Okay, so I haven't updated in a while and I'm very sorry guys! I've had a lot on, and I also have exams very soon, so yeah.

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"Lori? Is that you?"

No one in their Group A moved any closer, waiting for the girl to respond. She didn't say anything, just cocked her head to the side, before slowly nodding her head. She seems . . . confused.

Minho pushes past all the Gladers until he's at the front. "Sorry Newt, but if you're not gonna, I am" He mumbles. Minho envelopes Lori into a warm embrace. She appears shocked at first, before hugging him back, shutting her eyes tight, as if holding back tears.

Minho pulls back, holding her shoulders and smiling. "Where have you been, shank?"

"I- I don't even know. The last thing I remember, is fighting to get out of the Maze, being hit by a Griever, and then falling down a hole. Why? How long has it been?"

"It's been a few weeks, Lor."

A small gasp escapes Lori, and her eyes begin to travelling around the boys, trying to figure something out. All she wants is to know where she's been, but she can't remember; and it's killing her, eating away at her from the inside-out.

"That doesn't matter right now, though. There's someone who wants to see ya. He's been moping around ever since that day."

Lori's face scrunched up as she looked at Minho, as if asking who. What they didn't realize, was that that was exactly what she was trying to communicate, because she truly did not know. But they didn't know that.

Minho steps away, leaving Lori to see the blonde still standing there, staring at her.

Newt finally pulls it together, walks over to her, and wraps his arms around the girl. Lori can feel the boy's body shaking, silent tears escaping him.

He takes a step back, before cupping Lori's face and kissing her.

She doesn't move, too shocked to do anything, let alone tell him that she has no idea who he is.

Lori snaps back to reality at last, pulling away from the boy, slapping him hard across the face.

Newt looks back at her, shocked out of his mind.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Newt's eyebrows crease as he looks around. He is unable to look directly at her, confused by the situation he has found himself in.

"Lori? What are you talking about?"

"How do you even know me? Who are you?"

Newt felt the pain of her words strike him like a sword, leaving a burning feeling in his chest. When Newt doesn't respond, Lori turns to Minho, who looks almost as shocked as Newt.

"Minho, who is he? Why does he know my name?"

"Lori, are you being shuckin' serious?"

Lori raises her eyebrows expectantly, waiting for an answer. The Asian boy runs a hand through his hair, shaking this head.

"That's Newt you damn, slinthead! Seriously? What the hell is going on with you?"

But before anyone can say anymore, Thomas is running towards them all, slightly out of breath. You'd think a Runner would be able to go that distance without huffing like he is, Lori thinks to herself.

"We need to go, we need to -" He freezes as his eyes land on Lori. His head whips to Minho, pointing at the red head, "Is that . . ."

"Yes. Yes it is." Minho nods, before looking over to Lori. "Oi, shank, you remember who that is?"

She rolls her eyes, "Yes, smart ass, it's Thomas."

Thomas looked extremely confused, "Why would you ask her that?"

"Cos the slinthead doesn't even remember Newt."

"What? She doesn't remember Newt?" Tommy points to Newt, "That Newt?"
Minho just frowns, before crossing his arms across his chest.

"Okay, well we can figure this out later. Right now, we need to get out of here. I'll explain later, let's go." And before anyone could ask anything, Thomas was running towards the crowded buildings.

Thomas didn't stop running for what seemed like hours. Lori couldn't believe that most of them were able to actually keep up with him. She couldn't help but notice that every time she looked around, the blonde boy that everyone called Newt, was looking at her. Whenever she glanced in his direction, he would quickly look away, avoiding her gaze.

He was really torn up about her not remembering who he was. But why? Were they . . . together? Before she forgot him?

And on that note, how do you manage to forget one person? Is it even possible to just forget one person?

They finally stopped, everyone buckling over trying to catch their breath. Minho stomped over to Thomas, obviously not happy with the little run we just had to do.

"What . . .why . . . what kind of shuck idiot are you, Thomas?" Thomas didn't respond to Minho's question, still not looking at anyone as he catches his breath.

"How could you do that? How could you just come out of there and take off like that? Without explaining anything? Since when is that how we do things? You slinthead." Minho shook his head as he fell down onto the ground, sighing loudly.

Thomas finally made eye contact with Minho, taking steady breaths. "Sorry, it was kind of traumatizing."

They had all reached Minho and Thomas who were still conversing. Newt saw where Lori was standing and immediately went to the other side of the group, avoiding her at all costs.

"Traumatizing? Who did you see in there? What did they say?" Minho wouldn't let up on questioning Thomas for a second, digging into any possible information he can pull out of the smaller boy.

Thomas couldn't help but look over at Lori, but what he found the strangest, was that she was already looking.

"It was . . . it was Teresa."

Everyone was silent, no one could think of how to respond to what Thomas had said. He had seen Teresa. But there was something else; something he wasn't telling them. Why though? Lori had thought to herself. And she decided right then, that she would find out what. She knows the Trials are important, and they need to complete them. The only way to do so, is if there are no secrets.

Minho interrupted Lori's train of thought. "What? You're serious?"

Thomas was still looking at Lori, but nodded in return to what Minho had inquired.

Minho looked shocked due to Thomas' response. "And you left her there? Dude, you need to start talking and tell us what happened."

Lori smiled to herself, hopefully Minho would get an explanation out of Thomas so that she wouldn't have to.

Thomas finally let loose on what had happened in the shack where they said that he disappeared to. He told them how Teresa had been in there, and that she didn't look effected by the heat one bit.

He said something about Teresa being really out of it, like Gally, almost possessed. And something about a warning.

What are these Trials. Lori just knew that she had to save her friends. No matter what it took. Chuck didn't deserve to die, he was supposed to live a long life, with his family. But they took that from him.

But it was to save a large number of people. Was one life worth the many? A small sacrifice for the greater good? Was WICKED truly good?

Lori tuned back into the conversation. "It was some kind of trap. I don't know what would've happened, or how many of us would've died. Maybe all of us. But I could see that there wasn't any doubt in her eyes when she broke away from whatever restrained her. She saved us, and I bet they make her . . . " He seemed to freeze up, as if not wanting to admit to himself, waht he was about to tell us. "I bet they make her pay for it."

The way he said it, made it sound so awful. How would they punish her though? I guess if they can make them speak in their heads, they can hurt her without actually having to go to her.

Minho squeezed Thomas' shoulder, sympathy painted on his face. "Dude, if those shuck WICKED people wanted her dead, she'd be rottin' under a big pile of rocks. She's just as tough as anybody else, maybe tougher. She'll survive."

Looking to brighten up the slightest, Thomas takes a deep breath, before letting it out slowly. "I know. Somehow I know."

Lori groaned, before standing before the group. "Okay, enough layin' around. I'm sorry about Teresa, Thomas, I really am, but we need to go. We need to all get some sleep. And no offense, Thomas, but thanks to your little joy run there, we're all buggered and the suns only just come up. So, however we do it, we need to find some place to rest, or we're never gonna make it out of here alive."

They all look slightly stunned at her sudden attitude towards any sort of leadership.

Minho stands up, nudging Lori slightly. "Hold up shuck face, I'm in charge around here."

The red head chuckles, "Says who?"

"Says my branding," he replies with mock stern. The confusion on Lori's face prompts him to turn around a pull down the back of his collar, revealing his tattoo.

"Wait, you have one too?"

"Too? Since when do you have one, Lori?"

"Um, since the Maze," she says slowly, hoping that Minho wont blow up at her.

"What? Why didn't you tell us?" He was holding back fumes, she could tell.

"I, um, I told someone. I just, can't remember who I actually told?" Lori runs a hand through her hand, looking around.

After a moment, someone in the crowd slowly raises their hand. The blonde, Newt. "You, uh, you told me."

"Okay, well, does one of you shanks wanna tell me what the shuck it says?" Minho spits.

"Don't take it too seriously, but it says" Lori hesitated. "It says, the Deceiver."

Minho didn't reply to her, just turned to the other and spoke to the group.

"She's right, we need some rest. Everyone, use your sheets to keep yourself safe from the sun. Three hours at the least."

Lori found a spare sheet among the Gladers, found the coolest area she could locate, and layed down. She tried to sleep, but the only thing that she could think about, was Newt, saying that she had told him. Only him.

They must have had something special. She wanted to do something, apologize maybe, for not remembering. But she didn't know how.

How do you apologize for something you didn't actually do? You lie. And she didn't want to do that to someone she doesn't even know, but apparently knew very well.

/\/\/\/\/\

Four hours later, Lori has only had three hours sleep, and Minho is getting them all up, preparing to journey further into the Scorch. The sun is burning, the rays practically frying them. No one needed much incentive to get up and move.

They all repack the food into the sheets, preparing to leave. Lori felt like she could use a shower, but that obviously wasn't an option under their current circumstances.

No one spoke as they prepared for the tiring journey that waits for them.

"Let's go," Minho announces. And just like that, they're heading towards the groups of tall buildings.

They walk at a steady pace through the suffocating heat. And the worst part is, that it's not getting any better. The take small breaks to have a drink and rest, before continuing on the walk.

The wind keeps getting stronger, pulling at the sheets covering their bodies.

Lori had to continuously wipe her eyes, trying to keep the dust they were all kicking up, out of her eyes. The only thing she wanted at that moment in time, was to chug down all her water, but she knew better.

By the time night hit again, they were all grateful for the moon's presence. The shuck sun had taken its time lowering, but when it was gone, the heat wasn't too bad, so that was good.

They continued to walk on, trying to get further into the Scorch. As Lori walked, she realized that someone had fallen into step with her. Newt.

"Hey," she smiles weakly, trying to keep a brave face. You can't show something like weakness in a place like this.

"Hi," the tall boy ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "How are you feeling? Do you . . . Do you remember anything?"

Lori felt like a boulder came down and crushed her heart. She felt absolutely awful. She was standing next to this nice boy, who obviously cares for her, and she can't remember one minute she ever spent with him before yesterday.

"I"m feeling fine, I guess." Lori paused, clueless as to how to break the news to him. She slowed down her walk for a few moments, so that she could focus in on his face.

"Newt, I'm really sorry, I still don't remember some of my time from the Maze."

He nods slowly, "Some of that time, meaning me?"

Lori sighs, bobbing her head in agreement, "Some of that time meaning you. I'm so sorry, Newt. I really wish I could remember. Truly. I just . . . I can't."

"I get it, I guess. I'm just sorry that you can't remember our time together." Newt glances over towards Lori, "I miss you."

She angles her eyebrows, kind of confused. "What do you mean? I'm right here."

Newt chuckles, "That's the thing though. You're not." And without waiting for Lori to say anything in response, he jogs up to Frypan and begins to speak to him.

Lori kept walking, but she was so stunned. She couldn't believed what he had said. Did he really feel that way in regards to her? Just because she didn't remember him, that makes her a different person?

Slapping him probably hadn't made things any better.

They finally stopped and decide to sleep, all of them craving the few hours they could get.

*

Lori lays on a hard metal table, a machine above her and needles pinned into her arms.

"I am truly sorry for this. I had no idea that they would choose you." Her mother says, hovering above her. Lori chose at the last second, to stop for just a moment, to take a closer look at the woman who called herself her mother. Her eyes are red; she had been crying. But, to be honest, Lori couldn't care less.

"Save your bullshit for someone who gives a damn," Lori ground out, her voice like gravel.

Lucinda looked offended by her daughter's words. She was about to leave, when something else came to mind.

She leaned in close to Lori, and whispered in her ear. "When you are in the Scorch. Find your brother. His name, is Aris. And please, remember that I love you, no matter what it looks like, I have always done what was necessary to protect what was left of our family. Unfortunately, this was my only option."

Lucinda walked away, hands tight by her side.

"Then you're a coward! A bloody coward!" Lori screamed after her.

*

Aris.

Lori wakes to a cold wind pulling at her skin, and a scream tearing its way up her throat. With a feeling of intense pain, she restrained what she assumed would have sound like a dying cat, escaping from her lips.

She lifted the hem of her shirt to clear her forehead of sweat and did her best to pull herself together. Everyone else is fast sleep. All except one, apparently. It is dark out, so Lori was unable to tell who the shape that caught her eye is.

As quietly as possible, she walked over and sat down beside the other person. They spun around, and revealed themselves to be Thomas.

"Oh, hey Lori. Sorry, I didn't realize that anyone else was awake."

"It's fine, I only just woke up."
Thomas nods, before staring into nothingness once more.
"Thomas, are you okay. You seem really . . . I don't know, out of it."

He laughs to himself, looking down at the ground. "I'm fine. It's just Teresa. I'm worried about her."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked that. Of course that's what's going on. God, I'm such a shuck face."

"Lori, it's fine. You only just got back, cut yourself some slack already." Thomas wrapped an arm around Lori's shoulders, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.

"How are you handling the heat?"

Lori responds by wiping the sweat away from her head. "It's disgustingly hot, but I'm doing better then I thought I would. Thomas I need to ask you something." She waits for his response, and when he finally nods, she asks her question. "Do any of these boys have the name Aris?"

Lori could hear Thomas take a deep breath, his eyes flickering beneath the moonlight, and his arm slightly jerk as it still lay over her shoulders.

"Ah, yes. Yes there actually is. When everyone's awake, I'll introduce you. Why do you ask?"

"Can I trust you?" Lori asks slowly. Thomas nods quickly, before his eyes widen expectantly. "Well, when I was asleep, I had this dream. Actually, it was more like a memory. But it wasn't from the Maze. I think it was from that time that I can't recall. You know, after the Maze. Anyway, I was in a room with this woman, and she was telling me about a boy named Aris. Who is also my brother."

To Lori's shock, she was the one who was surprised, not Thomas. "Okay, why do I get the feeling that you already know everything that I just had to explain to you?"

"Well, because I kinda do" he said sheepishly. "We found Aris in a place that WICKED left us in. We got to talking, and he mentioned you. He said you were his sister. He also, might, sort of, think that you're a bit dead . . . "

"What?" Lori shouts. Thomas immediately whips a finger to his lips, signalling for her to keep it down. "What are you talking about?"

"When he asked about you, all we knew is that you fell down a hole, Lori. We thought that you were gone for sure. Black abysses usually signal that."

"Great. So, basically, to him I'm the sister he never knew, coming back from the dead. And, all my friends thought that I was dead, so I guess I'm coming back from the dead for them as well. Awesome."

"Well, not all of us thought you were dead. Newt waited every day. He wouldn't stop moping, so thank you for coming back, he was starting to bring us all down."

They really did have something.

And he really cared for her. Or at least, who he thought she was.

*+*+*+*+*+

(Author's Note)

Q= What did you think of the official Scorch Trials trailer?

xoxo