Heyyyo

" What are you doing? " I growl, my eyes wide as they dart between Newt and Jorge. Minho is leaning against the wall, his eyes squeezed shut. He's covered in sweat and dirt from the trek out of the tunnels. He must've carried me the entire way on his scorched back.

But right now, that's not my focus.

" Just, calm down Louisa. " Newt says, squeezing my shoulders.

" Calm down? Yeah, sure. I'll calm down as soon as Jorge moves his knife away from my damn leg! " I struggle to sit up, but Newt is stronger than me, especially since my energy is low and I haven't eaten.

" The infection is killing you. You'll die from it soon. If we amputate it, that probability decreases. " Newt says, trying to be reassuring in his tone but I just narrow my eyes at him.

" So, blood loss isn't going to kill me? "

" Not if we cauterize the wound. " Jorge says as he moves his knife away and pulls his pack off his shoulders. Newt moves his hands off me and I sit up, scooting back until I hit a wall. Fear is thrumming through my veins, hot and scorching. My breathing is rapid and each inhale burns my lungs like the air is made of sand. They can't cut my leg off. I won't be able to walk.

" Why? " I ask in a breathless voice. Aris seems to be enjoying this, thoroughly. Why does he wish I would suffer? Frypan is looking on with pitying eyes, but he isn't making a move to prevent anything from happening. Clint is just frowning at the ground.

" I told you I'd do anything to stave the infection off. " Jorge pulls a lighter from his bag and looks over at Frypan, " Go get something flammable. "

My hands are trembling. " You can't. "

" Newt, hold her down. "

He moves to straddle my hips and puts his hands on my shoulders. I look up at him, disbelieving. How could he do this? His brown eyes stay locked on my grey ones, every bit of his apology evident on his face.

" Please. " I whisper, clenching my fists so hard my nails break the skin on my palm with a bitter sting. I feel the presence of the knife hovering over my leg, " Don't do this! Please! " I yell.

I hear the sound of the knife cutting through air before the pain registers.

I scream as the knife hits the bone just above my knee. Tears spring into my eyes and leave trails through the dirt on my face. " Stop! Please stop! "

Jorge raises his knife and brings it down again, sending searing pain through my leg. My back arches and my hips buck, trying to throw Newt off so I could do something to stop Jorge, but Newt's too heavy.

Why won't Minho stop them? Why is Newt helping Jorge?

The bone splinters and cracks as Jorge severs through it.

Black spots swim across my vision and I fight to stay conscious as blinding, agonizing pain surges through my leg and spine.

" I'll never forgive any of you! " I force the words out through a throat that's trying to close up. Newt closes his eyes and rests his forehead on the dirty wall behind me, his hands squeezing my shoulders. I bring my hands up and try to push him off, but it's a feeble attempt.

I promised my brother. I promised him. I can't do it like this. WICKED took my family from me, my life and my freedom. But Jorge's taking my leg from me. And the people I love are helping him.

They're betraying me.

Sobs rack my body as Jorge's knife comes down one last time, excruciating pain, and then I lose consciousness.

…..

My eyes snap open to the sharp tang of blood. There's a pool of it, stretching towards me, dark and thick. Clint—the Med-jack that saw blood on a daily basis—is pale and he seems to be focusing on his breathing, but it isn't doing much good. I suck in a breath and look at the body the blood is coming from.

My heart stops dead in my chest.

Those bastards actually did it.

I can see the bone and sinew of Louisa's leg as blood pours from it. Frypan hurries in and takes one place before he turns away and hurls his guts into the floor. Then he throws dry cloths at Jorge and leaves.

How had her screaming not woken me up?

I couldn't protect her. Newt said he would, and then he goes and chops her leg off. I didn't think he'd go through with it. I trusted that my friend would want to protect the girl he loves. And he didn't. Instead, from what I can tell as he straddles her rests his head against the wall, he held her down.

" Why did you do it? " I ask, pushing myself up to my feet. I was exhausted when they found me—I'm lucky I didn't fall asleep laying on the pavement out there. I shouldn't have let myself sleep. Now Louisa is missing half her leg.

" We had to. " Newt replies, his voice shaky. Jorge lights the cloth Frypan gave him with a lighter, and holds it to Louisa's leg, burning the muscle and skin. The smell of burning flesh fills the room, making me gag. It smells rancid. I avert my eyes to the gray wall only to see blood splattered on it. Louisa's blood.

" You're an ass, Newt. Her life isn't something you can gamble. It's precious—even if she doesn't see it herself. " I say through the sweaty hand that's covering my mouth.

" I helped Jorgeto save her life. " Newt's voice is strained as he stands and tries to leave the room, but as he passes me I grab his wrist.

" You did this to her. You aren't leaving. "

He just yanks his hand out of mine and goes to leave the room, his eyes downcast and fists clenched. I grit my teeth as I look at the pained expression on Louisa's face. Her eyebrows are drawn together, her mouth set in a grimace. I can't help but be thankful she blacked out. If she were awake….

I wouldn't be able to listen to her screams.

Newt walks back in, his face set in shock.

" What the hell ha— " That's when I see the two extra pairs of feet behind him. I instinctively stand, moving to block Louisa from the strangers' views, but the smell is something I can't hide. I find two kids—that look thirteen-ish—one with blisters lining her wrists and another who's slightly standing in front of her, his posture tense.

Isn't that Newt's sister? The one with the brown hair and eyes.

" Did you finally decide to fillet that bitch? " She pushes past her friend who just stares at her with wide eyes as she stands, her toes just barely touching Louisa's puddle of blood. Definitely Newt's sister. The British accent is a dead giveaway. I narrow my eyes at her.

Newt glares at his sister. " She's not a bitch, Nandini. She's my… "

The girl, Nandini tears her eyes away from Louisa to smirk over her shoulder at her brother, " Your what? "

Newt shakes his head. I answer for him, " She's someone who's saved our asses more times than I care to admit. " I take a step closer to her as she crosses her arms over her chest, " Who the hell are you? "

" I'm Nandini. Newt's sister. I would really prefer to cut the crap and all the idle threats so I can talk to my brother. " She glances at the blond-haired boy next to her, " You stay here. "

He opens his mouth to protest, but reluctantly nods his head. Nandini grabs Newt's arm and pulls him out of the room, the features on her face morphing into something I don't quite catch. The boy leans against the doorframe, looking at them as they go to the other side of the building. I keep my eye on the kid, and the blades that are sheathed at his sides. I had wanted to get out of the Scorch as soon as possible with as little obstacles as possible.

But it seems thats like hoping WICKED will let us all go.

Impossible.

….

I did it. I actually did it.

My brother is standing in front of me, relatively unharmed save for a couple bruises and some shallow cuts.

My brother.

He runs a hand through his hair and looks down at me. How many years has it been? Six? I've gone that long, missing my family. Now, I've recovered a small piece of that—even if he doesn't remember me.

" I was wondering where you went. What happened? " He says, glancing down at my wrists. I shrug.

" I got kidnapped. No big deal. " Whatever happened to get me here was worth it.

He shakes his head and braces his hand on the dusty counter. He looks exhausted. There are bags under his eyes and he looks frail; they all do. Not to mention Louisa, the bloody mess on the floor. I managed to hide my reaction, but the smell was nauseating. I saw Blake pale a little out of the corner of my eye, but he managed to keep his lunch down. But her screams. It's the only reason I found Newt.

" Are you okay? " I ask him, taking a step through the sand-covered floor.

" I'm fine. " He says, squeezing his eyes shut. The smell of singed flesh has drifted in here and my stomach churns. Why did they do that? She seemed like she was just lacking nutrients when I was traveling with her.

" Why did you amputate Louisa's leg? "

" The infection was killing her. This way she has a chance. "

Janson's words drift into my mind, flashing before my eyes: turn him against her, make him hate her.

Would he care if he found out she was the one that killed our mom? He could—I have to tell him. He deserves to know. It would also explain how she got that bite on her leg.

I lower my eyes and make my voice crack, " I'm sorry. It's all my fault. " I hear him shift, but I keep my eyes trained on a piece of broken glass resting on the floor, the afternoon sun gleaming off of it. " I was being attack by a Crank, and Louisa came over the sand dune and saved me. But she had gotten bit. I'm so sorry, Newt. "

He puts a hand on my shoulder and I fight back a smile, " It's not your fault. Lo has a habit of charging in without thinking. "

A tear leaks out of one of my eyes and I brush it away. " I was stupid enough to be fooled by the thing. I caused her to get hurt. I just thought, that maybe the infection had been staved off enough to where the person I loved was still in there somewhere. " I pause, taking a deep breath, " I thought that my—our—mom was still the person that raised me. "

I hear a sharp intake of breath and I finally look up at him, my eyes shining with unshed tears. " I don't hold anything against Louisa for killing mom. In fact, I'm thankful she put her out of her misery. " Not really.

His eyebrows are drawn together and his fists are clenched at his sides. I shove the heel of my palm into my eyes, smearing away the fake tears there. My wrists burn as I feel a strand of my hair brush against them, and I grit my teeth. I really need to see what those kidnappers were doing, and where they were taking me. But right now, all that matters is getting to know my brother.

" It sounds like Louisa. " He says, his voice breathless, " Does she…? "

" Know? " I ask, keeping the strain on my voice, " She knows. I told her. She kind of took me under her wing after that, becoming a big sister. " Stupid! I shouldn't have said that. That paints Louisa in a good light, and I'm trying to cast her in shadows.

His jaw clenches but his fists relax. He's probably confused.

" What are you doing here? " He asks, " What about our father? "

I cross my arms over my chest. " I'm here looking for you—have been for years. I don't know what happened to dad. "

He takes a deep breath…And then another.

Another one of the subjects walks in, this one with dark skin and short hair.

" Newt, who is this she-shank? " He narrows his eyes, " Isn't she— "

" This is my sister. " Newt says and I smile at the other subject. I just have to make it through this and get Newt the cure. That's all I'm doing. The rest of these stupid people don't matter.

" I'm Frypan. " He waves.

" I'm Nandini. "

He nods his head towards the room where Louisa is, and the Blake who's standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. " How is she? "

Newt tenses at the mere mention of her condition, " Dying. " He replies and I see pain flash through his eyes. It's like what I saw when his pet lizard died, only now it's amplified. Does he really love her?

No, he can't. If he does, by twisting Louisa and making her a monster in his eyes I would be hurting him in the process. He doesn't love Louisa.

" You used to be the optimist. " Frypan says, shaking his head. Newt sends a look in his direction, one shared between people that have known each other for a long time, and can communicate with simple facial expressions. " Just shows me how crappy things have gotten. "

" It'll be okay, " I find myself saying as Newt's shoulders slump forward. " She'll pull through. "

Newt just casts a glance at me, " Thanks, Nandini. But she's defied death way too many times. I think it's finally catching up to her. "

" You can't say that. " I say, any sadness that I was lacing into my voice evaporating into a hardness, " She's counting on you to pull her through this—to help her. " Am I speaking from experience? " You can't let her down. Toughen up and help your sorry excuse for a girlfriend. "

Newt's eyes widen and Frypan covers his smile with his hand. Why did I say that? Why am I letting my emotions boil over like this? Why am I so stupid? Janson asked me to do one simple little thing. It's been fifteen minutes and I've already failed. I can redeem myself though, I just have to reveal a part of her past.

A darker part.

So why can't I bring myself to tell Newt?

" Your sister is right, you know? Soon enough Minho's going to take her way. " Frypan chuckles as he leans against the wall. Newt glares at him.

Then a groan resonates throughout the room, sounding distinctly female. Newt freezes for a second before running towards the room, and Frypan moves out of his way. I stride towards the Blake, who was walking towards me. Newt passes him without a second glance, and disappears through the doorway. Frypan follows him.

" Why? " I hear Louisa's muffled voice ask, heavy and strained. I turn my attention to Blake.

" What the hell was that? " He asks, grabbing my shoulders.

" What was what? " I ask, feigning ignorance as I try to convince myself to shrug his hands off of me.

" That little act you did, with the crying and fake sadness. " He says, his green eyes reminding me of sparkling emeralds with the sun reflecting off shards of glass. " Don't lie to your brother. "

" I'm not lying and quite frankly it's none of your damn business. " I finally manage to shrug his touch off, but I can't bring myself to look away.

" I followed you out here. " A storm kicks up and I try not to flinch, " Tell me your plan or I'm leaving. "

" Over something so petty like this, Blake? " I ask, trying to keep my voice strong, but it wavers. This is it. This is when he leaves me. " I thought you were different. "

His jaw ticks. " I'd like to know what I'm getting into. "

" Now that we've found him, we have to make sure he survives. "

Blake starts to pace, putting a hand on his head. I watch him with nervous eyes, my temper flaring inside of me. Why did I think he was going to stay? Why did I let myself consider that possibility? I don't even know why he bothered to help me.

" If you're so worried about it, " I say, my voice deathly quiet, " Then why are you still here? Why bother to stay? "

He stops pacing and strides towards me so fast I stumble back until I hit a wall. It's warm against my back and I focus on that instead of the way he arms cage me in. I could easily slip out of his reach and leave, but…

I don't want to.

" Why bother to stay? " He repeats what I said, his voice taking on a tone I've never heard him use before. " I'm here because I finally found my best friend, and she's more amazing than I could ever imagine. " What? " She's smart and determined and beautiful and I just… I didn't want to leave her behind and risk never seeing her again. " A heat rises up to my face, painting my cheeks a rosy color, " Now, she finally found the person she's been looking for, and she's lying to him—tricking him. "

Breathe, Nandini. Breathe.

" Please, don't do it again. I don't want to see you get hurt. " He rests his forehead against mine, " Please. "

I think I've forgotten how to think. He's so close. He called me smart and beautiful and no one has ever said that—not even my own mom. What am I supposed to say again? He may have said something about promising not to trick Newt again, but I can't do that. If I do that, my brother is as good as dead.

What am I supposed to do in this situation?

" Hey, you two, " The subject with the spiky hair and a runner's build says, causing Blake to step away, " We're leaving in an hour. "

Already? They aren't going to give Louisa time to rest? " Okay, " I say with a small gulp. I take a deep breath, willing thoughts about Blake to go away. He was about to leave. I could feel it. He was giving up on me. Every fiber of his being probably wanted to leave.

I catch his green eyes and feel another wave of heat as I remember how close he was.

" I'll stick with you. " Blake grabs my hand and traces the faint scars that mark it, " Just, no more lying, okay? "

" Okay. " I say, my voice coming out as a whisper. He hears the flustered tone and smiles at me before dropping my hand and walking into the room where Louisa is. I'm left standing there, my mind racing and my heart beating out of my chest. He—he needs to stop doing that. I can't get distracted. But, he said I was smart, and beautiful. No one has said that; not even my own mother.

I always thought I was ordinary.

But in that moment, I felt special—like my life means something for a change. Like I could do anything I wanted to.

And it was all because of Blake.

DAMN GUYS WHAT JUST HAPPENED YO.

Okay, let's talk about this. First of all, Louisa is defying the laws of nature by still being alive, and by regaining her consciousness so soon. Do not fret about her leg, it's a key plot device. I'm trying to make Louisa surviving seem realistic, but let's face it. She has plot armor. I can't kill her off so soon-you guys would riot and I would cry because Louisa is my smol child.

NEW SHIP NEW SHIP NEW SHIP Nandilake. Hells yea.

Chipmunk1123 ~ Thanks. My wrist is actually getting a little better, but I don't want to accidentally re-injure it so I'm still backing off the typing. Minho was passed out from exhaustion ( he carried her all night like woah ) I'm glad you're enjoying Nandini's POV. I hope my wrist gets better too!

OKay I need to go take a deep breath after writing this. I mean, Louisa just got her leg chopped off. Nandini is trying to do what Janson said but Blake is trying to convince her not to without really realizing the full extent of what she's doing. Newt was ready to give up and Minho is all protective over Louisa.

I think, next chapter, I'm going to get a little more Aris in there.

Anyway, I have to go to sleep so have a good night, evening, morning, afternoon, I'm going to go brush my teeth.