SHE decided to go for a shower while Thomas was gone. The first real shower she had in months. Warm water, not a sea. In a closed cabin, not an open area.

Sighing, she felt the water trickle down her body. The cuts had already healed to the point where they were just red lines and the skin around it was ruined with forming scars, but at least she was able to walk again.

When she got out of the shower, she snuggled in a blanket and sat down on the couch, where Reeve and Marie were sitting too.

"You look comfy."

"I am." Siren nodded. "So, how is everyone?"

"A bit tense because we're so close to going into the city once Thomas is back, but great," Reeve replied. "You?"

"Perfect," she couldn't hide her smile. "Very good. Awesome. Amazing! So damn well. Lovel-."

"We get it. You're smitten with Thomas."

"Aren't we all?" She let go of a breath.

"Definitely not." Reeve chuckled. "Last time you acted like this, it was because he kissed you on the cheek."

"Oh, that was amazing," Marie agreed. "You were so hyped and acting drunk."

"Do you want to know what he did today?"

Reeve pulled a face. "I don't think so."

"I definitely want that."

"Okay." Siren let herself fall backward on the couch. "Well. It involved lots of kissing. That's all the detail you're gonna get."

"No. We're not doing that," pissed off voices entered the room. Siren shot up, followed by everyone in presence; Thomas, Newt, and Gally were back.

"What's going on?" They gathered around the table again. Gally pointed at the biggest building on the map.

"I never said you were going to like the plan, Thomas." He grunted.

"What is the plan?"

Thomas's eyes fell to Siren for just a second, then he averted them. "Nothing."

Newt sat down at the table as Gally started explaining. "If we manage to get Teresa she can give us information and-."

"No. There's gotta be another way."

Siren's heart skipped a beat. Teresa.

"Like what? You've seen the building. She is our only way in."

Taking advantage of Teresa didn't sound like the perfect plan to her either... but anything to save Minho.

"You really think she's gonna help us?" Thomas added.

Gally shrugged. "I don't plan on asking for her permission."

Brenda straightened her back, sighing. "Am I missing something here? This is the same girl who betrayed us, correct? Same dick?"

"Hey!" But Marie grabbed Siren's arm before she could even start protesting.

"I like her," Gally mumbled, motioning at Brenda, who already looked at Thomas.

"What's going on?"

There was no reply. Until Newt looked up, his face made of stone. "What, are you afraid your little girlfriend's gonna get hurt? Hmm?"

Both Siren and Thomas frowned as Newt slowly got up.

"Because this has obviously never been just about rescuing Minho. Has it?"

Siren took a step back, confused.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Thomas mumbled, barely hearable.

"Siren." Newt walked closer to the brunette. "You're afraid using Teresa is going to hurt Siren, while she's the only reason that Minho's even missing in the first place. Now we finally have an opportunity to get him back. And what? You don't want to because of her?"

By the second, Newt started speaking faster. Thomas blinked a few times, still frowning.

"Because deep down inside Siren still cares about her, doesn't she? And you're with her." He lowered his voice dangerously. "Just admit it."

"Newt, I..."

And then he slammed Thomas against the wall. "Don't lie to me!" He spat out. "Don't. Lie. To. Me."

Siren flinched. Brenda pressed a hand on her open mouth and the rest watched in shock.

Thomas stared at Newt, who's grip started to loosen. His mouth opened. Looking down, he let go. "Sorry," he whispered, as if he just realized what he did. "I'm sorry." And he walked away.

Siren was left holding her breath. She swallowed. Stuck her hands in her pockets.

Because the worst thing was, was that Newt had been right.

"I'll go talk to him," Thomas murmured, and walked outside.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Thomas sat down next to Siren without a word, his jaw rolling.

She turned her body to him as worry crashed into her. "Everything alright?"

A little shrug.

Carefully, she lay her hand on his. "How's Newt?"

He shrugged again. "Not very good."

"Oh." She squeezed his hand, not completely sure what to say. "How come? Is he still upset?"

Thomas lay his head on her shoulder, his breaths shuddering. "He got The Flare," he whispered, voice so sad it hurt Siren. "He's infected."

Her hand fell away from Thomas's and her heart dropped. "Shit," Siren cursed, but that was all she managed to say.

"Yeah. Shit." Thomas's Adam's apple moved. "So we decided we need Teresa more than anything now. She knows where to get a serum like Brenda got and-." He stopped speaking.

Siren watched his expression sharpen. "What is it?"

"Holy shit," Thomas murmured. He looked up, shocked. "Holy shit- oh my.."

"What?" She scooted closer, eyes big from curiosity.

"Mary said Brenda would only live a few weeks with the serum we gave her. The one she used my blood for... but Brenda is alive and well after almost a year. The bite healed."

Siren was too stunned to speak for a second. Her breathing hitched. "So that means-."

"-my blood cures the virus and-."

"-you could save Newt." 

"Holy shit."
"Holy shit."

Almost breathless, they stared at each other. Then at the same time, they jumped up.

"Go get Teresa with Gally as fast as you can," she told him. "I'll tell the others."

He cupped her face. "Will you be okay with seeing Teresa again?"

"Yeah." She nodded. Kissed him. "Just hurry."

With a nod, he rushed to wherever Gally was.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

It only took an hour for them to get Teresa. She got put down on a chair. Gally tugged the bag off her head. Immediately, Teresa gasped for air.

Siren blinked a few times. Seeing Teresa felt like a stab in the heart.

Gally walked past the girl and sat down on the table, next to Siren.

"Gally?" Teresa breathed, but she didn't get an explanation of his presence.

"Here's how this is gonna go. We're gonna ask you some questions, and you're gonna tell us exactly what we need to know."

All you've got to do is tell us the location of the Safe Haven, Gorgeous. Just answer the questions, a shiver went down her spine.

She shook her head. No. No, they were nothing like Adkins or Amery. Gally wouldn't cut Teresa's back open if she didn't answer.

"We'll start off simple. Where's Minho?"

Teresa's eyes fell on Siren. They were full of sorrow, yet Siren didn't show any emotion back. This was something serious. "You guys don't seriously think..."

"Don't look at her." Gally slammed a chair in front of Teresa and sat on it, leaning against the back. "Why are you looking at her? Look at me. She's not gonna help you."

Teresa looked down in shame.

"Now, we know you have Minho in the building. Where?"

Please, Siren mentally begged. If Teresa just told them no one would get hurt and it would be easy as hell.

"He's with the others in holding. Sublevel three."

A relieved breath left Siren's mouth.

"How many others?"

"Twenty-seven."

Brenda held up the card she was playing with. "I can make that work."

More and more worry filled Teresa's face. "No. No, you guys don't understand. The whole level's restricted. You can't get in without a thumbprint ID."

"That's why you're gonna come with us," Siren announced. The first time she spoke to Teresa in months.

She still remembered the first time. Thomas had pushed her toward the girl. Had forced her to turn into friends which they had become, but then- you know.

"Well, I don't know. We don't necessarily need her. Right? Not all of her." Gally got up, an operation knife in his hands.

Siren jumped up. Snatched the knife away. "Back off, Gally."

"What, are you squeamish? I guarantee you she's done a lot worse to Minho," he snapped.

Siren's jaw clenched. "She's doing what she thinks is right. Back the hell off."

"It won't make a difference," Teresa spoke. "Do whatever you want to me. You still won't get through the front door. The sensors will pick you up the-."

"We know. We're tagged." Thomas took the knife and stepped closer. "Property of WICKED. You're gonna help us with that, too."

A few minutes later, Teresa was cutting in Siren's neck. Gently. Though Siren couldn't even feel it. Her back had gotten more numb by the time.

"Does it hurt much?" Teresa asked, her voice soft. So soft Siren wanted to hit her for it, because it made her too emotional. "Your back, I mean."

"I can't really feel anything anymore." Siren swallowed away a cry. She wished Teresa could've just reached her neck without having to get her sweater off.

"What happened?"

Her eyes closed, and she inhaled shakily. "What happened, is a stupid man."

"I'm sorry," Teresa muttered. "Why did he do that?"

"He wanted to know where the Safe Haven was." Her voice got snappier. Time to let Teresa be aware of her actions. "But I didn't tell him, so he decided to cut my back open. Too bad it was all for nothing, because someone happened to betray it anyways."

Teresa didn't reply anymore. Siren bit her lip, unsure of her feelings.

"We need you to make a serum from Thomas's blood. For Newt," she said. "Can you do that?"

"Yeah, but I will have to-."

"I don't care how you do it, I just need to know if you can."

"With the right supplies, I can. They're in WICKED's building." Her voice weakened.

"Good." Siren rubbed her eye. Her heart was pounding in her chest; she wished Teresa would just apologize and that they could hug or something. "So... how's Minho?"

She mumbled, "Fine."

"Don't lie. I'm still not fine and I had only been there for two months. How's he really doing?"

"He's helping us with a cure and-."

Siren's hands gripped around the chair. "That wasn't my question, Teresa. Tell me how he's doing."

"He's often unconscious."

"And what visions is he seeing?" She spat.

"Same ones as you did," Teresa whispered. 

"When was the last time he saw you?"

"Yesterday." She gained a more steady tone. "It didn't go very well."

"Oh, yeah? What happened?"

"He bursted out. Slammed me against the table and started screaming."

Even though Siren still didn't hate at Teresa as much as she should have, a tiny smirk grew on her face. At least Minho hadn't lost every piece of personality.