One Shots| Thomas Sangster

Goodbye | Newt

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I stepped of the cargo ramp,  looking at the massive walls that  surrounded the Crank Palace. Thomas stood to my right as we watched the gates open,  two guards shooting at us.

"We're not leaving without Newt." He said putting a hand on my shoulder.
Jorge did all the talking, offering big money to help us.

"Who you looking for?" The guard asked,  "A he or a she? "

"A he." Thomas answered,  "His name is Newt. A little taller than me,  blond hair.  Has a limp."

We entered the so called Palace,  and waited for what seemed hours.

"Where are those guards? " Minho echoed my thoughts,  "How long does it take to find some one and tell em their friends are here?"

Finally I saw the guards, "There." I pointed.

"What'd you find out? " "Where is he?" Minho and I asked.

"Took some asking around.  But I think we found your guy." He said,  almost uneasily.

"Well?" I pressed as Minho echoed me.

"He said- very pointedly,  I might add- to tell you guys to get lost."

"No." I said, he couldn't have.

"Show us where. "

"No way.  You asked us to find your friend and we did.  Give us or money." The guard said.

"Does it look like we're with him yet?" I snapped,  "No one makes a dollar until you get us all together."

The two guards started whispering back and forth,  not happy with this new plan.

"Hey!" Minho shouted, "If you want that money, lets go!"

They led us through the city,  passing cranks,  just when I thought it couldn't get worse,  it did. I couldn't picute Newt here, I had to get him out.

"Remind me not to buy any real estate here." Minho whispered,  I could no longer think of any snappy remark to answer with.

We reached the bowling alley that the guards had pointed out, the room full of cranks went silent as they watched us enter.

"He's in there." The guard said, I felt my heart race, not knowing what to expect.

"I can see him in the back." Minho said, "It's dark, but it's definitely him."

I strained to get a better look, "Come on." I said.
Minho pointed to the far left lane, about a hundred feet away. It was the flash of blond hair in the firelight and the familiar shape of his slumping body. His back was to us.

"Newt." I said as we approached him.

"Don't come any closer," He said making my heart sink.

"Newt." I ignored him.

"They brought me here for a reason," Newt continued. "Imagine their surprise when they could tell I had the flare eating my brain. Said they were doing their civic duty when they dumped me in this rat hole."

"Why do you think we're here Newt?" Thomas spoke up, "We can break you out. It doesn't look like anyone gives a klunk who comes on goes. "

I watched Newt slowly turn around,  clutching a launcher to his chest. He looked as if he'd been running, fighting, for days.

"I'm.... not well." Newt said, his hands shaking as he got to his feet, "Honestly I appreciate you buggin shanks coming for me. I mean it. But this is where it bloody ends. This is where you turn around and walk back out that door and head for your berg and fly away. Do you understand me?" His eyes lingered on my face and continued to scan his friends.

"No, Newt. I don't understand. " Minho said, "We risked our necks to come to this place and you're our friend and we're taking you home. You wanna whine and cry whike you go crazy, thats fine. But youre gonna do it with us, not with these shuck cranks."

"I am a crank, Minho! I am  a crank." Newt shouted, pointing the launcher at us, "Why cant you get that through your bloody head?"

I pushed past Minho, shaking his hand off as he tried to stop me. I walked straight to the barrel of the launcher in Newt's shaky hands. I pushed it to the side and threw my arms around him, hearing the clatter of the launcher as it hit the floor.

"I don't want you to see me like that. " I heard his voice break as I felt his arms around me.

"I love you, Newt." I said, tears streaming down my face.

"I'm sorry." I heard him whimper in my ear.

"Please come with us." I pulled away slightly to see his face. He closed his eyes, shaking his head.

"I just might bash your head and drag you with us." I said. He chuckled once and opened his eyes, putting his hand on my face, wiping off a tear with his thumb.

"I swear I'll do it." I said.

"If she doesn't,  I will." Minho added from behind us.