomas's free hand while Minho assisted. I had a nearly perfect grip on Teresa shoulder. Just as I start to lift the craft banks away and we lose hold of them.
"We gotta get closer!" Gally shouted to Jorge. The hovercraft began backing up more this time it seems we have the perfect chance. Despite our efforts the adjacent building erupts in a massive explosion. Sending a huge shockwave rattling us all. But the worse part was when chunks got blasted downward towards the street.
"Come on." Teresa grunts getting him back up on his feet, her resolve showing more then ever.
"Reach!" Vince, myself and Minho scream at the top of our lung knowing we have a small window to save them. In a last bit of desperation she throws Thomas at us and we catch him safely. But it's her turn.
"Teresa jump now!" I shout my hand still sticking out for her. The others calling for her to jump. But a loud crunching noise erupts in the air which draws her attention and the rest of ours. The adjacent building collapsed from the damage and in a instant went collided with WICKED Head Quarters.
"Teresa!" He called out in a futile gesture.
For in that decisive moment the building began to collapse as well. With no time to even attempt a jump. Teresa turns to face us with a wave of relief on her bruised face. She accepted her fate at this moment than rather fight it. She stood tall for the last remaining seconds knowing she made the right call. She allowed herself to be redeemed for all the harm she caused. And when the roof caved in so did she.
Teresa sunk down along side the flames and the entire building. Only temporary shock and fear but ultimately acceptance showed in her last moment's. We watch her fall and in a moment she disappeared in a haze of smog. "Noo!" Thomas wailed in a thunderous roar. She gave her life for us. Suddenly tears dripped from my eye's. Teresa was dead. WICKED in this moment seem to won as everyone I cared for is dead in this destroyed city.
Thomas and I look outward at the devastation for a moment. When I turned away, Thomas was lying on his back. His eyes open wide but with a vacant stare in them. Everyone began trying to soothe him. Yet he slowly became motionless his eye's closing. I shook and shook him as many others did to no response. His eyes finally closed. The others went to work trying to stop the bleeding while Brenda got a hold of her self wrapping his chest with gauze.
"Thomas…" I weep out weakly before collapsing myself. Everything was hazy as the smell of smoke began to fade away but much more remains inside my chest slowly chocking me. Fighting my hardest from fading, I mumble loudly to the heaven's.
"Take me and let him live, I'm begging you." I pleaded with my all as the nothingness drags me under. The world is quiet here and I shall remain this way it's better this way. Then the darkness sweeps in removing sight and sound.
Let me sleep forever more…
A/N: That was a lot but the next chapter will be the last and epilogue to the trilogy. Hopefully the people who read this enjoy despite the mistakes and slow updates. Later guys.