STATIC → newt , tmr [EDITING ; VERY SLOW UPDATES]

chapter vii

Brenda turned her head, finally seeming to register everyone else in the room. Marcus, tied to the chair, with Jorge looming over him. Newt, Minho, Aris, and Frypan scattered about the place. Teresa sitting diligently beside Thomas, waiting for him to wake up.

"Wait, this guy is the Marcus you talked about?" Brenda said loudly. Jorge nodded. She scoffed. "Nice face," she said bitterly. "Shame I wasn't awake to do it myself."

Tiago tensed slightly. He knew that violence was the only way sometimes, especially in the world they lived in. It didn't make him feel any better, but he knew it had to be carried out.

"Hey," Tiago heard Teresa say gently. He turned his head and saw her rubbing Thomas' shoulder. "Hey, you're okay." There was a pause. Tiago could hear Thomas breathing heavily, saw him attempting to sit up. "Hi. We have to stop meeting like this."

Minho walked towards his friend, leaned over Teresa's shoulder. "Welcome back, you ugly shank."

Thomas breathed a sigh of relief at the familiar faces. He groaned as he sat up, surveying the room. As he did, Tiago watched Jorge lean down towards Marcus again. Tiago couldn't see Jorge's face from where he sat, but he knew there was a threatening glare on Jorge's face.

"I suggest that you talk, you son of a bitch!" Jorge yelled, landing another loud punch to Marcus' jaw.

Tiago flinched again. He felt Brenda touch his knee, rubbing it lightly. 

"Dammit!" Marcus cried out. He righted himself in the chair as Jorge stood straight again. Tiago saw Thomas stand and stumble towards the two older men. "I'm sorry, you're going to have to leave my house," Marcus muttered drunkenly.

"Looks like you've been having fun," Newt said, glancing up at Thomas who stopped beside him.

"Listen," Jorge said gruffly, "I don't enjoy hurting you. Okay? Where is the Right Arm, Marcus?"

"Wait, this is Marcus?"

Marcus chuckled. "That kid catches on quick. Are you the brains of the operation?"

Before he could say anything else, Jorge gripped Marcus' hair tightly, yanking his head back. Marcus let out a noise of pain or fear, Tiago wasn't sure. Possibly both.

"I know you know where they're hiding. So you tell me, and I'll make you a deal." Marcus chuckled again. "You can come with us," Jorge finished.

"I burned that bridge a long time ago," Marcus said, and Tiago heard the smile in his voice. "Besides, I made my own deal. You're the one who taught me never miss an opportunity." He laughed again, and it was finally getting on Tiago's nerves. He clenched his jaw and rose from the sofa, brushing Brenda's hand off his knee. He walked a few short steps towards Jorge, but Newt stuck his arm out, gently stopping Tiago from moving further forward.

"What's he talking about?" Newt asked Jorge. Tiago felt his leg throb, and put his hand on Newt's shoulder to help him stay upright.

"I'm talking about supply and demand," Marcus said loudly. "WCKD wants all the Immunes they can get. I help provide that for them. So I lure the kids in, they get drunk, they have a good time and then later, WCKD comes in ... they separate the wheat from the chaff ..." He trailed off, another maniacal chuckle leaving his lips. Tiago clenched his jaw again. He felt Newt move his hand to his hip, squeezing lightly, and only then did Tiago realize his grip had tightened on Newt's shoulder. He released the blond immediately, catching Newt's gaze with an apologetic look.