Book Summary – The Fever Code – The Maze Runner – Prequel 2
- Jason Montero
- Sep 3
- 41 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Book summary by chapter of The Fever Code. Includes spoilers from the first snowstorm to the end of the book. A fleeting snowbound miracle opened the gates to trauma: Newt witnessed his parents' death, Thomas was stripped of his name, and the experiment began in blood. What claimed to be humanity’s salvation consumed their childhoods, as WICKED cloaked terror in the promise of a cure—until memory itself vanished into the Maze’s concrete womb.
Introduction – The Fever Code
Snow fell the day Newt’s childhood was ripped apart, and with it began a story of betrayal, experiments, and the last fragments of hope. In The Fever Code, James Dashner pulls us into the darkest roots of the saga, where names are lost, memories manipulated, and courage measured in scars. There are no Runners or Mazes yet… but every chapter foreshadows the nightmare that awaits.
This full chapter-by-chapter summary lets us track how Thomas, Teresa, Minho, Newt, and others were shaped from childhood by an organization that would stop at nothing. It’s not a tale of heroes, but of survivors twisted by a cause they barely understood. The chaos was planted long before the Labyrinth walls were even built.
And if you’re new to the Maze Runner universe, it’s crucial to understand where this prequel stands in the timeline. You can find the full chronological path here: Reading order of The Maze Runner ➤
Want to see all the summaries from this series?
Click here to access the Complete Reading Order. 👇
Chapter Navigation
Prologue Summary – The Fever Code – The Snow That Announced the End
It was snowing the day Newt’s parents were killed, and though they later claimed it was an accident, he knew it wasn’t true. The unexpected cold contrasted sharply with the years of scorching heat that had marked his childhood—years filled with hunger, fear, and madness. He lived in hiding with his family and his sister Lizzy, braver than he was, in a dark basement that offered little protection from the outside world and the Flare-crazed. That morning, the snow brought a strange moment of hope, a miracle that briefly lifted their spirits. But it didn’t last. Shadows passed by the window and loud knocks rattled the door. Four strangers stormed into their home demanding to take Lizzy. The attempt to defend her ended in tragedy: his parents were killed before his eyes. Devastated, Newt was subdued alongside his sister. Amid the blood, screams, and chaos, his world shattered, and his abduction into the unknown began.
Chapter 1 Summary – The Fever Code – My Name Is Stephen
Stephen, a boy barely five years old, repeats his name endlessly to avoid forgetting who he is after being separated from his mother. Though he understands it was done to protect him, the pain of leaving her behind eats away at him. He strongly rejects the new name they’ve given him—Thomas—resisting the strangers holding him in an unfamiliar room. His only defense is the memory of his family and their love. A man in a green jumpsuit, impatient and authoritarian, insists he accept his new identity. Stephen responds with rebellion, refusing to give in. But the boy’s defiance provokes a reaction from his captor, who warns him about what lies ahead. With no other choice, Stephen ends up stepping through the door behind the man, though inside he clings to the echo of his real name, the last link to his former life and the truth of who he is.
Chapter 2 Summary – The Fever Code – The Price of a Lost Name
Stephen, now forced to respond as Thomas, walks through the facility’s hallways alongside Randall Spilker, a weary man who tells him other children have already accepted their new names. Passing a door labeled 31K, Stephen glimpses Teresa, a girl his age who seems to have adjusted. Randall takes him to a room where he is strapped into a chair filled with sensors, and without warning, a device called a “pain stimulator” is implanted. The physical agony he experiences surpasses anything he’s ever felt. Randall pressures him to renounce his identity and say his name is Thomas. The boy resists, but the punishment is unbearable. The torture is repeated until he finally breaks. Defeated and broken, he begins to say what they want. Though he still remembers his real name, something inside him shifts: he starts repeating “My name is Thomas,” fearing that one day he might believe it.
Chapter 3 Summary – The Fever Code – The Brain Is the Kill Zone
Thomas has begun adapting to his new environment, but the wounds of his recent past still ache. His life has become a routine of blood tests, brain scans, and lessons with teachers ranging from the stern Mr. Glanville to the demanding Ms. Denton. In class, he learns about organizations like PFC and PIRA that tried to restore order after the solar flares. He’s also challenged with complex puzzles that stimulate his mind, though some seem to lack meaning. Each day is a blend of intensive education and clinical monitoring, without genuine human connection. The only constant figure is Teresa, the girl in the room next door, whom he glimpses now and then. Resigned to his new name, Thomas tries to make sense of his existence within the walls of the institution, while wondering just how far WICKED is willing to go to achieve its mysterious goal.
Chapter 4 Summary – The Fever Code – Christmas and Minister Anderson
After two years in confinement, Thomas has survived through study, books, and routine, but still lives in isolation, with no contact with other children. On Christmas Day, he is summoned to meet Minister Anderson, a weary-faced man who attempts to establish an emotional connection by talking about presents and bicycles, evoking painful memories. Thomas can’t help feeling sadness and rage as he recalls his parents and how he was torn from his old life. Anderson then tells him about WICKED, revealing for the first time the meaning of the name: “World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department.” He assures Thomas that everything they do serves a greater purpose—finding a cure for the Flare, no matter the cost. Though Thomas doesn’t fully understand, he begins to glimpse the magnitude of the experiment he’s trapped in. He senses that his role will be crucial, though the word “killzone” leaves him with a gnawing unease he can’t shake.
Chapter 5 Summary – The Fever Code – The Promise of the Future
The meeting with Minister Anderson leaves Thomas filled with doubt, fear, and a troubling glimmer of hope. The word “killzone” echoes in his mind, but what he wants most is to have a normal life again. The minister speaks of the brain as the killzone—the battleground where the Flare strikes. He promises that WICKED will create laboratories, marvels of life, and that Thomas could be part of it all. Thomas feels confused but flattered, torn between his desire for freedom and the longing to feel important. Back in his room, he pleads with the woman accompanying him to tell him if he’ll ever meet other kids. She confirms that there are many, including Teresa, and promises they’ll be able to see each other soon. But when he asks how long he’ll have to wait, her answer is crushing: maybe a year. Alone once again, Thomas breaks down in tears, wondering if he can truly endure that long.
Chapter 6 Summary – The Fever Code – Assigned to Thomas
Thomas begins his day as usual, but this time he is greeted warmly by Dr. Paige, the only adult figure he has come to trust. She tells him that from now on, she will work exclusively with him, filling the boy with relief and hope. During breakfast and a blood test, Thomas takes the opportunity to ask if he is still immune—if his body is really helping to find a cure. Dr. Paige confirms that he is and encourages him to be proud. Throughout the day, he returns to his usual routine: history with Ms. Landon, where he is incredibly bored, and Critical Thinking with Ms. Denton, who reminds him that puzzles train his mind better than anything else. Thomas begins to notice that his life runs in repetitive cycles: tests, classes, mental challenges… always the same. But with Dr. Paige’s promise, he believes something important might be about to begin.
Chapter 7 Summary – The Fever Code – The Names of the Resistance
Thomas’s routine is shaken when, instead of Dr. Paige, he is awakened by a stranger named Dr. Leavitt, a serious psychologist who prepares him for a special procedure. Confused, Thomas follows him silently to the ninth floor, a place he has never visited. The clinical setting, numbered doors, and distant screams set him on edge. Suddenly, a boy named Minho stumbles out of one of the rooms, bleeding with his head bandaged. He warns Thomas not to go through with the operation, saying it hurts and everything is a lie. Nurses inject Minho and drag him away. In shock, Thomas enters a room where he sees another wounded boy—Newt. Though frightened, Thomas realizes something important: he now knows three names, and he’s not as alone as before.
Chapter 8 Summary – The Fever Code – The Value of Rebellion
Dr. Leavitt scolds Thomas for looking at the injured boy but soon prepares him for his own operation. Though he promises it will be painless and that a helpful device will be implanted in his head, Thomas feels mounting panic. Just as he’s about to change for the procedure, he hears screams in the hallway. Running out, he sees Teresa being dragged away by nurses. Acting on impulse, he tries to rescue her, lunging like a superhero, but is quickly subdued. Still, he catches a spark of admiration in Teresa’s eyes. Before he loses consciousness, she whispers, “One day we’ll be bigger.” Under anesthesia, Thomas has confused dreams: monsters, ruins, a picnic with his parents, and finally, he and Teresa sitting together in peace. When he wakes, Dr. Paige reassures him that it will now be easier to monitor his brain and that he’ll be fine. Dazed, Thomas can only trust… for now.
Chapter 9 Summary – The Fever Code – First Friendship
After recovering from the surgery, Thomas resumes his routines, though now plagued with headaches and a deeper sense of loneliness. Dr. Paige continues caring for him but avoids discussing the implant. One day, Dr. Leavitt returns with unexpected news: Thomas will finally meet Teresa. Overjoyed, he is taken to an office where she waits with a shy smile. Although initially awkward, they soon begin talking and discover they’ve both spent years in the same place, in isolation. They laugh, joke, and talk about the head pain they share, likely from the implant. Teresa, with sharp intuition, drops a bombshell: she asks Leavitt if it’s true that seven children died during the surgery. Though he nervously denies it, both notice his reaction. Before parting, Teresa kisses Thomas on the cheek. He feels happy to finally have a real friend.
Chapter 10 Summary – The Fever Code – The Mystery of the Strike Trigger
A week later, Thomas sees Teresa again after days of anxious waiting. In the same small office, their conversation resumes naturally. Teresa voices her concern about hidden microphones, suggesting they whisper. Sitting beside him, she confides that she feels a strange internal itch, as if something inside her brain wants to activate. She believes the implants are not just for collecting data—they might also influence their thoughts. Fascinated and slightly uneasy, Thomas promises to help her figure it out. Together, they speculate about WICKED’s technology and their true intentions. Just as they begin to relax, Dr. Leavitt bursts in with excitement—he has something amazing to show them. Though still uncertain, Thomas feels that his friendship with Teresa is genuine and that together they can face whatever comes. For the first time, he believes he’s not alone in the experiment.
Chapter 11 Summary – The Fever Code – Descent to the Core of the Maze
Thomas and Teresa are led by Dr. Leavitt to an unknown part of the compound, descending to levels Thomas didn’t even know existed. There, key WICKED figures await them: Dr. Paige, Minister Anderson, the elegant Vice Chancellor Katie McVoy, and Julio Ramirez, Head of Security. They all speak enthusiastically about a new project. After a series of cryptic explanations, the children are taken to a high platform from which they see a colossal underground cavern, brightly lit and under construction. At its far end, a massive wall rises. The minister reveals that this will be the control center for the Maze Trials. Thomas is awestruck by the scale of the place and the ambiguity of the plans. McVoy promises to answer all their questions and affirms that, due to their talents, they will be essential to the project. Excitement and fear mingle as they realize what’s coming.
Chapter 12 Summary – The Fever Code – The Project of the Century
In a small conference room, Vice Chancellor McVoy answers Thomas and Teresa’s questions. She explains that what they saw is only one of two enormous natural caverns that WICKED has expanded to build underground mazes. The goal is to conduct exhaustive trials on subjects immune to the Flare in hopes of finding a cure. Thomas is left speechless by the scale of the plan. McVoy reveals that the two of them, along with Aris and Rachel, have been selected to help design and execute the project. Dr. Paige assures them this will be an opportunity to showcase their abilities. Though they have no choice, Thomas feels excited by the chance to do something meaningful. Later, alone in his room, he notices his door is no longer locked. Confused and curious, he decides not to leave just yet—he will wait until nightfall to cautiously explore what lies beyond his confinement.
Chapter 13 Summary – The Fever Code – Unexpected Allies
At midnight, just as Thomas prepares to leave his room, someone opens the door from the outside: it’s Newt, who invites him to see something. After confirming that Teresa is also ready, the three venture through hallways and stairwells to a hidden maintenance room. There, Minho and Alby await them. Though cautious at first, Thomas and Teresa soon warm up to the boys, who joke and welcome them enthusiastically. Minho and Alby explain they’ve heard rumors and want to get to know them better. The meeting turns into a relaxed conversation where camaraderie begins to form. Alby and Newt make it clear that, while still wary, they want to include them in their group. Newt proposes showing them something else—the B Group. Thomas can’t resist. The night becomes a secret adventure, full of new connections and an unexpected alliance between kids who may share far more than they realize.
Chapter 14 Summary – The Fever Code – The Secret of Groups A and B
Guided by Newt, the five boys travel through a narrow, forgotten passageway that leads them to a hidden loft overlooking some barracks. There they see dozens of girls sleeping in bunks—Group B. Thomas is shocked by the contrast with his own isolation. Alby explains that they are Group A and that WICKED has separated the boys and girls, though no one truly understands why. Newt points out one of the girls: his sister Lizzy, now called Sonya. With tears in his eyes, he expresses his anger at having to pretend he doesn’t know her. Thomas is deeply moved. As the days go by, their nightly meetings multiply: they discover strange laboratories, creatures in tanks, sports zones, and creepy medical devices. Though danger is constant, Thomas feels more alive than ever. For the first time, he has friends: Teresa, Minho, Newt, and Alby.
Chapter 15 Summary – The Fever Code – Punishment Under the Stars
Newt keeps his promise and leads the group to explore outside the compound. They climb an old hidden staircase that takes them to an outdoor platform. The fresh air, the sound of the sea, and the sense of freedom dazzle Thomas and Teresa, who finally experience something beyond WICKED’s walls. They decide to slide down a pipe into a nearby forest, where Alby talks about the risks of escaping and how tempting it would be to run away. But just as they feel most free, blinding lights surround them and armed guards appear. With them comes Randall, who declares that they need to learn a lesson. He orders that Newt be taken away, claiming he’s not immune, and that the others be sent to the “Crank pits.” Thomas feels deep terror at seeing Randall again, and the illusion of freedom turns into a nightmare. Their friendship is about to be tested like never before.
Chapter 16 Summary – The Fever Code – The Path to the Crank Pits
Thomas and Teresa walk hand in hand under the watchful eyes of WICKED’s guards, confused and frightened by the punishment ahead. The mention of the “Crank pits” haunts them. A female guard tries to reassure them, explaining that it’s all meant to teach them a valuable lesson about the dangers of the outside world. Accompanied by Alby and Minho, the group is led through a dark tunnel beneath the compound, where a chained door is opened by the guards. Beyond it lies a space designated for those infected with the Flare. Though they are told no real harm will come to them, the experience promises to be brutal. Thomas wonders why Newt, who isn’t immune, is still there, as answers remain elusive. Terrified but with no other choice, Teresa steps through first, followed by Alby, Thomas, and finally Minho. Each step brings them closer to a terror beyond anything they could have imagined.
Chapter 17 Summary – The Fever Code – The Horror of the Infected
The darkness inside the facility is dense and suffocating. Thomas, Teresa, Minho, and Alby walk among metal fences, uneasy at the echo of their footsteps and the approaching sounds. Soon, the Flare-infected—“Cranks”—emerge in a frenzied mob, pounding on the bars, screaming, and reaching out in a display of desperation and madness. One by one, they crowd the fences, shadows of who they once were. A woman calls out for her babies repeatedly before smashing into the bars and collapsing. Thomas is paralyzed by the shock of seeing what the virus truly does. Teresa comforts him, reminding him why they’re here: to help find a cure. As they prepare to leave, a new figure appears in their path—a strange man holding a sign that reads “WICKED is good.” The intensity of the moment leaves Thomas forever changed. Nothing will ever be the same.
Chapter 18 Summary – The Fever Code – The Lost Founder
The man with the sign introduces himself as John Michael, claiming to be the founder of the organization that eventually became WICKED. Infected with the Flare, he exhibits clear mental and emotional instability. He speaks with devotion about the mission to save humanity, obsessively repeating “WICKED is good.” Thomas and his friends listen with growing unease until he suddenly bursts into violence, lunging at Minho and then Alby. Despite the aggression, the guards do not intervene until Thomas and Teresa manage to pull him away. John Michael, physically and emotionally broken, drops to his knees and pleads through tears for someone to save him—and all the infected. Just then, Randall appears and reveals that the man asked to be killed before reaching the Gone. Without compassion, he cocks his gun to fulfill the request. The message is clear: without immunity, only two paths remain. Thomas is horrified by the brutal truth he now understands.
Chapter 19 Summary – The Fever Code – Forced Separation
After the traumatic experience, the kids return to the interior of the compound in silence. A guard escorts Alby and Minho to their rooms, while Thomas and Teresa ride another elevator. The guard informs them they won’t be allowed to see each other for a couple of years—a revelation that hits Thomas hard. Upon arriving at his room, he feels devastated, especially thinking that the bond he formed with his friends might now fade away. Though they lived through horrors that night, what hurts most is the separation. He collapses onto his bed, unable to sleep, reflecting on the disease, the infected, and the fate of the man who once led WICKED. Dr. Paige appears with breakfast, her sad smile confirming that she, too, knows what happened. Confused and distressed, Thomas begins to question everything he thought he knew about WICKED, its purpose, and his own role in this story.
Chapter 20 Summary – The Fever Code – The Voice in the Mind
Months later, Thomas endures another day of grueling medical tests, consumed by growing physical and mental exhaustion. The headaches and the staff’s indifference make him feel increasingly isolated. He misses his friends, and even his contact with Teresa has ceased. That night, on the verge of despair, he begins to hear a buzzing in his head that transforms into a voice—Teresa’s. He thinks he’s losing his mind, a victim of the Flare, but the voice persists, asking him to give a signal by knocking on the door. Thomas, unsure of his sanity, does so desperately, finally receiving a telepathic response from Teresa. The emotion is overwhelming. Before he can fully process it, Dr. Paige enters, alarmed. The discovery of this new form of communication between them changes everything. Now they know they’re connected, that they’re not alone, and that they might possess a key tool for whatever WICKED is planning.
Chapter 21 Summary – The Fever Code – The Voice in Thomas’s Mind
Thomas spends the day overwhelmed by doubt, desperate to confirm whether the voice he heard was really Teresa’s. During a conversation with Dr. Paige, he tries to get answers about his immunity to the Flare. She assures him with scientific certainty that his immune system has resisted the virus for years. Though he struggles to believe it, Paige’s sincerity brings him comfort. That night, as he sleeps, Teresa’s voice returns in his mind. This time, there’s no buzzing—her mental presence feels almost familiar. Teresa explains that both of them have implants that allow for telepathic communication and teaches him how to find the mental “door” he must open. For days, Thomas tries and fails to reach her, frustrated by the challenge of manipulating his own consciousness. Finally, one night he succeeds, and Teresa receives his message. The connection fills him with excitement and hope. For the first time in a long while, Thomas feels he has something real.
Chapter 22 Summary – The Fever Code – Teresa’s Secret Plan
A year after mastering their mental communication, Thomas and Teresa have become inseparable. They talk each night naturally, sharing thoughts and jokes. Despite being constantly monitored, Teresa has been studying WICKED’s security systems. One night, she reveals she’s perfected a plan to outsmart the cameras, loop footage, and erase their tracks. Though afraid after their previous punishment, Thomas agrees to help. Teresa enters his room for the first time, and together they plan to visit their friends, including members of Group B. During their exploration, they encounter a frightened boy crying alone in a hallway. His name is Charles, but Thomas nicknames him Chuck. Despite the risk, they decide to bring him along. The encounter sparks a new bond, and Chuck becomes an endearing figure for Thomas. The group continues exploring, feeling that, at least for that night, they are together once more.
Chapter 23 Summary – The Fever Code – The Best Night of All
Chuck leads them to his room, where Thomas stays with him while Teresa goes to find Newt, Alby, and Minho. Chuck reveals he’s only been at WICKED for a few weeks and is scared of what lies ahead. Thomas tries to reassure him, explaining that it was hard at first for him too, but he adapted. Soon, the rest of the group arrives, and the room fills with laughter, jokes, and a warmth they hadn’t felt in a long time. For Chuck, sadness disappears amid the fun, and everyone feels they’ve regained something they thought was lost. Thomas reflects on WICKED, unsure if it’s truly evil. Though they were taken from their families, they’re safe and cared for. He concludes that maybe their sacrifice will help save humanity. However, Minho disrupts the mood by declaring he still plans to escape. No one responds, but tension lingers in the silence. The perfect night ends with a quiet filled with uncertainty.
Chapter 24 Summary – The Fever Code – Between Laughter and Dangerous Variables
For six months, Thomas and his friends enjoy a period of relative happiness, meeting in secret thanks to Teresa’s skill with the cameras. Their clandestine gatherings become routine, filled with stolen food and laughter. Chuck becomes the group’s little brother, always ready to make them laugh. Meanwhile, Thomas and Teresa work on constructing the Maze, focusing on Project Sky: designing a realistic optical illusion of the sky from inside. Though the work is complex and frustrating, they feel part of something important. They come across documents mentioning Variables like “forced pain” and “removal of comforts,” which disturb them, but they continue working with hope. During a new nighttime meeting, Minho announces the arrival of a boy named Gally, who will help with the escape plan. Despite Alby’s warnings and Teresa’s doubts, Minho insists Gally is essential. The previously relaxed atmosphere turns tense.
Chapter 25 Summary – The Fever Code – Gally and the Divided Decision
Gally joins the meeting and quickly makes a strange impression. His unkempt appearance and broken look make Thomas feel pity. Though the group greets him coldly, Minho insists he’s vital for the escape. Gally works outside the compound in maintenance and has discovered how to bypass WICKED’s security. He’s contacted a cousin near the Canadian border and claims there are people waiting in the woods. The idea of escape divides the group. Thomas and Teresa defend WICKED’s cause, reminding everyone of the horrors outside. Minho, however, insists they are prisoners and no one should live without freedom. The argument intensifies, and Gally loses patience. After a tense exchange, Minho reveals that the escape will happen the next night and asks the crucial question: will anyone else come with them? A deep silence fills the room, and everything is left hanging in the air.
Chapter 26 Summary – The Fever Code – Minho’s Punishment Begins
In the middle of the night, Thomas is abruptly awakened by Randall, Dr. Leavitt, and Ramirez, who take him to a security room. There, he witnesses something terrifying: Minho is tied to a chair, bloodied and visibly beaten. They inform Thomas that Minho will be used as an example to discourage future escape attempts—with Thomas as the main witness. Randall shows him a sealed pod containing a creature called a Griever, a biomechanical military experiment designed for the Maze Trials. As they speak, the pod begins to open and mist spreads. On the screen, Minho watches in terror as the creature emerges—a grotesque, slimy mass with metal parts and threatening blades. Thomas pleads for them to stop, but Randall refuses, determined to “teach a lesson.” The threat is real, and the tension builds. Helpless, Thomas is forced to watch his friend face a fate that could cost him his life.
Chapter 27 Summary – The Fever Code – The Edge of Horror
Thomas loses control as the Griever approaches Minho. He begs Randall to stop, insisting he’s learned the lesson. But Randall insists that real consequences are needed to maintain order. Minho struggles, terrified, as the creature prepares to strike. Blades spin, saws edge toward his head, and Thomas, desperate, threatens to stop cooperating unless they halt the attack. Finally, Randall orders the demonstration paused. The monster stops just inches from Minho, who is left shattered, trembling, and sobbing. Randall watches the Griever with fascination, praising its potential as a weapon for the Maze Trials. Thomas, horrified, can barely breathe. But the nightmare isn’t over: Randall reveals they’ll repeat the experiment for three other subjects since it wasn’t recorded. Thomas realizes Minho’s suffering wasn’t a simulation—it was a cruel lesson designed to break their wills.
Chapter 28 Summary – The Fever Code – Invisible Scars
More than a year has passed since Minho’s punishment, and Thomas can barely cope with the memory. Minho was never the same: he stopped attending secret meetings and never spoke of escape again. Thomas still believes in the cure, but it’s becoming harder to justify WICKED’s methods. One morning, after his usual moment of silence following the wake-up alarm, he receives a visit from Dr. Paige. Though their relationship grew cold after Minho’s punishment, he notices genuine sadness in her eyes. Thomas voices his frustration about the lack of information, the way they’re treated as test subjects, and the unjust brutality. Paige responds with honesty, explaining that the world is dying and tough decisions are necessary. She admits that even she has struggled with some practices. Their conversation ends in silent farewell, and Thomas is left deep in thought, wondering if all this suffering will truly be worth it in the end.
Chapter 29 Summary – The Fever Code – Bitter Truths
After their emotional talk, Thomas follows Dr. Paige down the hallway, demanding answers. She, initially irritated, regains her composure and shares two truths: many painful events were orchestrated to study their brains, and most adults in WICKED are hardened survivors of the global catastrophe. Those who lived through it have no time for compassion—they’ve seen too many die. Though Thomas doesn’t approve of the methods, he begins to better understand the mindset of those around him. Later, he heads to the Maze, where he reflects proudly on the work he and Teresa have done, especially on visual and technological details. While exploring, a beetle blade playfully attacks him, leading to shared laughter with Teresa. But the good mood fades when they gaze at the hatch from which the Grievers will be released, and she asks, “Who will be the first to die?” Thomas tries to reassure her, though deep down he knows the threat is real and their future more uncertain than ever.
Chapter 30 Summary – The Fever Code – Countdown
Thomas attends a key meeting with Teresa, Aris, Rachel, and WICKED’s top minds, including Minister Anderson. The atmosphere is solemn yet celebratory: the teens’ work is praised, and it’s announced that the Maze Trials are about to begin. The minister and doctors highlight the significant progress made, though Thomas and Aris express doubts about the methods and the slow pace toward a cure. Dr. Leavitt responds that historical pandemics were never solved quickly and that WICKED’s efforts are a miracle, even if only ten percent of humanity survives. Teresa and Thomas communicate mentally during the meeting, aware of the absurdity of the symbolic gesture they’re part of. In the end, Anderson predicts that the next phase will begin in a few months. Applause fills the room, but Thomas feels no excitement. He knows the worst is yet to come.
Chapter 31 Summary – The Fever Code – The Last Dinner with Friends
Thomas and Teresa are finally officially integrated into Group A, sharing meals, classes, and recreation, though their inclusion feels more like a prelude to a final separation. During their first dinner in the cafeteria, all eyes are on them. Ramirez announces that they will serve as the link between the test subjects and WICKED, creating discomfort. Despite everything, Thomas reunites with Newt, Alby, Chuck, and even a recovering Minho, who shows signs of healing. Even Gally, his face deformed, offers a silent apology. The group jokes and briefly recaptures the lost camaraderie, momentarily pushing away the horrors that lie ahead. But Thomas hasn’t forgotten his promise to Newt. That night, he sneaks off to join him at the Group A barracks. As they move through the facility, unaware of what they’re about to witness, their perception of WICKED and its hidden secrets is about to change forever.
Chapter 32 Summary – The Fever Code – The Secret in the R&D Lab
Thomas and Newt, guided by Teresa, make their way through the hallways to reach Group B’s barracks, but when they pass through the R&D lab, they discover something disturbing. Among strange machinery and rising vapors, they find a tank lit with a glowing green light. Inside floats a deformed, organic mass, covered in mucus and glistening lumps. First they see an arm, then a torso, and finally an incomplete, monstrous figure that seems alive. Disgusted and terrified, they can’t look away. What they’ve found is a biological aberration WICKED is developing, likely for use in the Maze. Shaken, they continue to the barracks and sneak in through a false wall. There, Miyoko, a girl from Group B, confronts them. Thomas explains that Newt only wants to say goodbye to his sister, Sonya. As they embrace, Newt breaks down, screaming his hatred for WICKED while Sonya tries to calm him with words of hope.
Chapter 33 Summary – The Fever Code – The Outbreak and the Change of Plans
With only days left until insertion, Thomas struggles to sleep. One morning, Dr. Paige wakes him abruptly for an urgent meeting with Minister Anderson, Teresa, Aris, and Rachel. There, they are told a Crank has gone missing from the detention center, raising alarm over a potential Flare outbreak. Though no adults have shown symptoms, WICKED decides to take precautions by accelerating the Maze Trials—shortening them from five to two years. They also mention the possible addition of new Phases. Disturbed, Thomas recalls the monstrous creature in the lab and begins to suspect something darker is coming. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the minister seems to be withholding a deeper truth, and everyone senses it. Thomas watches Dr. Paige closely and realizes she too knows more than she’s saying. Suspicion casts a long shadow over what lies ahead.
Chapter 34 Summary – The Fever Code – The Fake Goodbye
On the day before insertion, Thomas watches his friends go through medical checks. He and Teresa have been asked to provide support, but when they approach Minho, he lashes out emotionally. He feels betrayed upon learning that neither Thomas nor Teresa will be inserted with them, believing they’ve always been on WICKED’s side. Alby joins in the reproach while Newt silently watches, sadness in his eyes. Thomas tries to explain, but Gally interrupts, desperately asking for help before being dragged away by guards. Thomas wants to shout that it’s all a misunderstanding, that he would go with them if he could—but before he can speak, something inside him activates. He loses control of his body and, against his will, utters a hollow phrase: “I’m sorry. I can’t do anything.” Trapped within himself, he watches helplessly as his friends are taken away, unable to explain that he, too, is being manipulated. The rift between them becomes unbridgeable.
Chapter 35 Summary – The Fever Code – Forget to Begin
After the heartbreaking separation, Thomas is granted permission to observe his friends’ first day inside the Maze. From the control room, he watches them wander the Glade, completely disoriented. The medical masks used in the infirmary have erased their memories—they don’t know who they are, where they are, or even recognize each other. Minho paces frantically, Alby sits despondent under a tree, and Newt roams aimlessly. Thomas activates the audio and hears fragments of confused conversation as the boys try to reclaim a sense of identity. In the afternoon, he sees Minho attempt to climb the walls without success, followed by others who also fail. Despair spreads like a virus. When the Maze doors open for the first time, some react with fear, others with excitement. Internally shattered, Thomas watches in silence. Dr. Paige appears to remind him of his duties. Though she allows him to return the next day, Thomas is no longer the same—he’s witnessed the beginning of a living nightmare.
Chapter 36 Summary – The Fever Code – An Afternoon of Hope Among Monitors
Thomas spends his days in the observation room, where a new high-definition monitoring system allows him to follow his friends’ every move inside the Maze with greater detail. This space becomes his refuge—the only place he can feel close to them, though it frustrates him to see them without memories. Dr. Paige agrees to let Chuck keep him company for a few hours, which deeply comforts him. That bond with the boy becomes an essential emotional anchor, almost as vital as his mental link with Teresa. At that moment, Teresa contacts him telepathically to inform him that the next boy to be sent in is Zart. Shortly after, she joins Thomas and Chuck in the room, where they share jokes and a few moments of emotional relief. Despite the accumulated pain, Thomas starts to feel better—as if being with others could help him find a bit of light in all the darkness.
Chapter 37 Summary – The Fever Code – Zart’s Insertion and Fear in the Box
Zart is chosen as the next insertion into the Maze. Teresa oversees the procedure, and Thomas, Chuck, and Dr. Paige head to the basement where the Box is located. Though everything happens quietly, the tension is palpable. Curious, Chuck asks questions as Zart is prepped and awkwardly placed into the Box, which has no side door—causing the orderlies to drop him inside clumsily. Dr. Paige explains that from now on, the insertion process will occur monthly, like a controlled ritual. On the way back, Thomas and Teresa decide not to let Chuck witness Zart’s awakening. From the observation room, they watch the boy regain consciousness, screaming and thrashing in panic. The moment is agonizing: Zart injures himself and curls up in a corner, crying—until the Maze doors open and other Gladers welcome him. George helps him up, cleans him, and smiles warmly: “Welcome to the Glade.”
Chapter 38 Summary – The Fever Code – A Mystery in the Glade’s Shed
During a calm observation shift with Teresa and Chuck, Thomas notices something strange on one of the monitors. Alby, Newt, and other boys are gathered around the shed, clearly hiding something. Suspense builds as they drag George—the same boy who welcomed Zart—out into the open. He is in a terrifying state: convulsing, writhing, and seemingly having lost his mind. Nick, another Glader, explains that George was attacked in the Maze and keeps repeating “I’ve been stung.” The image is horrifying: his face looks deformed, his muscles twitch, and his eyes nearly pop out. Thomas senses the gravity of the situation, as if something inside him recognizes the threat in that phrase. Though they try to help George, no one understands what’s happening. It’s clear he was attacked by a Griever, but his symptoms and behavior defy any logical or human explanation.
Chapter 39 Summary – The Fever Code – George and the Experimental Serum
Alby and the others carry George to the center of the Glade under the growing watch of the Gladers. Newt shouts at a camera, demanding help, unaware that Thomas is watching. Amid the confusion, Siggy—nicknamed Frypan—reveals he found a syringe labeled “serum” among the supplies and had discarded it, not realizing its importance. They retrieve it just in time, and Nick injects George, who revives with a roar. But instead of recovering, George goes berserk. He screams about Grievers, violently attacks another boy, and tries to gouge out his eyes. No one can stop him until Alby appears with a makeshift spear and drives it into George’s neck, killing him. Silence falls over the Glade. Thomas, Teresa, and Chuck watch in horror from the observation room. The shock is absolute—George went from infected to monstrous before everyone’s eyes, and WICKED stood by, doing nothing to stop it.
Chapter 40 Summary – The Fever Code – Half-Lit Truths
After witnessing George’s death, Thomas, Teresa, and Chuck are left traumatized. Chuck cries, comforted by the other two, while Thomas makes a decision—he needs answers. He leaves Chuck at the monitors and heads with Teresa to the control room. There, he demands an explanation, confronting the staff’s initial indifference. Eventually, Dr. Paige takes them into a private room and admits the truth: WICKED has modified the Flare virus to create a version capable of affecting even immunes, as part of their experiments. The serum used on George didn’t work, and while they regret his death, they value the scientific data gathered from the reactions. Thomas and Teresa are devastated. Dr. Paige insists she loves them like children and promises to do whatever it takes to save the world—but her words only emphasize the coldness with which WICKED justifies its crimes in the name of science.
Chapter 41 Summary – The Fever Code – Days That Repeat, Memories That Return
Thomas spends his afternoons in the observation room—the only place where he truly feels close to his friends. On this day, he watches Minho and Newt running through the Maze before retreating to the structure where they store their maps. There, they record everything they remember from their route to later turn it into detailed diagrams. Meanwhile, Alby sits alone by a flagpole, seemingly in a melancholic trance. When someone tries to speak to him, he asks for silence, claiming he can hear thunder—a memory so powerful it brings a tear to his cheek. Thomas, for his part, gets through his days with routines and medical checks, always accompanied by Teresa and Chuck. Though he’s proud to see them thriving in the Glade, he can’t ignore that they’re all just pieces in a cruel experiment born of a devastating disease. His life is marked by repetition, pain, and a faint hope for a better future.
Chapter 42 Summary – The Fever Code – Ben, Gally, and the Invisible Sting
Thomas welcomes Ben, a newly arrived subject from Denver, who quickly breaks down in tears. The boy claims his parents were healthy and that he was taken by force, triggering a wave of doubt in Thomas about WICKED’s true practices. Though he tries to comfort him, Thomas feels like a fraud. Later, he takes Ben to the observation room, but when he sees Gally behaving strangely in the Maze, he pulls Ben away to protect him from what might happen. Still, Ben peeks in just in time to witness a brutal Griever attack on Gally. Screaming in pain, Gally barely manages to return to the Glade, where he’s treated with the experimental serum. Thomas improvises a lie to explain what happened. Teresa arrives to escort Ben, leaving Thomas feeling trapped in WICKED’s web of deception. The truth he knows and the lives he’s trying to protect are at odds—and he’s caught in the middle.
Chapter 43 Summary – The Fever Code – The Hidden Truth and the Virus’s Origin
During a routine medical check, Thomas secretly takes a research tablet and spends the afternoon diving into its files. What he discovers shocks him: information on his friends, the Flare, military reports, and virus data. The most chilling document reveals that the virus was created and deliberately released by the government to control overpopulation after the solar flares. This plan, called EO #13, authorized intentional viral release in selected zones. Horrified, he shares the discovery with Teresa, who reacts coldly—as if she already knew. Her response unsettles him further. She insists they should focus on the present, but Thomas can’t ignore the disaster’s root cause. He vows never to forget the truth: that WICKED is trying to fix a crime its own leaders helped commit. For him, understanding the past is crucial to facing whatever comes next.
Chapter 44 Summary – The Fever Code – Snow, Randall, and the Cry from the Past
On a rare outing with Chuck and Teresa, Thomas enjoys a moment of peace in the snow and fresh air—until Randall stumbles out of the forest, wounded and delirious. As he approaches, he reveals something horrifying: he’s infected with the Flare and has been hiding it from WICKED. The moment explodes with tension as he shouts warnings about the true dangers surrounding them, claiming they should fear WICKED, not him. Guards intervene while the kids flee to safety. Shaken, Thomas takes Chuck back to his room and offers to let him sleep there. But Teresa contacts him telepathically, urging him to leave—something far more serious is unfolding. As Chuck drifts off to sleep, Thomas wonders whether they can truly trust WICKED. Randall may be infected, but his words leave a chilling truth lingering in the air: who are the real enemies?
Chapter 45 Summary – The Fever Code – The Night of the Purge
After putting Chuck to bed, Thomas goes to Teresa’s room, where she shows him an urgent note from Dr. Paige asking them to come. They cautiously head to her quarters, fearing a trap, but she welcomes them with visible tension. Dr. Paige confesses she’s long suspected that WICKED’s upper ranks are hiding critical information that could undermine the mission. She says she has fought for Thomas and Teresa because she believes in their abilities and commitment—and now asks if they’re willing to take a step from which there’s no return. When they agree, she reveals the start of a definitive phase: it’s time to initiate a protocol called the Purge. With this revelation, it becomes clear that something deep and drastic is about to unfold within WICKED—something that will test everything Thomas and Teresa believe about the organization… and about themselves.
Chapter 46 Summary – The Fever Code – The Truth About Minister Anderson
Dr. Paige leads Thomas and Teresa through the compound with new and alarming urgency. She reveals that several high-ranking WICKED officials are infected with the Flare, including its most powerful figure: Minister Anderson. She believes he’s been manipulating medical results to hide his infection. They head to Anderson’s private quarters, where they find him asleep. Paige, wearing a mask, explains she’s taken strict precautions to avoid contamination and admits to having had a close relationship with him, though she’s noticed his mental decline. She accesses his computer and finds a full personnel list, confirming that Anderson and others are indeed infected. Thomas is shaken by the revelation, realizing the disease has infiltrated WICKED’s leadership. The Purge is no longer an option—it’s unavoidable.
Chapter 47 Summary – The Fever Code – The Beginning of the Purge
After confirming that nineteen people in the compound are infected, Dr. Paige orchestrates the Purge with surgical precision. She returns with Aris and Rachel, who join Thomas and Teresa as the team chosen to carry out the mission. Paige explains that most of the infected are confined in Sector D, isolated for safety. As immunes and physically capable individuals, the four teens must administer a lethal solution to each infected person. Thomas is paralyzed by the moral dilemma, while Teresa, Aris, and Rachel accept the task with resolve, convinced that sacrificing a few will save millions. As arguments over ends justifying means escalate, Thomas is pulled into the unrelenting logic of the situation. In the end, though overwhelmed and uncertain, he agrees. The Purge is set to begin—and they will be the ones to execute it. Everything must happen that very night.
Chapter 48 Summary – The Fever Code – Mental Debates and Lethal Decisions
As they wait for the mission to begin, Teresa links minds with Thomas to share painful memories from her childhood, scarred by the horrors of the Flare. She confesses that she comes from a devastated place and has watched many die, reinforcing her belief that the Purge is necessary. Thomas wrestles with the emotional weight and the argument that killing is, this time, a lesser evil. He feels torn between his humanity and the urgency of saving those with a future. When he suggests alternatives, like isolating the infected, Teresa coldly refutes him: they’re no longer sane, they’re dangerous, and there’s no time. Though unconvinced, Thomas agrees. He knows he can’t stop the mission and that, in the end, it all hinges on his cooperation. The group prepares: weapons are ready, instructions are clear. Time is running out—there’s no turning back. WICKED demands cleansing, and they will be the ones to deliver it.
Chapter 49 Summary – The Fever Code – The Fall of the Minister
Armed with backpacks full of weapons and lethal syringes, Thomas and his team head to their first target: Anderson’s office. As they move through the halls, Aris hears a strange cry echoing through the vents, but Teresa urges them to stay focused. Upon entering the office, a foul stench hits them. They find Anderson in a pitiful state—self-inflicted wounds, a shattered mind, nearly all his fingers gone. He rambles in incomprehensible delusion. Thomas finds an unsent message in which the minister confesses his horror at his own actions, his lost hope, and his regret for playing god. Confronted with the broken figure before him, Thomas chooses to end his suffering. Kneeling beside him, he delivers the injection after a few whispered final words. Anderson dies in silence, watched by his former subordinates with a mix of respect, sorrow, and fear. The Purge has officially begun.
Chapter 50 Summary – The Fever Code – Cranks in the Hall and the Shadow of the Inhuman
With Anderson dead, Thomas and his team receive new instructions from Dr. Paige in the security room to continue the Purge. Their next targets are five infected individuals located in a room in Sector D. On the way, they encounter two Cranks roaming the hallway: one crawling naked, the other staggering and bloody. Without hesitation, Teresa coordinates the attack—grenade launchers first, syringes after. Aris and Rachel fire, paralyzing the targets, and Thomas delivers the lethal injections. It’s a fast, precise, chilling process. Despite their success, Thomas feels something inside him break. Teresa stays focused, repeating that they’re no longer people—just Cranks. But Thomas realizes that line has blurred. As they prepare to enter room D-17, where more victims await, he understands this is only the beginning of a task that will change him forever.
Chapter 51 Summary – The Fever Code – Attack in the Recreation Room
As Thomas, Aris, Rachel, and Teresa continue the Purge, they find five Cranks asleep in a recreation room. Aris and Rachel silently disable them with grenade launchers, and Thomas administers the lethal injections. Just when they think the task is done, four more Cranks burst in. One savagely attacks Aris, and Rachel saves him with a grenade blast. Overwhelmed with rage, Aris stabs the electrified Crank and suffers a shock. Meanwhile, Thomas is attacked from behind and nearly suffocated before Teresa shoots their attacker just in time. But the threat isn't over. While searching for the remaining Cranks, Teresa is ambushed by Dr. Leavitt, now a wild Crank. Thomas intervenes, and despite the man’s pleas, shoots him in the head to save Teresa. After the chaos, Rachel confirms that only six Cranks remain. The end of the Purge is near.
Chapter 52 Summary – The Fever Code – Newt’s Fall and Thomas’s Guilt
A month after the Purge, Thomas is still caught in a spiral of guilt and isolation. He can’t forget the nineteen people he helped kill. He’s distanced himself from his friends and avoids watching the Maze, but one day he checks in on Newt, Alby, and the others. He’s horrified by footage showing what happened to Newt the day before. Seemingly cheerful at first, Newt wandered into the woods and collapsed at the Glade’s cemetery. Then he climbed a wall covered in ivy, stared into a camera, cursed WICKED, and let himself fall. Thomas watches, heartbroken, as his friend lies crying and injured at the wall’s base. The memory devastates him. Worst of all, he knows Newt isn’t immune—making his fate even more tragic and terrifying.
Chapter 53 Summary – The Fever Code – Memos and Manipulation
Teresa bursts into Thomas’s room with a tablet showing a memorandum signed in his name, taking responsibility for the Purge and naming Dr. Paige as the new Chancellor of WICKED. Thomas insists he didn’t write it. They examine another message, supposedly from Anderson, but it’s too polished to be authentic. Enraged, they confront Paige, who admits to sending the memos to create an illusion of order and maturity within the project. Thomas feels used and betrayed. He locks himself in his room, doubting everything. He remembers his friends in the Maze and suffers knowing he can’t help them. He dreams of freedom with them but realizes only a cure can save them. Still, he begins to question WICKED’s true intentions and wonders if anyone can be trusted. The seed of rebellion takes root within him.
Chapter 54 Summary – The Fever Code – New Alliances and New Lies
Time passes, and Thomas finds solace in the observation room, following his friends’ routines in the Maze. Watching the Gladers gives him some comfort. Chuck visits, and they share a lighthearted moment filled with jokes and brotherly affection. Later, in a meeting, Thomas and Teresa are introduced to Jorge, a pilot, and Brenda, a young future psychologist. Dr. Paige explains that they’ll lead an expedition into a city overrun by Cranks to test long-range remote-control technology. The mission sounds dangerous, and Thomas suspects they’re not being told the whole story. Brenda’s past seems complex, and Jorge appears eager to help. Though Paige frames it as a scientific opportunity, Thomas senses deeper motives. He realizes WICKED is still manipulating everything—and that certainty ignites a growing urge to act before it’s too late.
Chapter 55 Summary – The Fever Code – Farewell to Chuck and the Promise of a Plan
The day has come for Chuck to be sent into the Maze. Thomas is granted one last hour to say goodbye, and the weight of sadness is heavy between them. They eat in silence, avoiding the painful truth. When Thomas asks if he’s scared, Chuck pretends to be brave, though he’s clearly shaken. Trying to lift his spirits, Thomas promises him a better future—a life together once the cure is found. Chuck, though doubtful, clings to those words. At last, they embrace in tears. After Chuck leaves, Thomas is left alone, imagining all the ways his friend might suffer or die. The anguish and helplessness consume him. Yet, amidst the pain, a powerful idea takes root: the possibility of saving everyone. For the first time, he seriously considers rebelling against WICKED. “What if I save my friends?” he wonders. The desire to act begins to take form as a real decision.
Chapter 56 Summary – The Fever Code – Arrival at the Scorch
Thomas boards an aircraft for the second time and experiences a mix of fascination, fear, and nausea. The flight allows him to see a devastated yet still beautiful world from above, prompting thoughts about what remains of humanity and his growing distance from Teresa, who isn’t joining this mission. Brenda and Jorge accompany him toward the Scorch, a barren and dangerous zone where WICKED wants to test long-range technology. During their conversation, Brenda encourages Thomas to express his feelings about Teresa and confides that she and Jorge volunteered for WICKED after losing loved ones. Moved, Thomas realizes his friends are all that truly matter. When they land, the desolate landscape overwhelms them, and Brenda hints that the Gladers will also be sent there. That comment shakes Thomas and starts to connect the dots in his mind.
Chapter 57 Summary – The Fever Code – Discovery of the Flat Trans and Final Decision
Following Brenda’s comment, Thomas confirms his suspicion that WICKED plans to send his friends to the Scorch as part of Phase Two. While walking through a scorching desert with WICKED technicians, he discovers their destination: an underground tunnel originally built as a cartel escape route, now repurposed by WICKED. There, Thomas reflects on the need to enter the Maze without having his memory wiped so he can save the Gladers. Deep within the tunnel, they arrive at a Flat Trans—a teleportation device salvaged from dead billionaires. After a demonstration, Thomas volunteers to go first. He prepares to step through the static energy without fear, knowing that whatever happens in that tunnel will be a key step toward his secret mission: rescuing his friends from WICKED’s deadly hands.
Chapter 58 Summary – The Fever Code – Randall’s Attack
After crossing the Flat Trans, Thomas arrives at a secondary WICKED base, where Teresa greets him with an emotional hug. Though Dr. Paige tries to calm him, he remains distrustful of the facility, convinced it’s connected to the plan to send the Gladers to the Scorch. To think clearly, he decides to walk back to the main compound with two guards. During the forest walk, one guard vanishes mysteriously, and the other is murdered by Randall, now a fully crazed Crank. Unrecognizable and savage, Randall viciously attacks Thomas. In a brutal hand-to-hand fight, Thomas wounds him with a grenade launcher and finishes him off by beating him with the weapon. Frozen by the trauma, he stays beside the body until Teresa finds him. Back at the compound, shattered, he utters a phrase that marks his loss of faith in WICKED’s mission: “They’ll never find a cure.”
Chapter 59 Summary – The Fever Code – The Decision to Rebel
Wounded and exhausted after Randall’s attack, Thomas recovers in the infirmary. While resting, he overhears a conversation about bulbous creatures that reinforces his belief that WICKED has lost its way. He decides to share his plan with Teresa and proposes meeting in person to avoid telepathic interception. During breakfast, he confides his desire to infiltrate the Maze without memory loss to rescue his friends. Teresa is initially skeptical and afraid, but she’s shaken when Thomas tells her about the extreme trials, the Crank-infested city, and the monstrous lab experiments. Eventually, she agrees to consider it. Later, she confirms that she’ll join the plan, driven by loyalty to Thomas and the Gladers. Teresa volunteers to speak with Dr. Paige, confident they can use her trusted status to influence the decision. The rebellion is beginning to take shape.
Chapter 60 Summary – The Fever Code – The Rebellion Begins
Thomas wakes before dawn, filled with anxiety but also determination. Despite his physical pain, he prepares for the decisive talk with Teresa. During breakfast, he lays out his full plan: enter the Maze without memory loss, hide weapons, disable Grievers, and prepare an escape to free everyone. Teresa listens intently. Though daunted by the scale of the mission, she agrees to help. Thomas reminds her of WICKED’s horrors and mentions Chuck, which deeply moves her. Later, she assures him she’ll convince Dr. Paige. That night, Thomas watches Newt eating alone in the Glade and reaffirms his resolve. The next day, he receives the official news: Paige has approved the inclusion of Thomas, Teresa, Aris, and Rachel in the Maze Trials. The mission to save his friends has begun.
Chapter 61 Summary – The Fever Code – Final Meeting with Dr. Paige
In the final meeting, Dr. Paige leads a table with Thomas, Teresa, Aris, Rachel, and several CRUEL technicians and psychologists. They discuss the final details of the Elite’s insertion into the Mazes. Thomas pretends to be enthusiastic, though his mind is focused on executing the rescue plan. Dr. Paige highlights the new Variables and the impact of including Teresa as the first girl to enter. Thomas remains composed, even when asked about the necessity of the Swipe. With Teresa’s support, he argues that keeping their memories will provide unprecedented insight and benefit CRUEL. The response convinces the group, and his insertion without memory loss is approved. Aris and Rachel still don’t know the full plan, but Thomas wants to save Group B too. At the end of the meeting, he knows there’s no turning back: the next day, he’ll enter the Maze, and everything will begin.
Chapter 62 Summary – The Fever Code – The Last Night
The night before entering the Maze, Thomas mentally reviews each step of the plan: he knows the Grievers’ weaknesses, he and Teresa have the codes to an armory, and he knows the location of a nearby city where they could escape. Aris and Rachel are informed but won’t act until Thomas and Teresa trigger it from inside. That night, Thomas and Teresa spend hours together talking about memories, dreams, and the world before the catastrophe. It’s the first time since the Purge they feel as close as before. They promise not to back down, sealing the vow with a pinky swear. They hug, cry, laugh, and vow to survive and rescue their friends. As the first rays of dawn appear, their decision is final: the Maze awaits—not as test subjects, but as rebels with a mission.
Chapter 63 Summary – The Fever Code – Ava Paige’s Betrayal
On the morning of January 1st, 232, Thomas prepares to enter the Maze. After a medical check-up, Dr. Paige offers him a calming infusion. While talking, he starts to feel strange. The woman confesses she was the one who infected the former chancellor and has manipulated everything from the start. Thomas tries to react but collapses under the effects of the drug: he’s been betrayed. He’s placed on an operating table for the Swipe to erase his memory. In his mind, he experiences a dreamlike sequence where his memories appear as bubbles that burst, taking fragments of his identity. Though he tries to hold on, everything fades. In the end, he’s lost to darkness. Hours later, he wakes up without memory, standing in the dark in an underground chamber: his participation in the Maze Trials has begun. The plan was sabotaged. Everything has changed.
Epilogue Summary – The Fever Code – The Final Memorandums
In a memorandum to the Executive Council, Dr. Ava Paige thanks the staff for ten years of work and celebrates the beginning of the final phases of the Maze Trials. She acknowledges Thomas and Rachel as key subjects, highlights Teresa and Aris’s loyalty, and states that CRUEL’s future is brighter than ever. In another message addressed to all staff, Teresa, ready to enter Group A, writes a farewell. She thanks CRUEL for keeping her alive, for the friends she’s made, and for the lessons learned. Although she still believes in the mission to find a cure, she expresses her intention to act quietly in the Maze. Before entering, she plans to write three simple but powerful words on her arm to inspire the Gladers. She believes in them with all her heart: WICKED is good.
Conclusion – The Fever Code
Every chapter of The Fever Code leaves an open wound—not just in Thomas, but in us as readers. At the end of the road, there’s no certainty, only the haunting truth that the price of salvation was far higher than anyone imagined. The cruelty wasn’t an accident—it was the design. And the worst... is only beginning.
James Dashner didn’t just write a prequel—he left a warning. Every erased memory, every test, every stolen name is a piece of the puzzle we can finally see in full. This chapter-by-chapter summary has shown us that the Maze was never just a place—it was always inside their minds.
And if you're ready to continue this story beyond the final page of this prequel, the next step opens a new chapter. Don’t miss the Chapter-by-chapter summary of The Maze Cutter ➤
FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Fever Code
Why does the snowy prologue matter so much in The Fever Code?
The opening snowfall marks the symbolic end of Newt’s childhood: beneath those flakes, he watches his parents die and is taken with his sister Lizzy. That clash between fleeting beauty and sudden horror sets the tone for the entire prequel: every glimmer of hope is designed to shatter. For readers, the scene becomes a prophecy of how WICKED twists miracles into scars. The snow isn’t scenery—it’s the warning that humanity itself will always be trapped under the machinery of the experiment.
Why does Thomas eventually accept the name WICKED forces on him?
At first, he clings to his real name, Stephen, as his last tie to his mother and lost life. But relentless torture breaks him until he repeats “My name is Thomas” and starts to believe it. This shift isn’t trivial—it embodies how the organization destroys identities to rebuild subjects in its image. The imposed name shadows him throughout the saga, a reminder of the violence at his core and the root of his mistrust, guilt, and defiance later on.
How does Thomas and Teresa’s telepathic link form, and why does it matter for the rebellion?
The connection begins after brain implants that first cause buzzing and later allow fluent mental conversations. What WICKED intends as a control mechanism becomes their private refuge, a way to share jokes, fears, and eventually plans. Over time, it evolves into the backbone of their resistance: they design secret escapes, protect each other, and exchange truths beyond surveillance. That duality—WICKED’s weapon turned into rebellion’s tool—drives much of the emotional power of the prequel.
What does the Purge reveal about WICKED’s true face?
The Purge, ordered to eliminate infected insiders, exposes WICKED’s coldest logic. Thomas and his peers are forced to execute killings under the claim that “the end demands it.” The event doesn’t just show brutality; it reveals how teenagers are turned into executioners, stripping them of innocence. For readers, the Purge is confirmation that WICKED’s mission isn’t about salvation at all—it’s about a system that long ago abandoned morality.
How does the ending of The Fever Code connect directly to The Maze Runner?
In the final chapters, Thomas hopes to enter the Maze with memories intact so he can save his friends. But Ava Paige betrays him, drugs him, and wipes his mind. The prequel closes exactly where the main saga opens: Thomas stripped of identity, placed into the experiment. That transition creates a perfect circle—showing that the boy readers meet in The Maze Runner is born not of chance, but of manipulation and total erasure.
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