Chapter XXXVII

THOMAS SLAMMED LUCINDA'S BACK against a tree, his hand gripping her shoulder firmly pinning her there. "I won't tell you again!"

"Shout all you want," Lucinda said through gritted teeth, "but the fact is you can't pull her out without my help." She raised her chin. "And I refuse to give it."

"Then you ... will die." His voice was breathy as his heart pounded. With a jab, he thrust the tip of his shard into Lucinda's chest just below her neck.

Lucinda yelped, but it was quickly replaced with laughter. "Do it," she taunted, her green eyes shinning at they stared at him. "You kill me, you kill her."

Thomas averted his gaze in thought. He released a huff as he withdrew his shard. He wanted to end the witch's life for several reasons. One being because she refused to help, and secondly because she thought it would be easy to get him to do her bidding. He swung himself around, his hands flying to his head as he gripped his hair in frustration.

"Thomas!" He lowered his hands and turned his head to find Bellamy running up to him, a smile on his face. "Thomas, there may be another way." Thomas's eyes widened. "Brianna's making progress with Mr. Magnus. She thinks that with the power he has, maybe he can help save Joey."

( Without a second thought, Thomas took off following Bellamy to a small group huddled around the assassin on his knees; cries of anguish were heard as they pushed past a few people.

He found the teacher lying on his side, his hands still tied behind his back, screaming out in pain as something unforeseen attacked him. "What are you doing?" he asked loudly before taking a step to aid him.

"Wait!" David slapped a hand on Thomas's chest. "Brianna's been digging through his mind, searching for the memories that Agcorp blocking." He dropped his hand back to his side and his face dipped in a frown. "In the process, she discovered he has an ability."

Thomas glanced confusingly between David and the assassin. "Discovered? You mean, you didn't know?"

David shook his head. "He works for Agcorp. Did I expect him to have an ability?" He snorted and looked away.

"I think ... I almost ... got him." Brianna squinted, gritting her teeth as she cupped her head in her hands. With a sudden grunt, she tumbled back, but Alex caught her from behind. She panted heavily, and Mr. Magnus laid quiet on the floor.

"Is it done?" Nathan asked, squatting as he stared at the unconscious man.

Brianna nodded. "I think so," she said with a sigh. "I found ... his suppressed memories." She swallowed before straightening herself. "He should remember you, but now he'll have two different lives stuck in his head. It may take him some time to figure out which is real."

Thomas stared down impatiently at Mr. Magnus, excitement bursting through him, but he furrowed his brow when the teacher didn't move. "Why isn't he waking up?"

"It may take time," Brianna responded. "I put him through a lot to get to those memories."

"Time?" Thomas asked in disbelief, flinging his head in her direction. "Time is what we don't have!" He balled his hands. "Why can't you save Joey? Clearly, you can get inside peoples minds."

"I'm limited," Brianna replied blandly. "Memories are hard enough to reach, but getting inside a dream state ... I don't have that kinda power."

"Then we have to get him up," Thomas stated sternly. He marched over to Mr. Magnus and shook him roughly. "Hey! Mr. Magnus!" It took several attempts of shaking, but eventually the assassin began to stir.

Groaning, Mr. Magnus winced as his eyes slowly opened. He glanced around at the many faces, and confusion twisted his face. His eyes widened as he quickly shifted upright until he was on his knees. "What's going on here? I don't want any trouble."

"Mr. Magnus, you here with us?" Thomas asked, giving a small grin.

The teacher's brow pulled together. "Yes, and who might you be?"

"Thomas Walker." Relieved, he let out a soft laugh. "Thank goodness. We need your help."

"You need my help? Wh—" He once again gazed around. "What's going on?"

"It's okay, Mr. Magnus." Ella knelt down beside the teacher and gave him a grin. "Brianna saved you."

"Miss Spencer?" Mr. Magnus gave an even more puzzled look as he looked up towards Brianna. "Saved me from what?"

"Don't you remember anything?" Bellamy asked, his arms crossed.

"Remember?" He gazed at the ground shaking his head. "Remember wh—" He cut himself off and his eyes grew with realization. "Oh," was all he said. He returned the look and glanced around at all the present faces. "Agcorp. They ..." He furrowed his brow. "Wanted me to kill you." Giving a confident glare, he continued, "I've been training with them since I was a boy for a moment like this." He struggled against his bond.

"No, no, no!" Kathleen hunched over to get closer to him. "Mr. Magnus, none of that was real. They brainwashed you."

He ceased his attempt to escape as he stared at her. "They ... brainwashed me?"

"Yes, so we need you to focus on your true memories, Mr. Magnus," David hurriedly replied. "Joey's in trouble. So you need to get your act together and save her!"

"Miss Richards?" Mr. Magnus asked, worry thickening his tone. "Why does she need saving?"

Thomas stepped around Mr. Magnus and cut his bonds before yanking him to his feet, ignoring Nathan and Brianna's protest. "She's trapped in a dream state." He pushed the teacher over towards Joey. "Only you can save her."

"A dream state, you say?" Mr. Magnus sounded intrigued. "How did that happen?"

"Doesn't matter how." Thomas pushed his question aside. "But Brianna found your ability and knows your power. We need that power now."

Mr. Magnus sighed, moving to the side to keep Thomas from pushing him. "I haven't used my ability in a long time. I don't honestly know if I still can." His gaze moved over Thomas's shoulder. "No one was supposed to know I even had one," he whispered. "I hid it well."

"Funny how it finds a way to come out even when you hide it for years," David spoke up.

Mr. Magnus suddenly arched a brow, and Thomas turned around, wondering what the assassin was seeing. "Bellamy Perish?"

Bellamy perked up at the mention of his name. "Yes?" he asked, drawing out the word.

Thomas glanced back at the teacher as he smirked. "I used to watch you on the Undergrounds scenes." He wagged a finger. "You, my friend, have a very interesting ability. One I have yet to see in anyone else."

Bellamy blushed, but held his head high. "I try to use it wisely."

"I'm sure you do," the teacher responded. "The way you healed your mother ..." He nodded his head in approval. "But what I don't understand is, if you're here then why is Joey still dying?" Bellamy didn't answer, but his shoulders dropped. "Oh, I see. No consent."

"Can we get back to Joey, please?" Thomas asked, enraged. He was already infuriated that Bellamy wouldn't bend the rules to save Joey, he didn't need another reminder.

Mr. Magnus nodded before turning his head to the right. "I need to see her first. Examine the extent of damage."

Thomas extended a hand, and Mr. Magnus took off in a sprint towards Joey's body. As they neared the unconscious girl, Thomas's heart lurched as Michelle sat against the same tree rubbing the back of her head, and Evangeline patted a nonstick pad on the back of Michelle's head; Jacob glanced around with his whips conjured in both palms.

"What happened?" Thomas asked, looking around.

Michelle huffed. "She got the once over on me," she complained. She winced as Evangeline dabbed her head once more, and when she pulled the pad back, a blotch of blood filled the center.

"You okay?" Jenny asked as the others trailed Thomas and Mr. Magnus.

Michelle shewed Evangeline away. "I'll be fine. They're making a big deal out it."

"She knocked you out," Jacob stated. "She's dangerous. It doesn't hurt to be ready for if she returns."

"Oh, she'll return alright." Michelle clambered to her feet, using the bark for support as she stumbled. "I have a feeling her job's not done."

"How did she get to you?" Nathan asked, gripping Michelle's arm tenderly. "You should've heard her."

Michelle rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's hard to believe, but even I sometimes make mistakes."

Thomas sprinted to Joey's side, opposite of where Michelle stood, and sank down on his knees. He motioned for Mr. Magnus to follow, and once he did, the teacher closed his eyes and drew in a breath holding it. When he finally let it out, he said, "There's a lot of damage. Too much to bring her out safely."

"I already know that," Thomas replied, "but I don't care what it takes. She'll die if she stays in, or she'll die trying to be rescued." A lump formed in his throat. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather try."

Gazing intently at Thomas, Mr. Magnus sighed deeply and nodded his head. "Alright, Mr. Walker. Have it your way." He placed his hand on Joey's shoulder and closed his eyes. "Just know that whatever happens ... it won't be my fault."

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JOEY HUNG FROM THE edge of a cliff, her right hand barely gripping the rock that had begun to slip out of place. Panting heavy, she broke out in a string of sobs. "I'm going to die," she choked out. She opened her mouth, intending to shout for help, but the words remained caught at the back of her throat.

She peered over her shoulder down at the jagged rocks and the shadow that threatened to swallow her whole. Her fingers slithered one by one off the rock she desperately clung to, and her muscles ached and shook from hoisting her up for so long. "No! No!"

As she dangled there, a quick thought to let go rose in the back of her mind. She was going to fall anyway. She didn't see the point in torturing herself with false hope that someone was going to save her. There was no one left. Her friends were dead, and Michelle and her crew had vanished off the face of the earth. There was no one left to lead to the second Dome. Her journey to find her father had come to an end.

She closed her eyes and sighed a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, dad," she whispered. "I failed." Her fingers slowly peeled away from the rock keeping her suspended in air, her heart lurching as she began to fall, but she was only able to slipped a few inches before a strong hand grasped hold of her wrist jerking her to a stop.

Panting from the adrenaline, she stared down at the jagged rocks that threatened to rip her to pieces; blood thumped loudly in her ears. She flung her head up and gasped at the man holding her life in his hands. "Mr. Magnus?" An unexpected laugh escaped her lips as a smile etched her face from ear to ear.

"Come on, kid," he said returning the smile, though his grin was very weary and worn. "It's time to get you home."

Mr. Magnus pulled her upwards but a sudden fear gripped her and she let herself fall into a dead weight to resist his pull. "No," she argued calmly. "Let me fall. Please." Her voiced came out dragged and tired, but her grin remained. "I'm done fighting."

Mr. Magnus shook his head and his arm trembled as he tried yanking her onto the ledge. "No, this is not the way, Miss Richards. Your father gave his life to protect you from the Dome. This isn't what he'd want. You can't give up now."

Joey lowered her head and closed her eyes, guilt making her cheeks hot. Gazing up at her teacher, she grabbed the rock with her left hand and helped pull herself to safety as Mr. Magnus' strong arms tugged her upwards. As she reached the ledge, a bright light suddenly appeared and she was lifted into its radiance.

———————————————————————————————

MR. MAGNUS LEANED BACK huffing, and placed his hands on his knees. "I've ... I've pulled her out ... of the dream state." He cleared his throat. "It's up to her now to come back."

Thomas shifted his gaze from Mr. Magnus down to the pale girl in front of him. "How will we tell if she's healing? When she wakes up?"

Mr. Magnus shook his head. "It's not pleasant. Her body will do everything it can to survive, but her mind will try to resist." He narrowed his eyes as his eyes scanned her body. "There is very powerful and dark magic at work here. Whoever trapped Miss Richards in this dream state wants her dead and has gone to extravagant measures to see it done."

Thomas gulped as he peered down at Joey. He didn't know much about this girl, except for the fact that everyone seemed to want her dead. He wished he could switch places with her. "But why her?" He looked back up at the teacher. "Joey's just an average girl. Why would someone go through so much trouble to kill her?"

"Oh, Mr. Walker," Mr. Magnus began, his voice in a low rumble. "If only you truly knew how special this girl is to a lot of people. To some, she brings a lot of hope while ... many others seek her death." After a moment of silence, he confessed, "There's one more thing you should know," Mr. Magnus confessed. He gave a quick glance around. "And I'm only saying this to you because if she makes it out of this, she's going to need a lot of help and I think you're the right man." He paused. "If I had been even a second later ... Joey would be gone."

Thomas furrowed his brow. "What are you saying?"

He lowered his voice a tad more and leaned in close. "I think she wanted to stay. She was hanging on the ledge of a cliff, and she wanted me to drop her."

Thomas jerked his head back in shock and shook it. "No. No, you have to be wrong. She wouldn't ..." He glanced down at the unconscious girl, unable to finish his sentence. "Do that." He ran a hand through her hair. "Who knows what's going on inside her mind. There has to be a reason."

Mr. Magnus shifted on the ground uncomfortably. "Miss Richards fight is not over. Now, she must choose whether to come back to us or depart from us." He averted his gaze.

Thomas furrowed his brow. "There's something you're not telling me," he accused. "What is it?"

Mr. Magnus sighed heavily. "After what I just witnessed ..." He fumbled over his words. "I-I-I don't believe Miss Richards is going to choose to come back."

Thomas felt like his heart had stopped beating. "What?" the words barely surpassed his lips. Licking his lips, he kept himself composed. "Well ... you'll just have to send me into her mind then. I can talk her into coming back."

"I cannot," Mr. Magnus argued, shaking his head. "I'm too weak. It will be impossible."

"I didn't ask if it was possible," Thomas spat. He stood to his feet and spoke sternly. "You will send me into her mind again so I can guide her back. I won't accept that she's gone, and I certainly won't allow her to just give up."

Mr. Magnus' soft expression suddenly turned hard. "I said it cannot be done."

"And I say it can!" Thomas screamed.

Like a switch had been flipped inside his brain, Mr. Magnus suddenly launched himself at Thomas and the somersaulted in the grass until Mr. Magnus landed on top.

Thomas conjured his shards, but as he was about to strike, Mr. Magnus gripped his wrists with a strength the man didn't look like he had, and he pinned Thomas's arms to the dirt. He gritted his teeth as he pushed against the assassins pressure, but his arms didn't budge and shook under the weight. "Help!" he shouted without knowing if anyone was already on the way to assist.

Mr. Magnus glanced at Thomas's shards. "Cute," he said with a smirk, "but mine's bigger." Thomas flinched as a spear quickly appeared in the mans grasp, the tip barely inches above his skull.

"Hold him back!" Mr. Magnus was ripped off of him as two people grabbed his arms.

When he was clear, Thomas swiftly scooted away, and Bellamy gripped him under his arms yanking him to his feet. "You okay?" he asked, turning Thomas towards him.

Thomas grunted in reply. "He's too broken!"

"I told you!" Brianna shouted with her hands cupped around her head trying to calm Mr. Magnus back down. "Without knowing the different realities, he won't be of much use to us. Face it, Thomas." When the assassin settled down and laid asleep on the ground, she lowered her hands and turned to face him. "I'm sorry, but she's gone."

He felt like someone had just stabbed a dagger in his heart. Tears pricked his eyes as he poked a finger at his chest. "I can't accept that," he said, his voice cracking. Turning to his left, he eyed Bellamy once again, and Bellamy sighed averted his gaze. "Please," Thomas pleaded. "You are all I have left."

Bellamy clenched his jaw and stayed silent for at least a full minute. "What do you have in mind?"

Thomas's heart leaped, thankful that Bellamy had finally come to his senses. Licking his lips, he began to explain his plan.

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MICHELLE AND NATHAN CAME into view from off in the distance with a few squirrels in their grasp. "Lunch," she said, tossing the furry creatures towards the twins who happily took them away to skin and gut. "Any news on Joey?" she asked, looking over.

"Only that it isn't over," Ella informed sullenly.

"And what about him?" Michelle continued in a low voice. "Anything ... happen while we were gone?"

David rolled his eyes as he threw aside the blade of grass he had been picking at. "If you're referring to 'Did he freak out and try to kill someone' then the answer is no. Don't you have other things to worry about?" He twisted his head up to Michelle. "Like worrying about the man here that actually will turn on us at a moments notice?" He stood and marched away, shoving his hands into his pockets as he tucked his head low.

"David, that's not what she meant!" Ella called out, but he didn't stop. "David!"

He plopped down far away from the others. Just far enough to where he could see everyone clearly, but couldn't listen in on any conversations. Pulling his legs up to his chest, he rested his forehead on his knees with a heavy sigh. He felt lost, defeated, and didn't know what to do. In the cave, he had thought Agcorp had gotten out of his head, but after what happened with Joey and seeing what they did to Mr. Magnus ... he was terrified that they weren't really gone. That they were just laying low and could flip a switch just as easily as they could with his teacher. Hurting someone else was the last thing he wanted to do. No, being far away from his friends was what was best.

Turning his head towards Joey, he noticed how Thomas had never left her side, and for some reason he couldn't explain, it bothered him. He hated seeing how easily Thomas and Joey had become friends. Even when he first met Joey, it had taken him several weeks just to get on a good conversation level. She was always too shy and nervous to talk, hidden away behind the walls she had built against everyone, but from the little time he watched her around the older boy, she acted like there was nothing she'd hide from him.

Narrowing his eyes, he watched as Thomas stroked Joey's hair and gripped her hand tightly before continuing his conversation with Bellamy. It was then that he realized his hands were locked into fists as he looked down at them and found them crystalizing. He relaxed his grip and the crystal melted along with his boiling anger. Sighing, he leaned his head back against the bark and closed his eyes.

He hated Thomas. Thomas had blamed him for what happened, but he was now making that same mistake. David thought that taking the compass would save Joey from losing herself, and Thomas believed that pulling her out of the dream state would bring her back when multiple people had already said it would kill her. Thomas wasn't being any smarter than David had been.

He couldn't stand to just sit here and do nothing. If Joey was dying he wanted to be by her side to let her know he was still there, and if Thomas was right and they did save her then he had to be there when she woke up. He had to apologize and make this right.

Jumping to his feet, he made his way over to Thomas, Bellamy, and the dying girl. His presence immediately drew both the older boys attention. Thomas instantly sprang to his feet, his fists clenched, and Bellamy slowly followed.

David held up his hands in defense. "Relax," he said slowly. He glanced between the two boys before slowly sitting at Joey's feet, far enough away to keep Thomas from attacking.

"What do you want, David?" Thomas asked, scooting closer to Joey like he thought David would try to finish the job. "If that's even who you are right now."

David felt a wave of cold wash over him with anger and the ground below his hands turned to ice. "I just wanted to see how she was doing."

"She's dying!" Thomas shouted, hatred thickening his tone. "She's fighting for her life to survive! No thanks to you."

A rush of vapor poured off David's shoulders as his anger continued to rise. Thomas didn't understand. He was trying to help Joey! He was only ever trying to help her! Eventually, she would've died whether he had taken that compass or not and that was a fact. Either she would've been swallowed up by the darkness or Lucinda would've used her until she was dried up.

He glanced down at Joey and his anger rapidly vanished. He was right in saying that he had tried to help her, but inevitably, he couldn't shake the fact that it was him who put her in this state. "Is there any thing I can do to help?" His voice came out soft and cracked as he tried to keep his tears at bay.

"Help?" Thomas furrowed his brow. Unexpectedly, he sprang up, an ice shard protruding from his knuckles, and he gripped David by the collar though he didn't flinch.

"Thomas," Bellamy said sternly.

From the corner of his eye, David saw several of the others sprinting towards them, but in that instant, Thomas's shard retracted and he released David with a hard push. "You've done enough."

David's heart pounded against his chest but he didn't flee. Instead, he remained still, both he and Thomas staring at one another as the others backed off. He knew Thomas wasn't going to let him anywhere near Joey, and he wasn't going to make a move towards her. His attention was drawn downwards as Joey began to slightly stir.

"Joey?" Thomas questioned, a look of delight etched on his face.

Joey was silent and still for a brief moment only for a second later to begin jerking and moaning, her face twisting with pain as her chest rapidly rose and fell.

"Joey?" Thomas shifted to his knees, and he held down her left arm trying to prevent it from moving. "Joey, wake up!"

Joey clenched her eyes tightly shut and let out a detestable scream.

Bellamy jerked back as a transparent dagger formed in her grasp and she unknowingly flailed it around. He hopped up and held her other arm down, but as Joey's arms were detained, her legs began to jerk around as her body tried to break herself free. No longer caring how Thomas would react, David dove on top of her legs to keep her from hurting herself or anyone else.

"What are we going to do?" Bellamy asked, struggling to keep her arm still.

"Mr. Magnus said it wouldn't be pleasant!" David shouted roughly, also having a hard time keeping her still.

"Her body is trying to fight back, trying to keep her alive," Thomas explained.

David twisted his head around as the others hurried to their side. Suddenly, a boot sprang in the air, kicking him in the chin. He flew backwards landing on his back, and he lifted himself to his elbows, rubbing his sore jaw. Joey clenched her fists, trying to break free from the boy's grasps, but David threw himself on top of her ankles, pinning her to the ground.

( "Um, is that normal?" Bellamy asked, glancing down at Joey's arm. Thomas drew his attention towards her and David followed. Staring down at the dagger clenched in her hand, he arched a brow as a pink glow flickered in and out revealing its normal orange between spurts, and cracks slowly traced the blade from the hilt making a slow climb towards the tip. "What's happening?"

Bellamy's hands started strangely glowing an azure blue and he closed his eyes. After about a minute, he opened them and exchanged glanced with David and Thomas. His words came out soft, "She's dying."

The color drained from David's face and he felt the ice inside his body melt away revealing his normal, plain appearance. He had figured what Bellamy said was true, but actually hearing the word made it feel too real.

Suddenly, Joey stilled, and the three guys slowly released her in unison. "Is that normal?" David turned his head up to find his little sisters worried, tearful gaze.

David's heart pounded so hard against his chest, and the blood loud in his ears, that he almost hadn't heard her. Shaking his head, he replied, "I don't know." Slowly, his gaze ventured to Thomas who had tears dripping from his lashes. "Did Mr. Magnus say anything before ... you know?"

Thomas shook his head and sat back on his heels in defeat. "Nothing."

"Guys?" David's head jerked up towards Bellamy as the bushy haired man stated, "She's not breathing!"