"Did we take too many chances?
Did we let too many pass us?
Did we light too many matches?
Turn ourselves into these ashes
Did we throw it all away?
Did we throw it all away?
We walk through the fire
Is there a way out?
Of the fire
Oh, I wanna know, is there a way out?"

"Shot gun."  Newt called as the group walked towards Bertha.

"Uh, no.  I always get shotgun."  Clara gave Newt a look, not believing what he just said.

"I said it first."  Newt stopped walking, making Clara stop next to him.

"I don't care.  I get shotgun."  She stated and Newt gave her a look before he quickly made his way to the car.

"Hey!  Newt!"  Clara chased after him as Newt swung the door open as he tried to get in but Clara pulled him back, pushing herself in the seat.

"What in the world."  Fry mumbled as he shook his head, smiling slightly.

"Clara, ow!"  Newt groaned as the two were basically squished on one another.  Clara sat slightly on Newt as the left side of her rib she was pressed in the middle console.

"Get out."  Clara groaned.

"No!"  Newt closed the door, being pushed against it while he rolled down the window to lean out slightly.

"I'm not moving either."  Clara said.

"Fine."  Newt bickered.

"Perfect!"  Clara bickered back.

"Fantastic!"  Newt grumbled.

"Children.  Please!"  Brenda groaned from the back.

~~~

"Where even is this place?" Minho asked.

"We're almost there, be quiet. Just keep going straight." Clara directed Jorge as she shifted a bit.

"I hope so, you made my leg go to sleep." Newt said as he tried to move, but was unsuccessful.

Clara didn't say anything as Jorge slowly came to a stop on the road as cars were blocking the rest of the way.

"Now what?"

"We walk." Clara leaned over and opened the door before climbing off of Newt and walked down the road.

Clara squinted her eyes slightly as she looked up at the mountains, she knew they were here. Mountain Duty. She walked a bit further while the others looked in the cars as they walked by.

Thomas grazed his hand over a bullet hole on a car before a bullet flew his way.

"Oops." Clara mumbled. She should've known they would've fired at them, but she was exhausted and just happy to be back, it didn't occur to her.

"Get down!" Jorge shouted as everyone scrambled to get behind a car for cover while Clara just stood there.

"Clara, get down!" Thomas yelled to her and she rolled her eyes. She then snapped her head however when a bullet hit the mountain behind her, only inches from her.

"JERRY!" Clara shouted as she pointed in a certain direction.

"I know that was you! You always had terrible aim. If you're going to shoot at me, make sure you aim for my head!" She yelled.

"Clara?"  Jerry's voice echoed before it was silent again.

"Drop it."  A familiar voice to Clara sounded a bit away from her. Slowly the others stood up as two girls pointed their guns at the group, minus Clara since she was a bit away.

"Aris?" One asked and pulled down her bandana.

"Oh, my god, Harriet." Aris smiled and quickly hugged her.

"You two know each other?"

"Yeah. We were in the maze together." He said and Clara walked over.

"Jerry missed." She smiled and Sonya wrapped her arms around her.

"We had no idea where you were! What happened?" She asked. "Aaron tried to radio you for hours."

"Yeah. Well, he gave me a broken radio." Clara let out a small laugh and Sonya rolled her eyes.

"Of course he did.  Well, he's not back yet.  He's still out there looking for you.  I'm just glad you're alive."  Sonya explained.

"We both are."  Harriet smiled gently.  "We're clear!"  She then shouted, whistling after.  Slowly figured in the mountains slowly made an appearance.

"Hop in."  Harriet brought them over to a car.  Newt and Clara glanced at each other before the two ran for the passenger seat.

Once they got to camp, Clara smiled as she looked at the place that brought comfort to her.

"Clara!  You're back."  Vince said as he walked up to her and the group.  His eyes then scanned the newbies.

"Who are they?"  He asked.

"Some people from my maze and others."  Clara told him.

"Are they immune?"  He asked and Clara didn't say anything.  She didn't know.

"I trust Aris.  So..."  Harriet spoke up.

"We can't just-"

"Hey boss."  Jerry spoke up from a feet behind as he watched Brenda acting funny then all of a sudden she fell on the ground.

"Brenda!"  Jorge quickly went to her side.

"Crank!  They have a crank!"  Vince shouted and grabbed his gun, pointing it at her.

"Wait!  No!  Stop!"  Thomas shouted, quickly going between Brenda and the gun.

"You have to help her."  Thomas looked from Vince to Clara.  Clara who looked away.  She already has been down this road before.  Everyone from The Right Arm has.

"I can.  By putting her out of her misery." 

"Vincent!"  Mary walked over and she stopped walking.  "Thomas."  She breathed out and he looked at her confused.

"We can't help her Mary."  Vince said.

"No.  But he can."  Mary smiled a bit, gesturing to Thomas.  "Bring her with me."  She told Jorge and gestured for Thomas to follow.

Clara followed Vince in a different direction while the rest seemed to be confused, not knowing where to go. Minho and Newt watched Clara's retreating form before looking at the camp around them. Harriet made a gesture to the others, showing them around.

"I'm glad you're ok." Vince told Clara as they walked. Clara only nodding.

"Sonya told me Ron is out."  Clara mumbled slightly.

Vince looked down at her, smiling slightly.  "Ignored me and has been out in that jeep of his ever since you weren't at the pickup zone.  We were all worried but, Aaron was more worried".  Vince paused for a moment, looking at the ground then back to Clara.

"After Carter and...he sees you as a younger sister."  Vince's voice cracked slightly at the mention of Carter, digging his hands in his back pockets.

Clara didn't say anything.  She didn't want to.  She just nodded and walked away, knowing Vince had more important things to do.  She saw Fry, Minho, and Newt sitting up top and walked up to the three.

"Hey".  She said, looking at the three with no emotion.

"Hey".  The three said back, looking at her as she took a seat besides Newt on the rock.

"So, this is it."  Minho looked over at her, from his spot next to Newt and Fry.  Clara nodded.

"Yup.  This is it.  Not much but it's nice." 

It was still awkward between them, clearly.  But, Clara was willing to take baby steps with them.  She shoved her left hand in her coat pocket and pulled out her deck of cards., smiling slightly.

"Anyone want to play Speed?"

The three boys smiled as they looked at the cards in her hand.

"CLARA!"  A males voice shouted.  The four looking down to where the voice came from.  Clara immediately shoved the cards back into her pocket as she stood up.

"AARON!"  Clara shouted back.

"You're here!" 

"You gave me a dead radio you idiot!"  Clara shouted once again before running down the hill and over to him.

Aaron picked up his pace before wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I'm so glad you're here, I thought the worst." He sighed with relief.

"You thought I died? Ron, I'm disappointed you thought so little of me." She joked.

"Harriet and Sonya are with a kid from their maze.  Harriet said there are others?"  Aaron asked once he pulled away.

"Mhm.  Take a guess of who they are."  Clara looked at him.

"No."  Aaron gasped, looking at her with wide eyes, pointing at her slightly.  "You were in the maze with the others?"  He asked.

"Just those three."  She gestured to Fry, Minho, and Newt on the hill.

"Got it."  Aaron nodded and started to head in that direction.

"Ron.  Don't."  Clara sighed as she followed after him slightly.  "I'm taking baby steps with them."

"That's nice.  Because I'm not.  I'm just going to talk with them, that's all."  Aaron reassured her as he left her side.  Clara not bothering to follow or say anything next.

"Hey!"  Aaron called to the three as he made his way in front of them.

"Uh.  Hi?"  Newt asked.

"I'm Aaron, but my friends call me Ron."  He introduced himself.

"Hey Ron."  Minho greeted.

"I'm not your friend."  Aaron told him seriously.

"Let's get one thing straight. I despise you three. You put Clara through shit and Clara has gone through more shit. If I could, I would shoot all three of you right now. Clara may be forgiving you three slowly but that will never happen with me". Aaron told them seriously, giving them a hard look.

"Got it." Newt mumbled.

"Yeah." Minho said slowly.

"Uh-huh." Fry looked at Aaron.

They watched Aaron leave, the three looking at one another. Fry furrowed his eyebrows slightly. "Is it just me or did he threaten us like Gally would?" He asked.

~~~

"Are you serious?  That's hilarious."  Aaron chuckled as him and Clara walked through camp. 

"Would've been more fun if you were there."  She smiled then suddenly stopped walking.

"You hear that?"  She asked as a light was suddenly being shined down through the camp before a bomb flew down, exploding down at the camp.

"Go!  Go!  Go!"  Aaron shouted and pushed Clara to start running.  Another bomb went off as everyone started to run around to take shelter.

"Get Sonya and Harriet!" Clara shouted at him as she began to load a rifle.

"They're after you too!" Aaron yelled back as he took a shot at a WCKD guard.

"Oh, really? I had no idea."

"You know, I'm getting real tired of your sarcasm." Aaron raised an eyebrow as he took cover.

"You know you love it." Clara smiled as Aaron let out a snort before running off.

The battle, if it should even be called that didn't last long as WCKD quickly took over, forcing people on their knees, scanning the back of the kids necks.  Aaron groaned as a guard grabbed him, but the guard was met with Aaron's fist in the chest.  Another one tazed him, making him fall on the ground.  "Bitch." He gritted his teeth.

"Is this all of them?"  Ava Paige asked.

"Most of them."  Janson told her.

Clara went to shoot a guard when he grabbed her wrist, twisting it, making her cry out in pain as she dropped the rifle.  With her other hand she went to grab her pistol from the side but he shoved her to the ground before removing it and tossing it in the distance.

That's when she reached for her knife and started to attack him but he was quick, missing her swings. He easily grabbed it and through it in a random direction. Clara swung down slightly, taking another knife out that was strapped to her leg before attacking him again. "How many weapons do you have?!"  The man growled, clearly annoyed.

Once that weapon was out of her reach, he grabbed the back of her jacket and pulled her over to the others.  "Wait."  Janson's voice sounded and the guard let go of her and she slowly stood back up.

"Clara.  We were wondering where you've been".  Janson walked over to her as she clenched her jaw.

"Rat." She hissed.

"Carter around?" He questioned and she clenched her jaw as he had a stupid grin on his face. "No? Dead, isn't he?" He let out a short laugh...when meaning a short laugh, literally, because Clara's fist hit him straight in the nose.

He cried out in pain and clutched his noise as he looked at Clara wickedly. The guard grabbed her once again as she just smiled in satisfaction. Janson slowly let go of his nose, blood running down it slightly as he looked at the guard.

"Put her over there."

The guard dragged her over next to Fry while they already started to push others into the crafts. Clara looked up and saw Thomas standing a bit ahead as Teresa walked over to Ava Paige.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Clara groaned, glaring at the girl that she took across the scorch.

"The hell?" Minho mumbled as he slowly stood up with the others.

"Teresa."

"Wait. What's going on?" Newt asked as Clara slapped a guards hand away from her and stood over to stand between Minho and Newt.

"Isn't it obvious? She called them up...she betrayed us." Clara said, disgust clear in her voice as she pointed at the girl.

"Once we restored her memories it was only a matter of time." Janson told the teenagers.

"I'm sorry. I had no choice. This was the only way. We have to find a cure."

"Save it." Aaron said from besides Sonya.

"She's right. This is all just a mean to the end, you used to understand that Thomas. No matter what you think of me, I am not a monster, I am a doctor. I sorry an oath to find a cure." Ava looked to them all. "No matter the cost...I just need more time".

"More blood". Mary made herself visible as she walked over.

"Hello Mary. I'd hope we would meet again. Sorry it's over these circumstances".

"I'm sorry about a lot of things but at least my conscience is clear". Mary titled her head slightly.

Ava looked at her with a bored look before replying; "so is mine" and a gunshot rang.

"Mary. Mary!" Vince looked down beside her as blood soaked in her torso.

"No!" Aaron shouted as he watched the scene unfold and Clara looked over with an open mouth. "Oh, my god".

"Come on Janson". Ava turned to him as Vince continued to scream. "Load them up. Let's go".

One went to grab Thomas but he quickly through his arm back, hitting him in the face as he grabbed a bomb from his jacket and held it out.

"Get back!  Get back!"

Aaron grabbed Clara's arm and pulled her back from Thomas.  Clara, who wasn't expecting it stumbled into his chest as she stared at Thomas with wide eyes.

"Hold your fire!"

"Let them go."  Thomas looked at Janson.

"Thomas you know-"

"LET THEM ALL GO!"

"Thomas please stop.  I made a deal with them.  I promised, they promised we'll be safe, all of us."  Teresa stepped closer to him as Thomas shook his head slightly.

"I'm supposed to trust you now?"

"Thomas...do you really want all of them to die?"  Ava asked while Fry, Minho, and Newt stepped behind Thomas. 

"We're ready Thomas."  Newt told him.

Aaron looked at the group with wide eyes while Clara was calm.  She was ok with this, she was ok with dying.

"No..."  Teresa breathed out.

"Do it Thomas...we're ready."  Minho confirmed and Thomas finger was hovering over the button.

Aaron watched the scene unfold as his grip tightened around Clara before he turned her around from the scene, hoping that when it would go off he would be shielding Clara from the impact.

However, it never came as a sound of a car blaring its horn broke the tensed air as a car came through, Jorge inside as he yelled, hitting a helicopter that fell to its side.

"Everyone move!"

"Let's go!" Aaron said, leaving Clara's side as he jumped on a nearby guard, throwing a few punches while grabbing his gun.

Clara dodged a few guards before sliding against the dirt, grabbing her knife and stabbing a guard in the neck. Bullets sounded as the sides fought one another. She kept backing up, shooting ahead of her.

"Clara!" Minho shouted, pushing her out of the way, the force making her stumble as she turned back just in time to see Minho get tazed.

"Minho!" Clara yelled back and went to go after him as two guards pulled him to a craft but Aaron grabbed Clara from going any further.

"Aaron let go!  MINHO!"  Clara shouted as she felt tears start to gather in her eyes.

"They can't get you too."  Aaron whispered in her ear as he watched the craft door close then flying up in the air and away from them.  The two breathed out before Aaron let go.

"He saved me."  Clara muttered as she turned her head to look at Aaron.

"That hit was for me and he took it...why would he do that?"

Aaron looked from where the craft once was then to Clara. No words were spoken between the two as they could hear the sound of fire crackling, people talking, but mostly the cries and screams of others.

Aaron's jaw clenched as he tore his eyes away from Clara than to all the chaos that was happening around him.  His home was gone.  WCKD just took something else away from him.  Not only what Vince, him and the others built.  But the people that were here as well. He slowly wrapped his fingers around the necklace that was on his neck, breathing out as he spoke at last;

"This is war."

**End of Part 3**