FIVE YEARS LATER.

There isn't a day where Evelyn doesn't think about the Glade, whether it's the long expanses of greenery, the boys, or even the maze that haunted her for so long. Not to say that she isn't grateful of the life that Vince and the Right Arm worked so hard to curate, but a small part of her almost wishes she could've stayed in those four walls just a little longer. Forever's a stretch, especially now that she adores the sea so much. But just a few more months, maybe years, would've suited her perfectly.

Alby was the first face she ever saw when she was shoved into the first trial, and Evelyn was the last face he ever laid his deep brown eyes on before the trial killed him in a place he made and called home. Ben adored running through the maze, despite his expressive discomfort, and Evelyn likes to believe (although it may be delusional) that he died doing what he enjoyed. Chuck, god, Chuck — Evelyn sees him in the all the small quiet boys she now trains in the Haven. She saw him as a younger brother, and knowing she failed him is a another trauma both her and Thomas share. It's thanks to all the angels they lost along the journey that Eve now dabbles in sketching whenever she has a quiet moment to keep her memories fresh. Beneath her and Thomas' bed sits a box filled with perfect portraits of all 54 boys from the Glade, including the living few they still see daily.

Unfortunately, the happy memories are typically paired with the haunting ones. Janson continues to resurface in her dreams, well nightmares, almost every single night. He smirks down at her, holding her knife in his fist whilst she's strapped down to a chair, her eyes unable to shift away from his body. She's yet to see an uglier sight than that rat of a man, which is saying something since she's violently killed men in cold blood. Each night she wakes up, her jaw grinding and her joints taunt, a slight hitch in her breathing. Over the years she's gotten better at dealing with them, and along with Thomas' help she no longer feels the need to go pelt knives at trees, although she feels as though everyone must do that once in a while, as a form of anger management.

To a lot of people's surprise, mostly Minho's, Evelyn's primary job in the Safe Haven is working with the children and teenagers, teaching them simple self defence, usually with some form of blade. Sure, she still has moments of anger and frustration, but never around the kids. It's almost as though she feels calmer around them as she knows more than most what it's like to be surrounded by aggressive adults.

Thomas, as expected, at the ripe age of 22 stands as a leader beside Vince and a couple others, now having formed a sort of leadership board who cast votes and host community discussions surrounding the well-being of the Haven. Ever since he stepped foot out of the box in the Glade, everyone knew he was a true born leader, as and Newt put it, they'd follow him anywhere. With surviving such a large ordeal, nothing is easy anymore, especially with the PTSD and severe survivors guilt, but every single adult in the Haven has the same outlook. But no one can quite connect with Thomas like Evelyn is able to. They'd suffered too much together and with every argument, or breakdown they became stronger with one another.

Occasionally, groups would head out on patrol, whether if it was for mapping, or supplies or to take out a few wandering WCKD veterans or cranks. Everyone above the age of 16 mucked in with this section, as it offered experience and realistic issues for the youngsters and allowed the adults to access the freedom they once had. But a lot of newbies begged to be put on patrol with Evelyn, having heard stories of what she performed inside the City and outside it, too. It slightly disgusted her that she was seen as a legend at 22, and sometimes she grew frustrated about not being able to go out and continue to be in her prime, but it warms her heart slightly to know that she's looked up to as a role model.

Like always, her boys knew how to keep her head clear, and introduced wrestling rings — an old Glade tradition. One she was banned from due to injuring Gally and Clint a few too many times. But now, she's able to take part in as many as she likes, though she only ever accepts to fight with Gally, Fry, Thomas, but especially Minho, who she takes every chance to shove around.

The crowd growing around the roped circle cheer and part to create a path as Evelyn weaves through them, stepping into the ring with a smirk and her hair messily pushed back into a ponytail. Her eyes scan the audience, landing on her friends and she pauses her movement after spotting a special someone.

Immediately he starts to shake his head, raising his index finger to wag it at her aggressively, "No. No. Fu— Flip no." Minho denies repeatedly, the people surrounding beginning to boo him. He surges up off the wooden chair he was perched on and glares around at them all before looking back to Evelyn, who tilts her head. He groans lowly, hanging his chin so it skims his chest and before he knows it, Thomas and Gally's hands are on his back, shoving him into the circle as they laugh loudly. Once you're inside, you can't leave until someone wins.

Evelyn chuckles quietly, watching Minho carefully as he recollects himself and at the sound of her enjoyment, his head snaps up, "Oh, shut up, you. Don't you want a shucking rest?" He sneers quietly, "Why me? You're supposed to love me, aren't you?"

She rolls her eyes, "It was your idea to restart the wrestling thing."

"Yeah! It was! To help you out!" He snaps, "I wouldn't have done it if I'd have thought you'd pick me every goddamn time. It's a form of bullying at this point, surely."

"Aw. Are you going to forfeit, Min?" She pouts jokingly, her brows creasing as she feigns laughter.

"Fuck off," He grumbles before charging towards her and she giggles with excitement.

Evelyn has Minho out of the rope ring in less than a minute, and as he lies on his back amidst his friends, he looks up at them, huffing and puffing whilst reeling off every excuse under the sun — it's too warm, he's injured and tired, it's too dark. Snorting quietly at him, Evelyn stands over him, leaving the circle to allow a few others to play. Thomas positions himself behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist whilst she sticks her tongue out at Minho.

He flicks her off before jabbing another finger at Thomas, who's chin is now resting on her shoulder, "I think your boyfriend's got a hard-on." Minho groans, pushing himself up onto his knees in the sand. He begins to smile himself as Thomas raises his head and scowls, too used to the tomfoolery to bother responding.

"Not as much as your girlfriend does," Evelyn retorts, nodding her head across the wrestling ring to a gorgeous curly haired girl, who's eyes are glued to Minho, despite an intense match happening a foot in front of her.

Minho's eyes meet hers, and it's only then when she shoots her gaze away, her cheeks blossoming with red. He almost nearly blushes himself but hides it by lowering his head and pressing his tongue against his cheek as he stands up fully, "She's not my girlfriend-"

"Yet." Eve, Thomas, Gally and even Fry, who has a kebab in his mouth, say in unison, all of them earning a glare of annoyance before Minho grumbles under his breath and shuffles around the ring to go speak to his admirer.

There's always an unspoken word, or rather book, between the Gladers. Occasionally, they will speak about the odd bits around the fire or over a drink, reminiscing on certain chapters. But there is always the knowledge that they survived the most terrifying and traumatic experience ever together, not only the trials, but the Scorch and then the City. None of them were supposed to go any further than those brick walls and sandy dunes but now they live across the country on a beautiful coastline where they're not being tested or surveyed twenty four seven. There will never again be a worldwide cure for the Flare, until maybe someday, some genius scientist discovers a way to create a solution with murdering children. WCKD had been taken down with the fall of the city, but many compounds still existed, but thankfully the majority of their highly dangerous tech had been burnt and destroyed 5 years ago.

Part of life is that things typically go wrong, accidents happen and not everything can be heaven-like, and Evelyn completely understood that, but it wasn't till she heard word through some of the kids that she felt her stomach drop. She's a pessimist, always has been, but even Thomas' face fell considerably when she relayed what she'd been told. A few of the younger kids had travelled a long way down the beach, and found an 'old' bunker, and after climbing in through a small entrance, they realised it was a WCKD safe place, where weapons, medical equipment and a few soldiers were hiding out. Thankfully, the kids had enough sense to dash away without making a sound, but instead of running to Vince immediately, they ran it through the camp like some sort of rumour, as if it was light and useless information.

Evelyn's stood beside Thomas' chair in the council's hut, her eyes dashing around the large rectangular table as the rest of the leaders are seated too. Sometimes Thomas will bring her along as after all she is one of the most useful members, and she can do the arguing that maybe he can't bring himself to do. She grinds her jaw, her hands tightening around her biceps as she listens to utter nonsense fall out of some of the older leader's lips. Half of them are only seated at the table due to their age - it's not due to experience, as they have none. The majority are Right Arm fighters, who's only run-in with WCKD was when Janson and Ava Paige showed up years ago due to Teresa. They don't know the system like Thomas or Evelyn.

"What we need to do is send some troops over, and bomb the bunker down from the outside," Gale, a grey-haired frail lady speaks up, her eyebrows furrowed with fear, "That way we don't come in contact with the few still living in there."

Out of the corner of her eye, Evelyn notices Thomas shift in his nice and his knuckles bend around the arm of his chair but he remains silent. Her jaw ticks, "They'll have things we need. We can't just blow it up." She says, causing every pair of eyes to snap up to her as though they forgot she was present. A few people gawk at her, others swallow thickly and one or two tut quietly.

"So?" Gale sits up straighter, "Are you suggesting we send men inside? We have no clue what they've got behind those large doors."

"No," Evelyn speaks so calmly that Thomas almost thinks for a moment she's going to begin agreeing with the older woman, "I'm suggesting you send me and Thomas, possibly even Gally—" She nods her heard at her twin brother, who's managed to secure himself a seat on the council and he looks more than thankful that someone's spoken up against the idea of bombs, "—inside because we do have a clue what they've got behind those doors. We'll need their supplies, which they'll have lots of."

"Supplies?" Harry, a middle aged man scoffs as though she's speaking such ridiculous words, "Like what, exactly? We have everything we need here."

Evelyn's head tilts slightly, "No, we don't. We're running low on gun powder and bullet casings. The ammo manufacturers can only create so many in so much time, and due to the rise in cranks in the surrounding area, we're using more then we're making," She explains steadily, her eyes not shifting from Harry's face, "That bunker will be packed with ammunition, among other things, such as medical supplies and tech. Tech we need if we plan on surviving longer than ten years."

Harry sucks his teeth but forces himself to nod in understanding and Evelyn completely ignores Gale as she shakes her head slightly.

"You're forgetting about the men inside," Another leader speaks up, James - significantly younger than the rest, but still at least three years above Thomas, "It's all good and well going for the supplies, but what about the trained military guards camping out in there? The children said they saw four of them. There may be more." He sits back in his seat, his hands joining in his lamp as he studied Evelyn closely.

She runs her tongue along her teeth, recognising his patronising look, "We can handle them."

James laughs, actively laughs, causing the jarring high pitched sound to reverberate around the wooden walls of the large hut, "Can you now? What makes you think that? Because you teach self defence you believe you'll be able to take down four of these men?"

Evelyn's nostrils flare, "Do you like your tongue, skimpy?" She goes to take a step forward, her hand falling to the knife holster on her thigh.

For the first time since the meeting was called, Thomas speaks as his hand shoots out and curls around her wrist, keeping her in place beside him gently whilst his eyes glare across the large expanse of the table at the irritating man, "Don't forget who you're speaking to, James," He grinds out, "Watch your tone. Eve's far more capable then you'll ever be, even with all that 'secret' training you've been doing behind the facility." He shifts his hips in the chair as his jaw ticks with frustration, "Don't ever speak about Evelyn, or anyone, like that again. That's not what this is about."

Harry stares at Thomas in slight disbelief, only having heard him so assertive on a select few occasions. He purses his lips, bowing his head and flicking his eyes as far away as possible.

Vince clears his throat, cutting the tension, "Thomas is right. If anyone can take care of those soldiers, it's Evelyn. We know this," From his spot at the far end of the table, he looks over to Evelyn, recognising a flicker of thought in her eyes, "You reckon they've been there for a while?"

Evelyn tears her raging eyes away from James and the soften a slight fraction as they land on Vince. She sighs, shaking her head, "No. Patrollers went past there a couple weeks ago. They're new, and they know we're here."

A couple short gasps carry through the odd member.

"What?" Gale breaths out quietly.

"They're only a couple mile along the beach line," Evelyn begins to explain, taking a step forward to reach onto the table and tap her finger to the area where the kids found the bunker, and when seen on the map, it becomes clear how close that actually is, "They may have only been wanderers, or surveyors, who knows. They probably ended up at the bunker, and used it as a safe house against the tide or weather, but then they will have heard us, or possibly even seen a few patrollers. Either they've stayed hidden with fear, or they're planning something."

Vince drags his hands down his face as a low groan slips past his lips, "Right. Eve, I want you, Gally and Thomas to go check the area out first. Don't think of stepping into the bunker until we're well prepared." The three mentioned people nod in understanding as Evelyn's eyes catch onto her brother's and the pair of them smirk slyly, but Vince still catches it. "I mean it," He points his index finger at the three of them, "You might need backup. Go do the recon, then head back and we'll plan an attack, okay?" Once he's received a serious nod from them all again, he wraps it up, "Head out once the sun starts to go down, the night will protect you slightly. We'll meet back here tomorrow." He raises from his seat, knocking his fist on the table before leaving, most of the others following suit, discussing the decision as they exit the hut.

Evelyn leans against the table, her body turned towards Thomas and she gazes over her shoulder at Gally before glancing back to her boyfriend, "Well, this'll be fun," She smirks, "Just like old times, boys."

And like old times it was, because the second Evelyn spotted the WCKD logo plastered all over the walls and on the guard's uniform, she sprung up and went against everything planned, her body now controlled by her rage with her knives clutched in her fists. Thomas and Gally knew this would happen, and neither of them were opposed as the three of them charged inside and took the four soldiers out with so much expertise they could've been considered professionals. Evelyn left the now-quiet bunker covered in blood, having gone for the up close knife approach like usual, whereas the boys flanked with their guns.

It may seem sick to say, but Evelyn gets a slight kick out of killing people. Not just anyone, but them - the WCKD employees that tore away her childhood and her whole life, leaving her with debilitating trauma and scars. Both Thomas and Gally would never admit it, but they thought the same. Revenge is sweet, and the trio spent the trudge back along the beach talking about they'd like to do this more often — well, Gally and Evelyn spoke whilst Thomas listened quietly, occasionally chuckling in agreement, hiding his worry for Eve behind a smile.

As expected, the moment they stepped in front of Vince, he wished to place their head on a chopping block, but how could he be mad, really? He saw these adults as his own kids, and as much as he was annoyed, he was also hella proud, and sent the three of them away to clean up before the rest of the Haven saw them - especially Evelyn.

Half an hour later, and Evelyn and Thomas are squished into their small metal tub, with him behind her, his legs spread out along the sides of the bath and her whilst she's sat between them, her knees up to her chest as he scrubs her skin and washes her hair, being as gentle as she taught him. She rests her chin on her knees, her eyes watching the soapy water swirl around them as streaks of blood wisp through it.

"You okay?" Thomas asks softly. She's never been a speaker, but he's picked up on now that they're in the Safe Haven, she prefers to fill the silences.

"Do you think we did the right thing?" She questions, not moving an inch and she speaks so quietly that he almost misses a few words.

His brows crease, "When?"

"Today."

"With the soldiers?"

She hums.

"Do you think we did the right thing?" He shoots back in slight confusion, and usually she's turn around and scowl at him for deflecting her question, but it's clear she has no energy to scold him right now.

"Of course I do, but I also killed all those WCKD guards in the labs back then, so I don't think I'm the person to be making such calls," She says.

"Eve, turn around," Thomas decides, gently tapping her sides to urge her to spin and she shuffles around, lifting her head to gaze at him. His face softens even more when he notices the battle going on behind her eyes. He clutches her legs gently, his thumb brushing up and down on a smooth scar, "We did the right thing, back then and today. Those people fucki—" He swallows, squeezing his eyes shut for a second, "Those people ruined our lives, Eve. I'd kill every last one of 'em if I could, it's the least they deserve." His hands raise to cup her cheeks, and she allows him to lift her head until their eyes are level, "You're not a bad person. Not at all, okay? You've always made the right calls, always. I know sometimes the others make it seem like I led us all and that's madness, because I would never have made it through the trials without you. None of us would have, you hear me? We needed you. Still do. You're the strongest person we have here." His heart cracks as a tear sprinkles over her waterline but he brushes it away before it even reaches the peach of her cheek, "You hear what the kids say about you, don't you? They look up to you, Evelyn. You're amazing."

She snorts, but it comes out mixed with a humorous sob, "They think I've killed a thousand WCKD men." She rolls her eyes, "Minho keeps lying to them."

His lips lift into a faint smile, "Well, you can't be far off," He moves his hands around her, pulling her into his chest and resting her head against his neck, "Should we get you to that thousand?"

She smirks, letting her eyes fall closed as the warm water swims around them both, "Fuck yeah." She hums with a short chuckle, "Thank you, Tom. I love you."

He presses a kiss to the top of her head, leaving his chin to rest there, "I love you too."

...

sorry got bored x

but on a real note i miss these two so much, especially evelyn she was such a joy to write and i'm beyond happy that she's happy

please please please leave your feedback and comments i love hearing from fear of her readers
(you're low-key my favs)