Divided // The Death Cure [Book 3]

EIGHTEEN

"Try to relax, this is gonna sting," Teresa muttered as she positioned the scalpel on the back of Thomas's neck. 

"Just get it over with," he replied. He winced when he felt the small knife cutting through his skin. "How is she?" he asked softly to distract himself. 

"Leah?" By the silence received, Teresa knew that that was exactly what he was talking about. "She's doing great, actually. She's healthy." 

"And the baby?" Teresa felt a soft pang in her heart as she was reminded of the child that was growing inside of Thomas's girlfriend. 

"They're fine too," she curtly said. Her eye fell on Brenda as she said goodbye to Jorge, who was going back to the camp of the Right Arm. "She's looking good. Healthy. How have you been getting her serum?" 

"What do you mean?" Thomas retorted. 

"Brenda. I didn't think she'd still be alive. When was her last treatment?" 

"The Right Arm, the last time we saw you." 

Teresa froze. "But that was months ago," she mumbled and Thomas shot away from her as she removed the tag from his neck. "Thomas, that's not possible. She should've turned by now. There's no way that-" 

"That's enough," Thomas snapped and stalked away from her, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You don't believe me?" Teresa got up and Thomas whipped around again. 

"Do you really expect me to? After riping my family away from me?" he snarled. 

"Is everything okay over here?" Gally stepped up to the two, preventing Thomas from lashing out even more. 

"Yeah, we're done." Without another word, Thomas retreated to the others. 

Teresa averted her eyes, feeling a dull ache in her chest. She reached down to grab the scalpel, but Gally grabbed her wrist. "Nice try," he mocked. He grabbed her arm and took her with him, but Teresa was just in time to grab the bloody tissue that she had used to stop the blood from dripping down Thomas's neck.

Thomas stepped up to Brenda and started putting on the gear Newt had given him. The gear that was going to help them keep their identities hidden from Wicked. It was a guard's uniform from Wicked, so they'd blend right in.

"You were in love with her, weren't you?" she asked softly.

Thomas glanced up. "Before the Maze, maybe. Now? Hell no," he shot back.

"Just be careful. You sorta have this problem where you can't walk away from people." She finished cleaning the gun in her hand and put a full magazine in it. "Even when you should. You can't save everyone, Thomas." She handed him the gun and he smiled faintly.

"I can try." 

 ***

With police sirens in his ears, Thomas walked next to Teresa, a loaded gun to his chest and a black mask covering his face. They entered the building. "Don't stop," he mumbled under his breath as they passed through a scanner. Thomas couldn't help but feel relieved when the alarms didn't go off.

They were forced to a halt as another guard came up to them. After a small nod of his head, Thomas knew it was Newt. He and Teresa followed him to the floor below, where they met Gally. Teresa used her thumb to unlock the door to the staircase. 

"Hold on, I can get us into this one." Gally stopped the group from walking as they passed an electrical cabinet of some sort. They'd promised Lawrence that he'd get full access to the security and the cameras of the building. He installed a small piece of technology.

Newt gurgled out a raspy cough and as Teresa's eyes reached him, she saw a small film of sweat on his skin. Worry creased her forehead as he turned away from her.

"Frypan, we're in. How are you doing?" Thomas asked in his walkie-talkie.

"Yeah, I'm getting there," Frypan replied. "Tell Minho and Leah hi for me." 

"Hang in there, buddy," Thomas said. He changed the station. "Brenda, what's your status?" 

"Status is, I'm working on it," Brenda said. 

"Just make sure you're ready when we're ready." 

"Don't worry. You know I'm gonna be there."

"We're in!" Gally said and Thomas nodded, turning to Teresa. 

"Okay, let's go." He motioned for her to lead the way and she took them to the part of the building where she knew they were keeping Minho and the others. They didn't hesitate to shoot down the guards watching over the cells. 

From inside one of the cells, Kasey perked up at the sound of gunshots and she ushered everyone to the back of the cell. Silence fell and a few yelped when a masked Wicked guard peeked through the glass in the door. 

The door was unlocked and the Wicked guard ripped off his mask to reveal a dirty-blond boy who was only a few years older than them. He grinned. "Okay, let's go." 

Kasey was the first in her cell to stand up and walk out where she spotted a dark-haired boy releasing the other kids. Another blond guy was threatening one of the guards and she found Teresa looking around with big eyes. 

The last cell was unlocked and the boys looked inside. "He's not here..." The dark-haired boy muttered. He walked up to Teresa, stopping only mere centimetres from her face. "Where is he?" Kasey heard him ask. 

Teresa frowned before logging into the computer. "Somebody moved him up to the medical wing. Thomas, that's on the other side of the building," she said. 

"Thomas?" Kasey called and the dark-haired boy averted his attention to her. "You're Thomas?"

"Yeah," Thomas slowly stated. 

"You're Leah's boyfriend," Kasey grinned, excited to finally meet the person that Leah was so fond of. 

"And you are?" Newt asked slowly.

"Kasey," Thomas answered for her and she nodded. "Marissa told me all about you," he smiled softly. 

"That's great but we gotta get moving or Janson'll know we're here." Gally stepped up and Kasey's jaw dropped. Gally's eyes met hers and he gasped. "Kasey?" he mumbled. 

"Gally? Wha-How are you here? Leah told me you were dead," Kasey muttered, taking a step back. 

"Long story, I'm not. But look at you, you're alive too!" Gally rushed to her and locked her in an embrace. 

"Does anyone have any idea of what's going on?" Newt muttered. 

Gally pulled back from the hug with a smile. "Guys, this is my sister. We were separated when we were really young," he proudly grinned. 

"Sister?" Thomas and Newt asked in unison. 

"Guys, we've got things to do," Gally said.

"You're right. I'll be right back with Leah and Minho," Thomas said but Newt stopped him.

"I'm coming too." 

"Newt, no, you gotta wait here with Gally for the serum," Thomas objected.

"You can't do this on your own," Newt protested. "Leah and Minho come first, remember?" 

"Just go, we're wasting time!" Gally shouted while he continued to get the vault to open. "I'll get the serum and meet you out back." 

"Okay, let's go," Thomas said, pushing Teresa out in front of him. "Leah first, then Minho."