the scorch trials
chapter fourteen

❛❛ we're gonna get them back ❜❜

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The camp was a mess. The fire and the smoke that WCKD had left behind and the small army of the Right Arm grew smaller. Every tent in the camp were on the ground and still burning. The Right Arm and the Gladers try salvage from what was left as they could. The people from the Right Arm have gathered the bodies to bury them, meanwhile they plan to burn the WCKD soldiers' bodies in a pile and take their armours,

Pain throbbed in his left arm where he got shot by Janson, luckily the bullet went through and he merely wrapped a cloth around the wound shortly after WCKD left. The Gladers and the Right Arm looked around the camp before they can leave. Vince said they have to relocate because they know WCKD will come back and they won't beat them this time.

Poe crouched down by where the tent had stood before, he pulled off the sheet and tossed it aside. He found a half-burnt teddy bear that Anton held before WCKD came. He pat the dust and dirt off of the bear then shifted his gaze around. Harriet was walking around, she and Leigh had passed by him. Teo and Nico were putting out a fire, Newt was strolling around until finding a soldier's helmet and picked it up. Jorge and Brenda were sitting, almost like they were exhausted, and Vince was talking to the rest of the people in the Right Arm.

WCKD captured most of the Immunes, including Minho and Anton. Poe was so sure that he cannot just sit around and grieve for his loss. His friend is back in WCKD's hands, they'll torture the boy and Minho just to find the cure. There's a chance that they're starting over the Trials and possibly send Anton and Minho back into a Maze. Poe can't sit and let it all happen. He wasn't sure where to start.

"I think this belongs to you" Poe raised the stuffed animal, giving it to Leigh as she was just about to walk pass him.

"Right... thanks" Leigh murmured. She stood there momentarily, "I'm sorry about Anton... and Minho"

Poe got up, he already missed Anton and it ached him. He gave a weak nod then replied, "Me too... about Aris and Sonya" he gave her a soft pat on her shoulder.

He walked around before sitting down on the ground near Frypan. "What do we do now?" Frypan asked.

The Gladers, Leigh, Harriet and Vince looked up at Frypan. Vince responded, "Well, we pick up what's left of us. We stick to the plan. We get you kids to the safe haven... then we start over, I guess"

Poe knew he wasn't planning on going to the safe haven. Not without Anton. Not without the kid. Poe knew he has to find him and take him home. Will he had to do it alone? He will if he has to. He wouldn't want to persuade his friends to join him. No, he wouldn't want them to go through all the danger again. Poe would understand if they wanted to go to the safe haven.

Then Thomas got up. "I'm not going with you"

Everyone's attention were on Thomas, surprising Poe as well. He also knew where Thomas was going with this. Anton wasn't the only one, but Minho as well.

"What?" Vince said.

"I made a promise to Minho" said Thomas as he adjusted his pack. "I wouldn't leave him behind. I have to go after him"

"Hey kid, look around you" Vince motioned the camp. "All right? WICKED just kicked our ass. You think about where you're headed"

"I'm not asking anyone to come with me"

Poe may have never been close or have had any intentions of being friends with Thomas, but he may have to go with him and join him.

"Thomas, listen to me" Newt began, "I've known Minho for... well, as long as I can remember... So if there's any way that we could help him, trust me, I would be up there standing next to you... this, what you're talking about... is impossible"

"More like suicide" Jorge added as he and Brenda approached.

Then Poe got up. He already made his decision before Thomas decided to get to his friend. Poe sighed, "Maybe" he shrugged, "but I'm sure as hell I'm not planning on sitting and hiding while they have my friend"

Thomas looked at Poe differently, like a look of appreciation, as if he was glad that Poe is joining him.

"It's not just about Minho." Thomas went on, "it's about all of us... it's about everyone WICKED's ever taken, everyone they will take... they'll never stop... they'll never stop so I'm going to stop them... I'm gonna kill Ava Paige"

Poe thought of last night. He tried to shoot Ava Paige, he really did, but the gun was empty when he pulled the trigger. He probably could've ended all of this last night. Minho, Anton, Aris, Sonya and the rest would've all been standing with them right now.

"I have to admit—" Harriet spoke, "I'd like some revenge"

To see the looks on everyone's faces, hinted that they're planning to join Thomas. Even Jorge and Brenda.

"Well, that's a good speech, kid" said Vince, "so what's your plan?"

It was noon and the Right Arm have just begun burying their friends, then they'll move out. The Gladers, the Icers, the Right Arm will relocate and once they find the safe place, they'll start planning on what they should do next.

Poe, Nico, Leigh and Teo were at the cliff where Poe and Teresa had spoke yesterday. The rest of the Gladers were in the camp, waiting for the Right Arm to finish the burial. The three boys and a girl were looking out if WCKD comes back. The weather was less humid than it was in the Scorch, but with the sun peeking over the cloud made it even more warmer.

Poe took his coat off as it was getting too warm, he looked into the binoculars every ten minutes to see the distance where WCKD flew from.

"I don't think they're coming back" said Nico, he was sitting on the edge of the cliff.

"I'm sure they will come back for us" Poe said, "Like Thomas said, they won't stop looking for us"

Neither of them spoke for a moment. "You know what I don't get?" Teo asked, the three of them looked at him in question. "I don't understand why they put us into the maze, like why forcing to live in the maze for few years helps them to find the cure?"

Poe didn't quite understand that either, but all Thomas had said is that they were being tested. "When my friend, Rachel got knocked out and was poisoned by the Shade which resulted her in a short coma and received fragments of memories"

Poe found that almost familiar, it was like when Thomas purposely got himself stung just to get memories.

"The Maze Trials were meant to test us, they wanted to see how we respond, to see if we work together, to see who lives and survives at the end of the Trial. These tests, our responses are building up something in our brains, our blood to make the cure, or something like that. I don't know"

"My brain hurts from all the gibberish and the heat" Nico sighed as he rubbed his forehead and got up, "and I'm starving so I'm heading back down there" he walked back down off the cliff and went back to the camp.

"Is he always this grouchy?" Leigh asked in a low voice.

Poe shrugged, "He used to be a lot of fun" he recalled those times where he and Nico fought and argued during his first few months in the Glade. Those times have stopped after Nick died. "Then we lost a friend. Well, Nick was everyone's friend so..."

"And he lost a best friend recently" Teo added. Poe knew he was talking about Gally who was Nico's best friend.

"Was it that kid we lost back in the mall?" Leigh asked. "Jack?" Poe almost forgot about Jack. Poor Jack.

"No, Jack was just a guy who Nico worked with back in the Glade. I guess he was his friend too" Teo answered, "His best friend was Gally, he went mad, he almost made it out but he got mad... so I threw a spear into his chest"

Leigh tried to hide her look but she couldn't. Though Teo never looked at her stunned look. Poe never thought if Teo had ever feel guilty for killing Gally, he must've had all this time.

"Yeah, anyway, I'm starving too, I'm gonna go see if they have anything down there" Teo got up, picked up the rifle by the strap and pulled it over his shoulder. "You gonna be all right here?" He put a hand on Poe's shoulder.

Poe met his gaze and he nodded in response. Teo walked away and went down the cliff, heading back to the camp.

"I thought he was only trying to scare that doctor back in the compound when he mentioned about killing a kid" Leigh admitted.

"He did what he had to do, otherwise Gally would've killed more of my friends" Poe explained.

He watched Teo below the cliff and walked back to the camp. As Teo reached the hill, Newt was spotted, he was coming this way.

Newt, what would Poe have done right now if Newt was gone? Gone like Anton, or gone gone when Newt decided to sacrifice himself with Thomas, Minho, Frypan, Teo and Anton. They would be all gone with Newt, and Poe would be lost forever.

Leigh wanted to leave too but didn't want to leave Poe alone. She also wanted to avoid the silence. "Did you know—" Leigh paused for a moment but thought of what her friend, Rachel told her and she can't help to tell Poe about it. "did you know that our names, are not even our real names? That WICKED changed our names since we were children"

Poe nodded, "Thomas mentioned it"

"He say who you were named after?"

Poe nodded again, "Yeah, it's uhmm... Edgar Allan Poe"

Leigh softly laughed through her nose. "Figured... Rachel told me I was... named after a poem, or the title of a poem. The poem was Annabel Lee"

Poe furrowed his brows, confused but found the name familiar.

"The poem was written by Edgar Allan Poe" she said.

Poe let out a chuckle.

The girl laughed as well. It is odd that Poe was named after a poet, Edgar Allan Poe and the girl was named after one of Edgar's poems. Perhaps he known this girl before the maze, maybe they worked together, maybe they were friends since they were children.

Poe didn't notice Newt was already here. "How's it going up here?"

"Quiet, empty, boring" Leigh replied then let out a sigh. "See nothing but birds"

Newt raised his brows, "Good that, I guess"

"I'm gonna go check on Harriet" she turned around and started walking down the path. "See ya"

"See ya" Poe said back before shifting his gaze back at the view.

He didn't notice that Newt was staring at him. "You know, you really got a knack of getting girls to talk to you like they already like you"

Poe gave him a strange look, he scoffed, "Oh come on, man" he let out a soft laugh.

"I'm kidding" Newt went to sit on a rock where Teo sat before. Poe raised the binoculars to his eyes again and looked ahead. There was nothing moving ahead besides the dusts flying and the heat rising. "We're gonna get him back... Anton. And Minho. We're gonna get them back"

Poe can't help to think about Anton. Does the boy have hopes? Does he wonder if Poe is planning to get him back? Does he remember Poe made a promise for him? But there was something that he had realized just now. "You know... I promised that kid that I would look out for him, that I'd find him a home, and that I'll protect him" Poe looked at Newt, he went around him to sit down next to him. "...I think it was the opposite. I think he's the one who was looking out for me and protecting me all this time... back in the Glade, Nick almost killed me but Anton saved me. He came for me back in the compound. Janson was about to capture me last night but Anton... that— that brave kid stopped him" Poe couldn't recall a time where he saved Anton. He tried to recall but there wasn't a time.

"No" Newt shifted his gaze onto Poe, "I think you two were protecting each other because that's what I've seen"

Like what Poe had said before, that was yesterday that whenever he tried to protect Anton, something happens. Poe didn't say this to Newt, for some reason Poe didn't want Newt to feel bad or feel sorry. Instead, Poe looked at him and flashed a weak smile before dropping his gaze at the ground.

Poe thought about last night, when Newt, Anton, Teo, Thomas, Minho and Frypan were willing to die than going back to WCKD. Poe would've done the same if he were in that position while they've lost their freedom and hope. "You were willing to die with our friends, were you?"

Newt sighed, "Like Teo said... better than to go back to WICKED and go through what they've done to us the past three years... it wasn't my first attempt to die"

Poe's glance was on Newt again. His brows lightly pressed together.

"About months ago, I was a Runner, one day I go into the Maze, I implied Minho that we should split up and we did"

Poe wasn't sure where Newt's story was going but he was thinking about something. This is something Newt has never shared before.

"I climbed on one of the walls, I climbed until I was higher enough... there I was, thinking the fall would kill me, but instead, my leg got caught by one of the vines"

Poe realized that Newt was telling him about what happened to his leg. Now he knew why Newt was reluctant to share it. Now Poe felt horrible of how he kept on asking him about his leg.

"Minho was close enough to hear my screams. He dragged me back into the Glade, and we never spoke about that day ever again. My leg hasn't been the same since then"

Poe really wanted to wrap his arms around Newt, and hold him. Hold him for a long time then maybe... maybe to—

"Not long I had found a reason to live... Nick. As I told you before about him, but he was gone then I felt that I had nothing"

Had. Has he found something to live for? He has something now and he has found a new reason.

"Last night... I thought I lost everything, like there was nothing to fight for... I really thought you were gone"

Me? Poe looked at him again. Was Newt saying what Poe is thinking? Is he the reason? That Poe is the reason why Newt is still fighting? All that just for him?

"I can't imagine what I would've done right now when you're not here sitting with me

Poe's heart quickened. Unable to find any words to say even though there are a thousand or more words running in his brain that he should say but he could not choose which of those words he should say. All this time he wondered about Newt since in the Glade, there were these vibes from this boy when they're together. Those smiles that he gives to Poe that made him feel warm, the way Newt looks at Poe that makes his chest to flutter, Newt comes to Poe quickly when he gets glum and attempts to comfort him. Newt was always there and he's the only one who could make Poe's heart to flutter just by looking at him and with a smile.

How could Poe be this so blind to see that? He thought it was just an imagination or some sort, that it was something that he could only ever thought of, that it only existed in his head. That it was only possible in his dreams. Is he dreaming? If he was dreaming, he wouldn't ever want to wake up.

Poe had found words to say, but before he could. The horn blared from the camp, about six vehicles were in the camp and there was Frypan waving at Newt and Poe. Calling out, "Newt! Poe! It's time to move! Let's go!"

Newt sighed sharply as he stood up, "Well, I suppose we should talk again later. If you want... or ever" he muttered at the last word and didn't even look at Poe like he was embarrassed.

Does he think that he has scared Poe off? Newt was already walking and made his way back to the camp. Poe was behind him.

Will later ever come? Maybe, maybe not but anything could happen any moment. Something that will draw them both apart, like it did to Winston who had been snatched away from Teo before Teo could ever tell him that he loved him.

Poe halted, "Newt?"

Newt stopped and turned around. Expressing a perplex and questioning look.

This was the moment, this was the moment that he can't miss, if anything happens in the next few moment where either of those two get taken away, then he shouldn't let this moment be wasted away.

Poe didn't say anything, he took steps forward to get closer to Newt until he was close enough to reach him. Newt had a strange look on his face as his brown eyes never left Poe's bright blue eyes that Newt always loved to look at. Then Poe kissed him.

There was second where he didn't know how to do it. He just knew how it goes. All that fear, all that worry that Poe was feeling five minutes ago was gone, replaced by this exhilaration. Nothing mattered at that moment, it was just him and Newt, like everything was okay. It was gentle, slow and... familiar. Familiar like he's done this before? Or that they've done this together before? Familiarity is what it felt like.

When Poe pulled away, they were still close as they looked at each other and Newt looked surprised. Poe wanted to say it. He wanted to tell him that he likes him very much, or maybe it was more than that. Maybe he loved him. Maybe he's had for a while.

But before he could even say it, Newt flashed a smile, his hand reached and cupped Poe's cheek and kissed him. Newt felt he has done this before as well... and it also felt like... finally.

END OF PART II

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There you have it and god... I'm so bad at writing scenes like that tbh and I tried my best but it feels like it wasn't my best at all -_- but hey... poewt has sailed ^_^

End of part 2 already?!!! Omg, now I'm gonna move onto part 3 aka the Death Cure! I'm so not ready!

Alright, fave moments in this part 2? Any fave OC? What are you looking forward to the Death Cure?

I'll be taking a break from this story for few weeks, idk how long but probably 3 weeks, during those weeks, I may have to update the chapters by adding gifs above just to make my story more aesthetic asf xD and I'm going to publish the "Part III intro" chapter tomorrow or the day after...