A/N: Please pay attention to the italics in this one guys! There's some flashbacks and some telepathic talking and it might get confusing! :)

Clara's POV

My head rested on Newt's shoulder as I lay wedged between him and Chase. The sun had just started to set, giving me just enough light to see the helicopter nearing us. We were well hidden beneath the concrete slab we took shelter under all day so I didn't worry about waking anyone. They could all use the sleep. My eyes slowly followed the machine in the sky until it disappeared from sight once again. I let out a sigh of relief that we seemed to be off of Wicked's radar at least for the time being.

A light tap on my shoulder had me turning towards Chase and I smiled when my eyes met his. "You okay?" He whispered lightly, eyes probing mine.

"Yeah. You?" My voice was hoarse from the lack of water and I knew it'd only get worse.

He shrugged before glancing around our small group. "We don't have much water. And we don't have any food."

I rolled on my side so I was facing him. "We'll make it somewhere with food and water, I know it."

"And if we don't?"

"Optimism never has been your strong suit has it?" I grinned lightly at him when a smile appeared on his face.

"No, that was always you. You were always the hopeful one." His thumb gently traced my shirt over my shoulder as his eyes scanned the area where my wound was. "I'm sorry this happened to you. I was..." He took in a staggered breath. "I was supposed to protect you."

I grabbed his hand and shook my head at him. "No, Chase, it wasn't ever on you to do that. We're a team remember?"

"Mom and dad always told me to protect you, to watch over you. And I've failed you ever since we got to Wicked. I'm so sorry Clare Bear." A stray tear slid down his cheek and I quickly wiped it away with my thumb.

"Don't be. We'll be fine now. We'll get out of this, together."

He nodded and we both looked up as Thomas crawled out from under our hideout.

"See anything Tommy?" I still whispered and I found it miraculous he even heard me but soon enough his eyes found mine and he shook his head.

"Now might be a good time for us to go. We'll be harder to find at night and it'll be easier without the sun beating down on us." Thomas whispered back, glancing from Chase to me.

Chase nodded in reply, obviously agreeing with Thomas' idea.

"Okay, everyone wake up! We need to get going!" Thomas called out, glancing around the group. I shook Newt awake as Chase helped Minho to his feet. Chase grabbed my wrist and along with Thomas they were able to get me up.

It only took a couple of minutes to get everyone up and ready for the trek ahead of us.

"Where are we going?" Teresa's voice seemed small as she followed Thomas, her eyes watching her feet as she walked.

"I'm not sure there's an answer for that just yet." Thomas replied eyes focused ahead of us. I smirked when Teresa's head rose to meet the back of Thomas'.

"A lot of good that did." She grinned when he glanced at her, clearly remembering the last time she said that when we were in the glade.

I let out a laugh when Fry Pan's stomach grumbled from beside me. "What's so funny about starvation Clary?"

"Sorry Fry, it's funny that it's our cook who's hungry. That's all." I smiled a small smile at him and he easily returned it.

"I miss cooking. I miss eating too."

Everyone let out a laugh as we continued on. The trek was mostly silent since we didn't really have the energy to walk and talk without having any food in the past twenty four hours. And with the lack of food we weren't able to walk as far as we'd originally hoped. After five hours of continuous walking we all started slowing down. And with each passing step the hunger pains got worse along with the burning desire for water.

Newt's hand barely held mine anymore as we trudged on through the sand. Thankfully it wasn't ankle deep anymore or our journey would be even worse. We were walking at the back now with Thomas and Chase hovering beside us. Minho walked at the front with Aris while Teresa and Fry Pan followed them.

"I can't...I can't keep going." I mumbled quietly. My limbs nearly refused to work and my eyes were slowly closing.

Newt looked up at me before looking to Thomas and Chase. "We need to find somewhere to stay for the day. We won't be able to walk much longer and we can't go anywhere in the heat without water."

Thomas nodded, his eyes moving up to Minho. "Minho! Find us a place to crash."

Minho gave him a thumbs up as he started searching for a building suitable for us. The throbbing in my shoulder took over my body once more, as it had since I've received my wound and I found my legs unwilling to move any farther. Chills erupted throughout my entire body and although I felt relief from the heat, the pain was overbearing. Newt wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me upright but it wasn't enough. I nearly collapsed as we continued walking and if Chase wouldn't have helped support me I would have taken Newt down with me.

"I got her." Chase's voice was deeper than normal as he scooped me into his arms.

Newt smiled lightly at him, returning his attention to those in front of us.

Chase held me close to him like he used to when we were hiding from mother. When she was a crank. I rested my head against his chest, my hands balled his shirt as I struggled to stay awake.

"Stay with me Clara, we're almost there." He whispered, looking down at me.

The throbbing in my shoulder pulsated throughout my body and I could feel myself trembling. With each step Chase took I felt myself slip away even more as my shoulder jolted in pain. The infection was spreading. And without water or ointment I didn't have much time left. I slowly drifted off listening to the steady thumping of Chase's heart.

"Chase!" My six year old self bellowed for him as I stretched to climb onto our cabinet. My mother had taken all of the chairs to a friend's house and without any help I wasn't able to reach the counter. Chase rounded the corner into the kitchen and laughed when he saw me.

"Don't hurt yourself, Clara." He climbed onto the counter and smiled down at me. "What do you want?"

"The cookies!" I pointed my short, stubby finger towards the large box in our pantry. He easily reached it and took one out before handing me the box.

"Only eat a couple and give it back to me." He sat down in his spot on the counter and waited for me to take what I wanted.

"Help me up there!" I stuck out my lower lip and he rolled his eyes as his arms grabbed mine and hoisted me onto the cabinet beside him. I giggled as we both swung our legs back and forth, happily eating cookies as we did.

A loud noise startled us and we both jumped in surprise. If he hadn't thrown his arm around me I most likely would have fallen off the cabinet. The front door opened and we watched in silence as my mother walked in with a blonde lady following her.

"Chase! Clara! What on Earth are you doing up there?" My mother ran over to us and picked me up before shooing Chase off the counter. He put the cookies away before jumping down.

"We weren't doing anything bad mother, Clara just wanted a cookie." Chase smiled sweetly up at her in hopes she wouldn't get angry at us.

"Chase, you know better than to put your sister in danger!"

I frowned as she scolded him before placing a light kiss on her cheek. "Mama, I asked him to pull me up. We had fun!"

She smiled at me before looking down at him. "Okay, well, just be careful doing that stuff. She's a lot smaller than you are so she'll get hurt easier." She placed me on the ground next to him and I immediately wrapped my hand around his.

"You guys remember your Aunt, yes?" My mother gestured to the blonde lady and Chase and I both nodded in return.

"Ava, you remember the kids?"

Aunt Ava nodded with a smile on her face looking at each of us before turning back to mother and whispering something quietly.

"Chase, take Clara back to your room. I'll be in soon."

Chase nodded and as we began walking away we heard Aunt Ava whisper something in our direction.

"Remember kids, Wicked is good."

I woke up with a start, my heart hammering in my chest. I was still cradled in Chase's lap and we were in a dark concrete building. There were a few jackets draped over me and I could only assume I had a fever at some point during my nap. There was a cold sweat all over my body and my clothes were soaked. Chase's arms were still carefully supporting me as if he just slid down the wall while holding me.

"Clara?"

I groggily pulled my head off of Chase's chest and my eyes met Thomas'. He was sitting rather close to us and as soon as my eyes met his he reached over to feel my forehead.

"How are you feeling?"

"I think I'm okay." We were only a couple of inches apart now, speaking quietly so we wouldn't wake anyone.

He nodded and gently brushed the hair off my forehead. "You were freezing earlier but it feels like you're back to normal now. Your infection is probably spreading though." He frowned slightly and I found my head becoming heavy so I laid back against Chase once again.

"I'll be fine Tommy."

"I hope so." He offered a weak smile before pulling his water bottle out. "Here."

I grabbed it from him and took a small drink, tossing it back with a smile. "Thank you."

He nodded and glanced around, no one else was awake yet. "Can you still talk to anyone telepathically?"

"I honestly haven't tried." I stared pointedly at him while I tried to reach him, struggling with it just a bit.

Can you hear me?

A light smile graced his lips and he nodded.

Yeah, I can. I was scared they took it away from us.

Can you still talk to Teresa or Newt?

He shook his head before his voice popped back into my head.

I haven't tried Newt but I know I can't Teresa. I'm just happy I still can with you.

Me too. This is easier than talking out loud.

A thought popped into my head and my eyes met his.

You remember the chancellor that made the video we saw after we escaped the maze? Apparently she's my, our, aunt. Well, she was at least.

He shifted closer to me and frowned again.

I'm sorry Clara, I forgot to mention something to you. When I went looking for you guys I saw her make some kind of video call to Jansen. She's still alive. I found out then that she's your aunt too.

I reached out and grasped his hand in my own.

Don't be sorry, we've had a lot going on. What did she say to him?

He smirked before leaning against the wall that Chase was resting against.

She threatened him actually. Told him that you better be in the condition she expected when she dropped by or it'd be his job on the line. She defended you.

I smiled as my eyes closed and I pictured Jansen getting yelled at. That would be something worth seeing.

Clara?

I'm still here. Just resting my eyes.

The last time you rested your eyes you slept for six hours and we didn't think you'd wake up.

He squeezed my hand as his voice rang through my mind.

I'm sorry Tommy. I didn't mean to scare you.

I know. I just don't know what I'd do without you.

I smiled lightly and drifted off to sleep once more.

"No! Let me go!" I thrashed against the hold Chase had on me, trying my hardest to get outside.

His arms tightened around me and he grunted as my leg connected with is. "Clara! Stop it!"

"No! He needs our help, Chase!"

"There is nothing we can do for him!" He screamed in my ear, pulling me further from the window.

Father had just gone out to get something from the car. That was all. The crank came from nowhere; he didn't even see it until it was too late. The crank's teeth sunk deep into father's skin and his cries of pain filled the air. That's when Chase wrapped his arms around me and started pulling me back. All while screaming for our mother.

Mother finally ran downstairs and dashed outside to try to help but we all knew it was too late. We knew neither one of them were immune to the terrible disease yet miraculously, one of us was. They refused to tell us which one claiming it wouldn't matter in the end. That we would both be safe and both have the cure because Aunt Ava would take care of us.

After a chilling moment of silence mother brought father into the house.

"Kids, go to your room." Mother's voice trembled as she spoke and she made sure she completely shielded father's body from us.

"No, I want to see daddy!" I cried out, fighting against Chase's hold again.

"I'm okay, Clara. I'll see you guys later." He spoke quietly from behind mother and I knew then that nothing would be the same for our family.

Chase pulled me upstairs and held me while I cried. I was extremely close with my father and it seemed no one even cared.

A few hours passed while Chase and I played with some toys in our room and finally father knocked on the door. "I just wanted to say goodnight guys. I love you both very much, get some sleep."

I went to open the door but Chase pulled me back.

"Daddy, I want to see you!"

"I'm sorry Clara, it isn't safe. I'm sick and if I open the door you guys can get it too."

"You said we have to be bitten! I want to see you!" I cried out again, escaping Chase's grasp and yanking the door open. I gasped and my eyes widened when I saw the pool of blood staining the bandage on father's arm. His pale skin looked nearly translucent but I didn't care. I threw my arms around his neck and started crying into his broad chest.

"I'm so sorry Clara. I'm sorry." He cried out, before pulling Chase into him as well. "I love you both so much. Please, just remember that." He kissed the top of our heads before pushing us back into the room and shutting the door behind him. That was the last time we were able to talk to or even see him.

When I woke up I was being carried by Thomas. The sky was dark once more and as I looked around I noticed everyone walking sluggishly towards a large building that loomed ahead of us. Thomas looked down and smiled lightly at me.

"Hey, you doing okay?"

I shook my head and tried to get out of his grasp. He stopped and set me down, watching with wide eyes as I made my way over to Chase.

"Clara, what's..." Chase let his sentence trail as I threw my arms around him. His arms wrapped around me and tightened when I started sobbing into his neck. "You guys go on ahead. We'll catch up." Chase nodded to Thomas over my shoulder as the others started slowly walking away from us. He gently rubbed my back before pulling back to look down at me. "What is it?"

"Father..." I shook my head and he nodded in understanding before pulling me back into him.

"I know, I miss him too. You were really close to him but you have to understand how much he loved you Clara." His hand went back to rubbing my back and I found myself instantly calming down, my muscles remembering all the times Chase comforted me when we were kids.

"I had a dream about him getting bitten. Chase, how do we go on knowing one of us has this?" My teary eyes met his and I watched his eyes widen in reaction.

"I didn't realize you knew one of us wasn't immune."

"Do you know who?" My voice waivered and I cringed when I heard how weak I sounded.

He shook his head and I sighed in relief. That's something neither of us needed to know.

"It doesn't matter who, remember? That's what mother said. She's right, Clara. It doesn't matter. We're in this together. I'm not ever going to leave you alright?"

I smiled lightly and grabbed his hand, pulling him with me to follow the others. With Chase's hand in my own I felt much stronger.

We only walked another hour before everyone else needed a break. Even after all the sleep I'd gotten, I was still exhausted as I slid down the wall to sit by Newt. He was watching me with careful eyes and once I pulled off Thomas' jacket I realized why. My entire shoulder was nearly black now. We were right, the infection was definitely spreading. My clothes were soaked with sweat once again and I knew my fever had returned. I laid my head on Newt's shoulder after placing a brief kiss on his cheek. I whispered a quiet I love you and then sleep claimed me.

A/N: The next few chapters are about to get intense and I can't wait :)