The Death Cure

They arrive at the landing place in Denver. Jorge explains they will be using their real first names and fake last names, but that they should be let in with few problems because they are immune. They walk up to the gate and Jorge announces their names and business (information gathering and field studies). He offers to show them his Berg certification papers. The gate opens. After entering their information into a panel, the guard tells them to move on to the viral testing station.

The guard tells them they have all passed the immunity test and explains there are many opportunities for them in Denver. Once inside the city, Thomas notices a man in a dark jacket approaching them. “We know some people escaped from WICKED,” he says. “And judging by the Berg you came in on, I’m guessing you’re part of that group. I highly recommend you accept the advice I’m about to give you. You have nothing to be afraid of—we’re only asking for help and you’ll be protected when you arrive” (115). The man passes Thomas a note with an apartment number on it. Thomas tells Minho it’s from Gally.

Gally, an outcast in the Glade, became Thomas’s rival in the Glade because of Gally’s memories. Thomas recalls how Gally killed another boy with a knife and how Thomas beat him up after and left him for dead. Brenda reveals that WICKED made the other boy walk in front of Thomas and made Gally kill him. Thomas feels hatred for WICKED.

Thomas insists they go to the apartment, but Brenda thinks they should go to the doctor first. He then tells them that from then on, he is following his gut and his gut tells him to go to the apartment. They take a cab to the apartments. “[T]he longer they drove, the more unsettled Thomas grew. Almost everyone he saw looked uneasy. They all seemed to be avoiding each other—and not just to be polite. They seemed to take obvious measures to stay clear of anyone else” (119).

Thomas notices a poster of Chancellor Paige, but decides to wait until he is alone with Brenda to ask her about the Chancellor. They continue on into the city and it gets dirtier and darker. Finally, they arrive at the apartment, which is drab and uninviting. When the door opens after Thomas knocks, Gally answers. He tells them he is glad they came because the world is ending.

Gally invites them inside and asks them to sit on the floor. He is upset at their presence and his first couple statements drip with sarcasm. Gally reveals he had not meant to kill the other Glader but that he wanted Thomas to die. After saying this, he tells them he wants to talk about the future, not the past. He reveals he knew they were coming because a message came over Netblock. Brenda and the boys did not know about it and Gally dismisses it, saying he assumed they had sent it.

He explains there are two big problems they are faced with. The first: the Flare may be spreading rapidly throughout the city. Rumors suggest government higher ups are the ones that are sick. The second issue is that immunes are disappearing, and no one knows where they are going. His information, he tells them, comes from a “little birdie.” Gally says his group wants to take down WICKED because there is no cure, and they want to use the money to protect who they can.

Thomas asks about Teresa and the others. Gally reveals that he met with the others and the meeting is how he received some of the information about WICKED. Finally, he tells them that Hans has a bounty on his head and that it appears WICKED knew Thomas and the others would come to the city.

At the news, Brenda gets up and announces they are leaving. They search for Hans and find him the following day. Thomas tells Hans he wants the controlling device removed, but does not want his memories back. Hans calls him a coward and they argue briefly until Brenda stops them and tells Hans Thomas is important. Hans leaves the room to prepare and Thomas begins to get nervous.

Brenda asks him if he is okay. “The words caught in his throat and a sharp pain sliced down his spine. But as quickly as it had come, it was gone. He sat up in the chair, startled” (130). Then Thomas loses control of his body. He turns toward the room Hans had disappeared into, still unable to control himself.

Brenda tells him to fight the control, but Thomas cannot do anything to regain control. He punches Jorge and pushes Brenda to the ground. “And a memory bubbled up in Thomas. Something about a fail-safe programmed into his implant to prevent it from being removed. He wanted to shout at his friends, tell them to sedate him. But he couldn’t” (131). Thomas then shoves Minho and picks up a knife in the kitchen. Hans comes out of another room and asks the others to help restrain him.

Minho tackles Thomas to the ground and they hold him there, but something inside him pumps Thomas full of adrenaline and he pushes everyone off of him. He picks the knife up and heads toward Hans once more. The others regain control of him and carry him to a room. Hans sedates him, and Thomas falls asleep.