Brenda stayed awake for another hour or so. The peacefulness on Thomas' face was just so captivating. Brenda resisted the urge to brush her knuckles against his soft cheek. It was so tempting though. Not long after, Brenda found herself feeling the effects of sleep. Her eyes drooped and within minutes she was fast asleep.

Meraya sat at the window of an abandoned building Jorge had found. She watched the empty streets, hoping for any sign of Thomas or Brenda. They had spent half the day searching without any luck. As the sun began to go down, Jorge had to call it quits for their safety much to Meraya's dismay.

Newt sighed and moved to sit next to Meraya. Everyone else had wondered deeper within the building to find a suitable area to sleep for the night. Next wrapped an arm around Meraya's slumped shoulders. "He's okay Meraya." Newt whispered. "I know I just..." Meraya sighed, leaning into Newt's form. "Worry," Newt finished with a half smile. "It's okay to worry." He reassured. Meraya nodded, snuggling into the warmth of Newt's body. "I'm here for you you know." Newt said softly. Meraya lifted her face, watching Newt's face. "You know that right? No matter what you can trust me. I will always be there for you." Meraya found herself speechless when she looked into his eyes. For the first time she was noticing a new glint in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but when nothing came out, she shut it. Newt's eyes glanced from Meraya's eyes to her lips and back again. He chewed his lower lip, eyebrows furrowing as he worked over his choices in his mind. Meraya studied his face, stomach erupting into butterflies. She knew that look and as Newt's face neared hers, the butterflies turned to panic. "Newt I..." Meraya mumbled, Newt's lips centimeters away. "Just...once," Newt whispered and his voice just sounded so desperate Meraya couldn't find it in her to deny her friend this one thing. His lips touched hers gently. It was so different from Thomas' desperate, hungry ones. Meraya could feel the fear behind Newt's kiss and found herself kissing back. The longer it lasted, the more confident Newt began, leaning deeper into the kiss.

Newt pulled away slowly, eyes closed and the faintest of smiles playing at his lips. Meraya blinked rapidly, turning away, and thinking over what she just did. "Newt I..." Meraya started again, gently pulling his arm from her shoulders. Newt seemed to be knocked out of his trance by Meraya's voice. "I love him," Meraya blurted out, biting her lower lip fearing her friends reaction. Newt looked into Meraya's eyes and knew she was telling the truth. Meraya shook her head and stood, intending on leaving. "Meraya wait!" Newt said, grabbing her wrist. He stood and turned her around to face him. "It's okay," he said. "I knew you liked him I just," Newt sighed and hung his head, "I just love you so much and I know you don't feel the same but I will always be by your side," Newt said, rushing out the words as fast as he could so that she wouldn't run from him. Meraya took a deep breath, watching Newt seriously. "Okay," she said, letting out the breath she held. Newt breathed a sigh of relief, pulling Meraya into a tight hug. "Thank god." He breathed. Meraya hugged back, patting Newt's back.

Thomas awoke the next morning to Brenda's soft snores. He glanced to his side, seeing her sleeping face. He sat up, stretching his sore muscles. Curiousity getting the best of him, Thomas slipped out of the cabin of the truck and into the alleyway.

A plaque caught his eye. Compared to the bleached brick of the buildings, the dusty metallic stood out in the early morning light. Furrowing his brow, Thomas stepped forwards, wiping the dust from the plaque. He gasped when he read what the sign said. In bold letters the words:

World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiement Department

THOMAS IS THE LEADER

Thomas swallowed thickly shaking his head. He didn't understand this. Minho was the leader, his tattoo said so. He knew that this was some kind of trick from WICKD. It was all about the variables. That's what RatMan had said at least. Could Thomas really trust what he said either? Most likely not, he was from WICKED afterall.

"Those are up all around the city," Brenda's voice shocked Thomas. He spun around to face her. "Why didn't you tell me?!" Thomas asked still in shock from what he had read. "I didn't know how," Brenda sighed, placing a calming hand on Thomas' arm. Thomas heaved a sigh, turning back towards the sign above them. He couldn't be the leader. It just couldn't be true. Thomas didn't want to be true.

"So you're Thomas huh," a gruff voice said from behind the pair. Brenda and Thomas turned around to be met with a trio. One was a woman, the other two male. "Seen them signs up since I came to this damned place," one man spoke. He was squat but muscular with blonde hair. He smiled, showing some missing teeth. "Invite 'em to our party!" The girl piped up, bouncing and clapping her hands. The squat man smiled again, although there was a sinister air about it. "Yeah why doncha two lovely kids come to our party, eh?"

"We're okay," Brenda said, face guarded. Thomas eyed the trio, he had a bad feeling about them. "You don't deny our parties," the third member said with a warning voice. He brought out a tire iron from behind his back. It was rusted but still dangerous. Thomas frowned, stepping slightly in front of Brenda. "We really should be going," he said in a strong tone. "You. Dont. Deny. Our. Parties," the third man said again. The first male pulled out an old rusted hand gun and Thomas backed down. He grabbed Brenda's hand for safety. "Okay," He said, nudging her behind him. "Yay!" the girl said excitedly.

Brenda and Thomas were escorted to the end of the alley. There was a door, old and rusty as everything else in the town was. The woman knocked and was greeted by a bouncer. She whispered something in his ear and the door opened. Inside music played loudly and bodies writhed on the dance floor. It smelled of alcohol and sweat as those condemned with the Flare lived out their last days of sanity under the uninhibited influence of alcohol. Brenda and Thomas were pushed into the middle of the dance floor and handed a strange drink. It smelled a lot like the drink Gally would make in the glade, but this time Thomas was hesitant to drink it. When blondie waved his gun, Thomas took two large gulps of it, Brenda following suit.

Their captors dispersed into the crowd, leaving the two teens alone. Brenda wrapped her arms around Thomas' neck, a drunken smile on her lips. Thomas furrowed his brows as things began to swim. Colors mixed and sounds distorted in strange ways. He felt nauseous as he looked around so he focused on Brenda's face, the only still thing in the room. "I think...I think they drugged us," he said, voice swallowed by the loud music. "Shhhh, let's just have fun Thomas! Let's stay here forever, just you and me." Brenda said, resting her head on his shoulder. Thomas frowned, he didn't like that at all. He didn't want to stay here, at least, not with Brenda. "Brenda..no I..." "Shhhhh," Brenda said lifting her head. "It's just me and you."

Thomas sighed, choosing to stay quiet. He didn't have it in him to fight with her. Not now. The music buzzed in Thomas' ears, giving his body a strange tingling. He stared at Brenda and realized her face was getting closer. His brain was fogged by whatever the man had made him drink but he knew he didn't want this. He didn't want her. Brenda's lips were millimeters away when he spoke, "You're not her," he whispered softly. Brenda pulled back, pain and betrayal in her eyes. Thomas unwrapped his arms from her body but couldn't find it in himself to feel bad. He simply didn't want her.

Brenda's face twisted in anger and pain as she slipped through the crowd of people. Thomas called out to her, not wanting her to get lost, but he couldn't find her. The fog in his mind was too great that he almost didn't notice the large form slinking towards him through the crowd. By the time Thomas could make out that it was one of men from the trio that had forced them inside, he felt a hard whack to the back of the head and everything went black.

Meraya woke up the next day groggy. The memories from the night before came flooding back into her mind. "Jeez," Meraya murmured, scrubbing her fingers through her hair as she sat up. "I'm an idiot," Meraya spoke softly to herself as she let her hands fall to her sides, shaking her head lightly. "Why're you an idiot?" Minho's voice called out as he appeared in the doorway. His large muscular build blocked nearly the whole doorway as he leaned against the crumbling frame with a smirk and a quirked eyebrow. "No reason," Meraya spoke slowly as she got up from her sleeping place on the floor. Minho's smirk grew wider and he nodded, "Yeah okay." Meraya frowned at his playful tone. He knew something was up and that made Meraya uncomfortable. She knew Newt wouldn't have gone around blabbing about their little kiss the night before. "What do you know?" Meraya asked, arms crossed over her chest. Minho chuckled to himself, sending her a knowing look. "I may or may not have walked in last night and saw something," he chuckled as the duo walked towards the common area the others had huddled.

Mearya heaved a sighed and stopped Minho, pulling him off to the side. "Listen, Minho, don't tell anyone. Me and Newt aren't together okay. I don't know why I let him kiss me but I don't like him like that. He's handling it pretty well and I don't want all the gladers running their mouths about it and upsetting him," Meraya said sincerely, hope brimming in her eyes that he would keep this a secret. Minho frowned, dissapointed that Newt and Meraya weren't getting together. It had been common knowledge around the glade that the British boy had a thing for the only female there, that is until Thomas showed up. Minho's eyes went wide at the realization. "Thomas," he murmured softly. "What?" Meraya asked having not heard him well. "It's Thomas isn't it!" Minho whispered yelled. Meraya frantically hushed the taller boy, covering his mouth with her hand. "Will you be quiet!" she hissed, eyes searching their surroundings making sure no one had heard. Minho removed Mearya's small hand from his mouth, rolling his eyes. "Its not like Thomas is gonna hear it," Minho snipped. Meraya blushed and shoved past Minho. "Just keep that big mouth shut okay!" she called as she walked away. "Only if you shut it for me!" Minho teased back, earning a glare from the girl.

Thomas groaned as his eyes fluttered open. His head pounded painfully, most likely from the drink and whatever he had been hit with. His vision cleared slowly, revealing the two men and one woman that had forced them insde the party. Thomas frowned, moving to get up only to find out that he had been tied down to a creaky wooden chair. Blondie was sitting in front of Thomas on a backwards facing chair, arms resting on the back. His gun hung loosely from his fingertips as the man watched the teen wake in front of him. "Wakey, Wakey," he chuckled. Thomas frowned, looking around the room. He spotted Brenda in the corner in a similar state of being tied up. Her mouth was covered by a short piece of duckedtape as she sat back, head resting on the wall behind her. Anger flashed in her eyes as they made contact with Thomas', and looked away.

"So, you're the one all them shiny metal signs are about aintcha," Blondie snarled. Thomas chewed the inside of his cheek, not sure on how to answer this. "Aintcha!" Blondie snapped. Thomas nodded quickly, fearing the man with the gun. "Ight then, leader, where's your friends? Can't be the leader of nothin' can ya?" a taller man behind Blondie spoke. Thomas recognized him as the one who had knocked him out. His voice was softer but somehow more menacing than Blondie's brash and rough one. Thomas opened his mouth only to be silenced by comotion coming from above them. Blondie let out an unamused snarl and stood from the chair. "Don't move," he commanded, chuckling at his own joke. His laughter sounded like rocks being rubbed together deep in his throat, wholly unpleasant.

Thomas watched the trio leave, the door closing behind them. He could hear their footsteps above them and some shouting. He writhed in his chair, trying to loosen the ropes around his wrists. He jumped and pulled and twisted in his restraints but to no avail. Thomas panted softly from the strain, glancing at the door when footsteps pounded back down the stairs. Thomas froze as the door creaked open, waiting with bated breath. He heaved a sigh of relief when Minho appeared, smirk plastered on his face. "I see you two are tied up here," Minho chucked to himself. Brenda rolled her eyes, grunting to get the asian boy's attention. Minho smirked to himself, walking over and freeing her first. He made his way over to Thomas, freeing him easily. "She's up there, and totally kicked some major ass," Minho said with a proud fatherly tone. Thomas glanced at his friend before bolting up the stairs.

Thomas' eyes searched the room, barely registered the incapacitated bodies that littered the floor. The only thing he cared about was her. He spotted Meraya with her foot on a man's back. He recognized it as the man who knocked him out. A swell of pride filled his chest as he jogged over to her.

Meraya looked up as someone approached. A smile flashed across her face as she saw Thomas, stepping on to her victims back and crossing the room quickly. She sighed in contentment, feeling Thomas' arms wrap around her frame, his face buried in her neck. Brenda scoffed to herself, rolling her eyes at the sight and joining Jorge in by the door. The other gladers watched with small smiles. It was good to be reunited again. Newt came over, giving Thomas a hearty slap on the back. "Glad to have ya back mate," the smile he gave was genuine, something Meraya was thankful for. She wouldn't be able to get over the guilt if he looked upset. Thomas reluctantly unwrapped himself from Meraya, giving Newt a smile back. "Good to be back," he stated, intertwining his fingers with Meraya's.

Thomas glanced around, looking for the man with the gun. His brow furrowed when he didn't see him. "Did you guys see a short guy with blonde hair by any chance?" Thomas asked Minho as they began filing out of the bar. Minho frowned, face scruching up in concentration as he thought back. "Nah, don't remember seein' nobody like that," Minho said as they stepped out into the sunlight. Thomas blinked rapidly, holding a hand up to cover his eyes from the light. Meraya hissed as her eyes dilated back to adjust to the bright sunlight. "Why, who's this blonde guy?" she asked, looking up at Thomas. "No one he uh-"

"HEY!" a voice yelled out, capturing everyone's attention. Meraya turned to see a squat man with blonde hair and crazed eyes. They were trained on Thomas, but that wasn't what made her heart skip a beat. The crank had an old rusted hand gun, pointed at Thomas' chest in shaky hands. "NO ONE COMES IN HERE AND RUINS MY PARTY!" he screamed. All Meraya remembered was the loud bang of the gun and pushing Thomas as hard as she could. The initial impact of the bullet hadn't hurt at all. In fact, Meraya hadn't even known she was shot until Newt was picking her up off the ground, Thomas scrambling over to her side. Minho had tackled the gunman, raining an unending hail of punches on him.

Meraya choked, coughing weakly as blood splattered out, painting her lips a terrifying crimson. "No, no, no, no, no," Thomas murmured, cradling Meraya in his arms. "No this can't...she can't," he choked, eyes welling with tears. Meraya struggled to stay coherent. Thomas' voice came and went as her eyes fluttered with the effort to stay awake. "Meraya, baby, stay with me okay. You can't leave me here, not now," Thomas choked out, smoothing down her frizzy curls, hands shaking. Jorge pushed to the front of the crowd that had formed around the girl, Brenda following him closely. Newt stared down at the two, mouth gaping, unable to process that his best friend was dying in front of him.

"What happened?" Jorge said in a grave tone. "She...She uh, she saved him," Newt stuttered, wide eyes turning to Jorge. The older man grimaced as he knelt next to Thomas, gently reaching for Meraya's body. "NO!" Thomas yelled, tightening his grip and pulling her closer to his body. Newt gulped, placing a soothing hand on Thomas' shoulder, "Let him help Tommy, maybe he can save her." he spoke gently. Thomas looked down at Meraya, reluctantly handing her limp body over to Jorge. Meraya gasped, eyes screwing shut as the movement caused a wave of red hot pain to shoot through her body.

Jorge examined the wound, it was clean through so that was a bonus. "I need a match and something to wrap her stomach in," he said. "Now!" The gladers scrambled around, searching for what Jorge depicted. It only took a few minutes, but to Meraya they felt like agonizing hours. It was getting harder and harder to stay focused. She could feel Thomas' warm hands around hers but his face was just a round blob in her vision. "Stay with me, please," his voice floated into her ears but it sounded muddled and unclear. Her vision faded, her eyes fluttering closed. She was tired, she was so tired and something told her that if she gave in, the searing pain in her abdomen would finally go away.

Thomas squeezed Meraya's hand as he watched her eyes closed. "No, no, no, no baby, no. Open your eyes please, open them." Thomas whimpered, patting her cheek lightly. "Jorge do something!" Thomas growled. Jorge watched with sad eyes, he needed those matches. Minho slid onto the ground beside his friends, shoving a small packet of matches into Jorge's hands. Quickly, the older male ripped a stick from the matchbook, striking a spark and holding the flame over the bullet wound. "Sorry," he murmured before cauterizing Meraya's wound. A scream ripped from her throat, echoing among the empty alleyway. The boys winced at the horrid sound, watching as her eyes shot open, pupils dilated with pain. Meraya panted softly, eyes darting back and forth before they rolled back and she went limp. The only movement was her chest rising and falling slowly but surely.