Chapter Forty Three:
My mind is at an absolute blank, my face joining it in that regard. It lacks any warmth or life and is is left without an expression. I can feel an emotion or two, but they aren't positive. But emptynes and longing. I feel so excluded by the two most important people in my life, that I forget I'm planning on never seeing either one of them ever again after I reach this Cure.
I'm slowing down the other's by lingering in the back, barely walking but more animalisticly dragging my feet across burnt Earth. Each time I manage to catch up, I allow myself to slip back. I didn't want to hear any words of encouragement from the other's, I actually wanted to miserable. I want to be left to rot with my dying feelings. For once I'm done trying to help, I want to be this burden seeing how far it takes me.
I need this excuse to lash out, peg me as the bad guy, but I grow tried of the heroics and theatrics. The same song and dance on repeat. I am done with it. Standing far behind letting dirt and wind cover me in it's unkind embrace, I can only feel some bothersome loathing sensation in my gut. Honestly I haven't felt so alive, the whole selfish thing is so gratifying. Let them get the Cure, I'll swoop on in for my dosage eventually. Or not! I honestly have a lack of faith believing it exists. Despite the velocity of the wind, I let surge wash over me.
Eventually the group takes a small reprieve as the wind let's ups momentarily. My feet slowly brought me up beside them. I could hear talking and it was Teresa to Aris. But I didn't acknowledge them, only listen in.
"You think that's enough to send them packin?" Teresa turns to Aris.
"I should say so, the weather is too horrible to keep a close eye."
"Finally," sigh Teresa. Who slowly walks over to me as she had a bone to pick with me, but her face. It read differently, not anger but remorse. "Ross I'm completely beside myself," She started. "WICKED, they needed to make sure you felt abandoned, otherwise they had plan on withholding the Cure from you. Both Aris and Thomas knew ahead of time, but it needed to be convincing." She said in a rather sincere tone.
"What!" I shouted, so loud that I nearly strained my voice. How could they?
"Sorry." Aris said like a child who's be scolded by their parents.
"Yeah, I had to play along if it meant you we're safe." Thomas said as Teresa hugged me.
I felt hurt and miserable, was it a variable from the start. All that tension was just a simple act, prehaps for the greater good.
"You'd think I'd took comfort in doing that, if it wasn't Aris who help me keep strong dealing with you and Thomas, thing's could had been worse." But once more anger crept up on my mind and before I could stop myself, I struck Teresa with the back of my hand across her face.
"Woah!" Thomas said in shock or anger or both.
"I deserve way worse, so it's fine Thomas." Teresa said rubbing her jawline.
"Do you two have any idea, any inkling on how you made me feel?" I yelled at them. "Next time let me die, I rather that then ever feeling as low as you both intended to make me feel."
"I… We… Sorry-" Teresa said as I storm away from them and back over to the others.
"Stop running and face this." Thomas said dragging me back over to Teresa.
"Let go of me traitor!"
"Traitor?" Thomas retorts. "After all you've done thus far for me, to turn coat on you is the worse decision one could make."
Eventually I'm pulled back towards Teresa to mend this problem then worsen it. I couldn't look at her, nor be in the same breathing space, but I could pretend to be civil with her.
"Where nearing the end, I hope that with time you two will fully forgive me…" Teresa said staring at the two of us.
"Will see, for now we need a endgame plan. One that lasts." I said carefully not to show to much emotion.
"We've done all they ask for, well most of us, WICKED is likely to welcome us back." Teresa notion.
"I won't go back." Thomas said.
"We have to… There nothing else out here, The Right Arm is no where to be found. WICKED is the only option as much as it pains me." I mention.
"Enough, we need to keep moving." Aris said joining in. "There's only two hours left."
"Alright then, let's keep moving!" Teresa said holding on to her gear.
We made a break for it, sure I didn't have the answer to everything but what's matters is reaching everyone else who made their way here.
The two groups ahead of us eventually met up in the distance. More interesting though, was that it didn't appear to be an accident at all. The girls of Group B had reached a point and stopped; along side the boys. In the near distance a tall figure stood out more then the rest. It was Minho.
We all could make him out now and he was relieved to see Thomas alive and well. The Gladers awaited our arrival as they grew more and more closer.
Curie, Nyx, Jane and Jacob were still slightly ahead. Whatever what's was going to happen, we'd know by their now, just a half-mile away, they all stood around something I couldn't see, packing in a tight circle to look at whatever it was.
Neither of us couldn't tell what held everyone attention. But it was right ahead of us. It was something important to mesmerize everyone.
'Any clue guys?' Teresa said to both of us.
'Not in the foggiest.' I replied.
'Whatever that is, it must be special.' Thomas three of us, along with Aris, picked up the pace.
It only took another few minutes across the dusty wind-whipped plain before we reached Groups A - C.
Minho had stepped away from the larger pack of people and stood facing us when we finally made it. His arms were folded, his clothes filthy, his hair greasy, his face still showing signs of his burns. But somehow he was smiling. Thomas couldn't believe how good it felt to see that smirky grin again. And Minho was in the same mindset.
"It's about time you slowpokes caught up with us!" Minho yelled.
Thomas stopped right in front of him and doubled over to catch his breath for a few seconds, then straightened. "As you see I keep my promises. I lean in to Minho. Also hit from fatigue.
"I thought you'd be fightin' tooth and nail with these girls after what they did to us. To me, anyway." Thomas said confused.
Minho looked back at the now-mingling group of boys and girls, then returned his gaze to Thomas and I. "Well, first of all, they have nastier weapons, not to mention bows and arrows. Plus, some chick explained everything. We're the ones who should be surprised―that you're still with them." He gave a nasty glare to Teresa, then Aris. "Never trusted either one of those shuck traitors."
"I wouldn't blame you," I said seriously.
Thomas tried to hide his mixed emotions. "They're on our side. Trust me." And in a twisted, backward way he really was starting to believe it. As sick as it made him feel by the look on his face.
Minho laughed bitterly. "Figured you'd say something like that. Let me guess, it's a long story?"
"Yeah, very long story," Thomas answered.
"Too long," Then I changed the subject. "Why'd you all stop here? What's everybody looking at?"
Minho stepped to the side, sweeping his arm behind him. "Have a peeky-peek yourselves." Then he yelled to the three groups, "You guys make a path!"
Several Gladers a handful of girls and the newest addition to Group A, looked back, then slowly shuffled to the side until a narrow break in the crowd formed. Thomas and I immediately saw that the object that held everyone's attention was a simple stick poking out of the arid ground. An orange strip of ribbon hung from the top, whipping in the wind. Letters were printed on the thin banner.
Thomas, Teresa and I exchanged a look; as me and him pushed ahead for a closer inspection. Even before we got there, I could read the words printed on the ribbon, black on orange.
THE SAFE HAVEN
There was nothing safe about a dry plot of land amongst a brewing storm. The dazed look In people eyes, everyone was here for a reason. The Gladers my main group, only came this far to make sure that I and the other four receive the Cure. Group B, they only made it here cause it was told for them to be here. Mostly for an extraction. Maybe WICKED'S on their way this very moment with Cure and transportation.
But I knew having Thomas and the others here is a risk. WICKED isn't going easily forgive them for breaking out, even if they got to test Variables on Thomas. They were wanted. Half of WICKED could be storming this area. Ready to capture us all and break us apart one by one. We did as we were told so did Group B, but I knew Janson wont stop till Thomas is back under WICKED'S control.
"Prehaps it's safer if Thomas lead you all back up in the mountain, away from the storm away from WICKED." I directed to the Gladers.
"He's right, despite everything that's been done to Thomas last night, your all still wanted." Curie said fiddling with her compass that was spinning haphazardly.
"We couldn't just leave you." Newt argued.
"You might, will be right behind if this go according to plan." Nyx noted.
"I'm certain, WICKED will forgive us." Teresa said.
"We can't go back, not after what I saw there. We need to fight them, yet still be here for Ross and them." Thomas said like a true leader.
"I don't care what happens either way, but I refuse to go back in some Maze." A girl from Group B spoke.
"Listen up!" Minho shouted which hush all other conversation. "Look there is obviously some apprehension. So let's make this painless as possible." He paused gathering his yelling voice again. "My friend Ross and his friends are stuck here by default, everyone else isn't tied down. So here's your options. Either you wait it out here, until the Cure is delivered. Or you leave now and make tracks if the fear of unknown Variables or the fear of capture is burning in your heart. We won't hold it against you, but I suggest you make your decision now!"
Moving feet and bodies. My friend's stood beside us, so did Brenda and Aris, even a few girl's from Group B, but a most of them fled. All branching off in packs of threes or alone in different directions. But Jorge started to walk perpendicular to the way we came.
"So you're just giving up?" Brenda called out to her partner.
"Can't say much but it's a surprise," Jorge said. "Hermano, you'd better protect her to I return." He said pointing at Thomas with a serious look.
"Of course."
"Thanks everyone." I said acknowledging everyone who made the decision to stay.
"Now what?" Newt said looking at the abysmal sky above, the storm ready to clutch victory over us.
"We wait," yawns Aris. "Nearly a hour and half left."
"Always a waiting game." Complains Frypan, as everyone cracks a laugh or smile. I don't instead I watch Teresa as she walks off in the distance with Thomas. At least I'm still numb to heartache I lie to myself forcing my head to look away and out into the horizon. Soon, soon enough will be long gone from this place.