Chapter 11
Thomas woke early; the sun had just begun to peek over the hills, lighting up their paradise.
He only had last night on his mind.
He had never, ever, felt those feelings before. Pleasure was something that had never come to him. He was sure he could have done what she did at first to himself, but then he never had the privacy too nor knew how too. No – that was his first time experience.
It was amazing.
As well as that, Thomas had found himself doing things he had never done before either. Brenda has assured him that what he had done was beyond perfect – although Thomas couldn't help but wonder how.
How could be do those actions with such skill, yet for the first time?
He was put into the Glade at 16; maybe there was a possibility that before he entered…he had done these things with someone.
Maybe even Teresa.
No, that can't be true? He was sure that was the first time he had felt those feelings.
Or he couldn't remember them.
Possible explanations ran through Thomas' head like a bell. Whether he had done those things before, or felt those things before, didn't matter.
He had definitely never felt like that since he arrived.
Today marked the 5-month anniversary of their arrival in paradise. It had all gone so quickly for several people, whilst some had found it a drag. Either way, there were cheerful looks on everyone's faces when Thomas arrived for breakfast. Brenda had told Thomas she wasn't feeling well, and had let him go to breakfast by himself.
Aris welcomed his approach this time; he offered a seat to Thomas on his left side. His right side was as always, taken up by Ashleigh. They were so close they may as well have been on top of each other. Thomas wanted to pass – he didn't fancy third wheeling. But then, he wasn't a rude person.
Thomas smiled, and sat down next to him. He immediately tucked into his beans on toast that Frypan had cooked for him and the others. It was warm, and had delicate flavors of spice.
"Attention everyone!"
Thomas looked upwards, Frypan stood in the middle, and it was he who had spoken.
"Whilst I do not believe we should disrespect our former leader Minho. I believe that we need someone to take his place. We may be in paradise, but some of us haven't been acting orderly lately. Since Thomas was second in command…I feel it should be him, who's with me?"
Thomas was stunned.
He suddenly remembered the message he had seen back in the scorch, he was meant to be the real leader after all. Silence fell for a minute or so. But then people began to nod, followed by a few claps, and soon there was a chorus of clapping and cheering as Thomas gingerly walked to where Frypan had stood.
"Go on Thomas" he said smiling, patting the new leader on the shoulder before walking off.
"Well guys…thank you. I don't know where to start really but, thank you nonetheless". Thomas wasn't really contempt with the idea of himself leading a group of teenagers. He still felt bad about loosing his best friend.
Wait.
He had just lost his best friend, and yet he was doing the things he did last night? How could be so heartless?
Thomas felt pathetic.
He smiled at everyone, but then quickly broke through the crowd and ran off into the distance. Before he had even reached the toilet area – he was sick all over the grass. It poured out; it burned his throat. He was sickened by what he did knowing the seriousness of their situation.
He was an emotionally stunted robot.
A crackle ran from his belt.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and stood straight – taking his hands off his knees.
The crackle ran again.
Thomas looked towards where it was coming from…
The radio.
Thomas fumbled for the radio, pulling it off his belt and holding it towards his mouth.
"Hello?" he shouted frantically. He walked further away from the clearing, putting himself out of sight as he began to approach the sheep's fields.
No sound came from the radio. Thomas breathed a massive sigh, had he missed his chance?
"Hello Thomas" Teresa said.
Thomas was so shocked to hear her speak again that he fell onto the grass. He was out of sight from everyone, only the sheep were forms of company.
It was just them two.
"Is it really you?" Thomas asked. His throat still burned from the vomit that had just poured outwards.
"Yes it is Thomas" She sounded artificial like the last time. As if someone was creating her voice, or was playing a recording, rather than the fact she was speaking herself.
"Tell me how you're not dead" he quickly replied, eager for proof.
"Okay so…you saw me crushed by the rubble. Well as I said, I broke bones. Four broken ribs, a broken arm, and a broken leg too. And I had a punctured lung. Oh and kidney failure."
She paused, maybe feeling the pain again.
"But that was all healable. After you left, the destruction abruptly stopped. I was rescued only twenty minutes or so later…and quickly rushed to some hospital. They put me into emergency surgery – where my bones were fixed. I heard from the people who put me there that these were some of the best doctors in the world. My lung was somehow repaired and then one of the doctors himself matched the kidneys I was loosing and donated one of his own to me. Yeah I only have one kidney now but…I'm alive Thomas"
"What do you mean the people who put you there, who did?"
"WICKED of course"
"We destroyed their base – killed them all!"
"Come on Thomas, the organization was formed by governments around the world. You barely scratched the surface of their titanium plate. You just pissed them off by wrecking their house"
"So how did they manage to save you then?"
"I don't know…one of the guys said the doctors hid in some underground room whilst the commotion took place. They were the only group that survived. But then coincidentally, they were the only ones I needed. They surfaced from their room close to where I lay, and quickly took action"
"Where are you then?"
"Somewhere. Chancellor Paige came to visit. She said she will be dropping me off in your paradise when I'm all healed. Maybe we can start from where we left Thomas – what do you say?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh I forgot. You don't know what happened in the past do you? Thomas we were in a passionate, sexual, romantic relationship, before you arrived at the Glade. I know you don't remember it. But we can start again, yeah?"
"I don't believe this I..."
"I know it may be hard to hear that you've been in something that you don't remember. But baby I'm sure I can...remind you" her toned as she said that - it was almost seductive now.
"Yeah but..."
"What's stopping you Tommy, it's not like you are with anyone is it? I mean, you wouldn't get over me that quickly, would you?"