Tom? Teresa called to him again. What's going on here? I'm really confused.
Thomas felt a rush of emotion, a burning inside him that almost brought tears to his eyes. He had once considered Teresa his best friend. But it could never be like that again. Now all he felt when he thought of her was anger.
Tom! Why aren't you―
Teresa, listen to me.
Hello? That's what I'm trying to―
No, just ... listen. Don't say anything else, okay? Just listen to me.
She paused. Okay. A quiet, scared voice in his mind.
Thomas couldn't control it anymore. Rage pulsed inside of him. Luckily, he only had to think the words, because he could never have spoken them aloud.
Teresa. Go away.
Tom―
No. Don't say another word. Just ... leave me alone. And you can tell WICKED that I'm done playing their games. Tell them I'm done!
She waited a few seconds before responding. Okay. Another pause. Okay. Then I just have one thing left to say to you.
Thomas sighed. I can't wait.
She didn't say it right away, and he would've thought she'd left him except that he still felt her presence. Finally, she spoke again.
Tom?
What?
WICKED is good.
And then she was gone.
EPILOGUE
WICKED Memorandum, Date 232.2.13, Time 21:13
TO: My Associates
FROM: Ava Paige, Chancellor
RE: SCORCH TRIALS, Groups A and B
This is not a time to let emotions interfere with the task at hand. Yes, some events have gone in a direction we didn't foresee. Not all is ideal―things have gone wrong―but we've made tremendous progress and have collected many of the needed patterns. I feel a great amount of hope.
I expect all of us to maintain our professional demeanor and remember our purpose. The lives of so many people rest in the hands of so few. This is why it's an especially important time for vigilance and focus.
The days to come are fundamental to this study, and I have every confidence that when we restore their memories, every one of our subjects will be ready for what we plan to ask of them. We still have the Candidates we need. The final pieces will be found and put into place.
The future of the human race outweighs all. Every death and every sacrifice are well worth the ultimate outcome. The end of this monumental effort is coming, and I believe that the process will work. That we'll have our patterns. That we'll have our blueprint. That we'll have our cure.
The Psychs are deliberating even now. When they say the time is right, we'll remove the Swipe and tell our remaining subjects if they are―or are not―immune to the Flare.
That's all for now.
END OF BOOK TWO