It was so overwhelming. Not just the fact that they were running out of time. But everything. The fact that they were so young, and this much pressure had been put on them at such a young age. At this point, Aife was beginning to wonder if she should be questioning her sanity. No teen should have had to see what she has. It was horrifying. If someone were to ask, she wouldn't even deny the fact that she were terrified at this moment. Not only for herself, but for her best friend who was currently dying in her arms. It almost physically pained her, to see him so weak, and yet so strong. It wasn't him, necessarily that was strong. It was who he was becoming. Rather, what he was becoming.

Occasionally, Aife would feel angry. If they had taken a different path, would this still be happening? This shouldn't be his fate. It shouldn't be anyones fate. But it was. This was their reality, and there was absolutely nothing they could do to alter it.

Aife tried to avoid the deep, penetrating pain within her bones. She was hobbling, finding it hard to walk steadily as she had to support another body that wasn't hers. She gritted her teeth, using all her strength to not collapse onto her knees right where she was and pull her legs into her chest. She desperately was in seek of comfort, something she felt as though she never had.

Maybe she did, at one point, but she just didn't remember.

In her mind, she was isolated. Trapped within her own skin. It was like she was calling for help, screaming even, but nothing was coming out. She was being held captive. For ever and ever, until her abductor deemed it acceptable to let her go, and allow her to walk freely amongst those that had made it this far.

It was like an itch she couldn't scratch.

She felt so alone at times like these, and she allowed herself to feel like such. Because in actuality, someone always had it worse. No matter how much hell she was going through.

Aife grew even more stressed and disturbed as she heard Newt suck in a sharp breath, feeling him become weak in the knees once again. She was suddenly reminded of how much he was struggling. Not her. She parted her chapped lips, blowing air through them as she mumbled.

"We're almost there, Newt. Just hang on, please." She choked out the end, her voice cracking as her lips trembled, tears blurring her vision. She was losing it. She tried so hard to keep it together, but she just couldn't. They had yet to hear back from Minho and Gally. Who knows where they could be.

"We got it. We got it. . ." She heard Thomas mutter on the other side of Newt. Aife screwed her blue eyes shut, maybe in an attempt to seek consolation? Who knows at this point. She didn't bother saying anything else. Newt groaned lowly, sounding pained as it came from the back of his throat. He was barely able to form any words, and his eyes were nearly black. Aife couldn't imagine the pain he must've been in. It was probably excruciating.

The truth is, it was. He could barely hear their comforting words over the pounding in his ears. He could feel a nauseating pressure behind his eyes, almost making him want to shut them for good.

"Stay with me, hang on!" Thomas rushed. Aife's eyes went wide as Newt suddenly slumped toward the ground, taking her and Thomas down with her.

She grunted as her palms scraped against the pavement.

Newt was sprawled out on the floor, his mouth agape as he began to hiccup. Aife let out a strangled gasp as she and Thomas stared at each other, neither of them saying a word as they both moved to pick up their fallen friend. Newt's legs had grown completely limp at this point, as the two teens grunted and moaned. Thomas lost his footing, resulting in Aife doing the same, the both of them falling to the ground. Newt's head lulled to the side.

"Thomas. . . Can you hear me?" A voice that wasn't Aife's echoed throughout the city. Aife froze as she could recognize the female on the speaker. She drew her eyebrows together, tears still threatening to fall as she looked at the boy. She could feel her heart tighten, she loathed the owner of the voice. And she hated the fact that even while their friend was in desperate need of help, she still figured out a way to slither into their heads.  They didn't need this. Not right now, not ever.

"I need you to listen to me." Her voice was soft, gentle. Aife looked at Thomas, seeing the boy was now focused on Teresa. Where was she right now? Did she know that newt was in pain? Thomas had slowly raised from his crouching position.

"I know you have no reason to trust me. . .  But I need you to come back." She sounded as if it pained her to utter such words. Aife shook her head, her expression growing bitter as she stared at Thomas. Was he considering? What did Teresa need him for? They were so close.

"Thomas, you can save Newt." She finalized. At her words, Aife cocked her head. Thomas glanced back at Newt, who laid on the floor, then at Aife, who refused to leave his side.

"Thomas, please. We need to keep moving." Aife spoke over Teresa's deflecting voice. He could hear the pleading in her tone, and he took a step closer to her.

"There's a reason Brenda isn't sick anymore. It's your blood." Teresa announced. Thomas lifted his gaze from Aife's, his eyes falling on the sky as he listened to the person who betrayed him and his friends.

Aife huffed, hearing Newt groan as she placed a hesitant hand on his cheek. Her thumb brushed against his skin. She hoped he could recognize her. She wanted him to know that she was there.

"She isn't sick, because. . . Because you've cured her."

She hesitantly leaned forward, her lips brushing against Newt's forehead as she placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. Her showing affection caused him to flinch, his eyes clamped shut as his chest rose and fell.

"It's gonna be okay, Newt. I swear it. I'm gonna fix all of this, and you're gonna be cured. Just hang on," She whispered to the boy. After lingering for a moment, she pulled away, staring up at Thomas with pleading eyes as her tone grew stern. Her lips fell into a scowl as she pushed herself up onto her knees, preparing to get up and guid Newt closer to their destination once again.

"Thomas, please. We need to go, now!" She hooked her arms underneath newts.

"Please, just come back. I can-" Teresa's voice was abruptly cut off as the streetlights around them dimmed. Aife couldn't help but feel relief at the fact that she wouldn't be a distraction any longer.

She struggled to pull him up on her own, but she froze when she felt Newt's weight leave hers. The sick boy was pulling himself up. Aife stumbled back slightly, her eyes narrowing as Thomas reached out his arm, pulling her slightly behind him. His stance was lean, his shoulders sagging as he leaned most of his weight on his left leg.

". . .Newt?" Thomas croaked.

Newt slowly rotated his body to face Aife and Thomas. His breathing was ragged, black oozed down his chin, dripping across his neck, and his eyes were darkened. He didn't look like himself. He wasn't himself.

Aife swallowed, her lips parting and closing as she stared at the unrecognizable boy in front of her, "Newt."

As if on cue, the boy lunged in their direction, his arm flying out to claw at them as Thomas grabbed his shoulders, throwing him on the floor with a grunt. Newt rolled across the concrete, and Aife was quick to look down at him, watching incase he tried to make his next move. Newt was quick to stand up, facing Aife as she slightly stumbled back. With his newfound strength, she wasn't sure if she could fight him off without injuring him.

"It's me. .  It's me!" She yelled as he sped towards her at full speed. He tackled her with force, her body flying back on impact and her head cracking against the concrete. She cried out as he pinned her underneath him, she scrunched her face as she rolled over. The two of them went round and around before she felt the weight of him get pulled off of her by Thomas. Newt fell on all fours. He remained crouched down as spit fell from his lips.

"Kill me!" He heaved. Aife struggled to stand, her hand going to the back of her head and rubbing where she had collided with the ground. She pulled her hand away, seeing the glistening crimson drip down her fingertips.

She said nothing, brushing it off as she contemplated pushing herself off of the ground.

Thomas hesitantly stepped closer, his eyes wide as his voice cracked.

"Newt?" He croaked, though before he could say more, newt charged at him, taking him down. Thomas was pinned, and Newt held his forearm against his throat as he attempted to bite him.

Newt's heavy breathing slowed as Thomas grabbed a fistful of the uniform that he wore. He looked at the boy beneath him, who stared at him as though he hadn't known who he was. Because he didn't. This wasn't him. Newt glanced at Aife, who stared at her blood covered fingers, slowly blinking. She was growing dizzy.

"Oh, i'm sorry. Im sorry, Tommy. Aife, Im-" Newt heaved, shaking his head.

"It's alright, Newt." Aife was quick to accept his apology. Moving to crawl over to the two. She saw Newt's face chance from his guilt stricken one, and back to his face of hatred, and he reached over to the gun that was strapped to his thigh before cocking it into place, putting the barrel to his head.

"No!" Thomas shouted. Aife reached forward, snatching the gun and throwing it across the concrete.

Newt watched as it skidded away, before turning to growl at the two. Aife pushed herself forward, tackling Newt off of Thomas. The dark haired boy scrambled to stand, making sure to watch Newt's every move. Newt kept his head ducked down, discretely reaching into his pocket and pulling out a knife.

Aife's eyes went wide as he turned around and swung it at Thomas, the said boy jerking away from the blade just in time. Aife was growing irritated, though, she didn't mean to. She was exhausted.

The pulsing sensation spread through her skull, and she held back a wince. She watched as Newt got on top of Thomas once again, bringing the knife over his head before bringing it down, only for Thomas' hands to grab his, stopping the blade from piercing his chest.

With both boys grunting, Aife turned to see the knife tearing into Thomas' flesh. She gritted her teeth before she pushed herself up, a cry of pain falling from her lips as she lifted her foot to kick Newt off of him. When Newt attempted to push himself up, she was quick to ball her fist, bringing it down on his cheek.

The British boy was swift, shoving Aife  before turning to Thomas, and swinging the blade that had managed to remain In his grasp. Thomas continued to jump away from the knife, and Aife had run up behind Newt on his last swing.

It was weird, the concept of time. There were eighty- six thousand and four hundred seconds in a day. Each second that passes by, will never be brought back. Everything you say, every move you make, every decision, will never be brought back. It's irreversible. Theres also the concept of running out of time. Not being able to use up every second that passes by up to the fullest potential, leaving you feeling hopeless, as you think of how life could've gone. Aife had run out of time. She simply didn't move fast enough.

Aife gripped onto Newt's hand.

Newt grabbed Thomas' shoulder, the two of them colliding as the knife fell in between them. Aife froze as her stomach pressed up against Newt's back, feeling his hand twitch in her grasp. She inhaled a breath as everything seemed to come to a halt. Thomas' face hung over his shoulder, and he met eyes with Aife, who's tears had finally fallen.

"Thomas?" Her voice faltered.

Thomas and Newt slowly pulled away, and Aife was terrified to glance over the British boys' shoulder. But she did it anyways. Seeing the knife imbedded in Newt's chest made her heart drop. She hesitantly released her hand from his, the boy looking down at the weapon that scarred his innocent flesh. He released a short breath, the corners of his lips slightly curving upward as he allowed himself to fall backward. Thomas was quick to dive after him.

Aife stood unmoving, watching as Newt stared at the sky, black blood pooling in his mouth as Thomas hovered over him.

The corner of her lips tugged downward, and the inner corner of her eyebrows rose. She let out an audible cry as she placed a hand over her stomach, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks as she sunk to her knees. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. She didn't bother holding back, everything she'd been feeling for the past five years was finally coming out, all in one. She couldn't bear it. She released an ugly sob as she inched closer to Newt's body, seeing the boy barely twitch. She felt as though she had been left numb, even though she was feeling everything at once.

She didn't acknowledge Brenda's presence, or Axels. Or anyone else. But Thomas, on the other hand, did. He gazed up at Brenda, tears gliding down his cheeks as he wet his chapped lips with his tongue.

Aife tossed her head back, allowing a shout to arrupt from her throat as the crushing sensation nearly destroyed her. She felt arms wrap around her shoulders, pulling her off of Newt and into their chest. She knew it was Thomas,

Aife could almost feel nauseous, her eyes screwed shut as she continued to cry in Thomas' arms, who murmured hushed nothings against her head. She ignored the throbbing pain. But it hurt so bad. Everything hurt.

She just needed it to stop.