The next time Thomas wakes up, he finds himself back in the Scorch, surrounded by the Gladers. As the Gladers work on freeing Thomas from his restraint, he realizes that in order to save him so quickly, WICKED must have been watching the Gladers the entire time. Thomas thinks about all of the people that have died, and the fact that WICKED did nothing to save them, but when Thomas is shot by a rusty bullet, they immediately take action.

The Gladers all move back into the shelter of an old building, miles away from the city. Thomas can see the mountains up close now, looming in the distance, only a day or so away. When everyone is seated, Thomas reveals what he can remember about his ordeal, about the doctors and what the people said about Candidates, and how the gun was not one of their Variables. Minho deduces that WICKED is still watching their every move. Jorge speaks up and asks why WICKED saved Thomas, and why he is more important than the rest of the Gladers. Thomas says that he is not special, despite the signs.