REDEMPTION.
[ chapter fourteen ]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

THOMAS STARES AT AVA PAIGE, tears still streaming down his cheeks while he tries to forget about how he just drove a heart through his best friends heart. Now, he's finally able to experience Evelyn's hurt and the amount of emotions she had flowing through her when she through her weapon into Gally's chest.

But as his grip on a gun tightens and his hands shake, he wonders how Evelyn remained so calm after sobbing over her brother's dead body. She had fallen silent in the helicopter as they were flown away from the plane, and her face was a void, but Thomas doesn't feel like that now. He's heartbroken, and he can't stop the loud sob that escapes his lips.

He stares down the barrel of the pistol at the woman who started this nightmare and wishes he had Evelyn's strength to be able to pull the trigger.

"Is it true?" He's the first to break the silent, but his voice is quiet and shaky, "Newt. Could I have saved him?"

Ava's expression is soft, and she doesn't seem at all affected by the gun pointed directly at her head, "You can save us all."

Thomas squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, remembering Teresa's words that boomed over the city. He drops his chin to his chest, his hand releasing the gun and letting it clatter to the tiled floor as he sobs.

Slowly, Ava approaches him, inspecting his heartbroken expression and her eyebrows cinch together at the sight of him, almost as if she feels guilty.

"It's okay," She whispers softly.

Thomas keeps his eyes trained on the floor for a few more moments before he finally meets her gentle gaze, "Just leave the others alone. Just— just leave Eve alone."

As he speaks her name, he thinks about how she's probably currently crying over Newt's body, just like she did with Gally, apart from this time it's Thomas' fault. He's the one who's caused her so much more pain.

Ava nods, smiling gently, "I promise," She steps closer, "I will—"

Suddenly, a gun shots rings through the large room and Thomas jerks back as he watches a pool of red cover Ava Paige's chest and then she's collapsing towards him, and he lets her drop to the ground at his feet as he stares at her lifeless body in shock.

His head shoots up, watching Janson as the man steps through a cloud of smoke caused by the pistol he holds. Then Thomas' eyes float down to the body being dragged behind Janson. It's Eve. Thomas' eyes grow wide, and he's quick to take a step forward.

"Ah, ah," Janson warns, "That's close enough."

Thomas' jaw clenches as he keeps his eyes on Evelyn's limp body. Janson's fist is curled around the back of the neck of her tank top, causing the price of clothing to ride up slightly.

"What the hell have you done to her?" Thomas sneers, finally snapping his eyes up to meet Janson.

The man smirks, his gaze flicking down to the girl behind him for a second, "She really wanted to die," He states calmly, "I could see it in her eyes, and how she didn't bother fighting me."

Thomas shakes his head gently, and another tear rolls down his cheek but he can't manage to say anything. The thought of Evelyn being happy to die plaguing his mind.

Janson stops a few feet in front of Thomas, the gun practically pressed against the teenager's chest. Thomas doesn't bother moving or attempting to fight anymore. He sees no point. In a sudden movement, Janson's hand has released Evelyn's clothing to press another needle into Thomas's neck.

The dark haired boy staggers back at the quick movement, and he looks at Janson's face before staring down at Eve as he feels the liquid flowing into his body. A shaky hand travels up his neck, and his fingers pinch a round the needle still hanging from the skin. He yanks the small needle out, while continuing to stumble back slowly.

His eyelids flicker and he gags slightly before collapsing to the ground beside Evelyn, his blurry eyes lingering on her peaceful face while Janson smiles down at him.

"Oh, Thomas," He sighs, and the young boy looks up at the man in terror, "Evelyn looked at me the exact same way. You both really should have run."

Thomas head drops to the side, his temple smashing against the tiles as he refocuses on Evelyn once more, but he isn't able to take in the details of her face before he's blacked out completely.

༒

FLASHBACK

Evelyn laid her head back against Thomas' chest as the pair of them stared out into the scorch while the group snored behind them. Thomas made sure to be gentle with Eve as he rans his fingers gently up and down her arm.

It was the same night that Winston died, or it was the early morning. They were never able to tell in such a desolate place.

Evelyn had endured three plus years in the Glade and the maze, but the Scorch was so empty and baron. It brought nothing but hell with it as sands storms traveled over the dunes daily.

But, at night it was rather peaceful. The air was cool, almost cold, and the wind wasn't too strong but loud enough to hear and lull you to sleep.

"I wish they were all with us," Evelyn, surprisingly, was the first to break the comfortable silence, "I hate thinking about them all, but I can't help it. And even though they weren't really my favourite people ever, they all helped me survive. Hell, I would be long gone if it wasn't for every single one of them."

Evelyn did this quite often. She'd talk about the other Gladers that had been left behind. A part of her almost enjoyed reminiscing her times with them, sometimes even the worse moments. She held ever memory close to her heart, like a locket.

"I'm sorry," Thomas breathed.

She knew he felt like he had driven her and the other Gladers out of their homes, and like it was his fault they were out in the Scorch.

"Thomas," She sighed, craning her neck to look up at him, "None of this is your fault. You freed us all. You had no idea what was to come after, but none of us did. We all wanted to escape and get away, just none of us were smart enough to do it earlier."

Thomas chuckled lowly.

"Minho, Ben, Alby and I, we worked our asses off to get everyone out," She said, dropping her gaze back to the horizon in front of them, "And don't get me wrong, it's a bit annoying that you worked it out in three days, but I'm still thankful you did."

He smiled gently, "Sorry for stealing your glory."

She rolled her eyes, "You deserve glory, more than anyone else here."

He tilted his head, looking down at her, "You're being nice to me."

Pursing her lips, she jabbed her elbow back into his gut causing him to grunt lowly, "Well done for stating the obvious," She muttered, before chuckling, "And don't be ungrateful. I'm only ever nice to Fry and Newt."

He raised a brow, "Not even Minho?"

She snorted, as if the idea was stupid, "Never Minho."

"Hey!" A voice hissed from behind them, and they both turned to see Minho glaring through the dark at them, "We can all hear you, alright? So stop being so gross, and lovey-dovey and go to sleep before I put you both to fucking sleep."

Evelyn smirked, and Thomas chuckled, causing Minho to groan and collapse back into his sleeping position, realising they aren't going to listen to him.

༒

With his head banging like a drum, Thomas' eyelids slowly flicker open and he lets out a quiet groan as his eyes begin to focus in on his surroundings.

For the beakers, and equipment set up around the room, he knows it's a lab, and he turns his head to look around more, until his gaze lands upon a familiar girl. He opens his mouth to call Eve's name, presuming it's her by his side, until the blur in his eyes finally settles and he realises it's Teresa.

Teresa glances up from his arm, and he drops his gaze to it, watching as she draws blood directly from the vein in the crook of his elbow.

Before Thomas has a chance to speak, Janson's voice is already carrying across the room, causing the teenager's blood to boil.

"Do you know what this place is, Thomas?" Janson questions, from behind the stretcher he's laid out on.

Thomas glances up at him, before he notices Evelyn's absence, causing him to frantically look around rest of the room quickly, his eyes wide while Teresa steps away from him.

Janson continues, "It's a lifeboat. And the whole world might be sinking," He steps away from the window, "But that doesn't mean that we have to go down with it."

Thomas attempts to sit up, until he notices the large straps wrapped around his torso and wrists, keeping him tied securely to the medical stretcher.

He fights the binds, jerking his hand while Janson and Teresa converse quietly.

"Where's— where's Eve?" Thomas manages to croak out, snapping his head up to Janson, who's smirking over at him. Thomas' eyes run over his clothes, noticing the blood splotches on his grey jumper, "WHERE'S EVE?" He roars, the worst thought coming to his mind as the blood sends him into a frenzy.

"Thomas, Thomas," Janson holds his hands in front of him, the smirk on his lips never disappearing, "Calm down. Evelyn is perfectly fine."

____________________
authors note.
a chapter in mainly thomas' pov cause i felt like it

🫶🫶

when i'm publishing this chap it is christmas,
soooo
MERRY CHRISTMAS CUNTSSSSS 🫶🫶
love you all lots and thank you so much
xxxx