Nora's POV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that it was hard for me to breathe. Every time I tried to suck air into my lungs, a stinging feeling made it worse and harder, but I was able to do it. Slowly I opened my eyes. A bright light made me slightly confused. I heard the sound of the sea hitting rocks and sand. Where am I? Is this heaven? Am I dead? I wondered.

I turned my head to look around me. I was in some kind of hut, lying in a white bed. There was a small drawer next to me, filled with medicines, bottles, and lots of other medical stuff. It reminded me of the med-hut a little.

Carefully I crawled out of my bed and started walking towards the door. It hurt my chest, but I didn't stop. I wanted to see what was outside. Immediately the daylight made me blink a few times before I could continue walking. As I heard before, there indeed was a sea. A beautiful one. There were multiple cliffs around it and shells lay in the sand. Next to the small hut I came out of, were dozens of other huts. People were walking around calmly or sitting at a fire, eating, or talking to other people. It all looked quite peaceful.

Then my eye caught a certain blonde boy sitting around a fire with an Asian boy. I almost gasped and a warm feeling started to grow in my stomach. Is this real? I wondered. I sped up my pace and walked over to them. Newt looked at me and his whole face lit up. He didn't hesitate to get up from his seat and hug me tightly. I hugged him back for at least a minute. Then it was Minho's turn. 

"What is this place?" I carefully asked. My voice was a bit hoarse.

"The Safe Haven." Newt smiled. Stunned I looked at him. Did we find it after all those months of searching?

"What exactly happened? Where is Thomas? What about Logan and Frypan? Gally? Where are they? Did they make it?"

"Woah, woah, woah." Newt chuckled.

"They're all right. Frypan, Logan, and Gally are over there with Brenda and Jorge. Thomas is in a hut. He got shot by Rat Man." Minho explained.

"Rat Man? That son of a bitch shot Thomas?" I gasped. "And what else?"

Minho and Newt hesitated. "Well, you kind of got stabbed in the chest." Newt carefully said, watching my face.

My eyebrows furrowed. "I don't remember that."

"It's because you were a Crank. Or turning into one at least." Minho explained again.

"You were fighting me but then the knife ended up in your chest," Newt added, not giving too much detail, though.

"Alright." I finally said, taken back by the sudden information.

Just then Thomas walked over to us. Immediately we rushed over to him and hugged the boy tightly.

~

"We have come a long way together." Vince stood in front of a big fire, talking to every person in the Safe Haven.
"So many have sacrificed so much to make this place possible. Your friends and your family."

I thought about Chuck and how amazing it would be if he was in the Safe Haven too. He would cheer me and basically everyone up all the time.

"So here's to the ones who couldn't be here. Here's to the friends we lost. This place is for you. It's for all of us."
Vince stepped aside and motioned at a big rock. "But this, this is for them. So, in your own time, in your own way, come make your peace."
He held his cup in the air. "And welcome to the Safe Haven!"

Everyone cheered and shouted and I couldn't help but smile too. Finally, we were safe. Safe from WICKED, safe from the Flare, safe.

~

Newt's POV

When I remembered the bracelet Nora gave me in my pocket, I told Minho I was going to sit alone for a bit. I did as I told him and grabbed the bracelet. It was black with some shells stringed onto it. It looked quite beautiful so I planned to never take it off again. Then I noticed something. A tiny, rolled-up paper was made onto the bracelet too. Carefully I got it out of there and unrolled it. It was a letter.

~

Hey, Newt, or Lizard,

This is not the first letter I remember writing. Of course, I wrote you one when I, you know, attempted to kill myself, so I guess this one will be a lot like that. I wanted to say thank you for a few things and just bring back some memories to you.

First of all, thank you for believing me about Adam. I don't know what could've happened if I didn't tell you. I trusted you enough to tell it and immediately you took care of it.

I remember how Minho would call us before we even were a couple. "Lovebirds". It's kind of a good name, though. I like it but of course, it's not as good as love, lizard. I like to call you that if you haven't noticed.

Thank you for making me more... confident? When I first came up in the Box I was scared and maybe even shy. I only talked to you and Minho and the rest of the Gladers were just formal things. But by the time I got to know you better, I started to talk more.

Thank you for telling me about your limp. I remember all the drama about it. When I asked the question to some people they got upset, which I felt kind of guilty about. Eventually, you told me. Thank you for doing so.

Thank you for taking care of me whenever I felt sad or upset. You would always just let me sleep next to you or just comfort me. It was great.

Thank you for helping me to stop harming myself. Of course, it didn't always work, but you made a big difference, Newt. I think I didn't do it for months now. I got the urge to do it though, but I couldn't since I was locked up by WICKED. I don't know if I will be able to control it in the Safe Haven, so we might as well continue with the stupid rules that Logan made. They're kind of smart though. They did work a bit.

This might sound weird, but thank you for yelling at me in the Scorch. I cut myself again and normally you would've comforted me, but you got angry. Thank you for that. It made me realize what it was like from your point of view.

I think I won't make it tonight, but if I do, I wanted to thank you for saving my life three times. First when the cutting got out of hand. Secondly was when I tried to kill myself and third was now. I don't care if you don't manage to save me, cause I don't want you to. We need to get Minho first. I hope we did it and deep down inside I hope I survive, though.

Thank you so much for everything. I love you, forever.

- Nora