Chapter Twenty-Three:

I awoke on a beach snuggled softly in a hammock, the smell of sea air fills my lungs. The brine is a familiar scent and it's welcoming like the lulling tides. Arms once free now wrapped up in bandage and gauze, a detestable numbness follows suit. I hear the voices of men, women and children sprawling out in the distance.

Still I find myself in a state of shock. Terrible nightmares plague my mind the moment I collapsed. Slowly I piece the parts together. A burning city, Thomas bleeding out. Teresa selfless sacrifice. Newt! Newt was dead… Gone for good, I felt the sharpness of a knife plunge into my very heart. Wanting to be dead as well. Suddenly I remember the bullet casing he handed off to me.

Instantly I dug for it, and when I wrap my hand around it, I yanked it free. On the shell was our initials. N&R. But upon further inspection I shook it to find it hollowed out. A small roll of paper popped out. Unrolling the small sheet of paper, reveals a letter.

- It's bloody crazy, to think after all this time. The person I loved was you. The time we spent together is nothing compared to what we could of had. If we had the shuck courage to just admit my feelings from the start. Since the moment we shared our first kiss, something clicked in the back of my bloody mind. We-us were on borrowed time. I've left you the burden of grieving and for that I apologize. If I had to relive the Glade, I would of done things differently. But that's very much wishful thinking. But enough of the tears or I'll never get this done. I know you'll look out for the other's so I pass on unafraid for my family. I leave this world with one regret. It's letting you get in harms way. But beside my regrets I'm sure you'll do fine. I'm positive you'll love again, one day. I'm counting on you Ross. They all are… Even me where ever I happen to round up. So keep on going no matter what, no matter the pain. Know that I'll be watching…

-Yours With Love Newt.

I broke down in tears for a long moment, struggling to breathe. Before a small smile filled my face. Newt wouldn't want me wasting away in sorrow. Right now I gotta push back the pain in my heart, even if I couldn't. I must try my utmost, otherwise I'll be a sobbing mess. Slowly I begin raising to my feet. I drag myself of the tent, revealing and endless stretch of sand and lush green tress behind the beach. We took residence on massive island, more then enough to sustain us.

Nyx and the other came running down the beach, wrapping me into a hug. Followed by, Frypan and Minho. Brenda eventually joins up with Jorge and Harriet and Gally.

"Hey guys." I said weakly.

"Time for the grand tour greenie," Gally said giving hearty laugh.

"Glade 2.0?" I laughed.

"Minus WICKED." Minho said.

"Minus WICKED!" Everyone replied.

The tour was long, the front half of the base of the beach are filled with huts and hammocks, crops with growing produce. A large blank stone in the middle of a large common area. I even got to see Sadie working closely with little Elizabeth who managed to make it here. The kids I rescued from the Scorch, wave as they run past. The island was the home, all of us needed. Minimalistic but still suitable, eventually I see us branching out across the island in time. But I kept pace with the others as the tour went on. Gally doing his best to point things out.

Vince waved from his shack, which to me was a first for the gruff man. Aris was following behind the blonde hair girl, Sonya. We talked and joked along our walk. Still I was in awe of our new home. Wanting to take it all in, but the desire to be alone surges after sometime.

"Where's Thomas?" I finally asked.

"He's been unconscious since the escape. Sadie assured us he would wake on his own accord." Brenda said calming me down.

Now satisfied with the small reunion, I wave everyone off as they each have individual tasks to maintain. I turn about face and headed back from where I started.

Making my way down back to the common area, I sat on a wooden bench. Watching the waves go in and out letting the roar of ocean block out everything else. With my arm's on the mend, I see myself being out commission for sometime. But the roar of the waves washes away my concerns when-

'This world will burn!' Something screamed inside my head causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. I turn over to the others to see if it was a joke. But I was sorely mistaken. For a short moment when I have to blink. In my field of vision, the island is full of corpses. My friends dead or dying. A tall figure spearing people with a long blade. The figures rushes over to me with inhuman speed, driving the sword into my chest. 'We will be whole. The catalyst to the end!' The voice screams a second time before fading away. Breaking free that trance the waves crashing on the shoreline grounds me back to reality.

I didn't question it, more so I feared it. I needed to keep my mind off of it. Getting up, I join up with Brenda who's alone for the time being.

"Hey, hey easy there. You look pale as a ghost." She replied taking hold of me bringing me over to the guys.

"I'm fine now, not sure what came over me." I said sitting down watching the other's work.

Hours past and it was late in the afternoon I sat beside Minho and Jorge helping them as best as I could. I wanted to feel helpful but they kept assuring me I needed to let my arms heal. But I'm stubborn and don't listen when I feel like I can be helping. But up against Jorge and Minho there was no chance I was going out wit them. So I conceded and watch them work.

Before long over the horizon a familiar face walked their way up slowly. He looked around, that same feeling of astonishment on his face. Before long I pointed it out and we began making our way towards him. Excited to see him healthy and alive.

The first thing he did was hug Minho, assuring himself that we actual saved him. It wasn't a dream but it was a way to ground him to the truth of the matter. Newt was gone. Teresa was gone. He turned to me with wide eyes. I who had descended into hell with him towards the end was alive. We saw it all, lived through WICKED games to separate us. Now we both made it to this promised land. The hug between us was short but it was impactful. We've made it. And now it was time to stop fighting.

With WICKED gone so where these childish things of wanting to revolt and destroy them. The mission was over, time saw us now our just rewards. It was time to close one chapter and begin the next. It's a fresh start which was hard fought and well deserved.

"We've come along way together. So many sacrificed, so much to make this place possible. Friends, family. So here's to the one's who couldn't be here. Here's to the friend's we lost. This is for you, for all of us."

Vince said raising a glass in the honor for everything accomplished to make it here. He gave a speech about among a bonfire vigil. This is our home, the home for everyone who walked this path with us. Everyone sat side by side holding up a mug in reprieve. The sorrow ebbed out among the flames.

"But this, this is for you. So in your own time, in your own way come make your peace. And welcome to the safe haven! Vince finished holding a chisel for the large stone as we all cheered loudly our voices echoing like thunder. I sat behind Thomas with Fry and Jorge, unwilling to move at first. So many name's, but I knew who's I be adding to the wall. The person who I owe my life to.

The crowd erupted in cheering and celebration as names slowly got craved into the boulder. I stood and left, leaving behind with Minho and Thomas. Here I go make my peace. The strength fading from my hands.

When it was my turn, I carved in Orwell name as well as Toven. Two people who looked after me during the Glade. I was left to remember them. Giving them a proper farewell I saw noticable name's. Alby, Chuck, Nox, Soc, people I've watched die before me me, the ones I wasn't strong enough to save. Shortly I was join by, Jane and Curie. Curie carved in Theta's name with Jane's help. When they were done the tree of us meet up with the others.

Family, they we're my family just as well. Aris had join us with Sonya and Harriet, soon came Gally. We laughed and cheered. Talked about the future, our past. People once despised now join around us. Had someone told me I would be friend's with Gally, a year ago. I would of died of laughter. The same can be said with Nyx and Jacob. Nearly getting my skull kicked in with my fight with Aris brought up sour emotions. But all of that we're just by-products of WICKED.

"Cheers… To Family!" I yelled with my fist raised high.

"Family!" The other's join in.

Everyone smiled and more and more, as our circle grew larger by the fire. Sadie and Elizabeth joined followed by Fry. And then more and more came toward the circle. This island our small patch of paradise in a dying world. Every ounce of blood, sweat and tears paid the price in full. It's here we say farewell to WICKED and hello a bright tomorrow.

I the first up this morning, having made my way toward the stone. I spent hour's tracing my fingers across Newt's name, over and over. Wishing to go back to that moment to pull that knife away from him. Had he'd been subdued the Cure would of been administered to him. He'd be here, we'd be here facing this new world together. But the sad fact is we left him behind in that burning city. His death carried us to march on WICKED'S front door. He was with us in spirit. We started this together and we've finished it together. He wouldn't been able to pass on hadn't we finished our goal.

After being alone for a large period of time, a hand taps my shoulder. I turn to see Thomas, who has the chisel in hand. He gives me a warm smile, before carving a name in the stone. -TERESA- I let out a sigh as I watch him work. It's hard to believe that she was no longer with us. But without her choice in the end, Thomas's name might of had been in the stone instead. Only in a perfect world would all of us could had made it back in one piece. But we don't live in a perfect world.

'Accept me, allow me to be your liberator!' The dark voice screamed from the back of my head.

'Never! As long as I draw breathe, I will resist you. I will fight back. You'll never be free!' I yelled at the voice which I now realized as the Flare.

'Have it your way kid! You'll one day come to call upon me. For as long as you live, so shall I. I will burn this world even if it means burning through you first.' It said, their voice fading away. I turn back over to the stone placing my hand on Newt's name. Give me strength…

Once Thomas finished he headed down to the shoreline insisting I follow. And so I followed as we walked till base camp was out of view. The morning tide coming and going.

"That whole you being a human virus I didn't dream that up, did I dream?" Thomas asked in a somber tone.

"I'm afraid not!" I nod.

"Then here, if it need being used so be it." Thomas said pulling the Cure from his pocket.

"Thomas, no. No matter what I'm in control, I won't lose to this virus. The Cure is precious and you shouldn't waste it on me. If I happen to lose myself to the flare. I trust you to go about things accordingly." I said sternly.

"Your positive?"

"I've never been more positive in my entire life, brother."

"Alright then. We have a whole new life to experience, bro, where should we start?" Thomas asks his view transfixed on the horizon

"That's the thing about paradise. We have all the time in the world…"

End-

Epilogue:

Mulling over paperwork she knew from the start it be her job to clean up the mess. Her brunette hair had tied in a bun, glasses hung to her even shape face, dull but fierce aquamarine eyes scrutinizing over tedious amounts of paperwork. Her coffee sat cold at her desk. A director job is never done, her predecessor left much to be desired.

There was a knock on her opened office door, a man in a long suit didn't wait for answer before walking in. She was too caught off guard, having to ink same initials on each page. PP, over and over again her hand locking up on her.

Retrieval of subject for intensive care, Site C. She paused then looked over the report of the city over thrown by insurgents. Agent's found a subject near death and brought back with them avoiding combat. Head Quarters, Seven Billion down the drain. Destruction of the City, estimated in Trillions lost. It was an utter failure in most remarks.

"Pandora, you've just been named Chancellor. Though I advise you, tensions are high and some voices need a reason to rally along you not against you." The man said passing her a folder.

"Alain finalize the preparations, everyone will be watching. And to remove all doubts we start with a power play." She smirks getting up from her desk handing her assistant a binder filled with executive orders.

"I'll get right on it. While you've got a induction ceremony to attend to. I've taken the liberty of preparing you're aerial transport." Alain relayed holding close to him the heavy binder.

"Hmm. I'll need someone to fill in this position. Are you up to snuff?" She question him reaching for her jacket and purse.

"Why of course, it would be a honor." Alain face lit up with emotion.

"Well then you start tomorrow, first thing. I'll email over the approval documents after the ceremony. Don't fail me Alain." She smiled running her smooth hand across his cheek before leaving her old office.

"Good luck out there, Dirc-umm I mean Chancellor Paige." He said smoothly as he watch her fade from view…

A/N: It is done, the main trilogy completed. It took a few year's to finish but here we are. I never thought I would go from start to finish. As someone who gives up on stories half way through, this a huge milestone for me as a writer. I wanna apologize for a so/so Death Cure. But when your writing based off the movie, you are force to obey the linear plot with minor deviations. From day one, I knew Ross would be tied into the Flare. As well as the Ava Paige connection. Thanks to the people who gave this a shot in the dark read, from start to end. But we are just getting started. As the year's went by I've roughly figured four or five more stories would tie it all together excluding the main trilogy. Hopefully you'll stick around, I might surprise you with something. Till then stay tuned for a Q/A. Mid April to Early May expect a new story. Later Everyone.