I barely slept a wink. The rescue mission was seeped into my brain, trying to figure out the ways that this plan could collapse. In the beginning, I was prepared, even optimistic, about this plan, but waking up and getting closer to leaving, I wasn't so sure. I could never admit to Thomas that I started to have doubts, not with how close we were to get our friends back and also with how far we had come in six months.

The few of us that were going on this mission were setting up their trucks, getting all of the equipment they needed. I had my gun loaded and the truck packed with extra ammo and weapons for the others.

I huffed a sigh. "This can't go wrong," I told myself.

I was loading the truck that I was planning to drive when Aurora came over. "Nervous?" she asked me.

I shrugged. "A little. It seems like now that the day is here..."

"I get it," she said. "I know you're ready to see your friends and boyfriend again."

I rolled my eyes. "Aris isn't my boyfriend."

Aurora chuckled. "Yeah, okay." She strolled away, getting more supplies for the truck.

I thought about Aris a lot while he was in WICKED's hands. I hoped he was okay and wondered if he thought about me as well. The idea that WICKED was messing with his brain to find clues for a cure for the Flare made my blood boil.

He was going to be okay. He had to, for my sake.

As soon as I finished loading the truck, Vince came around. "Okay, Newt, your group needs to head out! Harriet, Frypan, you as well! Where's Thomas?" he walked around, looking all over for Thomas.

"Piper," Gwyneth said from behind, making me turn around to face her. "Get any sleep last night?"

"Not at all."

"Same." She paused, then went on. "We're gonna get them back."

I looked at my friend and nodded my head. "Yeah, I hope so, Gwyn."

Thomas approached us, looking breathless already. "Okay, we're heading out. Jorge and Brenda left not too long ago."

We nodded and hopped inside the truck with me driving again. Aurora jumped in the back, her gun strapped over her shoulder. "Alright, all set?"

"Yup," Gwyneth replied, loading her gun. "Now let's go rescue some sticks."

I started the truck, feeling my heart already pumping hard as I waited for Vince and Thomas to get prepared. Once they headed out of the camp in their truck, I hit the pedal and sped out of the camp to catch up with them.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't crash before we get to the train!" Aurora shouted.

"Duly noted!" I shouted back, getting closer to Vince and Thomas.

The drive to the train felt long, no matter how fast we were going. Over the hills and bumps, it was all familiar to me. It had been for the last six months and hopefully, it would be the last time I came driving around here.

All of a sudden, the train whistle echoed in the distance. The plan was officially in motion.

"Faster, Piper!" Aurora shouted from the back. "I'm ready to make this train rattle!"

I obliged and hit the gas again, my truck just behind Vince and Thomas'. Now going as fast as I could, my adrenaline was pumping at the same speed. I gripped the wheel tighter, not wanting to lose control of the truck, with my nails digging in the leather fabric so hard it began to hurt my hands.

When the train was in sight, I heard Thomas say something through the radio, but couldn't make out the words. Vince drove off and headed for the rear end of the train while I made my way towards the front.

"Don't get to the very front yet," Aurora ordered.

"Why?" I asked.

"Just don't," she barked.

Not wanting to cause any issues, I did as I was told. I slowed down when I got to the second cart, wondering what Aurora wanted to do. "What are you planning to do?" I questioned.

I saw from the corner of my eye that she was standing up from her seat. "Get closer!"

"What?"

"Get closer! There's a ladder right there!"

I got a bit closer, making me more nervous. "Just tell me what you're trying to do!" I shouted.

"I told you, rattling the train!" Then, she pushed herself off of the truck and onto the ladder. "Keep them busy, girls!"

Gwyneth chuckled, getting her gun ready. "That stick is crazy."

I headed to the front, getting farther from the train this time. Gwyneth aimed her gun at the window with two men from WICKED. I caught a glimpse of Gwyneth firing at them, the bullets hitting the glass, not doing as much damage as I thought.

"Can you tell me what Aurora is doing now?" I asked Gwyneth.

"She's headin' for the front of the train now," she explained. "Maybe that's a good thing. Vince and Thomas need more time, probably."

All of a sudden, I heard a loud noise from above, seeing and feeling the wind blow faster. I looked up briefly and saw what was about to hover over us. "Damn, it's a Berg."

"Uh-oh," Gwyneth stated. "Looks like we've got more company."

Looking ahead, some WICKED soldiers were coming out, their guns pointed our way. They shot at us, the bullets not making it through the windshield, fortunately. I slightly ducked down, jerking the wheel a bit. Gwyneth took her gun and began to use it again. I turned to see Aurora right above the soldiers, doing her best to get their attention away from us.

"Thomas better hurry up!" Gwyneth yelled, shooting some more at the soldiers. She looked behind her for a brief second. "Looks like they're both on the train!"

"Good!" I yelled.

"Hey, you guys got company!" Thomas shouted from his radio.

"We're aware!" I yelled back.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Shit!" I shouted. "I didn't know that's what he meant!"

"Go, Piper!" Gwyneth screamed.

Flashes of orange and grey came around us as I twisted and turned at every open space I could find. Eventually, the Berg ended up following Jorge and Brenda. "Where are we gonna go now?"

The static of the radio came back in. "You guys are on your own now. Don't die," Brenda said.

"Good luck," Thomas replied.

"You, too," Gwyneth added, then turning to me. "Now what?"

I headed away from the train, avoiding any more explosions. "Keep an eye on the train. When it stops, we'll know to head back."

"No, Piper, I think we need to go back to the camp," Gwyneth stated.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What? No, we've come this far, Gwyn. We can't just--"

"I get it, I really do, but all of them have it under control."

"We can't just leave them!" I protested.

"Piper! They'll be fine and they'll understand," she stated in a firm voice. "We might get caught up with another Berg and not come out alive."

I huffed a sigh, slamming on the brakes. I turned to see the train had stopped and the gunshots echoing from afar. I looked at Gwyneth, then shook my head. "Okay." With that, I hit the gas pedal and headed back to camp, hoping that Gwyneth was right about the choice we just made.

~~~~~~~

A/N: Wow, I actually finished a chapter?

I know this was long overdue and it was gonna be a lot longer, but I was having a hard time with this chapter and decided to wrap it up. So, here ya go, lol.

Song above is Rescue by John Paesano (from Death Cure of course).

Comment, vote, I've missed this story.

-A