•°•

Still sitting on the ground gasping for air she tried to go and punch the living shit out of him but Thomas already beat her to it, he punched Gally straight into the face tackling him on the ground, Newt rushed to the scene stopping his fist from hitting the boy who didn't dare to move.

"whoa, whoa, whoa! stop it. stop." Thomas did as told his lips trembling in rage, "he killed Chuck." said Thomas trembling all over his body, "yeah, I know. I remember. I was there too, all right? but I also remember that he was stung and half out of his mind. Just calm down, Tommy. Alright?" he said, gesturing Frypan to pull him away.

Gally got up and looked over to Asterin who was trying to hold her tears but got the anger in her eyes was higher than anyone, "you can punch me too you know, let it out." he said looking at Asterin who was staring deep into his soul, "Oh trust me, I would love to cause if I did, you die again" she said her voice slightly raised by the second, "YOU WERE ALIVE, WHAT ARE YOU?! A FUCKING CAT WHO HAS NINE LIVES, THE DEVIL IS A LIE BITCH, I DON'T FUCK WITH DEMON SHIT!" she yelled startling everyone at the sudden burst.

her voice calmed, "It's impossible. we watched you die." she said, "no. you left me to die."

she laughed dryly rubbing her head in exhaustion, "I must be seen shit right now. we watched you die, you were stabbed with a fucking spear inches away from the heart plus you were stung- while- while Chuck- he was shot in the stomach-" she was cut off, feeling her throat close at the memory of the blood gushing out of the poor boy's stomach.

Tears blurred her vision but she didn't let them spill instead she blinked them away, sighing heavily she could feel Frypan holding her hand softly, "who said Chuck's dead?" Said Gally in confusion watching as Thomas and Asterin glared at him, "what?" they spoke in unison.

"Hey, guys."

A voice suddenly sounded behind the gladers that everyone terribly missed, there stood Chuck smiling brightly at the gladers with eyes sparkling lovingly, their mood lifted and Asterin stood frozen, ‘there is no way this is real right?’ she thought, hoping that she wasn’t going mad, the girl found herself running towards Chuck and immediately wrapped her arms around the boy who was by now at her shoulder, Chuck wrapped his arms back around her waist with tears rushing down his cheeks.

happiness filled her heart as she could feel the happy tears race down her cheeks as she repeatedly kissed the boy’s forehead holding him in her arms, Chuck was also crying in her arms, he was by now 14 or so and still had the usual curly hair she loved to ruffle, those chubby cheeks who turned pink whenever he gets mad at those perverts staring at her, the cheeks she loved to pinch.

has she ever been happier in her life?

Nope.

Asterin broke away from the hug with a beautiful grin placed on her lips, her smile flickered across her face like a hologram, “you grew, how are you kid?” she asked the boy happily, she was like his mother asking her son how he’s doing after being absent for a while.

“I’m doing amazing, I missed you so much, Asterin!” he pulled her once again into a hug making her chuckle softly.

She ruffled his hair just like old times, making him smile up at her. “I missed you more, kid.”

With that he went over to the rest and started hugging them one by one except Jorge and Brenda who he never met, they all looked like a very happy family and she couldn’t help but watch as Thomas pulled him into a tight hug with a smile, then Newt and then Fry.

“Where’s Minho, Winston, and Teresa?” he asked Asterin tilting his head slightly in confusion, Chuck was excited to see them, especially Minho but they were nowhere to be found. Everyone around left to finish their duties leaving only Gally with them. Noticing everyone’s silence the second in command decided to speak “Winston uh… sadly passed away.” said Newt with eyes full of sorrow, Chuck's light-up eyes vanished as he could feel his heart sink into his stomach.

“and Minho. WICKED has him here. We’re looking for a way in. follow me” replied Asterin looking over to Gally who stood silent for a second, "I can help with that." that caught her attention, "really?" she asked, watching as he nodded at her.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." said Thomas glaring at the boy, Gally shrugged understanding why Thomas still doesn't trust him yet, "suit yourself." Asterin turned to look over at Thomas with slightly crossed arms and a raised eyebrow.

"you're shitting me, right?" she asked the boy in annoyance, she was having enough with his bullshit, "I'm not going with him to god knows where-" he said whispering harshly but stopped once he noticed her warning finger in front of him, "Thomas, can you for once in your damn life stop being such a dumbass, we're supposed to be in this together and right down you're saying that you don't want to go with him- listen, I also don't believe in the demon shit but now we found a way to save Minho," she said following Gally close behind as he walked away.

•°•

"After the maze, I got picked up by a group headed to the city. They realized I was immune, patched me up, and they brought me here to Lawrence." spoke Gally about his 'waking up from the dead' story, Asterin didn't believe him of course, his story. 

But instead thought he was possessed by a demon.

"This group's been at war with WICKED ever since they took control of the city. but WICKED can't hide behind those walls forever. Day's gonna come, and they're gonna pay for what they've done." he continued peering over to Asterin who was slightly surprised by his words, 'period, damn Gally you changed.' she thought.

Gally suddenly stopped staring at the group of four in front of him, especially Asterin and Thomas, the ones who talk a lot and only speak facts which can get them in trouble sometimes just like that day when they were both put in the slammer.

"Listen, uh, he doesn't get a lot of visitors. So, let me do the talking. All right? And try not to stare." the first thing was impossible especially when one of them had to take the talk (Asterin). The group stood silent and Asterin stood crossing her arms, "welp. someone has to say some shit, and y'all are gonna regret coming with me." she said following Gally.

Walking down the stairs with serious narrowed eyes, Asterin stopped and stood beside Gally listening to their conversation quietly trying to understand what was going on, "they can only poke the hornet's nest so long before they get stung." he said, bringing the beautiful red rose to his nose.

"Now, who are these people? Why are they here?" Asterin scrunched her nose in disgust with slight annoyance, 'bitch, why the attitude?' she thought, stepping in, "we need to get into WICKED. Gally said you can get us through the wall." she spoke matching the attitude he gave them seconds ago.

He turned to face her, watching as she didn't look affected nor afraid of his face, Gally looked at her slightly rolling his eyes, he knew that she was going to talk in one way or another.

"Gally should know better than to make promises that he can't keep." he said tapping his cane against the ground and turning to look over at Gally, "besides, that wall is only half your problem. Getting inside WICKED is impossible." Gally shifted uncomfortably trying so hard not to meet the man's eyes, "there might be a way now. But it doesn't work with Asterin and Thomas."

both the teenagers looked over at Gally not believing his words, "is that so? Asterin Freud, WICKED's special weapon who became a nightmare to them and a legend to us...Do you know what I am? Asterin and Thomas?" he asked, coming out of his shadows and revealing himself completely.

He has the Flare and Asterin is a smartass, she immediately without a second thought noticed that It is likely that his appearance is like a tribute to the "Rose took my nose, I suppose" line that he kept repeating as they walked down the stairs.

Thomas and Asterin stood one beside the other with not even a single look of fear in their eyes but instead stood there with their chins up fearlessly staring back at the man who walked closer to them.

He leaned closer to the two and placed his head between their ears whispering, "I am a businessman..." he backed away watching as they stared back at him straight in the eyes. "which means that I don't take unnecessary risks. Why should I trust you?" he asked the runners, "Cause we can help you." replied Thomas with his voice low.

"You see, if you can get me through those walls, I can get you what you need." she said, feeling his eyes searching for something as if he was trying to look for her soul, "and what is it you think I need?" he asked once again watching as she eyed the blue liquid slowly finishing, "time." they both stated in unison.

"every damn last drop. WICKED has something we both want, that's the plan. "She stated firmly with an innocent grin that he knew wasn't showing any kindness but instead, payback, impressed by her words he nodded slightly, "I'll tell you what. Three can go for now, the rest stay down here with me. Just a little insurance to make sure you find your way back, we have a deal?" 

Asterin turned to look at Thomas who was very interested in what he said, she eyed the rest of the group watching as Newt nodded reassuringly back at her, "Deal." They shook hands, and he grinned at her. "Gally show them the way." 

•°•

Sooo... what do you think of Chuck coming back? I just loved the friendship between Chuck and Asterin and he had to come back