The next day, we all gathered around to come up with a plan. We all had a lot to think about, trying to come up with ideas as to how to get inside the headquarters. Gally was still convinced that Teresa was their way inside, along with Beth stepping in and including Aris in the plan as well.

We were all together for a meeting in one of the rooms similar to what we had back at the camp. Gally and Beth explained their idea to the others, while Thomas paced back and forth as he listened to what he heard already.

Finally, once the two were done, Thomas shook his head. "No. There's gotta be another way."

Gally almost threw his hands in the air out of frustration. "Like what? You've seen the building. She's our only way in."

"Don't forget the stick's boyfriend, too," Beth added. "He's just as part of this as she is."

I rolled my eyes. "Again, his name is Aris, and he is not my boyfriend."

"Well, do you two really think they'll help us?" Thomas asked Gally and Beth.

"We weren't really planning on asking for their permission," Gally retorted.

Brenda huffed a sigh. "Okay, am I missing something here? This is the same girl who betrayed us, correct? Same dick?"

Gally looked at us and pointed at Brenda. "I like her."

Brenda ignored his comment focused on Thomas. "What's going on?"

All of us stared at the boy, some with concerned looks and others looking perplexed. I could see the uneasy look on Thomas' face.

"Piper, what do you think?" Thomas questioned me out of nowhere.

I widened my eyes in surprise. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because you and Aris are close and I know seeing him in there working for them probably...well..." Thomas trailed off, because we both knew what he was trying to say.

I sighed, folding my arms over my chest. "I mean, if what Gally and Beth said is true about them being our only way in, then we need to go ahead and take that opportunity."

Thomas shot me a disagreeing look, then looked down at the table. "It just sounds...I don't know..."

"What, are you afraid your little girlfriend's gonna get hurt?" Newt spoke up, giving Thomas a serious look, almost looking angry. "This has obviously never been just about rescuing Minho and Lillie, has it?"

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Thomas asked, confused.

"I'm talking about Teresa," Newt snapped. "She's the only reason that Minho and Lillie are missing in the first place! Now we finally have an opportunity to get them back, and what, you don't want to because of her?" Newt cornered Thomas against the wall. "Because deep down inside you still care about her, don't you? Just admit it. Piper seems to be okay with it, even if Aris is working for them now..."

"Newt, stop it!" I shouted, but he ignored me.

"Newt..." Thomas said calmly.

"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Newt yelled, pushing Thomas. "DON'T. LIE. TO. ME."

We all stood there in silence and shock at Newt's behavior. He always seemed to calm, as if he had his emotions all straightened out. But here, shouting at Thomas, reacting in an angry way, this wasn't him.

Newt's eyes softened as he backed off of Thomas. "Sorry," he muttered, then turned around at us. "I'm sorry." With that, he held a grip on his right arm and walked out.

"What the hell is his deal?" Aurora asked.

Gwyneth had a sad look on her face. "I think I know." She followed him out, along with Thomas.

Beth then had a realization fall upon her. "Not him, too," she mumbled.

I turned towards her. "What does that mean?"

She looked at me. "You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Being annoying."

"Excuse me?"

"You know what, I'm not going to argue with you." Beth stormed out.

I was about to go after her, but Maeve grabbed my arm. "She's not even worth it."

I scoffed. "That's funny, coming from you, Mae."

"Yeah, well, she's our side now," Maeve pointed out.

So we all dispersed, taking some more time to think about the plan Gally and Beth proposed to us. I wanted to follow through with it. I was just hoping that everyone else agreed with me, and even hoped that Thomas would come around.

I found my friends and joined them outside, making the circle they created bigger. "So, what do you all think of this plan?"

"I think it's mad," Maeve said immediately.

"But it could work," Sonya added. "I mean, Aris and Teresa know the ins and outs of the place."

"How do we know we can trust them?" Harriet asked. "Teresa betrayed us once, and with Aris on her side now..."

"He wouldn't," I spoke up, trying to sound assuring. "Aris would help out."

"Do you really know that for sure?" Maeve asked.

"Yes," I replied, nodding my head. "I know that he's working for them now--"

"Piper, you have to realize what's at stake here," Harriet cut me off. "Minho and Lillie's lives are on the line and Aris obviously sees that."

"Look, if you think I'm gonna let my feelings for Aris get in the way of saving our friends, then you're mistaken. I wouldn't have agreed with all of this if that was the case."

The girls all looked at me and each other.

Sonya sighed. "We just wanted to make sure you knew that. I mean, it's clear that Thomas and Teresa...well, there's something between them, and we can see it all over his face."

I nodded, understanding where they were coming from with this subject.

The sound of footsteps came behind us, causing us to see who it was. Gwyneth was standing there, with Beth beside her. "I have a confession to make," Gwyneth told us, a sad look falling upon her face. She looked down at her arm and reluctantly rolled up her sleeve, revealing the part that was infected.

We gasped and took a closer look at her arm, the veins popping out, a dark color spread across her skin. "Gwyn..." Sonya began to say.

"I've had a weird feelin' since we left the camp," she explained. "But yesterday, I just knew something was wrong. I didn't feel like myself. When Beth and I talked, we saw this on my arm." She paused, wiping a few tears from her eyes. "It's ironic, isn't it? I spent two years in the Glen, helpin' people as a Medic, and now no one, not even myself, can help with this stickin' disease that's inside me."

"No, Gwyn, don't you dare say that," Maeve told her in a serious tone. "We'll figure this out. Don't give up so easily."

"Mae, there's no hope for me," Gwyneth stated. "Newt's infected, too, along with so many others out there. WICKED will never find a cure."

"Gwyn, listen," I said firmly, taking the other hand that was not infected yet. "None of us are going to give up on you and Newt. We're all here and we're not going anywhere."

"Yeah, we never gave up in the Glen," Harriet added. "We're certainly not going to stop now."

Gwyneth sighed. "Just promise me that none of you won't let me turn into one of those stickin' Cranks if it comes down to it."

"Gwyn--" Beth started to say behind her.

"Promise me!" she raised her voice, then composed herself. "Please."

We all exchanged looks of sadness and defeat, then nodded our heads. "Okay," I spoke up when no one else did.

All of a sudden, Thomas and Gally came in. "We've got an idea," Gally told us. "We want to run it by you all and see what you think."

"Okay, what is it?" Maeve asked.

Thomas stepped in. "Well, we need answers about the building, and Gally's right about Teresa and Aris being our way in." He then turned towards me. "I think you're gonna see him sooner than you think."

"How soon?" I asked, curious.

"I was thinking about tonight."

~~~~~~~

A/N: Well, there ya have it. Poor Gwyneth is infected. :(

Let me know what you think!

Song above is Angel By The Wings by Sia.

Comment, vote, next chapter will be back in Aris' POV!

-A