Run With Me ➵ Newt [2]

TWELVE | the right arm

Everyone stared at Thomas with wide eyes. Even Vince looked at him in newfound admiration, despite his hostility earlier.

"He was our source," he said, a hint of awe in his voice.

"We couldn't have pulled all this off without him," the woman said, smiling up at Thomas proudly. She turned back to Brenda. "Take her to the tent. Get these guys some fresh clothes."

Jorge and another Right Arm member lifted Brenda and started carrying her to one of the big tents in the back of the base.

"Thomas, go with them." The woman said, nodding towards him. "Stay by your friend's side. I'll meet you there in a while." She turned her head and met my gaze. "I need to speak with Rosalind."

Now it was my turn to get stared at. I stepped back nervously, not quite sure what was going on. The woman looked so familiar, yet my memory of her seemed to be just out of reach.

"What, why?" Newt said, grabbing my arm protectively. "What do you need her for?"

"Thomas, go on," the doctor said, nudging the boy gently. He threw us one last glance before following the people carrying Brenda away to a tent. The doctor turned back to me and sighed.

"It's a long story," she admitted. "And I'm afraid it's a little personal, so I would rather wish to speak with Rosalind alone."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure you can just say it right now," Minho said stubbornly, folding his arms across his chest.

"No, Minho, I..." I hesitated a little. "I think I recognize her."

"You do?" Newt said, his eyebrows arched with surprise.

I nodded slowly. "Y-Yeah. It's a little murky, but I think... I think I remember her from before I got sent up into the Maze."

"That's interesting," the woman pondered. "You seemed to have gotten your memories back. Well then, this should be a little easier for me. Come now, Rosalind, I want to speak to you. You can join your friends later."

I gave Newt a nervous smile, trying to convey to him that I was going to be fine, then went over to the lady, where she guided me into a seperate tent away from the others. She sat me down on a wooden stool and sat across from me. I fidgeted with the hem of my jacket, not quite meeting her gaze.

"Do you remember me?" She asked softly.

"A bit," I admitted quietly. "I know I recognize you and I know I've seen you in WICKED before... before I got sent up in the Maze. But that's all I remember."

"How did you get your memories back?"

"I got taken to WICKED's compound after I escaped the Maze with my friends and when they healed my broken shoulder, they restored my memories in the process as well. They haven't given all my memories back though, only little bits and pieces."

"I see." She took a deep breath. "Well, there's a lot I've got to explain to you, so I hope you don't mind."

"No, no, go ahead."

"Well, firstly, my name is Mary. And you see... I used to know your mother."

My head shot up and I stared at her with wide eyes, bewildered.

"My-My mother?" I stammered.

Mary nodded. "I was a great friend of your mom's. I was there for her when she told me you were taken away by WICKED. I helped her cope with the grief of your father's death and your capture. And then one day, she... I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but... she got infected."

"Infected...?" I repeated, my voice quiet as tears brimmed in my eyes.

She nodded again, her eyes full of sadness and melancholy. "It was... It was extremely difficult, to watch an old friend get subjected to such a horrible virus. I tried to keep her sane, tried to do everything in my power to stop the virus from spreading so fast through her system. But then she told me that it was in her brain and it was too late - no matter what I did, she couldn't be cured."

I felt the tears sliding down my cheeks. I finally lifted up my gaze to hers and saw just how grief-stricken Mary was, her face twisting up in pain as she recalled her painful memories.

"The last time I talked to her, she asked me for one last favour," she continued. Her voice was deadly quiet now. "She told me... She told me to find you, and do everything in my power I can to keep you safe once I do. The next day, she disappeared completely. I searched for her everywhere, but it was as if she had vanished off the surface of the earth. That was the last I saw of her."

She wiped at her eyes while I let my tears flow freely down my face.

"I knew there was only one thing to do if I had to honour my promise. I searched for WICKED and contacted them, telling them I wish to sign up to be one of their doctors, and they accepted me. I worked with them for a while, watching over you as they ran tests and experiments to monitor your brain activities."

"What happened?"

"I... I quit." She said simply. "I couldn't handle it anymore, watching them do those horrible things to you poor kids. I thought forcing you kids to adapt to an entirely new name was harsh enough, but then came the Griever punishment... that was the last straw for me. I stopped working for them. I... I didn't honour your mother's promise. I'm so sorry."

I sniffled, and wiped at my face with my jacket sleeve. Then without really knowing what I was doing, I went over to her and hugged her. She stood there, dumbfounded, and it was a while before she hugged me back.

"It's okay," I whispered. "I understand. And I'm sure my mother would be proud if she were here."

Mary pulled back and smiled at me, her face now streaked with tears. "Your mother would be proud of you too," she said softly. "Look how much you've grown - and don't even get me started on how much you've accomplished since getting taken away by WICKED! You survived the Maze, you escaped from WICKED and got through the Scorch, and you even made a boyfriend-"

"Whoa, wait." I stepped back, my cheeks heating up. "H-How is that an accomplishment? And was it that obvious?"

Mary laughed. "Yes, yes it was, darling. Now go on, your friends are probably with Vince right now."

"Thank you, by the way," I said quietly. "For telling me."

"It was no problem. Now go on, your friends are probably waiting."

I gave her one last smile, then headed out the tent and into the sunlight.

[ END OF CHAPTER TWELVE ]

skdjsj im so sorry i havent updated in a while i got a new phone and i wanted a break from wattpad for a little while