Clara's POV

We stood in a circle watching Aris interact with the girls before he turned to us and started walking towards us with a bright smile on his face. "Guys, this is Harriet and this is Sonya." He gestured to the girls and we all nodded before introducing ourselves.

Harriet smiled at the pleasantries before turning towards the canyon, holding her fingers to her lips and whistling loudly. "Guys, it's okay! We're clear!" She yelled out, voice echoing through the deep canyon.

"Aris, you're lucky we didn't' shoot your dumbass." Sonya told him with a big smile.

My eyes scanned the surrounding area as several people stood up from behind rocks that were perched on top of the tall canyon, completely unseen before. There were at least twenty people surrounding the perimeter and I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face.

"My God, you're alive." Sonya gently placed her hands on Aris' cheeks with a wide smile before she stepped closer to me. She nodded to a large man made hole in the canyon where the road led with an arch in her brow. "You ready?"

I glanced at the boys before smiling back at her and nodding enthusiastically. "Alright, let's go."

With a nod she turned, her and Aris walking together to the large hole in the rock walls up ahead. "Where do you think they're taking us?"

Chase stepped up beside me, his shoulder bumping mine. "Think it's the Right Arm?"

My eyes flickered to the girls before landing on Thomas who was walking with Teresa. "Tommy, what do you think?"

He shrugged, eyes remaining on the girls leading us. "Hard telling. We just stay together and stay cautious."

As I nodded something over Thomas' shoulder caught my eye and my feet stopped in response. I placed my hand lightly on Brenda's shoulder as the pale girl started to pass me. "Brenda, are you alright?"

Her dim eyes met mine and I had to focus on keeping my facial expressions neutral to not cause a panic. She nodded slowly before Jorge approached us. "Clara, what's wrong?" His eyes turned to Brenda and widened. "Brenda, what is it?"

My eyes immediately flickered down her body looking for the source of injury. I noticed the tear in the bottom of her pant leg and quickly bent over.

"Clara, what's going on?"

I was too busy pulling up Brenda's pant leg to acknowledge Thomas, instead focusing on the angry red bite on Brenda's leg. There were black lines trailing up her leg nearly to her knee. My eyes met hers and I arched my brow at her, earning a nod in response. I slowly stood and rested my hands on Brenda's shoulders before turning to look at Thomas. "Nothing Tommy, she's fine."

She's been bitten.

I forced a smile on my face as the girls in group B looked at us, curiosity in their features. I couldn't have them knowing about Brenda, not yet. When I turned to Jorge I realized he already knew what had happened and why we were now covering it up. He knew the dangerousness of our situation.

"Everything all right?" Harriet asked, taking a step towards us.

"Oh yeah, she's fine." I smiled at them and started walking so the group would continue on as well. The girls didn't seem to know what was happening, turning back to the front and continuing on with Aris and now Teresa at their side. Brenda walked at the back with Jorge, following Minho, Thomas, Chase, Newt, and I as we all walked close together.

"When did that happen?" Thomas asked me, leaning closer as he spoke.

I shrugged and shook my head, thinking over everything that had happened on our way through the building. I gasped when my mind replayed the incident with the window. "The window. It got her when I went to pull her up, right before it fell." I frowned, glancing over my shoulder to look at the pale girl.

"You know, I really thought Marcus had led us into an ambush. Almost gave Thomas a bomb to end it." Jorge mumbled with a light chuckle, causing Brenda to smile. I watched him closely realizing how close they really were to one another and my heart clinched at the thought of us losing her, of him losing her.

"Joe! Back it up!"

My eyes watched the truck back away from the hole to allow us entrance through. There was another truck waiting for us, a truck just as big as Marcus' that we rode in on the way over.

We continued walking to the truck, passing several people along the way, more than I would have expected. "We're taking them to base." Harriet told one of them in passing.

"Wait, how'd you guys get here?" Aris asked, jogging to step in between the girls again.

I glanced Chase to notice him and Thomas having a heated discussion. Moving closer to them I was able to hear what they were saying and I realized I should have just stayed by Newt and Minho.

"The Right Arm brought us here. They got us out." Harriet replied to Aris, catching everyone's attention. So, it was true. The Right Arm did exist. And we made it.

"Wait, wait. The Right Arm...do you know who they are?" Thomas asked Harriet, stepping closer to her.

She smiled as she pulled open the door of the truck. "Get in." She nodded to the truck and we all looked at each other with a question in our gazes. Do we trust them? Aris seemed to but then again do we trust him?

Aris quickly slid into the back seat with Teresa, Fry Pan and Sonya following. Jorge climbed in the front seat and Thomas, Minho, Newt, Brenda and myself were led to the other vehicle. "This is Joe, he's been with the Right Arm since the beginning so you guys can trust him." Harriet said as she climbed behind the wheel of the truck.

We followed Joe and piled into the truck, Thomas sliding into the front seat. "So, Joe...can you tell us anything about the Right Arm?"

Joe glanced at Thomas with a huge smile on his face as he put the truck in gear. I shifted nervously on Newt's lap, leaning back against Chase's shoulder as we were crammed into the seat.

"Well, I've been with Vince and the others for about five years now so what do you want to know?"

Joe had a very easy going attitude and a huge smile that made him seem trustworthy. I looked over at Thomas to see him staring back at Joe, analyzing him as I had been. We weren't a very trusting group.

"How did the Right Arm get started?"

All eyes turned to Joe, waiting for his answer.

"Oh man, well like all revolutions, it was started by a rebel from the other side. From Wicked."

"Vince is from Wicked?" Thomas asked, glancing back at me.

My eyes went back to Joe to gauge his response. When he smiled and nodded I only found myself accepting him further.

"Yeah, he was. He didn't want to be though. They blackmailed him and made him give up his family to go work for them. He was related to one of the big wigs there so it made it harder for him to say no." He shrugged and once again smiled at Thomas before continuing. "Anyway, once he found out about what Wicked planned on doing he tried to stop it. Like while he was there. No bueno man." Joe shook his head and threw up his hands.

When he didn't continue Thomas leaned closer to him. "Alright, well what happened to him? I mean you said he tried to stop it, what happened?"

"Haven't you seen these rebel movies before? The one rogue scientist or whatever tries to put an end to the experiment only to be either killed, ostracized, and or banished. Well, Vince was the last. He had no option but to leave after Wicked kicked him out. Dropped him into the scorch! Brutal but they didn't care!" He shrugged and shook his head before another wide smile appeared on his face.

I arched a brow at Joe's behavior, glancing at Newt as I did. He was biting his lower lip lightly to keep from laughing. Seems nearly everyone thought Joe's attitude was humorous.

"And he escaped the scorch? Where did he go after that?" Thomas continued on, glancing back at Newt as he did.

Newt nodded to him, encouraged him to keep on. We needed these answers.

"Well, after nearly dying, several times mind you, he made it to the tent that he's been in since the beginning. A tent he shares with the lovely woman doctor also from...you guessed it! Wicked!" Joe's smile seemed infectious at this point as Newt, Chase, and I were all smiling at the boy.

Thomas rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the window. "Who's the doctor?"

Joe sighed and turned his attention to his own window. "You'll meet her. Man, all these questions! Don't you ever just chill and wait for the ride to end?"

"Ha!" Minho sarcastically yelled out.

We all started laughing while Thomas, now a bright shade of crimson, shook his head and stared out the window.

"No, no! That wouldn't be our Thomas at all!" Minho added, patting Thomas on the shoulder.

Thomas glanced back at him with a grin. "Hey, at least I ask questions. I know what's expected."

"Yeah, what's expected for the next few years." Chase mumbled, grinning.

"Ha, ha! I love this ride now. You guys are all pretty cool." Joe laughed, shaking his head as his eyes focused on the truck in front of us. "So, tell me about you guys. Is Wicked after you all or what?"

Thomas met my gaze once again before looking back at Joe. "Or what." He replied, looking back out the window.

I turned to Brenda then, analyzing her as her eyes slowly closed. If not for her pale skin and shallow breathing I almost would have believed she was sleeping. My hand reached over Chase and shook her shoulder lightly, bringing her out of her slump. She arched a weak brow at me, letting out a huff of air. She shook her head, a pale smile on her white lips. "I'm okay." She breathed out, leaning back against the seat.

I felt the worry turning in me as I watched her close her eyes again. It didn't look like she had much longer if we couldn't find some way to help her...

We continued down the path for a few miles surrounded by tall weeds and desert. There were occasional rocky cliffs, peaking up here and there, that distracted from the view of the flat scorch land.

Newt wound his fingers through mine, smiling down at me softly. "Things are finally looking up." He whispered.

I nodded in response, my gaze focused on his. I found myself getting lost in his eyes just like I used to in the glade. Those days may be gone but at least we still had each other.

The truck slowed down as Harriet's came to an abrupt stop just ahead and we all piled out of the truck. Newt and Chase paused while I hovered by the door, waiting for Brenda. They spoke quietly with each other, cluing Thomas and Minho into the conversation as the two joined in. I grabbed Brenda's hand and helped her slide from the seat, letting her grab onto my shoulder for support. "How you feeling? And don't lie to me. We can talk now." I glanced around to make sure my statement remained true. Once I deemed that it was safe to talk I turned my gaze back to her as her head rested against the truck, arm still gripping onto me.

"I'm not feeling too well Clara." She breathed out.

My thumb gently traced her cheek before helping pull her off the truck. "Come on, stick it out with me just a little longer and we'll find something to help you."

She nodded against my shoulder with a light smile. "Thank you for helping me."

I pushed the hair off her damp forehead with a smile back at her. "Of course."

Once she was ready we both started after Harriet and Sonya who led the group towards a large camp set in the base of a rocky mountain. The cliffs loomed high above the smaller camp, threatening and scary looking against the gloomy sky.

"You ready?"

My eyes shifted to Chase's and I nodded as he draped Brenda's other arm over his shoulder. "Come on Brenda, let's get you to the camp." He spoke softly, in a different voice that I hadn't heard since I was young.

"Chase! Run this soup up to Clara!"

Clara flinched away from her mother's harsh yell from the other room but her stomach bubbled anxiously as she waited for Chase. He ran into the room a second later with a small smile on his face. "Here Clare Bear, have some soup and feel better." His voice was much lighter and softer than usual and Clara found it very calming as she sweated out her fever.

"Thank you big brother." She whispered with a faulty smile. She meant the smile but the fever kept her from her true smile.

He smiled back at her before plopping down on the bed beside her. "Lean up while you eat so we don't spill it on you. It's really hot." He moved the spoon towards her making cute little train noises as he progressed with the spoon. "Open wide!" He laughed as he shoved the spoon in her mouth, pulling it out only after she smiled at him and released it. "There we go! Good job Clara! Eat mom's soup and you'll feel all better!" His voice was light again and enthusiastic as his smile grew even wider.

She sighed and shook her head lightly. "Chase, I know how to eat." She mumbled quietly, her own smile growing when his faltered. "I couldn't do this without you though so please don't stop." Her cloudy, bloodshot eyes pleaded with his weakly and he quickly got her another spoonful.

"Choo choo."

I smiled as Chase gently spoke to Brenda trying to keep her spirits high as he had with me all those years ago. He truly was an angel sent here to watch over others. I couldn't imagine my life without this boy, my twin. I was so lucky to have him.

When my eyes refocused to the path in front of us I noticed Harriet and Sonya talking to the boys and Teresa. "They've planned this for over a year, this is all for us." Harriet beamed as she spoke, eyes raking across the small camp.

"You guys are lucky you found us when you did, we're moving out at first light."

Sonya's words sent chills down my spine and I couldn't help but ask, "why?"

She turned to answer me, walking backwards beside Harriet. "Because Wicked is on to us. They have an approximate location of us so we need to go before they can get an exact location and try to take all of us back."

I nodded to her, looking around the camp once more.

"Where's Vince?" Sonya asked one the guys we passed. He pointed to a larger tent in the middle of the camp and we all continued walking towards it.

"Who's Vince?" Thomas asked, although he was well aware of the Right Arm leader, stepping closer to the girls.

"He's the one that decides if you get to say." Harriet spoke confidently, her eyes scouring the area expertly.

We continued on and it didn't take long for us to notice the lack of people the Right Arm actually had. "I thought the Right Arm was supposed to be an army?" Minho asked, looking around us just as I had been.

"We were." A deep voice interrupted, drawing our attention.

My eyes widened when I saw him and memory after memory surged through my mind. My steps faltered and I found my feet stopping as I analyzed the guy talking. He stepped closer to us, towering over us. And I couldn't fight the feeling of familiarity flaring through me. I glanced at Chase and noticed the same shocked expression on his face. The man had dark brown hair that rested nearly to his shoulders and crystal blue eyes that I'd seen a million times. But where?

"This is all that's left of us. A lot of good people died getting us this far." He continued, eyes sweeping over the group. "Who are they?" He asked, turning to Harriet and Sonya.

"They're immunes." Harriet replied, glancing around at our group. "Caught them coming up the mountain."

"Did you check them?" Vince asked, keeping his distance but assuming his role as the leader.

Harriet pointed to Aris with a small smile. "I know this guy, Aris. I trust him."

"Well, I don't. Check them." Vince replied immediately, eyes searching over our group again.

Brenda's breathing hitched and suddenly became labored as she tightened her hold on my shoulder.

"Hey, boss." One of the guys said, pointing to Brenda just as she collapsed. Chase and I instantly moved to hold her up but gently let her fall the rest of the way to the ground. Both of us leaned over her as Jorge pushed through the crowd to get to her.

"Brenda! Brenda!" He called out to her, dropping to his knees next to me. Jorge pulled Brenda into his arms as she gasped for air. Her eyes met his and she shook her head lightly, mumbling I'm sorry over and over. Chase's eyes widened marginally before he came over to me and pulled me away from her. I arched a brow at him and he pulled me away even further from the girl fighting for air in Jorge's arms.

"One of us isn't immune, we need to be careful." He whispered with an arm around my shoulder, holding me to him.

My eyes went back to Jorge and Brenda and my heart clinched when I heard the pain in his voice as he spoke to her.

"What's wrong with her?" Vince asked, leaning over to place a hand on Jorge's shoulder.

"I don't, I don't know!" Jorge replied, still panicking over Brenda.

Vince's eyes scanned Brenda's body and he gasped when he noticed the tear in her pants. He leaned down and pushed her pant leg back to reveal the bite. His eyes widened and he gasped again as he jumped back. "Crank! We got a crank!" He called out, instantly drawing his gun and pointing it at Brenda.

Before I realized it my legs were carrying me over to Brenda. I dove in front of her along with Thomas as he pleaded for Vince to drop the gun. "Wait! Please, wait!"

"Get back!" Vince yelled, eyes focused on Brenda.

"Just wait! This just happened okay? She's not dangerous yet!" Thomas said, begging for Vince to understand.

"You shouldn't have brought her here!" Vince yelled out, running a hand over his face in distress.

Thomas sighed and dropped his hands to his side, glancing at me quickly. "I know, I know. I'm sorry."

"If we let cranks in here now the safe haven doesn't last a week!" Vince told him, eyes shifting back to Brenda, gun trembling in his hand. I glanced at Chase and noticed his eyes focused on the gun, thinking, planning, on how to get it.

"Listen, I told her you could help. There's gotta be something you can do." Thomas mumbled quietly, stepping towards Vince with his hands raised once more in surrender.

My heart pounded as the gun trembled in Vince's hand, still pointed at Brenda. Thomas was slowly trying to approach Vince but his eyes remained focused on the gun.

Vince glanced up at me, making direct eye contact for the first time. His eyes sparkled and widened as they peered back at mine, reflecting the same confused look he had. His breathing hitched, breath caught in his throat and he took a hesitant step towards me. His eyes focused on mine, searching, hoping.

I noticed Thomas stop walking and turn to look at me as he noticed I had gained Vince's attention. The gun slowly lowered as Vince openly analyzed me.

Chase shifted slightly to step in front of me so I wasn't in Vince's direct line of sight anymore and his hand grabbed mine, pulling me even further behind him. Vince's eyes shifted to Chase then and his mouth dropped as he still struggled to breathe. I watched him over Chase's shoulder, my hands gripped the back of Chase's jacket as I watched Vince's eyes flicker with the hope of recognition. I could see the doubt but I could also see the desperateness in his gaze as he looked at Chase then back to me.

His jaw trembled as he went to speak, eyes misty with tears. I stepped around Chase, my heart pulling me towards Vince and I reached down to grasp Chase's hand tightly, bringing him with me as we moved closer to Vince.

"No, no, no. This can't...no." Vince's voice trembled in pain as he looked at us, tears managing to spill down his cheeks as he breathlessly looked at us. No one else spoke, captivated by what was happening. "You can't be here." He mumbled with such pain in his voice that my eyes teared up.

I glanced at Chase briefly and nodded to him, encouraging him to move with me. He nodded back and squeezed my hand and I returned my gaze to Vince's. My own mouth dropped open as we stared back at Vince and his eyes flickered back to mine. I cleared my throat before attempting to speak knowing that if I didn't nothing would come out.

With one final step and one more shaky breath I asked, "Dad?"