Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 14: Chris

The silence hangs heavy around them. Katherine’s heart races as she exchanges a look with Thomas, the horror and confusion mirrored in his eyes. She can sense his resolve hardening, as if he’s already planning what they’ll do next.

Chris nudges Aris, gesturing back the way they came. “We’d better go before someone notices we’re gone,” he whispers.

Thomas grabs Chris’s arm. “Why did you show us this?”

“Because maybe the others will listen to you,” Aris says quietly, his gaze intense. “Something’s wrong here. And I know you think so, too.”

As the the twin brothers start to crawl away, Thomas hesitates, calling out softly, “Wait. What’s your name?”

The boy turns back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Aris.”

Thomas nods, watching as Aris and Chris vanish into the darkness of the vent. Katherine exchanges a last look with Chris, who grins back at her.

“Night, Kate,” he whispers before following his brother.

She smiles, giving a small wave. “Goodnight, Chris.”

Turning back to Thomas, her face shifts, serious again. “What are we going to do?”

Thomas’s expression hardens, his jaw set with determination. “I think I have a plan.”

Katherine shovels down her pancakes the next morning, a quiet determination in her every movement. She doesn’t meet anyone’s gaze, too focused on the plan she and Thomas whispered about late into the night.

Across the cafeteria, Janson stands with his clipboard, rattling off names in his monotone voice. “Alice. Barry. Walt. Edgar. Samantha…” His eyes scan the crowd, barely acknowledging the list of people he's sending to who-knows-where.

Thomas leans over to Newt, eyes burning with resolve. “I wanna know what’s through that door.” His voice is low, carrying an edge that only his sister understands.

Newt shifts, uneasy, glancing at him. “Now, we've been over this. You said they were covered up, so you don't know what you saw. It could've been anything under there.”

Thomas’s jaw clenches, his hand tightening on his fork. “I know exactly what I saw, Newt.” His gaze cuts to Katherine. “Kat saw it too.”

Katherine nods, a grim look on her face as she swallows another bite. “They were bodies,” she says, voice barely above a whisper. The words seem to hang heavy in the air, making her heart race all over again.

“Aris said they bring in a new batch every night,” Thomas adds, pointing his chin in the direction of the two new twins across the room.

“Who the hell is Aris?” Minho snaps, more frustrated than ever.

Thomas nods toward the far table where Aris and Chris sit, isolated. Aris is holding up a piece of bread, turning it in the light like he’s trying to see through it, while Chris stares at his empty plate, looking equally lost and bored.

“Well, I’m sold,” Minho mutters sarcastically, folding his arms. He’s clearly had enough.

Janson finally calls out, “And last but not least, David. Thank you for your attention. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

As Janson exits with the chosen kids trailing behind him, Newt grabs Thomas’s shoulder, leaning in close. “Okay, until we know anything for certain, we should just keep our heads down... and try not to draw any attention to ourselves, all right?”

Thomas’s jaw flexes, and he exchanges a look with Katherine, a silent message passing between them. Without another word, he stands up, joining the other kids heading toward the exit, eyes cast downward.

Newt frowns, a note of panic creeping into his voice. “What is he doing?”

Katherine gives him a sly, knowing smile, holding up her hand as she begins counting down in a quiet whisper, “Five… four… three…”

The others stare at her, eyes widening in confusion.

“What the shuck is going on?” Minho asks, brow raised, looking between her and Thomas.

Katherine barely holds back a smirk, continuing, “Two… one…”

Right on cue, a guard steps in front of Thomas, blocking his path. The Gladers tense, watching as Katherine stretches, cracking her neck, her eyes glinting with a spark of mischief.

“What are you doing?” Newt asks, grabbing her arm. His gaze is soft but laced with worry. She knows he doesn’t want her getting into trouble, but he can also see the fire in her eyes—a mix of confidence and recklessness that makes his heart race.

She leans close, her breath warm against his ear. “Causing trouble,” she whispers with a grin, and with a final look at him, she strides toward the exit, flipping her hair over her shoulder with a gleam of excitement. Her confidence pulls him between worry and admiration, the thrill of it all sparking in her.

“What's your problem, man? What the hell, huh?” Thomas shouts suddenly, lunging forward and shoving the guard. His voice is raw, a mixture of frustration and desperation.

The guard barely flinches, crossing his arms with a warning look. “Back off!” he snaps.

Thomas’s eyes blaze with frustration. “Why won’t you let me see her?”

The guard, visibly annoyed, shouts over his shoulder, “Control your brother!” He gestures at Katherine, who is now standing close, hands on her hips, chin tilted defiantly.

She lets out a low, mocking laugh. “Oh, darling, I’m the uncontrollable one here, not him.” Without another word, she swings her fist, landing a sharp punch to the guard’s jaw, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as the guard stumbles back.

Chaos erupts. The Gladers scramble, each of them moving forward instinctively to hold back the twins, whose eyes are filled with that familiar stubborn fire.

“What’s happening here?” Janson’s voice cuts through the commotion as he enters, his face a mask of carefully controlled frustration. His cold eyes lock onto the twins, and he steps forward with an air of authority. “Thomas? Katherine? I thought we could trust each other. You know we’re all on the same team here.”

Thomas’s voice, steady but laced with fury, pierces the silence that follows. “Are we?” His tone is sharp, challenging, and the defiance in his eyes speaks volumes.

For a moment, silence fills the air. Then Janson’s expression darkens, and Katherine feels a chill creep down her spine.