Thomas shakes his head, jaw tight, arms crossed like he can physically push the thought away. He refuses to accept this—to accept her as their only option. “No. There’s gotta be another way.”

“Like what?” Gally counters, folding his arms. His stance is solid, immovable. “You’ve seen the building. She is our only way in.”

Thomas exhales sharply, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. “You really think she’s gonna help us?” His voice is sharp, but there’s something else there too—something close to doubt.

Katherine, still half-asleep from her earlier nap, stirs beside him and rubs her eyes. She missed most of the planning, but it doesn’t take long to catch up. The tension in the room is thick enough to choke on.

“I don’t plan on asking for her permission.” Gally’s tone drips with sarcasm.

“Am I missing something here?” Brenda asks, eyes darting between them. “This is the same girl who betrayed us, correct? Same dick?”

Gally smirks, jabbing a thumb in her direction. “I like her.”

Brenda rolls her eyes, ignoring him. Instead, her gaze settles on Thomas, who’s pacing the floor like a caged animal. “What’s going on?”

Katherine exhales slowly, her patience thinning. “Tommy, there’s nothing to think about. That bitch betrayed us, remember?” Her words are venomous, a stark contrast to the quiet concern in her eyes.

Silence falls over the group, tension stretching between them like a wire about to snap.

And then, Newt speaks.

“What, are you afraid your little girlfriend’s gonna get hurt? Hmm?” His voice is sharp, accusing. His eyes burn into Thomas. “Because this has obviously never been just about rescuing Minho. Has it?” The words cut through the room like a blade.

Thomas turns, eyes narrowing. “Wait, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Teresa.” Newt steps forward, his anger rising with every step. “She’s the reason Minho’s even missing in the first place. Now we finally have a shot at getting him back, and what?” His voice is rising, his breath uneven. “You don’t want to because of her?”

Before Thomas can react, Newt shoves him. Hard.

Thomas stumbles back, slamming into the wall. The impact sends a jolt through his spine, but he barely registers it because Newt is still coming.

“Because deep down inside, you still care about her, don’t you?” Newt growls. “Just admit it.”

Katherine stiffens, her breath catching.

“Newt, I—” Thomas starts, but Newt doesn’t let him finish.

Fingers twisting into Thomas’s jacket, Newt yanks him forward before slamming him back again. “Don’t lie to me! Don’t. Lie. To me!”

Brenda gasps, her hands flying to her mouth. The others stand frozen, wide-eyed.

Katherine presses her lips together, unsure whether to intervene. She’s seen Newt angry before, but this—this is different. It’s not just jealousy. It’s something darker, something unraveling inside him.

Then, as quickly as it started, it stops.

Newt blinks, realization crashing over him like a wave. He releases Thomas, taking an unsteady step back. “Sorry.” The word is quiet, almost hollow. His brown eyes flicker across the group before landing on Katherine. “I’m sorry.”

Katherine swallows hard. Before she can say anything, Newt turns and stalks out of the room, one hand clutching his right arm. Thomas doesn’t hesitate before following him.

Brenda exhales, breaking the silence. “What the hell was that?”

Katherine shakes her head. “I—I don’t know.” But her gut tells her it was more than just anger. Something is wrong.

Without another word, she follows them, heart pounding. The air is cold when she steps onto the rooftop. Newt sits on the ledge, staring out over the city, shoulders tense. Thomas stands a few feet away, arms crossed. They don’t notice her, so she stays back, listening.

“Sorry about that,” Newt mutters. His voice is quieter now, the fire from earlier burned out. He exhales before rolling up his sleeve.

Thomas stiffens.

Dark veins crawl up Newt’s right arm, stark against his pale skin. The sight knocks the air out of Katherine’s lungs.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Thomas asks, voice barely above a whisper.

Newt lets out a humorless chuckle. “Didn’t think it would make a difference.” His fingers trace the lines, his expression unreadable. “All I know is WICKED must’ve put me in that maze for a reason. Maybe it was just to tell the difference between immunes like you and people like me.”

“We can fix this,” Thomas insists. “Okay? We can.”

Newt smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry about me, Tommy. This is about Minho. He needs us. And if there’s even the slightest chance we can save him, we have to take it. No matter what the cost.”

Thomas hesitates, then nods. “Okay. I hear you. Does Kat know?”

Newt glances away. “I don’t want her to know.”

Thomas shifts. “Newt—she deserves to know.”

“I know, Tommy. Just don’t tell her. It’s better this way.”

Thomas opens his mouth to argue but freezes. His gaze flickers over Newt’s shoulder.

Katherine stands there, tears streaming down her face.

The weight of realization settles in. She heard everything.

“Shit,” Thomas mutters.

Newt turns, his expression shifting from confusion to horror. “Bloody hell.”

Katherine wipes at her face, but the tears won’t stop. She doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t need to. The heartbreak is written all over her.

Then, before either of them can move, she turns and bolts.

Her vision blurs as she rushes down the stairs. She barely registers the solid chest she collides with until strong hands catch her shoulders.

“Whoa—are you okay?” Gally’s voice is uncharacteristically gentle.

“Get the fuck outta my way!” she snaps, shoving him aside.

Gally lifts his hands in surrender, watching her storm past. “What the hell just happened?” he mutters, more to himself than anyone.

Katherine barely makes it to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She locks it. Her back hits the wooden surface, and she slides down to the floor, burying her face in her hands. Tears spill hot and fast, her body trembling as she struggles to quiet her sobs.

Maybe she’s overreacting. Maybe she’s letting the fear eat her alive. But she’s angry—furious that Newt tried to hide it from her. The infection. The dark veins creeping up his arm, a cruel reminder of the time slipping away. And she’s terrified—terrified of losing him, of watching him fade into something he’s not, something he swore he never wanted to become.

A soft knock raps against the door.

“Kat.” Newt’s voice is muffled, but there’s no mistaking the desperation laced in it. “Please open the door.”

Her throat tightens. She shakes her head, even though he can’t see her. “Go away.” Her voice wavers, cracking in the middle, but she forces herself to sound strong. “I don’t want to see you again.”

“Kat, please.” His voice is raw now, shaking. “I know you’re angry. I’m sorry. Just let me talk.”

She wipes at her eyes with the back of her sleeve, exhaling shakily. Her hands fumble with the lock before she finally pulls the door open, revealing a worried-looking Newt. His soft brown eyes widen at the sight of her tear-streaked face, and he steps in immediately, shutting the door behind him.

“Thank you.”

Katherine crosses her arms, her foot tapping against the floor, her heart hammering in her chest. Newt runs a hand through his messy blond hair, looking torn between guilt and relief.

“So when did you start dating my brother?” she asks, voice laced with bitterness.

Newt’s brows knit together in confusion. “What?”

She shrugs. “Telling him your secrets and hiding them from me.”

“He’s my friend, Kat. You know that.”

She huffs out a humorless laugh, taking a step closer, her anger bubbling to the surface. “And you trust him more than me?”

Newt exhales sharply. “Listen—”

“No, you listen!” she snaps, her voice thick with frustration. “I know you’ve lost hope, but I promised you, Newt. I promised I wouldn’t let you fall again.” Her hands ball into fists at her sides, her whole body trembling. “I don’t break promises like you do.”

Newt doesn’t give her the chance to say anything else. He cups her face, his hands warm and firm against her skin, and crashes his lips against hers.

A gasp catches in her throat, but she melts into him. Her fingers tangle in the back of his hair, holding him close as she kisses him back with everything she has—anger, love, desperation. His grip tightens, his fingers threading through her hair as he deepens the kiss, like he’s trying to memorize the way she tastes, the way she feels against him.

When they finally pull apart, his forehead rests against hers, their breaths mingling in the space between them.

“I’m falling again,” he whispers.

Katherine presses her lips together, trying to keep the tears at bay. She reaches for his jacket, tugging at the sleeve. “Let me see.”

Newt hesitates but eventually shrugs off the worn fabric. She inhales sharply at the sight of the infection—dark veins spiderwebbing up his arm, a cruel contrast against his pale skin. Gently, she traces her fingertips over them, feeling the heat seeping from his skin.

“You know I’m not letting you get rid of me this easily, right?” she murmurs, voice steady despite the storm in her chest. “Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me.”

A small chuckle escapes him, but it’s laced with exhaustion. “I know.”

“No matter what, we’ll fix this.” She cups his cheek, her thumb brushing against his cheekbone. Then, she leans in, sealing her words with another kiss. If she can’t save him, she’ll love him until the very end.

Their lips move together in perfect sync, like they were made to fit. She bites his lower lip, earning a quiet grunt from him, her hands sliding under the hem of his shirt, eager for more.

Then, suddenly, he pulls away.

Newt stumbles back, shaking his head as realization slams into him like a brick wall. “We can’t.”

Katherine’s brows furrow. “What?”

He runs a hand down his face, exhaling heavily. “We can’t, Kat. I’m infected.”

She scoffs, shaking her head. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not.” He meets her gaze, his expression unreadable. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

Katherine lets out a humorless laugh. “That’s rich. After everything we’ve been through, you think this is what’s gonna scare me away?”

“It should.” His voice is barely above a whisper. “I care about you too much.”

“No, you don’t.”

His jaw tightens. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

She narrows her eyes. “If you did, you wouldn’t keep pushing me away.”

Newt rakes a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every tense line of his body. “We’re fighting over sex now?”

“This isn’t about sex, Newt!” she yells, her voice cracking. “I’m asking you to love me.”

“I bloody love you!” he shouts back, breathless, exasperated.

“Then prove it!”

“I don’t have to prove everything to you, Katherine!”

She clenches her fists, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. Then, after a moment, she smirks—just a little, just enough to be dangerous. “Fine. I’ll just find someone who can give me what I want.” She turns, reaching for the door handle. “Maybe Gally could—”

A hand slams against the door, pinning it shut.

“Don’t you dare,” Newt growls, his voice low, warning.

She glances back, mischief dancing in her eyes. “You know what to do to stop me.”

His brown eyes darken, his chest heaving as he stares at her. For a moment, he hesitates. Then, with a quiet curse, he yanks her back toward him, crashing his lips against hers in a desperate, fiery kiss.

“Jump,” he murmurs against her lips.

She does. Arms wrapped around his neck, legs around his waist, she clings to him as he carries her to the bed, laying her down carefully. His body hovers over hers, and warmth spreads from every place they touch.

Their lips move together, soft, slow, as if trying to memorize each other in case tomorrow never comes. His hands roam her body, tentative yet certain, and when his lips press against the sensitive skin of her neck, she shivers beneath him.

“I love you,” he breathes against her skin, and she smiles, running her fingers through his hair.

“I know,” she whispers back. “So show me.”

And he does.