Teresa was sitting alone on the plane. Jerry entered but she didn't turn to him. "You okay?" he asked kindly. He had never used that tone with anyone else but Teresa. She didn't answer him. He sighed deeply. "Listen about back in the lab..." he tried to say. "I was just..."

"Was it really necessary to lash at him like that? You could have hurt him so much we never would have got that information?"

"I'm just so desperate for it to all be over. If he shared with us, what he selfishly hid, perhaps a cure could have been made, thousands of lives could have been saved,"

Teresa was unresponsive. She was purposefully ignoring him lost in thought. Jerry crossed his arms. "You're thinking about Edward again? Aren't you?"

"What?" Teresa shot her head at him "No! Why would I?"

Jerry scoffed. He didn't believe her for one second. "Why do you care about him? He betrayed us. Because of him and his brother, we didn't have the resources to provide a cure for the Flare,"

Teresa tried to speak but she had no words.

"You care about him still don't you?" accused Jerry.

Teresa scoffed. "Of course, I don't,"

"Then let me ask you something Teresa," Jerry drew closer to her. "If you don't care about him as you claim, why don't you ask Ava to have your connection to him broken?"

Teresa became repulsed. He pushed him away and walked off. Jerry watched her retreating figure; he clenched his fist. She walked to the front of the large jet towards Ava who sat peacefully drinking. She turned to her. "You look disturbed Teresa,"

"I'm fine Ava," she lied.

But Ava gave her a soft look. "Is it Edward again?"

Teresa sighed.

"If you want, why don't I wipe away those memories of him? There's no reason to keep holding onto them,"

"No," Teresa shook her head. "But thank you," She stared out at the window. "I want to remember him. I want to remember him so I can tell why all this was worth it,"

Ava stood beside her and patted her back. They stared out into the sun for a long while then outside the window, they saw the skyscrapers appear into view. The last City Denvers.

"We made it," Ava said proudly. "And we have already gained control of its resources,"

Her news befuddled Teresa. "A lot happened whilst you were in the trials, Teresa. We can officially begin human trials until we make sense of what Stephen hid,"

Seconds later a subordinate approached them. Turning around the two women saw he was frantic to tell them. Janson and Jerry entered the room. "Chancellor...I just got word that the train was attacked half a mile from the city. They said the train was attacked. More than half the Immunes were rescued. There are still twenty left and the Cranks too,"

Jerry and his father were not happy. Ava though infuriated remained calm. "At least they didn't get what was really important. Whatever it is that it's inside that box, Stephen intended it for Thomas and his brother," she glanced over at Thomas, still weak and unresponsive. "Perhaps they are the only ones who can unlock if there is a security lock," she turned to Jerry. "Scout the ruins outside the city wall and find his brother. And bring him back to us. Unharmed," She gave a straight glare to him. "Fail me and you will be dropped,"

"Yes Chancellor," Jerry replied bitterly.

          ..........................................................................................................................

Edward and his party continued to walk carefully. Spinning blades echoed above their heads. They peered up to see a WICKED jet.

"Backs against the wall," Amelia ushered.

Abruptly everyone pressed their backs against the stone walls of an old building. Edward kept Chuck and Brenda close. They watched as the giant jet passed over them and disappeared further north.

They stepped out into the open.

"That cannot be good," breathed Amelia.

"What do you mean?" Aris asked.

"It means that WICKED has already taken control of the Last City,"

The group were shocked.

"How are we supposed to fight WICKED if they have control of its artillery and resources?" Harriet asked.

"There's always a way," Edward spoke up. "We mustn't give up hope," he patted Aris's shoulder to comfort him. He smiled back; their friendship was as strong as ever.

"You know what I really love about you and your brother Edward, probably more than anyone I've ever met..." Jorge spoke up. "Is because you two don't give up hope or accept defeat. You both don't seek power or popularity. You both seek to do what is right for others. You give them hope and a chance to fight for what's just. And though we are low in number, we are strong in spirit," he patted Edward's shoulder smiling proudly at him for his fortitude.

They continued to make their way. But the overcrowding path was making it harder to stay low and reach their destination. Unknown to them, drones marked with the letters WICKED hovered over the pathways scanning the streets with invisible x-rays. One aimed its red-gaze gaze towards Edward. It scanned the chip in his neck. It glowed red.

Aris behind Edward noticed. "Ed...the chip in your neck is glowing,"

"What?" Edward asked turning to him.

"Your chip,"

Edward reached behind the nape of his neck. He felt a slight burn. "What's happening?"

Amelia turned to see what was happening. The moment she saw the glowing chip behind Edward's skin, she blabbered out, "That's not good!"

"What do you mean?" demanded Brenda.

"It means we might be detected. We've got to move. Now!" she exclaimed.

Instantly they quickened the pace.

Jerry was standing on the top of the giant wall that separated the ruins from the Last City. He heard the roars of angry people, smelt the clouds of dust rising from parts of debris, and watched the devastation of the ruined settlement and silent landscape of the mountains and desert lands far beyond it. He heard a loud beep from his pocket. He pulled out a tablet and on the screen, he saw an image of Edward. And then a map of the settlement appeared with a beeping red circle moving through some old pathways.

"Gotcha," he smirked. He pulled out a walkie-talkie. "I'm sending the coordinates. Get Edward as your life depends on it. Cos it does," he shut off.

"But Amelia if they've detected me, then I'll just cause us all to get caught. I'll run to another part of the settlement. You can find me later!" argued Edward.

"No! We are not leaving you behind!" Brenda refused.

"Never in a million years," Aris patted his back and Chuck hugged his side.

Edward wanted to argue but with everyone pushing each other to keep running it was getting very difficult.

"There it is!" Amelia pointed forwards to a large marble white building. "Nearly there! Come on!" They were about to sprint across the perpendicular road when Jorge pulled her back. He saw WICKED trucks pulling forward. Quickly they hid in some nearby streets and ducked. They saw soldiers leaving the vehicles, spreading into buildings. "They're looking for me," Edward breathed quietly. "We're not getting out of this unless I lead them away,"

He tried to stand up but Brenda pushed him down to his knees. "That's not gonna happen," she said.

"Like you said, there's always a way," reminded Amelia.

"I've got a plan," Jorge spoke up. He stood up.

"No! Jorge!" Brenda grabbed his hand.

"I'll find you," Jorge cupped her face. "I promise," He turned to Edward. "You take care of her,"

Edward refused to see him give his life rather than him. "But Jorge..."

"Promise me?" he warned.

Edward nodded. Before anyone else could try and stop him, Jorge sprinted out into the open and screamed out, "Let us in! Let us into the city! You can't keep us out!" he was swarmed over by soldiers like a horde of angry bees on honey.

"Jorge!" Brenda tried to sprint out but Edward grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back. "Let go! Let go!"

"There's nothing we can do," Edward held her back. She began to cry into his chest. He held her tightly. "We'll get him back. I promise," he touched the back of her hair, sharing sympathetic glances with the others.

"Come on. Now's our chance," said Amelia. She led them out of the building and towards the marble building. Edward kept a firm hold on Brenda whose face remained tear stricken. Only a few yards away and they would finally find the others. But as they sprinted, a stampede of angry mob leaders with large sticks charged toward them. But it wasn't them they were charging at. They were charging at all the angry trucks that had invaded their homes.

"Grab hands and don't let go!' shouted Amelia. Quickly nearly everyone linked hands. Brenda grabbed Chuck's and Edward was at the end of the line but he lost grip and he was separated from the others.

"Edward!" shouted Brenda.

"Brenda! Brenda!" Edward cried. He tried to get to her but he was pushed back by the charging shoulders of everyone running past him. Brenda disappeared from his sight. He fell backwards. He tried crawling through the stampeding legs but he felt someone's foot kick his head. His sight went dark. No one took notice of him as they stumbled over and past him.

The soldiers taking down the mob army saw him on the ground. They had found whom they were looking for. Suddenly two electric bullets stuck the front two soldiers. The others tried to reach Edward but the mob pushed them back. A masked man found Edward, lifted him over his shoulders and carried him towards the inner sections of the city.

Amelia and the group finally reached the marble building. To their delight, they saw men with guns awaiting them. Quickly they ushered them inside and they shut the doors. She looked back to see if everyone was with them. To her shock, Edward wasn't there.

"Where's Edward?" she asked.

"I lost my grip and we got separated," answered Brenda in tears. "I saw him get trampled over. I don't know if he's okay,"

"Well, why didn't you say anything?!" Harriet cursed.

"We have to go back out there," Chuck begged. "He has to be alive,"

Amelia instantly turned to the men. "Sorry but it's not safe," they said denying them entry.

Before Amelia could argue, Brenda stomped forward, exploding. "How can you say that? Edward, one of the spies who made your society possible is out there struggling to survive in a dangerous mob and you're just going to let him die?"

Before the argument could continue they heard loud engines drawing towards them. They turned to see five trucks enter a driveway. Then a group of men approached them. The one who led them was a tall man with a moustache and shoulder-length hair, the colour that matched Amelia's. "Amelia," he breathed.

Amelia came forward and threw her arms around the man. "Good to see you, dad,"

Her friends' eyes enlarged. "Dad?"

"Vince is your dad?" Chuck blabbered.

Amelia turned to them. "That's right. Dad, these are my friends,"

Vince glanced at them. "What a pleasure it is to have more members in our army. With more of us, WICKED cannot take us down,"

"Dad..." Amelia turned his attention to her. "You need to listen. Thomas and Edward, our sources came to us,"

Vince was surprised. "They did?"

"Yes. But our camp was attacked and Mary..." She paused. It was Edward who had promised her she would tell her father but with him out there alone, she would have to perform this burden alone. "...she was killed,"

Vince was shocked. "No,"

"Thomas was taken captive by Ava. She's torturing him for the information Stephen hid. And Edward came here with us, but we got separated by the mob. We must go back out there for him,"

"You're right. Soldiers get out there and search for Edward!" Vince ordered. Five soldiers left the building. "Guys...I have some great news for you. Our soldiers attacked a train just outside the city. They've been many immunes,"

The friends were relieved. Amelia was overjoyed. "How many?"

"You'll see," He turned back to the trucks. One of them opened and out stepped...

"Minho?" breathed Amelia in tears.

"Amelia!" Minho sprinted forward and she threw her arms around him. He hugged her tightly.

"Hey there Chuck," Frypan greeted.

"It's so good to see you," Chuck hugged. All the Gladers hugged him and Amelia. Aris and Harriet peered out for Sonya who instantly threw her arms around them.

"It's so good to see you," Harriet breathed.

"We're so glad you're safe," said Aris.

"How did you guys know to trust the Right Arm?" Amelia asked curiously.

"That was me," a new voice approached them. Without introduction, Gally, alive and well, approached them wearing a soldier's uniform. Chuck frowned. Instantly he kicked him between the legs.

"Woah! Woah!" Amelia pulled him back. Gally grunted pressing his hands below his abdomen. "What was that for?"

"He threw a knife into Edward's stomach!" Chuck remained.

"We were there when it happened but it wasn't his fault," Minho reminded. "He was poisoned and he didn't know what he was doing,"

Realising who Gally was as though he'd never met him, Aris asked, "Don't you remember? Jerry brainwashed him to try and kill Edward. It wasn't his fault,"

Though he remembered what they had heard back at that compound, Chuck remained heated with Gally.

"Probably deserved that," Gally accepted.

"How are you still alive?" demanded Chuck.

"I actually owe these guys my life," answered Gally. "When they came to our maze to break us out, they found me, nursed me back to health. I told them what happened and I teamed up with them to find you. And I learnt what Thomas and Edward did that made this all possible,"

"You guys must be worn out," Vince said, slinging an arm around his daughter. "Let's get you ready," He still noticed how worried Brenda, Aris and Chuck were. "Don't worry my men will find Edward,"

..........................................................................................................................

Teresa was in an office well dressed and tying up her hair in a bun, Ava watching her. "You look perfect Teresa,"

"Thank you," she thanked.

"Are you ready for the meeting?"

"Yes," she didn't move. Her mind was on things again.

"Don't worry. Jerry said he wouldn't hurt him,"

"Doesn't change how he feels about him," Teresa felt like she was on a tight rope being pulled by two sides. One side was Jerry. The other side was Edward.

Ava knew exactly what she was going through. "I can offer a solution to quell your troubles. But for now, we have other matters to attend to,"

The click of an opening door made them turn to see Jerry.

"Well..." Ava questioned.

"We found Edward. He was in the city like you hoped Ava. But my soldiers were intercepted by an angry mob. A man attacked the soldiers and grabbed Edward...but I've still got the tracker...my men can..."

Teresa screamed. She fell on her knees to the floor, pressing her hands to the temple of her head.

"Teresa?" Ava asked. "Teresa!"

Teresa was unresponsive. Her eyes were scrunched and she couldn't stand up. Something was tearing apart from within her head. And it was causing her so much agony that she couldn't feel anything. She fell backwards and Jerry caught her. Ava pressed an intercom button on the wall and shouted, "Call the doctors!" she knelt beside Teresa as the pain continued to torture her. The doctors abruptly arrived and tried to tend to her but after about two minutes who struggling to keep her under control, her body instantly stopped. She breathed slowly in and out.

"Hey. You okay?" Jerry gently caressed her cheeks but she shoved them away and sat up slowly.

"Teresa..." Ava touched her shoulders. She didn't respond. Her eyes were closed and her mind was taking its time to relax and calm down. She rubbed her temple with her hand. Then after a moment's silence, she uttered, "I can't...I can't..."

"What?" a concerned Ava asked.

Teresa turned wide-eyed to her. "I can't feel a connection to Edward anymore,"

..........................................................................................................................

Edward flickered his eyes. He felt agony erupt in his head as if there was a volcano exploding inside. Turning his head slightly, he saw a colourless stone ceiling standing over him. He was a stone room with pipes and pieces of metal sticking out at the corners. He felt metal underneath him. He sat up slowly and he saw an old man, back turned to him. Had he been captured? Was this man with WICKED?

He felt a sting on the back of his neck. He reached behind the nape and he felt blood. He held his fingers in front of him and saw fresh blood just split.

"Thought you might wake up," the man across the room uttered.

Edward didn't try to run but he was becoming a little scared. The man swerved around and in an instant, he recognised him as the man he had seen in the settlement. The man he recognised but couldn't put his finger on.

"Good thing I got this out," the man held up a small chip. "That was what caused you to get detected by WICKED in the first place," his tone straightaway gave Edward the impression that he was no friend to WICKED. But how did he know about it? Did he work for WICKED but then betray like he, his brother and Mary did? Was he a member of the Right Arm? "You are no longer WICKED's property Edward. And you will no longer feel a connection to that Teresa girl of yours,"

The mention of Teresa made his heart drop. He realised he had indeed lost the connection. For the first since her betrayal, he felt a little sore just thinking about it. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"My name is Han. And I remember you and your brother Edward. Before I left WICKED and came here to hide something your brother bequeathed to me,"

Edward was becoming more and more intrigued with this man. How could he be the key to what Thomas had discovered from WICKED? He was going to wait and find out.

          ..........................................................................................................................

Wow. So Jerry is jealous? A love triangle is going on? Oo la la. Nevertheless, Edward and Brenda seem to have grown so close. I hope you all are enjoying their chemistry. And Jorge's been captured. Oh my, we'll have to wait and see what happens. And Vince is Amelia's father. Did not see that coming What did you all think? Please let me know if my writing doesn't make any sense or something because I would love to improve it if necessary. See you all soon.