"And he wrote a poem for them?" Newt whispered, while we lay in his hammock later that night.
"Yeah. And it's beautiful." My head rested on his chest and my hand played with one of his. "He said Tommy promised to get him home. We have to make sure he succeeds, Newt." I spoke quietly as Minho, Thomas and Teresa were already fast asleep. Minho slept on the floor while Thomas had Alby's hammock. After the days' events no one wanted to separate.
"We'll get him home. All of us will get home." I heard the sadness in Newt's voice and my free hand squeezed his bicep.
"Where do you think home is?" It's a question that has bothered me ever since I went through the changing and saw what happened to the world and what happened at my own home with my mother. Once again my thoughts went to my brother Chase and if he was okay or not and where he was.
"I think anywhere can be home with the right people Clara. Not here but once we leave as long as we're together I don't bloody care where we end up."
I smiled up at him and grasped his hand. "Are you okay, I mean I know Alby was your best friend..."
His eyes met mine briefly before he continued looking up at the roof above us. "After the changing he told me some things and I don't know I think he was okay with what happened. He didn't want to leave the glade knowing what he did about the world."
I nodded and leaned up to kiss his neck. "We need to leave tomorrow. If the doors aren't going to close and the grievers come back tomorrow night...I don't know how we'd survive another night like this one."
"I know. We have the words and you saw the computer so I guess we have no excuse not to leave. It'll be hard convincing everyone else to leave though."
"I'm sure tonight made it easier." I caressed the hand I held and watched him closely. His eyes had closed and his breathing was becoming more labored. "Goodnight Newt."
He smiled lightly, looked down at me and his arm tightened around me. "Sleep well my love." He placed a light kiss on my forehead before releasing my hand so both of his arms could wrap around me and keep me to him.
"Why can't you just tell me who is and who isn't immune?" I watched the screen in front of me as Alby pulled some more supplies from the box.
"Clara, it isn't something you need to know at the moment. We'll tell you when you need to know." Chancellor Paige spoke quietly, not wanting to let anyone around us hear our discussion.
"You're endangering all of the non-immunes though by putting them in there. It's not right. I don't see why you can't just use immunes."
She sighed and glanced around before speaking. "We have to have a control group and you know that. What changed since we spoke about this last? You seemed okay with it then. Is it because we're sending Newt in now?"
"Don't bring him into this. He has nothing to do with this. I just don't understand why you aren't trying to keep the non-immunes safe too. That's all. You're so concerned with the cure and having as many immunes as possible that you're blind to the dangers of this experiment. They're kids, Chancellor. They're just kids." I shook my head and looked back at the screen. "It's not right."
"Clara, you've gotten too involved with them. They're not just kids, you're not just kids. You're all important, immune or not. You have to remember."
I rolled my eyes knowing what she would say next.
"Wicked is good."
My eyes slowly opened and I sighed realizing that I was always just a pawn to Wicked, we all were. Ava Paige may have acted as if she cared about us but she really didn't. Everyone at Wicked just cared about the cure. Newt moved below me and my eyes moved to him. He was still sound asleep and his breathing remained even. I couldn't help but wonder what he dreamed of or if he did. And then I couldn't help but wonder if he was immune or not. That thought made me sick to my stomach considering the fact that any one of us might not be. There was a reason they showed me that dream in particular I just didn't know what it was.
"Clara?"
I looked up to see Minho sitting on the floor. He smiled lightly at me and nodded to the door. I rolled my eyes in an attempted groan which made his smile widen. He climbed to his feet and went to the door, impatiently tapping his foot.
I pulled myself from Newt's grasp and followed Minho outside. The gray sky greeted us as it had the past few days. "What a lovely morning." He mumbled sarcastically as we made our way across the glade.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Nowhere fun." He grinned as we continued walking to what I realized was the runner's hut. We walked in and Minho moved one of the cabinets aside, revealing a large weapons trunk. My eyes widened as I took in amount of weapons inside before I smiled at Minho.
"Ah, preparation for escaping?" I mumbled in near excitement.
Minho grinned and nodded as we started pulling weapons from the trunk. "We'll drag these to a spot near the deadheads. I have Fry Pan working on making food and then once everyone is up we'll make a break for it."
I nodded and took a long spear from the trunk. The end of it was wrapped in barb wire and the sight of the thing made my mouth drop. "Are you sure we should drag these out now? What if Gally runs back in and tries to do something?"
"No one has seen him since last night, I'm sure he won't be a problem."
I accepted his reply and continued helping him pull the weapons from the trunk. By the time we got them all unloaded most of the gladers had gathered around the kitchen.
"Clara!"
I turned and smiled at Chuck as he ran towards me. "Newt said today is the day we're leaving. Is that true?"
I ruffled his hair when he was close enough and tried to keep a reassuring smile on my face. "It sure is Chuck. We're really leaving."
"I already put my poem and statue in my pocket to give to my parents. But if I don't make it out..." He let the sentence trail and I quickly pulled him to me.
"Don't say that. We're going to get out of here Chuck. And then you'll be safe with your parents again."
He smiled up at me and we walked to the kitchen, our arms around each other's waist.
We stood in line for food and I took in the looks on everyone's faces. There wasn't one smile. There were nervous laughs filling the air and it truly unsettled me. I sighed and looked down at Chuck, noticing he felt it too.
"Everyone's so depressing today." I mumbled to him.
He nodded silently watching everyone else. "Looks like you'll have to give one of your pep talks before we go." He grinned and looked up at me then his cheeks reddened. "We do know how to get out right? And where to go? I don't want to go running out there if we don't know what's going on."
"You have little faith in me, Chuck. Of course we know the way out." I rolled my eyes at him jokingly which caused him to laugh.
"Why doesn't Chuck have faith in you?"
We both turned to see that Thomas had joined us.
"He thinks we're just going to go running in the maze and not even know how to get out." I replied in an accusatory tone.
"Hey, that's not what I said!"
"It is too!" I stuck my tongue out for added effect and made Chuck laugh.
"I just want to know we'll be safe."
"We won't let anything happen to you." Thomas told him, glancing at me afterwards. I nodded in agreement making a silent pact with Thomas. Get Chuck out at all costs.
Chuck looked from Thomas to myself before nodding in content. "Okay, then let's go!"
"We need to eat first. And I think Fry Pan is making up some snacks for us but we'll leave after that." I told Chuck, placing my hands on his shoulders and pulling him up against me.
"Did Minho take you to get the weapons out?" Thomas spoke quietly so we were the only ones that could hear him.
I nodded in reply and turned to him. "And that's all we have left right?"
"Yeah, I think Newt's been quietly spreading the word." He gestured to Newt who was still walking around talking to people.
"Looks like we're about ready then. Do we know who is leading the group out and who is responsible for the code?"
Thomas shrugged and glanced around, looking for Teresa, I assumed. "Teresa, Chuck and you can be the first in to put in the code."
"No. Teresa and Chuck yes but I'm not leaving you guys." I rested my head on top of Chuck's so I couldn't see Thomas glare at me. I knew no one would like my choice but I would fight with the gladers as long as Chuck and Teresa got through the griever hole safely. They both know the code too.
"Clara. Newt won't like that." Although he spoke quietly I could hear the touch of anger in his tone.
"I don't care what he likes. I'm going to fight alongside you guys. I'm going to help." My eyes met his and he nodded after several long seconds. He could see the determination in my gaze. He could see I was unwilling to change my stance on the topic.
The line moved forward and I smiled lightly at Fry Pan. "I need two, Newt isn't going to eat on his own."
He grinned and shoved two plates across the counter to me. "You have any idea when we're leaving Clary?" He nearly whispered so no one else could hear him although I assumed Newt had already spoken to everyone here about our plan.
"Just keep doing what you're doing Fry, we'll come to you. We need some snacks or something before we go though if possible."
He rolled his eyes and handed Thomas his plate. "Girl, don't you know anything is possible if we really want it to be?" He winked at me before we turned to head out. I walked over to Newt, who was talking with one of the builders, and nudged him lightly.
"You need to eat this before we go." I shoved his plate in his hand and he nodded before returning to his conversation with the builder.
I sat down at our usual table and a sudden surge of grief flooded through me. It took me a moment to realize why. I looked around the table and tears welled in my eyes as I thought of those missing. Alby. Gally. Zart. All of them gone. Well, not sure where Gally went but if he was in the maze overnight his survival wasn't likely. I only survived because of Minho and Thomas.
As if on cue Minho nudged me from my trance. I looked at him and he arched an eyebrow, beginning a silent conversation. I glanced at the spot Alby always sat before looking back at Minho. He nodded in understanding and leaned closer to me.
"We have to get out of here or their deaths will all be for nothing."
I nodded in response and sighed. That wasn't necessarily the talk I'd been hoping for.
It'll be alright, Clara
I looked up and met Thomas' gaze and smiled lightly at him.
I hope so. How many are we going to lose though?
A sad look crossed his features and he glanced around.
No more than we have to.
Are you guys having a pity party without me?
I grinned when Teresa plopped down between Chuck and Thomas. She arched an eyebrow at me before leaning closer to Thomas.
Do we have a game plan yet?
I looked up at Thomas, letting him answer her question.
Not yet. Just to get out.
He shrugged and she rolled her eyes before looking back at me.
A lot of good that did.
He grinned and shoved her lightly causing her to laugh. I suddenly had the thought that they may have had a relationship before we came here. Clearly we were all linked, Thomas even remembered another girl before she got here. The bench shifted as Newt took his place next to me.
"How's it going?"
He shrugged as he took a bite and glanced at me. "It sounds like for the most part people are with us."
"Any naysayers yet?"
"A few of the builders are skeptical because of Gally but they might not be a problem if Gally doesn't come back."
"Any news on Gally yet?" Minho asked, leaning around me.
Newt shook his head as he continued eating. "Last I heard one of the builders got a message that he'll be back before we leave. So we may still have a problem."
I turned to Minho and looked back at the runner's hut. "Does Gally know where the weapons are?"
"Yeah but..."
I jumped up from my seat and ran across the glade to the hut. I stopped in the doorway when my eyes met Gally's.
"Gally, what are you doing?"
He held one of the larger knives and it was aimed at me. "Clara, this has nothing to do with you. Please, just let me go. I don't want to hurt you."
I watched his expression carefully making sure he didn't try anything. "I'm sorry, you know I can't just let you go with that. Not after what you said to Tommy."
He shook his head in aggravation. "Clara, I don't ..." He sighed and his eyes met mine once more. "Please, just move. I don't want to hurt you."
I heard approaching footsteps outside and knew it was Minho, hovering outside of the hut. He could clearly hear us. "Gally, just drop it. Come with us, you know you can't stay here!"
"We can't leave! I know you've seen it! I know you know what the world is like now! You can't possibly want to go back to that!" His voice was steadily rising now and I knew I had to do something.
"No, you're wrong Gally. We can't stay here, the grievers will keep coming back every night until you're all dead! Please, I know you know that we aren't safe here!"
He stepped closer to me with the blade still aimed at me. "Move Clara. I have to do this. I have to."
I could see the desperation in his eyes so I moved to where I was right in front of the door. "No, you don't. Just leave Gally, just come with us. No one needs to get hurt."
He screamed out in frustration before coming at me. I quickly dove to the side and kicked him right in the shin as he tripped up the ramp to the runner's hut. Minho was hovering over him in seconds. He took the blade Gally tried to steal and held it against his shoulder blade. "Your move Gally. We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Gally mumbled something unintelligible before Minho pulled him to his feet. Newt rounded the corner and took the blade from Minho. Newt glanced at me and I nodded letting him know I was alright. They retreated from the hut, pushing Gally towards the slammer.
"You guys are making a mistake! This all started when he got here and now you're going to let him lead you out of here? You've all gone crazy!" Gally shrieked in anger as Minho continued to drag him along. Newt stayed ready with the blade if worse came to worse. I just followed them with a solemn expression. I hated that this is what it came to.
"Gally, you know the grievers will be back! What other choice do we have?" Newt asked him quietly, trying to calm him down.
Gally thrashed in Minho's arms trying to get free. "Clara, you know him from Wicked, I know you do! You know he did this! You know he's responsible for everything!" His eyes met mine and I could see the panic in them.
"Do you really believe it's all because of Thomas?" I stepped closer to him as I asked and he flailed out towards me in response. Minho grunted and pulled Gally away from me.
"Gally man, she's trying to help you and that's what you do?" Minho shook his head and when we finally reached the slammer, threw Gally in. He locked the door quickly as Gally charged back towards us.
"Clara, you have to listen to me!" His eyes were wide and he reminded me of Ben and Jake, the ones who'd been stung. "You knew Thomas at Wicked, right?" His crazy eyes pleaded with me so I nodded in return. "Then you know he created this place! It's all his fault!"
I shook my head and tried to remain nice to him. "Gally, whatever they've showed you, whatever they told you, it's not right! They're trying to get you mad at Tommy but I promise you it's not him!"
He screamed out and sank down the wall to the ground. "You're wrong Clara. And you'll pay for your mistake."
"What the bloody hell do you mean by that?" Newt yelled at him over my shoulder.
"I mean your girlfriend is in serious trouble once she leaves here. Wicked wants her back and the second you're out of here they're taking her back." Gally's voice had dropped to barely above a whisper but I could hear the threat no less.
"Gally, did Jansen tell you that?" I asked, needing to know. I grasped the bars to his jail tightly, ignoring everyone else around us. Nearly every glader had gathered to witness Gally's meltdown.
Gally flipped around to face me and his hands gripped the bars right above mine. "Jansen will get you back. You can count on it. You and your little boyfriend." His eyes met mine and I gasped. I could see right through him, Jansen was in full control.
"Jansen, you son of a bitch! I'll kill you! I will kill you!" I screamed, suddenly lashing out towards Gally. Newt's arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me back.
"Clara! Stop!" He pleaded with me as his arms tightened and pulled me away from the slammers, through the large crowd of gladers. "What's wrong love?" His voice was frantic as he tried to calm me down but my eyes were still glued to Gally's.
"Jansen. It's Jansen. He took control." I mumbled to Newt, as I watched Jansen watch me through Gally.
"That's not Gally?" Newt looked at Gally and grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the instigator. "Don't let Jansen get to you now. There's nothing he can do here."
"And when we leave?"
Newt's eyes widened marginally and he glanced at Gally before looking back at me. "I'll kill the bastard before I let him touch you."
A/N: Hopefully I'll be able to post the next one by Thursday :) Thank you to everyone reading this I'm so glad you guys seem to like it (for the most part lol). You're all amazing! Only a few more chapters, probably a little more than a few until the end! I hope you're all as excited as me to finish this one up and start the next one! :D