"In the beginning we were lost. All we knew for sure, was that the younger you were, the stronger your chances." The doctor- Mary explained, her voice soft but carrying the weight of old memories.

The tent was dim, the smell of antiseptic faint but present. Brenda lay between us, breathing ragged.

"You worked for wicked?" Thomas asked

"A long time ago." Her hands didn't tremble as she worked, drawing the blood from my arm, then his, mixing it.

"You know at first we had the best intentions. Find the cure save the world. It was clear you kids were the key, because you were immune. But why? Eventually we found an answer. An enzyme produced by the brains of the immune. Once separated from the bloodstream it can serve as a powerful agent to slow the spread of the virus." She said

"So you found a cure?" I asked

"Not exactly." She said, holding the syringe up to the lantern light.
"The enzyme can't be manufactured only harvested from the immune. The young. Of course that didn't stop wicked. If they had their way, they'd sacrifice an entire generation. All for this. A gift of biology. Of evolution. But one not meant for all of us." She said

She injected the mixture into Brenda's arm. Brenda breathing evened out, her trembling easing almost immediately.

"How long will that give her?" Thomas asked quietly.

"It's different for everyone. A few months maybe. But that's the catch isn't it? She'll always need more. Ok let's go outside, let them rest. She'll be fine." Mary stood.

Jorge followed her out without a word. At the flap, Mary turned back, her expression unreadable.

"You know she can't come with us right?" She asked

Neither of us answered. She didn't wait.

I watch her go, then quickly stood and slipped out after her.
"Mary! Mary" I called

She turned back.
"Please..tell me how you know me" I said, breath catching in my throat.

She hesitated, then gestured to a small hut.
"Come sit" she said

Inside, the lantern glow made her look older, more tired.
"You truly done remember me?" She asked

"No. I- I thought I had all my memories back. I don't understand" I whispered

"You were so young. Your childhood stolen." Her eyes softened as she spoke.

"I was there when you first started Project Titan. You were four when they began the tests. You and I got close. I would bring you extra food after a hard day. You told me you wanted to leave, and I was going to help you escape. You were eight when we finally had our plan. Until the night it was going to happen. Things went south. You told me to go. You created a distraction, so I could get out. Me, two guards, and five other kids. You're the reason the right arm exists. The reason these people are alive" she said

I stared at her, eyes burning as tears welled up. My throat ached.

"I-...thank you for telling me" I mumbled

"Thank you. For everything. I never did get to say that" she smiled at me, and for a moment, I saw her as she must've been back then- someone who believed she could save us.

I stood at the cliff, looking out over the mountains. The sky was painted a pale gray and gold, the air cold against my skin.

"Are you okay?" Thomas asked, stepping up beside me.

I kept my gaze forward.

"I helped Mary escape WICKED. Her and a couple other people. I was eight when I did." My voice was hollow, like I was speaking from far away.

"And now I'm standing here and trying to remember. All that comes up is the memory of me getting beaten for helping them. All I can remember is pain" I said

I swallowed hard, watching my breath cloud the air.
"And yet, after all that pain.... everything I've lost, every test, every blow, every little thing.... I look at all this, and I'm happy. I don't know how, or if I should even allow myself to be. But I am" I say

"Because we're safe. You're allowed to be happy." He said gently.
"Everyone we've lost- they'd want you to be happy, Reyna. You deserve it. You deserve so much" he said

I turned, finally looking at him.

"Thomas-"
"Reyna-"

We both spoke at once, then laughed, the sound awkward but warm.

"Go ahead" I said

"Reyna-..." he stopped himself, looking down like he was fighting with himself.

"Fuck- I'm not good at this. After everything we've been through, I've been trying to find the right time, the right words. But nothing comes out, and we haven't really had the time to talk without having to run seconds after" he said

We both laughed again, quietly.

"I've almost lost you so many times. And every time it happens, it tears me apart." He said

"Thomas-" I started, but he cut me off.

"The day I ran into the maze...I wasn't sure then why I did. It was to help, but I asked myself over and over again why. It was because of you, Re. I tried to ignore it, shove it down. But I do care. I care way more than I should. I think about you when you're not with me. I worry about you all the time. I look for you first in a fight. And when you're hurting- it feels like my own." He said

I stared up at him, heart hammering.

A beat of silence.

Then I found the courage to speak.

"I told myself not to get attached. To not care. I couldn't, not after everything I'd lost already. But then there was you. And I hated how much I needed you. I hated how quickly I trusted you, how quickly I cared. And it scared the shit out of me. It still does. But I care. I care so damn much" I said, stepping closer.

"I don't know how any of this goes. But I know I want this. Whatever it is" I said

"I love you Reyna. I always have" Thomas said, stepping closer too, our faces inches apart.

"If I say it back, you're not allowed to die. You understand?" I asked, voice trembling.

"Yes ma'am" he smiled

"Good. Then..." I say holding his neck

"I love you too Thomas" I whispered, sliding my hand up to his neck.

"I love you too, Thomas" I said.

Then he kissed me.

For the first time in years, i felt home. Safe. Warm.

"Woohoo!"

We both broke apart, looking down at camp to see Minho, newt, and fry watching us. Minho grinned like an idiot, newt was smirking, and fry waved.

I laughed, leaning my head against Thomas's chest.
"They saw all of that, didn't they?" I asked

"Yep" Thomas said, popping the "p" as he laughed.

I looked up at him. He looked at me. And for the first time, smiling felt easy.