WICKED Is Weird (The Fever Code)

"So, you guys live in a place like this?" Teresa asked as we looked down at Group B through the windows.

"Yep." Minho replied, before smirking a bit. "I think I could handle transferring to Group B, though. Hey May, when you get sent back, put in a good word for me to be Swapped next, would you?"

I shrugged, feigning an apologetic look. "Sorry Min, only ones comparable enough for it was me and Pablo."

"Figures."

I laughed softly at him, patting his shoulder as I turned to check on Newt.

He was crying, but that was normal. He didn't seem too far gone, but I decided to just give him another minute or so before joining him.

Then I saw Thomas walking over to him, and decided that I should probably step in now.

"You see her?" Newt asked the new boy, pointing Sony out through the window. "Far row, third one from the left."

I reached his other side and followed his eyes to see her, letting a short laugh out through my nose; she was hugging her pillow like a teddy bear.

"Yeah." Thomas affirmed after a second. "That your sister?"

Newt looked a bit surprised, but he shouldn't have; of course we would've explained it to them, otherwise they'd think he was mental!

"That's right. Her name's Lizzy." Uh-oh, he was spiralling; I took his hand as he leaned forward so his head was touching the glass, and he gently squeezed it back as he continued. "At least, it used to be. They may think they have us all brainwashed with out new names, but no way I'll ever forget hers."

"What'd they change it to?" Thomas asked.

"Sonya," I replied softly, knowing how much he hated saying it.

Didn't stop him from going on though, bitterness filling every syllable. "Can you believe that? They renamed her Sonya." He coughed heavily. "And WICKED's so mean about it. They won't let me see her, and I've had to pretend that I've forgotten it all or they... punish me."

My eyes squeezed shut on reflex as I tried to push the memories of the brainwashing down. The pain still haunted my every nightmare.

"I did as they asked, I stopped using my real name." Newt went on. "I think I was one of the last holdouts. But hers I'll never forget. They'll have to kill me first."

There it was: the bottom of the spiral. I leaned into his side and let go of his hand, hugging him instead. As usual, he didn't look at me, he just moved the hand I'd been holding to my shoulder, his one arm around me to return my hug.

"I'm sorry." Thomas said, and I could feel my friend's appreciation for the two words, even if he didn't show it.

Newt stood up straight again, rubbing my arm a bit instead of pulling away as he wiped his tears away with his free hand and turned to the boy beside us.

"That's the way of things, Tommy." He said, his voice still shaking a bit. "The world outside's gone to Hell. Why should we expect any different in here? At least I can see her there, sleeping peacefully. How many people in this world would chop off their own arm to be able to say that about someone they love who's..." He paused for just a second and looked down at me, rubbing my arm knowingly. "Gone? It's just the way of things."

I appreciated his discretion.

A few months before, I'd finally told him the full story about Joey. The full one, more than I'd even told Sony. It had been up on the loft, probably 2am, and Minho and Alby had already headed back to our barracks. Newt had wanted to stay just a few more minutes, so I volunteered to stay with him this time.