The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner Book 2) (62)
CHAPTER
62
Brenda
looked at Thomas with panicked eyes, her face full of pain as the stranger
dragged her across the metal floor of the Berg. Toward the hatch and certain
death.
When
he was halfway there, Thomas acted.
He
jumped forward and slammed into the man’s knees, tackling him to the floor; the
gun clattered on the ground next to him. Brenda fell to the side, but Teresa
was there to catch her, pull her back from the dangerous edge of the door.
Thomas put his left forearm against the man’s throat and reached for the gun with
his other hand. His fingers found it, gripped it, pulled it close to him. He
jumped up and away and held the pistol with both hands, pointing it at the
stranger sprawled on his back.
“No
one else dies,” Thomas said, breathing heavily, somewhat shocked at himself.
“If we haven’t done enough to pass your stupid tests, then we fail. The tests
are over.” As he said it, he wondered if this was supposed to happen.
But even that didn’t matter—he meant every word he’d said. The senseless
killing and dying had to end.
The
stranger’s face softened into the slightest hint of a smile and he sat up and
scooted backward until he bumped into the wall. As he did so, the large cargo
door began closing, the squeak of its hinges like squealing pigs. No one said
anything until it clanked shut, one last rush of wind surging through before it
did.
“My
name’s David,” the man said, his voice loud in the new silence, broken only by
the low hum of the ship’s engines and thrusters. “And don’t worry, you’re
right. It’s over. It’s all over.”
Thomas
nodded mockingly. “Yeah, we’ve heard that before. This time we mean it. We’re
not going to sit back and let you treat us like rats anymore. We’re done.”
David
took a moment to scan the large cargo hold, maybe seeing whether the others
agreed with what Thomas had just said. Thomas didn’t dare break his gaze,
though. He had to believe that they were all behind him.
Finally,
David looked back at Thomas, then slowly got to his feet, raising a hand in
conciliation as he did so. Once he was standing, he put both hands in his
pockets. “What you don’t understand is that everything has gone and will
continue to go as planned. But you’re right, the Trials are complete. We’re taking
you to a place of safety—a real place of safety. No more tests, no more
lies, no more setups. No more pretending.”
He
paused. “I can only promise one thing. When you hear why we’ve put you through
this, and why it’s so important that so many of you survived, you’ll
understand. I promise you’ll understand.”
Minho
snorted. “That’s the biggest bunch of klunk I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Thomas
couldn’t help but feel a little relief that his friend hadn’t lost his fire.
“And what about the cure? We were promised. For us and the two who helped us
get here. How can we believe anything you tell us?”
“Think
what you want for now,” David said. “Things will change from here out, and
you’ll get the cure, just like you were told. As soon as we get back to
headquarters. You can keep that gun, by the way—we’ll even give you some more,
if you’d like. There’ll be nothing else for you to fight against, no tests or trials
to ignore or refuse. Our Berg will land, you’ll see that you’re safe and cured,
and then you can do what you want. The only thing we’ll ever ask you to do
again is to listen. Only to listen. I’m sure you’re at least intrigued by
what’s behind all this?”
Thomas
wanted to scream at the man but knew it’d serve no point. Instead he answered
in as calm a voice as possible. “No more games.”
“First
sign of trouble,” Minho added, “we start fighting. If that means we die, then
so be it.”
David
smiled fully this time. “You know, that’s exactly what we predicted you’d do at
this point.” He motioned with an arm toward a small door at the back of the
cargo hold. “Shall we?”
Newt
spoke up this time. “What’s next on the bloody agenda?”
“Just
thought you’d like to eat something, maybe take a shower. Sleep.” He started
walking around the crowd of Gladers and girls. “It’s a very long flight.”
Thomas
and the others spent a few seconds exchanging glances. But in the end they
followed. They really had no other option.
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