Book Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Maze Runner – Book 2

Book summary by chapter of The Scorch Trials. Includes spoilers from Teresa’s disappearance to the end of the book. Thomas no longer seeks answers but meaning in a world that shatters with every step. The Scorch strips his skin and his trust, while WICKED’s promises turn into scars. Teresa betrays him, Cranks hunt him, and truth dissolves into mirages. As he crosses the wasteland, pain becomes the only constant, and one phrase haunts his soul: everything went as planned.

Thomas and Minho beneath the collapsed bridge in the scorched wasteland – Chapter-by-chapter Summary of The Scorch Trials

Introduction – The Scorch Trials

Hell doesn’t begin with flames—it begins with silence. After the Maze, the Gladers thought they were free… but what comes next is far worse. In The Scorch Trials, James Dashner escalates his Maze Runner series into a scorching nightmare, where the sun burns skin, truths twist into weapons, and friendships fracture under unseen pressure. Thomas is no longer just a survivor—he’s a target, dissected by an organization that turns pain into data.

This book summary by chapter dives deep into the brutal second volume: from Teresa’s betrayal to Aris’s arrival, from mental invasions to the first kill in cold necessity. Each chapter is meticulously reconstructed to capture the fear, violence, and moral corrosion that defines the Scorch. Reality bends, CRUEL manipulates, and hope flickers like a mirage in a deadly wasteland.

And if you haven’t yet traced the full path of this relentless saga, begin your descent here: Reading order of The Maze Runner ➤

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Reading Order ➤

Chapter Navigation

• Chapter 1 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Dreams, Echoes, and Memories of the Maze

• Chapter 10 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Beginning of Phase 2 and the Great Revelation

• Chapter 20 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Pain of Seeing Teresa

• Chapter 30 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Lost in the Underneath

• Chapter 40 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Wounded, Infected, and WICKED’s Return

• Chapter 50 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Final Encounter with Teresa and the Fulfilled Betrayal

• Chapter 60 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Waiting in the Pod and the Arrival of the Flying Berg

• Epilogue Summary – The Scorch Trials – Ava Paige’s Memorandum and WICKED’s True Purpose

Chapter 1 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Dreams, Echoes, and Memories of the Maze

Thomas wakes up in his dorm feeling an oppressive darkness, fearing he’s back in the Box. However, he calms down upon recognizing the bunk beds and his sleeping companions, including Minho. From a distant mental connection, Teresa speaks to him with sadness, expressing her unease about the Grievers and her isolation. Relieved to be able to talk to her, Thomas tries to comfort her, though both know the scars from the Maze still linger. Teresa is weighed down by their separation, and while Thomas understands the reasons, he misses her deeply. They talk about their situation until he falls asleep. Then, Thomas has a vivid memory from childhood: his mother, crying, whispers that he is special, while he confusedly asks if he’ll go crazy like his father. The scene leaves him with a mix of nostalgia and disorientation. Upon waking, he feels a persistent ache and hears Teresa’s chilling voice like an echo in the shadows: “Something is wrong.”

Chapter 2 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Screams in the Dark

Thomas is caught between sleep and wakefulness, immobilized by exhaustion as Teresa’s voice warns him that something is wrong. Although he tries to respond, sleep holds him like a dense fog, and his connection with Teresa abruptly disappears, leaving him with a wrenching sense of emptiness. He suddenly wakes up, terrified, in the midst of a chaotic scene where the Gladers are running and screaming. Sounds of pounding and horrifying shrieks echo in the distance. He realizes that the calm from the previous night has completely vanished. At one of the windows, a deranged, disfigured man screams with wide eyes and a face covered in sores. His cries are desperate: he calls himself a “Crank” and begs to be killed. Thomas, stunned by the sight of the wounded, demented man, feels that the reality he thought was safe has turned into a nightmare—with no sign of Teresa or the promised refuge.

Chapter 3 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Bars, Screams, and Locked Doors

Minho warns Thomas that the crazed people are everywhere and that the adults who rescued them have vanished. Still disturbed by his memory of his mother and his broken connection with Teresa, Thomas focuses on finding a way out. Newt and Minho try to organize the group and open the door leading to the common room, while the Gladers watch in fear as the infected pound on the windows. Unable to reach Teresa, Thomas feels something terrible has happened. After several tries, they manage to break the doorknob with a fire extinguisher, opening the door to a dark hallway. Minho leads the way, followed by Newt and Thomas, into the darkness reeking of rot. When they switch on the lights, they’re horrified to find several corpses hanging from the ceiling—the same adults who had saved them. Thomas falls to his knees, shocked to recognize them. Any sense of safety vanishes, replaced by confusion and growing terror.

Chapter 4 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Empty Room and the Traitor’s Name

The sight of the corpses shakes the Gladers, who vomit and cry. Thomas, distressed, desperately tries to communicate with Teresa but gets no response. Along with Newt and Minho, he finds a yellow door with a sign mentioning Teresa Agnes, Group A, Subject A-1, and calling her “the traitor.” Intrigued by the surname and the accusation, Thomas gets distracted but quickly reacts, breaking the lock with the extinguisher. They enter the room, which appears to have been recently used, with a messy bed and signs of occupancy—but Teresa is not there. Hearing a toilet flush, Thomas feels relieved, sure that she’s inside, but instead, a boy emerges. His name is Aris, and he says he’s been alone since the night before. He seems genuinely surprised and claims not to know Teresa. Confusion spreads among the Gladers. The sign with her name and her sudden disappearance stir growing fear: something very strange is happening.

Chapter 5 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Aris, the Other Maze, and a Telepathic Secret

Thomas feels sympathy for Aris, noticing the fear in his eyes and recognizing the trauma of the Maze in him. Minho and Newt join in to question him, while Thomas insists on looking for Teresa, but Minho confirms there are no other rooms. Frustrated, Thomas recalls inconsistencies from the previous night and fears his memories may have been tampered with again. While searching the area for clues, he confirms that Teresa is not among the corpses and there are no other exits. He returns to the room where the Gladers are gathered in a circle, listening to Aris. Minho is suspicious, but Aris reveals that he was also part of a Maze—though in his case, the group was made up of all girls, and he was the only boy. Thomas asks if he communicated telepathically with anyone, and Aris responds with a thought. He confirms he had a friend he spoke to that way… and that she was murdered. Thomas is left frozen by the revelation.

Chapter 6 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Tattoos of Fate and the Mystery of Group B

Thomas discovers that Aris also possesses the ability to communicate telepathically, but his world is shaken when the boy reveals that his friend Rachel was killed in the Maze by another girl named Beth, who had been manipulated by someone unknown. Tension rises as the Gladers discover tattoos on their necks: all are marked as “Property of WICKED” and assigned to Group A with numerical designations. Aris, however, belongs to Group B and bears the title of “the partner,” while Minho is labeled “the leader” and Newt “the glue.” Thomas is horrified to find that his tattoo states he is to be killed by Group B. No one understands the reason or how the tattoos were applied without anyone noticing. Fear and confusion spread among the boys, and Teresa’s silence continues to gnaw at Thomas, who begins to suspect that everything they thought they had left behind was just beginning.

Chapter 7 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Maze Alarm and the Return of Horror

A piercing alarm floods the room, identical to the one that announced Teresa’s arrival in the Maze. Thomas and the Gladers, stunned, try to trace its source as the door to the common area mysteriously creaks open. Minho and Thomas step through and find the room in complete darkness, with no trace of the stench or the corpses that had previously hung from the ceiling. When they switch on the lights, they are shocked to see the bodies have completely vanished. There is no blood or sign of a struggle—only an unsettling emptiness. The impossible cleanliness and eerie silence suggest that someone or something is manipulating their perception. The Gladers try to make sense of what happened, but Thomas can only think about Teresa. Her absence grows heavier, and everything starts to feel like another mental game devised by WICKED. Fearfully, the boys brace themselves for what’s to come, knowing there’s no turning back.

Chapter 8 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Teresa’s Voice and the Unexplainable Resentment

While the Gladers stare in disbelief at the brick walls now covering the windows, Thomas reflects on the vanishing corpses and the transformed room. Everything seems altered: beds are made, clothes are clean, and there are new digital clocks. The most disturbing change is the sign on Aris’s room, now bearing his name and the title “the partner,” with no trace of Teresa. Devastated, Thomas tries to contact her telepathically, and when he succeeds, her response is cold, aggressive, and terrifying. Teresa yells that she doesn’t know who he is and threatens to kill him if he tries again. The impact of her words shatters Thomas, who cries for the first time since Chuck’s death. Exhausted and broken, he falls asleep and dreams of a childhood memory: men and women in green suits analyzing his mind and that of a girl. A final phrase stays with him: “Or maybe he and the others will save us all.”

Chapter 9 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Hunger, Apples, and a Man in White

After days without food, Thomas wakes up weak from hunger. Newt comforts him, recalling their first days in the Glade, when uncertainty also reigned but eventually served a purpose. The conversation gives Thomas a sliver of hope, though the pain of losing Teresa still weighs heavily. On the third day, Minho wakes him up with good news—food has appeared. Thomas devours an apple, regaining some strength. In the common room, they find a mountain of supplies and something even stranger: a wooden desk in front of the door, behind which sits a man dressed entirely in white, calmly reading a book. As Thomas approaches, he slams into an invisible wall. The man, unfazed, announces he will speak when the time is right. Dubbed the “Rat Man” by the Gladers, his surreal presence and indifference to their situation leave Thomas more confused than ever. Answers feel disturbingly close.

Chapter 10 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Beginning of Phase 2 and the Great Revelation

Thomas and the Gladers finally hear from the Rat Man, who explains that everything they’ve experienced so far—the Maze, the Grievers, Chuck’s death, the supposed rescue—was part of a meticulously designed trial. The man, a representative of WICKED, states that the organization exists to save humanity through deadly experiments that gather data on how subjects respond under extreme conditions. Phase 1 has ended; now Phase 2 will begin. Furious at the mention of Chuck, Thomas has to be restrained by Newt. The Rat Man insists that the trials continue and that what they’ve faced so far is only a piece of the overall process. He also reveals that WICKED has technology capable of altering perception and manipulating senses, explaining the disappearance of the bodies and changes in the environment. Despite his absurd appearance, the Rat Man’s speech reveals a much larger, darker, and precisely planned game. The true trials are about to begin.

Chapter 11 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The True Nature of the Flare

The Rat Man reveals the reason behind the Trials: after devastating solar flares, a disease known as the Flare has ravaged humanity. WICKED, an organization created by the surviving governments, deliberately infected all the Gladers, assuring them that only those who survive Phase 2 will receive the cure. Horrified, Thomas remembers the symptoms described by the rescue woman and instinctively touches his throat. The Rat Man outlines the new test: they must cross a Flat Trans, find the outside world, and travel 100 miles north within two weeks. If they fail to reach the “safe haven,” they will die. No supplies or assistance will be provided. Anyone who doesn’t cross the Flat Trans between 6:00 and 6:05 will be executed. Fear grips the room, but the announcement raises more questions than answers. Thomas watches the speaker with fury, realizing they are trapped in a cruel experiment where survival is the only reward.

Chapter 12 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Minho’s Leadership and the Final Decision

Stunned, Thomas takes refuge in the bathroom where Teresa had been. There he reflects on the disappearing corpses, the strange presence of the Rat Man, and his revelations about the Flare. Minho breaks his thoughts with his blunt manner, trying to encourage him and pointing out that everyone will face whatever comes next equally. Newt joins them and insists they must return to the structured leadership they had in the Glade. Though Minho tries to avoid responsibility, Newt reminds him of his tattoo: “the leader.” Reluctantly, Minho accepts the role. The conversation also raises doubts about the Flat Trans, which they compare to the Cliff in the Maze, and about whether their memories post-Changing can be trusted. At nightfall, they prepare packs with food, water, and clothes with Frypan’s help. Newt wants them to be organized for Phase 2, and everyone steels themselves to cross the Flat Trans. Thomas, haunted by his own tattoo, feels doomed before even beginning.

Chapter 13 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Crossing the Threshold into the Scorch

The Gladers wake before dawn and ready their makeshift backpacks. The invisible shield reappears in the common room, announcing the Flat Trans is about to activate. Minho takes charge, giving orders, while Aris speaks to Thomas telepathically—Thomas chooses not to answer. When the Flat Trans activates, a gray, rippling wall appears. Everyone crosses one by one until only Thomas, Newt, and Aris remain. Finally, Thomas steps through and finds himself in complete darkness, trapped in a tunnel with the others. They regroup, and Minho leads the way down a seemingly endless corridor. The darkness is absolute, the air smells of dust and old leather. Suddenly, a voice from the ceiling whispers warnings: they must turn back or be “sliced to pieces.” Despite the disturbing threat, they decide to press on. Thomas, uneasy, senses the true horror is only beginning—but there’s no turning back. Phase 2 is now underway.

Chapter 14 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Horror of the Metal Heads

The threat comes true when one of the Gladers begins to scream in unimaginable terror. Thomas rushes to help, but when he touches the boy’s face, he discovers in horror that his head has been replaced by a metal sphere. The body goes limp and the bloodied sphere rolls across the floor. Thomas is paralyzed, and Newt confirms finding the object. The group realizes this was how Frankie was killed. Minho orders them to run, separated and ducking to avoid further attacks. The frantic run in total darkness is harrowing. Another boy falls victim to the deadly spheres. Finally, Minho stumbles upon a staircase, and they all scramble upward. At the top, they open a hatch, and blinding light and searing heat flood the tunnel. They realize they’ve emerged into nearly unbearable temperatures. At that moment, a silver sphere emerges from the ceiling and strikes Winston directly in the face.

Chapter 15 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Light, Fire, and a New Threat

Frankie’s death leaves Thomas in shock. The metallic sphere that replaced his head rolls bloodied across the floor. The scene is invisible in the darkness, but the metallic stench confirms everything. Thomas screams, unable to describe what he witnessed, until Newt confirms he found the ball. Minho decides they must press on and instructs the group to run separated and low to the ground. Thomas gathers his things and runs as fast as he can, while another Glader is killed by a sphere. Eventually, they reach a metal staircase, climb quickly, and open a hatch. An intense orange light and suffocating heat engulf them. Thomas shields his tearful eyes as they try to adjust. Outside, there are no people—only unbearable sunlight. Just as they’re assessing if they can go further, a silver liquid mass emerges from the ceiling, forms a floating sphere, and slams directly into Winston’s face, prompting a scream of pure agony.

Chapter 16 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Attack of the Metal Sphere

Thomas runs down the stairs to help Winston, who is desperately struggling against a liquid metal ball clinging to his head. The heat is unbearable, and the substance slowly burns his ears and parts of his face. Thomas improvises using a bedsheet and, after several failed attempts, manages to coordinate with Winston to rip the thing off. The sphere flies off, solidifies, and escapes, leaving Winston with raw flesh, no hair, and in a state of shock. The other Gladers watch in horror from the top of the stairs. Aris suggests that such technology is unfamiliar to him, though vague memories hint that the world holds unsettling advances. Minho orders the group to move on, and the Gladers prepare to leave the tunnel. Affected by Winston’s suffering, Thomas joins Minho and Newt as they head toward the surface, knowing that anything is better than staying down there.

Chapter 17 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Scorched Land

Minho, Thomas, and Newt emerge into the surface, wrapped in sheets to shield themselves from the blistering sun. The blinding light and dry heat hit them with brutal force, making it hard to even breathe. Gradually, their eyes adjust, revealing a barren land, lifeless and dry, stretching to the horizon. In the distance, a devastated city and a mountain range can be seen. The three deduce that’s the north—their destination. Though Minho believes the city is closer than the Rat Man claimed, the one hundred miles seem exaggerated. Soon, the rest of the Gladers join them, pairing up under sheets to carry food and water. Thomas shares coverage with Aris, growing closer to him. As they walk beneath the relentless sun, Thomas reflects on the contrast with the Maze: there they were trapped but safe—here, they are free but defenseless.

Chapter 18 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Encounter with the Cranks

As they traverse the arid terrain, two figures run toward them from the city—a man and a woman covered from head to toe, except for cracked hands. They claim to be Cranks, infected with the Flare, and silently inspect the Gladers before declaring that they too will soon be infected. Minho tries to learn more about the disease and the city, but the answers are vague and threatening. They mention another group with a mission to kill the Gladers, which unsettles Thomas, who remembers his tattoo: “to be killed by Group B.” Aris suggests they might be referring to the girls from his Maze. Though fear grows, Minho insists they keep heading toward the city. The conversation ends as the Cranks walk away without further explanation. With nightfall approaching and city lights flickering in the distance, the Gladers continue their march, now in total darkness and mounting tension.

Chapter 19 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Voice in the Dark

Under a starry sky, the Gladers hear a girl’s disturbing scream in the distance. The inhuman cries remind them of the pain from the Grievers’ stings. Minho suggests resting briefly, eating, and continuing before dawn. Thomas talks with Aris, who shares more details about the girls’ Maze, nearly identical to theirs, except for the death of a girl named Rachel. Aris theorizes that WICKED may want the two groups to cross paths to select the best—or even provoke conflict between them. Thomas, unsettled, suggests perhaps none of them will survive and that it’s all an experiment to study their brains and reactions. Their conversation is cut short when the screaming abruptly stops and a female figure emerges from a building. Her silhouette, lit by the city lights, draws everyone’s attention, but Thomas feels a strong, personal pull to approach her.

Chapter 20 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Pain of Seeing Teresa

Driven by a strong instinct, Thomas approaches the building from which the female figure emerged. Inside, cooler and darker, he finds her: it’s Teresa. Her flawless appearance contrasts sharply with their recent suffering, confusing him further. She’s clean, well-dressed, and visibly terrified. Though he tries to speak to her, Teresa is distant and urges him to leave, clearly battling something within herself. Yet, in a moment of emotion, she hugs and kisses him, offering a fleeting sense of deep connection. Immediately afterward, she pulls away and begs him to go—pleading with him not to argue. Crushed, Thomas obeys. He knows something serious is happening to Teresa and that she’s not in control. With tears in his eyes, he promises to find her. Then, without looking back, he runs back to the group, his heart more broken than ever.

Chapter 21 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Decision to Leave Her Behind

Thomas leaves the building where he found Teresa, emotionally devastated. He ignores the group’s questions and only urges them to run, convinced their lives are in danger. He runs for hours, driven by pain and the promise to see her again. When the group catches up, Minho angrily confronts him. Exhausted, Thomas finally reveals that the girl was Teresa, who warned him of a possible trap and begged him to flee. Despite their shock, everyone listens attentively as he recounts the encounter. Omitting the kiss, he explains how Teresa seemed controlled by something, yet managed to alert him just in time. Surprisingly, Minho is understanding and says Teresa is strong and will survive. With emotions running high, Thomas accepts the need to rest and, under the blazing sun, finally allows himself to sleep. His thoughts remain fixed on Teresa, and his resolve to find her strengthens.

Chapter 22 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Day That Never Ends

Under a relentless sun and an unyielding sky, the Gladers resume their trek toward the city. Bad moods and exhaustion take over as the heat and thirst relentlessly wear them down. The sheets they used for protection are shared as some walk alone. Thomas isolates himself, preferring silence, and finds comfort in the hope that Teresa is in the city. Each step is a battle against heat, dust, and dehydration. The city grows before their eyes, revealing broken windows and empty streets. Though logic says they should go around it, desperation for supplies forces them forward. By nightfall, the temperature drops but the wind rises, signaling an oncoming storm. Wrapped in his sheet, Thomas collapses while watching a sky where the stars begin to fade. In his dreams, he relives childhood memories with Teresa, when they learned to communicate telepathically.

Chapter 23 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Old Man and the Coming Storm

Thomas wakes in the middle of the night, frozen and without his sheet, taken by the wind. He reflects on his recent dream, his connection to Teresa, and his past with WICKED, feeling guilt and confusion. At dawn, the sky is filled with dense clouds. The group resumes their march toward the city, moving through intensifying wind. Just kilometers from the first building, they find an old man huddled in the sand. Though he seems blind and deaf, Thomas manages to communicate with him. The man, in terrified whispers, warns of a storm and “bad people,” then repeatedly screams “storm!” as the wind turns into a hurricane. Sheets and supplies fly away, chaos erupts. Minho orders everyone to run toward the city. As they move, Thomas stares at the old man, who refuses to budge. Amid the panic, the old man’s words echo in his mind like a sinister prophecy: “stay away… bad people.”

Chapter 24 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Lightning and Ruin

The storm unleashes its fury as the Gladers run toward the city. Dust, debris, and lightning turn the air into a deadly trap. Thomas runs through shadows, helping those who stumble, as bolts fall like fiery daggers. He sees Jack lose a leg to a strike and vomits in horror. Minho is hit by lightning and catches fire. Thomas puts the flames out with dirt and helps him keep going, carrying him through a scene of pure hell. The city is close, but the lightning continues its violent assault. Buildings show clear signs of destruction, and some Gladers vanish into the mist and dust. Thomas, body and soul pushed to the brink, finally reaches a building with Minho, where Newt and Aris help them in. They enter just as the rain begins to fall. Without looking back, Thomas watches the storm seem to weep upon the devastated earth.

Chapter 25 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Eleven Survivors and a Strange Visitor

Sheltered inside a ruined building, the Gladers rest under the merciless downpour. Exhausted, Thomas slowly regains his hearing as the sound of water becomes almost soothing. Minho lies beside him, injured but alive. No one speaks or organizes—only silence and pain remain. At dawn, with the storm past, Thomas and Newt talk about the value of being alive. Minho sits up, groaning, with visible burns but his sarcastic spirit intact. The mood lifts slightly, but counting their numbers brings a harsh truth: only eleven survivors remain. Newt and Minho argue about the future and their losses until Aris joins them. They talk about the storm, about WICKED, and what lies ahead. Then, from an upper floor, a strange young man appears and introduces himself as Jorge, claiming to be the leader of the place. His arrival changes everything.

Chapter 26 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Deal with the Crank Jorge

Thomas watches in shock as Jorge storms into the building, making macabre jokes about eating eyeballs. Though his tone is mocking, it quickly turns threatening. Newt tries to get answers, but Jorge, enigmatic and authoritarian, demands to know everything about them. Minho, injured and defiant, provokes him, enraging Jorge, who mercilessly kicks him. Thomas tries to calm things down, but Jorge orders a brutal beating. Minho retaliates, triggering the entrance of more armed Cranks. Thomas stops him just in time, begging for their lives. Surrounded by a group wielding blades, broken glass, and rusty tools, Thomas pleads for a private talk with Jorge, promising they’re worth more alive than dead. Jorge hesitates but agrees. The tension peaks as Thomas follows him into a dark hallway, knowing this could be his last chance to save his friends.

Chapter 27 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Cure Proposal

Thomas enters a room with Jorge, where tension hangs heavy in the air. Amid dripping water and a stench of rot, he begins to tell his entire story: the Maze, the Grievers, the Glade, the Rat Man, the promise of the safe haven, and the supposed cure for the Flare. Jorge listens silently, expressionless, until Thomas suggests that if Jorge and his people help them cross the city, they might also receive the cure. For a moment, hope flickers across Jorge’s face, though he quickly masks it with disdain. Thomas insists they have nothing to lose, and killing them would gain him nothing. Jorge finally agrees—but with one condition: the boy who hit him, Minho, must die. Tension skyrockets, but Thomas, determined to protect his friend, steels himself to respond. He knows he’s walking a tightrope he may not come back from.

Chapter 28 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Jorge Changes the Rules of the Game

Thomas flatly refuses Jorge’s condition—he won’t let Minho die. Jorge appears threatening, but Thomas calmly argues that Minho is crucial to their survival. Jorge eventually relents, revealing his true reasons: the more boys who reach the safe haven, the higher their chances of success, and he’ll only bring one person with him—Brenda—to sneak through the city while avoiding violence. With a hint of sarcasm, Jorge clarifies they’re not friends, just allies. They return to the group, and Jorge theatrically announces that he has reached a deal with “bird face,” his nickname for Thomas. He promises food for everyone and spares Minho’s life but declares a cruel punishment: one finger from each of Minho’s hands will be cut off. Brenda, the mysterious girl who will accompany them, captures Thomas’s attention with her bold and provocative attitude. Soon, they separate from the group and head to a stash of food hidden in underground tunnels.

Chapter 29 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Underground with Brenda

Minho is spared when Jorge makes up an excuse to take him, Thomas, and Brenda to the food stash. The Cranks, led by Barkley, head toward the Tower. Brenda, armed with a knife, proves sharper than she appears. Though wary, Thomas is intrigued by her. They enter an underground room where they distribute food, and Thomas momentarily surrenders to the relief of eating. Brenda sits with him and shares insights about the outside world: the solar flares, the creation of WICKED, and the rise of the Flare. Their closeness intensifies. Suddenly, an explosion shakes the place, and the ceiling collapses, separating Thomas and Brenda from the others. Amid the chaos, she pulls him into a deeper tunnel. With no alternative, Thomas follows her, devastated at the thought of losing his friends. Once again, chaos has shattered their brief calm, forcing him to trust Brenda.

Chapter 30 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Lost in the Underneath

After the explosion, Thomas runs with Brenda through dark passages she calls “the Underneath.” Fear grips him as he thinks of the Gladers, but Brenda insists they’re safer now. She asks him to promise to take her to WICKED and the cure, confessing her desperation not to lose her mind. Her closeness unsettles Thomas, who still thinks of Teresa, but he eventually agrees. Brenda explains the attack may have been planned by Barkley, believing Jorge wanted him dead. Perplexed, Thomas decides they must return. Brenda follows, though she suggests they could escape on their own. Back at the explosion site, they find the others haven’t returned but manage to recover their backpacks. They decide to keep exploring the tunnels in hopes of reuniting with the Gladers. Brenda switches on a flashlight, and together they walk deeper into the darkness, bound by an uncertain mission and growing complicity.

Chapter 31 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Shadows in the Underneath and a Disfigured Enemy

The Underneath turns out to be a damp, dark, and chilling network of tunnels resembling a forgotten tomb. Thomas and Brenda move through identical silent corridors until exhaustion forces them to stop and eat. At a junction with multiple exits, something breaks the silence—strange noises and shattering glass. Though Brenda tries to joke, both are on high alert, suspecting they’re not alone. The flashlight reveals a disfigured man, his face covered in sores, missing a nose and an eye, muttering nonsense. His mere presence is terrifying, but things worsen when more similarly wounded and deranged people appear. Brenda throws cans to distract them, and they flee through the tunnels. With the screams fading, they hide in a secret compartment under a table, so cramped they must stay pressed together. Just as they think they’ve escaped, the Cranks storm into the room. Tension peaks when a bloody hand reaches through the opening and grabs Thomas.

Chapter 32 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Escape in the Dark and Shelter in Shadows

The deranged, disfigured Crank drags Thomas, slamming him against the hideout’s wall. Brenda, determined, wounds him with her knife and forces him to release Thomas. They escape the hideout just as the Crank tries to retrieve the weapon. A fierce struggle ensues where Brenda shows courage and strength, subduing the man with a chokehold as he screams uncontrollably. She urges Thomas to kill him before he alerts the others, but he hesitates. The weight of the decision bears down on him, but under pressure and faced with imminent danger, he finally plunges the knife into the Crank’s chest, his whole body trembling. The man’s final scream echoes in horror, and the air thickens with fear and guilt. Though the kill was necessary, the act leaves a deep emotional scar on Thomas, who realizes nothing will ever be the same again.

Chapter 33 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Justified Murder and Escape to the Surface

Thomas kills the Crank amid struggles and spasms, helped by Brenda, who supports him as he drives the knife into the man’s chest. The body writhes before going limp, and a devastated Thomas collapses backward, fully aware he’s taken a life. Brenda, wasting no time, urges him to flee before other Cranks hear the commotion. Maniacal screams and laughter echo through the tunnels. With resolve, Thomas demands they head outside. Together they find a staircase leading to a manhole. Upon opening it, they emerge onto a deserted street surrounded by ruins, corpses, and abandoned buildings. There’s no sign of the Gladers. Brenda orients herself and guides them northward, toward the mountains in the distance. They travel cautiously, avoiding suspicious sounds, and take refuge in an old truck, camouflaged among rusty debris. Though Brenda tries to cheer him up, Thomas feels certain he’s now infected, haunted by the murder and trying to fall asleep with the weight of guilt.

Chapter 34 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Night Confessions and the Burden of Remorse

Crushed by what happened, Thomas whispers to Brenda that he’s killed a man. She comforts him, reminding him it was necessary to save their lives. Despite her words, guilt clings to him. He replays the Crank’s screams and blood over and over in his mind. Brenda opens up: WICKED killed her father while he tried to save her. She also confesses she feels the Flare creeping into her mind, with strange perceptions and nonsensical thoughts. Moved by her pain, Thomas promises they’ll reach the safe haven. They share a moment of humanity, bonded by fear and sadness. Brenda reveals her terror of losing her mind, and Thomas tries to give her hope. They finally sleep in the darkness, clinging to a fragile emotional connection. In silence, Thomas bears the world’s weight—the fate of his friends, his mental stability, and the invisible threat of the virus slowly consuming them.

Chapter 35 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Revelations in the Dark and an Unexpected Message

Thomas wakes from a nightmare where the Gladers are attacked by Cranks. Brenda comforts him, saying Jorge is strong and the others will survive. They talk about the outside world, devastated by solar flares and the Flare. Brenda explains they’re in the Scorch, likely Mexico, where millions died and the governments united to form WICKED. She tells him about Bliss, a drug that slows madness but doesn’t cure it, reserved only for the rich. Brenda also explains the virus eats away the brain, erasing all humanity. In the middle of the conversation, Thomas recalls a dream: he and Teresa were spying on WICKED members discussing the Trials, controlling emotions, and manipulating Variables. Though confusing, the dream hints that maybe he wasn’t fully complicit. At dawn, Thomas wakes up renewed and notices a plaque on the wall identical to those in the Maze—but this one bears a new message that leaves him frozen: THOMAS, YOU ARE THE TRUE LEADER.

Chapter 36 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Leader's Poster and the Alley Trap

Thomas is stunned to read his name on a sign proclaiming him the leader, and Brenda reveals there are many like it across the city. Angry that she hadn’t told him earlier, he eventually opens up and shares his entire story—from the Maze to his encounter with Group B. The conversation turns awkward when Brenda mentions Teresa and calls Thomas "Tom," stirring emotional tension. Their calm is broken by the sound of distant drums. They follow it to a door in an alley and discover a chaotic underground party. Three armed strangers intercept them and force them to join the celebration under threat. Thomas tries to negotiate, but they’re taken below. Brenda remains alert as one of the men performs a specific code on the door. When it opens, the host greets them with a sinister smile: “We’ve been expecting you, Thomas.”

Chapter 37 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Music, Drugs, and Suspicion Underground

Inside the basement, the party is wild: deafening music, sweaty bodies, and swirling lights. Brenda and Thomas are pulled through the crowd by the long-haired man, who confirms they had been watching them and recognized their reaction to the poster. Though they pretend to be enthusiastic, the threat from Rubiales and his gun keeps them tense. Brenda suggests staying, hinting at surrender, but Thomas insists on reaching the safe haven. When Long Hair offers them drinks, Thomas suspects they’re drugged and hesitates, but Rubiales’s pressure forces him to drink. The effect is instant—hallucinations, distorted sounds, and loss of control. Brenda also succumbs, speaking about dying happily there. In her delirium, she tries to kiss Thomas, who rejects her, thinking of Teresa. Brenda, hurt, walks away as Thomas collapses into unconsciousness, consumed by darkness.

Chapter 38 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Captives and the Truth Revealed to the Cranks

Thomas wakes up tied to a chair, his limbs restrained with duct tape. Brenda is also bound and gagged. Rubiales and his crew mock them with disturbing comments, hinting at cannibalism. Rubiales takes charge and demands answers. With no other option, Thomas tells them everything—the Maze, the wiped memories, the Flat Trans, and the mission through the Scorch. The Cranks react with surprise at the mention of the Flat Trans, and Rubiales reveals he was once a lawyer. Thomas realizes they’re not entirely insane, which encourages him to share more, even pretending Brenda has been with him since the beginning. Just as he seems to win their trust, chaos erupts upstairs. Sounds of a fierce fight fill the air, and the three Cranks rush out. Still tied up, Thomas and Brenda brace for the worst. Footsteps approach—and to their astonishment, Minho appears, wounded but alive, wielding knives. “You guys look comfy,” he says with a smile.

Chapter 39 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Minho’s Rescue and Brenda’s Resentment

Minho frees Thomas and Brenda, revealing that Jorge and the Gladers had been watching them for a day. Thanks to Frypan’s warning, they staged an ambush to rescue them while most of the Cranks slept. Brenda, distant and hurt, ignores Thomas, clearly angry about what happened before he passed out. When Thomas tries to apologize, she furiously denies any romantic feelings. They rejoin the others in the main room, where the Gladers are guarding the Cranks who didn’t escape. Thomas asks about Rubiales, the group’s leader, but they learn he fled. As they prepare to leave the city, Rubiales suddenly reappears at the alley entrance. Without a word, he shoots, hitting Thomas in the shoulder. The pain knocks him to the ground, and as darkness engulfs him, he hears Minho lunging at the attacker in a brutal assault.

Chapter 40 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Wounded, Infected, and WICKED’s Return

Rubiales’s bullet sends Thomas to the ground, overwhelmed by pain. Minho rescues him after viciously beating down Rubiales. Newt and Jorge try to stop the bleeding, but Thomas passes out, only to awaken as they carry him out of the city. He hears Cranks laughing in the distance, feels the sun’s burn, then fades again. He regains consciousness at dusk, lying on a rock, shoulder throbbing, fever coursing through his body. Jorge prepares a red-hot knife and cauterizes the wound—Thomas blacks out again from the agony. Later, burning with fever and hallucinating, Thomas feels an infection spreading through him. Brenda holds his hand as a strange sound approaches. Suddenly, two figures in strange suits lift him—masks, green uniforms, marked with the word WICKED. Too weak to resist, Thomas passes out as they take him away.

Chapter 41 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Awakening Under WICKED’s Light

Thomas wakes under artificial white light, realizing he’s no longer in the Scorch but somewhere controlled by WICKED. A woman in a gas mask approaches, arguing with another team member about the severity of the infection caused by his bullet wound. He’s treated quickly, the pain overwhelming before he falls unconscious again. Later, he wakes without pain, under the effects of a drug that makes him euphoric. Pretending to sleep, he overhears a conversation between three people discussing his status as a “candidate” and the importance of his reaction to the Variables. They say curing his infection was a justified exception and confirm WICKED will do whatever it takes. Just before blacking out again, a woman says something that shakes him: “It’s what you would’ve wanted us to do,” leaving Thomas confused, relieved, and afraid.

Chapter 42 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Return from the Flying Berg

Suspended on a stretcher descending from an aircraft, Thomas returns to the group, astonished by WICKED’s advanced technology and swift action. Upon landing, his friends surround him with questions, but he, still groggy, says little. Minho frees him from the straps as Thomas reflects on WICKED’s power to intervene anytime—and why they hadn’t done so sooner. They walk to an old cabin, where Thomas recounts everything: the medical whispers, the term “candidates,” and his apparent special role. Minho, Newt, Jorge, and the others try to understand, but confusion only grows. Thomas denies feeling special, though something clearly sets him apart. Exhausted, they fall asleep. At dawn, Teresa finally enters his mind: she warns him something terrible is coming, that she won’t be able to contact him again, and that no matter what he sees or hears, he must trust her completely.

Chapter 43 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Teresa’s Confusion and Brenda’s Silence

Thomas struggles to process Teresa’s mysterious mental message, conflicted by guilt over growing close to Brenda. Upon waking, he talks with Newt, reflecting on WICKED, the rescue, and the apparent favoritism shown to him. Brenda remains distant and pessimistic, speaking of her doomed fate with the Flare. Though Thomas tries to ease the tension, their talk remains unresolved. That night, the group resumes its march toward the mountains. In the darkness, Newt ponders WICKED’s contradictions, while Thomas tries not to dwell on being “the best candidate.” Later, he talks briefly with Brenda, clarifying he’s not with Teresa. Tension fades as they share jokes. Just as things seem to settle, a female figure appears from the shadows: Teresa, armed with a spear and flanked by the mysterious and threatening Group B.

Chapter 44 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Circle of Weapons and Teresa’s Coldness

Teresa’s arrival with Group B freezes the Gladers. She leads twenty armed girls who surround Thomas and his friends. Acting cold and commanding silence, she walks among them, striking Thomas with her spear and pretending not to recognize him. Her hardened expression and indifference shake everyone—even Brenda, watching from afar. Teresa forces Thomas to confirm his name and orders him to come with her, threatening to kill his friends if he refuses. With no choice, he complies. Though he suspects it might be part of a plan, the blows and humiliation confuse him. Two girls place a sack over his head, and one whispers with apparent compassion that he should let himself die. Teresa then shouts that anyone who follows will be shot without mercy. Dragged away and completely helpless, Thomas is left reeling in uncertainty.

Chapter 45 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Teresa, the Sack, and the Promise of Death

Tied head to toe and enclosed in a sack, Thomas is dragged through the desert under the scorching sun. Each impact with the ground worsens his pain. Teresa threatens to beat him and kill his friends if he speaks but also whispers a reminder to trust her. Though that flicker of hope persists, Thomas struggles with the humiliation and physical torment. They finally reach a cooler, mountainous area where four girls carry him. When they drop him and remove the sack, he sees them all aiming weapons at him. Though he tries to lighten the mood with a joke, Teresa ignores him and coldly announces they’ll kill him, as ordered, in revenge for what “he did.” Furious, Thomas desperately tries to make sense of it all, clinging to the possibility it’s part of Teresa’s plan. Still, pain, betrayal, and uncertainty consume him.

Chapter 46 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Journey to Camp and Teresa’s Betrayal

Thomas is led by Group B to their camp deep in the mountains, tied to a tree while the girls rest. Along the way, he notices Teresa growing colder and more manipulative. In his mind, memories begin to piece together: WICKED is behind everything, using the groups as pawns in a test to observe reactions. While tied up, Thomas tries to talk to the girls to understand their motives, but Harriet and Sonya reveal they’ve been given strict orders by WICKED: killing Thomas is the only way to ensure their survival. However, Thomas raises a doubt—what if this is just another test to see if Group B can think for themselves? The internal debate among the girls seems to buy him some time, but when Teresa returns, she is determined to complete the mission, regardless of the harm it causes Thomas.

Chapter 47 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Dream and Teresa’s Revelation

Thomas sleeps fitfully, plagued by a strange dream where he and Teresa watch monitors showing the Glade and the Maze. In the vision, Teresa reveals they once shared a telepathic connection and that the original creators of the Trials are dead, leaving replacements to continue the experiment. As they watch the screens, they discuss the survivors’ future and the trials they still must face. The vision fades as Thomas wakes, disturbed by what he’s learned. Harriet and Sonya, keeping watch, demand to know what he knows about WICKED and the purpose of the Trials. Still tied to the tree, Thomas decides to tell them it might all be a manipulation to observe their response to a leader’s death. Despite their distrust, the girls seem willing to hear him out before making a fatal decision.

Chapter 48 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Game of Lies and Group B’s Decision

When Group B gathers to hear Thomas out, he explains that everything WICKED has done is an experiment—every “Variable” designed to test their reactions. Despite their deep skepticism, Thomas argues that killing him is senseless, just another trick to see if they’ll act irrationally. Sonya and Harriet begin to waver, though doubt remains. As they wait for Teresa’s return from scouting, Thomas continues trying to convince them to resist WICKED’s orders. When Teresa comes back, tension spikes. The group faces a critical decision: obey the command to kill Thomas or take control of their own fate. In the end, Harriet chooses to free Thomas but warns him to stay alert—Teresa won’t forgive this defiance.

Chapter 49 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Marching Toward the Unknown and Teresa’s Choice

Group B continues toward the safe haven, but Thomas remains wary of trusting them after all that’s happened. As they cross the desert, he keeps his distance, thinking about how to reunite with Minho and the others. Harriet stops and, with a wry smile, apologizes for dragging him across the desert in a sack. In a more serious moment, she reveals WICKED’s orders: bring Thomas to that location and kill him. But after hearing his reasoning, many of the girls have begun to question their instructions. When Teresa returns, she senses the shift but doesn’t act on it. She walks away, and the group keeps moving, unaware of what awaits them at the safe haven—or the final destination WICKED has planned.

Chapter 50 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Final Encounter with Teresa and the Fulfilled Betrayal

As the group marches north, Thomas becomes increasingly confused. Teresa suddenly reappears, pulls him aside, and asks him to follow her. In a dark forest, she reveals that she knows Aris—he had once shared a telepathic bond with her, much like Thomas once did. Confused, Thomas begins to realize that everything he believed about Teresa was a lie. His fate seems sealed when Aris appears behind him with a knife, confirming Teresa’s betrayal. Together, they reveal that their actions were part of WICKED’s plan to ensure survival, regardless of the cost. Shattered by the truth, Thomas can do nothing but follow Teresa, approaching what appears to be the end of his battle to survive.

Chapter 51 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Green Door and the Struggle to Survive

Faced with his fate in the sinister room behind the green door, Thomas plans a final attempt to escape as Aris watches him with a knife. Teresa activates the door, releasing a white mist that signals the unknown. Thomas sees a metallic chamber full of tiny holes and, horrified by what awaits, provokes Aris with a cruel comment about their past, enough to unbalance and disarm him. However, the escape fails when Teresa strikes him with a spear, leaving him severely injured and concussed. Weak and dazed, Thomas is dragged by both captors into the chamber. His body gives out, vision blurs, and he can barely protest as he’s pushed inside. In a final mental plea, he calls out to Teresa and receives a devastating reply: “Thank you for being our sacrifice.” The door closes, and Thomas, alone in the dark, loses consciousness.

Chapter 52 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Gas and Despair in the Sealed Chamber

Trapped inside the chamber, Thomas fights both physical and emotional pain. Teresa’s betrayal weighs more heavily than any wound. Bathed in a ghostly green light from the door, he waits, wondering if this is his end. Time passes indeterminately until a hissing sound breaks the silence. Thick fog begins to pour from the many holes in the metal walls. Thomas suspects it’s poisonous gas—a cruel, unjust death after everything he’s endured. He tries to resist, but exhaustion overwhelms him. His body collapses as he breathes the strange vapor. As his mind shuts down, thoughts of Teresa, betrayal, and the broken promise of trust haunt him. Everything blurs along with his fading consciousness, until only darkness, fatigue, and the painful certainty of having been manipulated from the start remain.

Chapter 53 Summary – The Scorch Trials – A Painful Memory of the Past with Teresa and Aris

While unconscious, Thomas relives a memory that feels vividly real. He’s sixteen, with Teresa—then a stranger—and Aris. The mood is heavy with sadness and imminent separation. Teresa sobs as she hugs him, and Thomas, also in tears, tries to comfort her. It’s a deeply emotional moment—they know he’s about to undergo the Swipe and enter the Maze. Despite the pain, he says a soft “see you tomorrow,” knowing nothing will be the same again. Aris walks him to a door, and Thomas senses he’s leaving a vital part of himself behind. That final hug with Teresa marks the end of an era—their definitive separation before their memories are wiped. The memory offers a glimpse of truth but deepens the sting of recent betrayal, confirming their bond was once genuine and profound.

Chapter 54 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Awakening, Pain, and a Fragile Reconciliation with Teresa

Thomas wakes in total darkness, still inside the chamber. But something’s changed—he no longer feels pain, and his body seems renewed. Soon, the door opens and Teresa enters in tears, begging for forgiveness. She claims she was following orders under threat of death. Though Thomas sees sincerity in her, he can’t completely forgive. The pieces come together: her betrayal was part of WICKED’s plan to trigger deep emotional responses. Even knowing she may not have had a choice, his heart refuses to trust again. Alongside a remorseful Aris, they begin their descent. The clock shows only hours remain to reach the safe haven. As they descend the mountain, Teresa recounts everything since they were separated: how WICKED cut off her telepathy, moved her to Group B, and set a plan in motion to manipulate Thomas with a staged betrayal. Thomas listens, but the resentment stays with him.

Chapter 55 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Painful Truths and a Kiss Without Feeling

As they descend the mountain, Thomas learns with fury that Teresa and Aris had maintained telepathic communication even during the Maze. Teresa tries to explain: it was all orchestrated by WICKED as a variable meant to provoke in Thomas a complete sense of betrayal. She confesses that the telepathic link ended abruptly when she was reassigned to Group B and that many of her actions, including their earlier kiss, were scripted parts of the experiment. Thomas tries to remain composed, but the realization that Teresa faked so much—even emotions he thought were real—strikes deep. She insists her extreme behavior was meant to protect him, but the emotional damage is done. In a final attempt to rekindle their bond, Teresa kisses him. But for Thomas, the moment is empty. What he once felt for her has vanished, replaced by disillusionment. The shadow of WICKED looms larger than ever over his memories, his heart, and his trust.

Chapter 56 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Running Toward the Safe Haven Amid the Storm

The wind intensifies, and Thomas chooses to distance himself from Teresa, hiding his true feelings. Though distrust still consumes him, he knows they must move forward to survive. Alongside Teresa and Aris, he resumes the march north in search of the safe haven. After a long descent, they join the desert plain where Groups A and B slowly push forward against the wind and dust. Thomas watches as supplies dwindle and anxiety grows with no sign of the promised refuge. Teresa, Aris, and Thomas speculate about the approaching storm and the dubious message from WICKED. When the groups converge, Minho confirms everyone has gathered around a strange post in the ground with an orange ribbon labeled “THE SAFE HAVEN.” Skepticism spreads, and Thomas, full of doubt, begins to suspect that something terrible is about to happen.

Chapter 57 Summary – The Scorch Trials – An Ambiguous Signal and a Tense Reunion of Groups

Thomas watches the fluttering banner marking the safe haven with growing unease. As wind and clouds announce an imminent storm, he tries to grasp the meaning of the solitary signal. A conversation with Minho and Teresa reveals none of them trust WICKED. Teresa defends her past actions, but neither Thomas nor Minho can fully forgive her. Tension spikes when Brenda arrives and confronts Teresa with sarcasm, increasing Thomas’s discomfort. Thomas later joins Newt, Minho, and Frypan, who recount how they reached the site. Suddenly, a metallic sound breaks the silence: the ground opens in geometric blocks, revealing strange white pods. Thomas recalls seeing similar structures in the Griever chamber. Fear sweeps through the group as they realize there are at least thirty of these pods, and all begin to activate at once.

Chapter 58 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Birth of the Bulb Creatures and the Imminent Threat

The white pods release grotesque, glowing creatures that slowly emerge, surrounding both human groups. Thomas and Teresa, connected telepathically, wonder whether to enter the pods or prepare to fight. The true horror is revealed as the beings take shape—tall, faceless, covered in orange glowing bulbs. Each emits an eerie hum and begins advancing. Minho shouts for everyone to arm themselves. The monsters fire blades from their fingers and shoulders, increasing the threat. Despite the panic, Thomas realizes the bulbs may be a weak point. Seeing Teresa strategically attack the bulbs, he adjusts his approach, destroying them one by one. Though wounded several times, he severely weakens his enemy. The battle grows more desperate until a lightning bolt strikes next to Thomas, vaporizing a creature. The storm erupts in full, plunging the battlefield into chaos.

Chapter 59 Summary – The Scorch Trials – A Deadly Battle Against the Creatures and a Rain of Lightning

Thomas fights fiercely, targeting the orange bulbs that weaken his enemy. Around him, he sees Minho, Teresa, and others doing the same with mixed success. Not all survive—two bodies lie lifeless in the mud. Lightning strikes across the field, intensifying the chaos. Thomas smashes one bulb after another until a lightning bolt hits his creature, disintegrating it and throwing him to the ground. Dazed, he sees devastation around him: Teresa stands, exhausted; Minho struggles to rise; Frypan vomits. Brenda and Jorge are still fighting. Thomas and Teresa decide their only option is to hide inside the open pods, despite their revolting appearance. They gather Brenda and Jorge and take shelter together. Amid the torrential rain and thunder, time ticks by. Thomas checks his watch. Only minutes remain. Something—or someone—must arrive, but danger still looms.

Chapter 60 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Waiting in the Pod and the Arrival of the Flying Berg

Sheltered inside the pod, Thomas, Teresa, Brenda, and Jorge endure the deafening storm and the fear of a lightning strike. The lid, damaged by a previous bolt, begins leaking, raising tension. Everyone tries to stay calm as time dwindles. With only seconds left, Thomas hears a deep, growing sound. They sense something approaching and decide to risk opening the lid—rain pours in. Looking out, they’re stunned to see a massive ship descending from the sky amid lightning. It’s the same flying berg that rescued Thomas after he was shot. The ship’s hatches open as it lands on metallic legs. Thomas’s timer hits zero just as the craft touches down. For the first time in days, the promise of a true safe haven seems real. But no one knows yet if this is salvation… or just another cruel trial.

Chapter 61 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Final Sprint to the Safe Haven and the Unexpected Sacrifice

In the midst of a brutal storm, Thomas leads Brenda, Teresa, and Jorge out of the pod, determined to reach the flying berg before it takes off. Mud and darkness slow them, while flashes of lightning reveal bulb creatures blocking their path. Armed with a knife, Thomas fearlessly destroys the bulbs, killing his opponent. Around him, Minho, Newt, Harriet, and others fight with the same resolve and manage to eliminate the remaining monsters within minutes. The ship begins to lift off without waiting, and everyone runs desperately. One by one, they manage to climb aboard as the craft rises two meters above the ground. Inside, just when it seems they’ve made it, a man named David demands a cruel choice: only Brenda or Jorge can stay. Thomas, realizing it’s another test, responds coldly: “Kill her,” hoping it’s a bluff. But things spiral out of control.

Chapter 62 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Rebellion on the Berg and the End of the Trials

Seeing David drag Brenda to the edge of the ship, Thomas acts instinctively and tackles him. He seizes the gun, while Teresa pulls Brenda back from danger. Thomas points the weapon at David, declaring that no one else will die. David, surprisingly calm, introduces himself and confirms the Trials are over. Everything has gone according to WICKED’s plan, and upon reaching headquarters, they will receive the promised cure. Minho expresses doubt, and Thomas threatens resistance at the slightest betrayal. David, unfazed, smiles and invites them to eat, shower, and rest for the journey. Physically and emotionally drained, the group agrees. Though no one trusts WICKED’s promises, they play along to regain strength. Thomas keeps the gun. For now, they’re alive and together—but safety is still uncertain.

Chapter 63 Summary – The Scorch Trials – Doubts, Silences, and a Dangerous Dream

In the hours after the confrontation, the group takes advantage of the calm aboard the berg. With hot meals, showers, and clean clothes, it all feels like déjà vu—just like after the Maze. Teresa approaches Thomas as if nothing’s changed, but he can’t pretend. They speak briefly; she insists it was all part of the plan and that she’d do it again to save him. Thomas, however, refuses to forgive. His only focus now is to stop WICKED. Though he avoids confrontation, his emotional distance is clear. Teresa eventually falls asleep beside him. Thomas watches the others sleep too—except Minho, still uneasy. Brenda and Jorge are absent, which unsettles him. Exhaustion wins. As he drifts off, he feels something dark approaching. He knows it’s coming. And he knows he can’t stop it.

Chapter 64 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The Voice in the Dream and the Unexpected Warning

Thomas dreams of floating in a white, formless space. A female voice calls him: “Tom.” At first, he thinks it’s Teresa, but something feels wrong. The voice identifies itself as Brenda and warns him that things are about to get very bad. Terrified, Thomas screams and wakes up in a cold sweat, heart racing. Though the message was vague, it leaves a deep impression. Was it real? Can Brenda communicate telepathically? Is she with WICKED? He’s overcome with a sense of threat. Thomas no longer knows who to trust. The warning is clear, even if its meaning isn’t. The dream becomes a turning point: someone else is playing the same game from within. Even Brenda—his last comfort—might be hiding secrets, pushing him back to the edge of fear, paranoia, and doubt.

Chapter 65 Summary – The Scorch Trials – The White Cell and the Final Break with Teresa

Thomas wakes in a white, padded room with no windows or visible exits. His clothes are white, and the sterile setting feels suffocating. An invisible barrier prevents him from approaching the room’s only desk. Though he doesn’t panic, he knows he’s trapped. He tries to contact Teresa or Aris, with no response. The memory of the dream with Brenda haunts him. Was it real? Is she with WICKED? Finally, Teresa responds, and Thomas learns he’s been missing for nearly a week. The others were told he had the Flare and went insane. Though she sounds worried, Thomas no longer trusts her. He demands she stop speaking to him and leave him alone. When she makes one last attempt to connect, she says the words that break him completely: “WICKED is good.” With that, Thomas severs their bond for good. The betrayal is confirmed. He is alone now. And WICKED knows it.

Epilogue Summary – The Scorch Trials – Ava Paige’s Memorandum and WICKED’s True Purpose

In the epilogue, Ava Paige, Chancellor of WICKED, writes a memorandum addressed to her associates, summarizing the results obtained from the Scorch Trials. Although she admits some events deviated from the original plan, she emphasizes that they have gathered valuable patterns and data crucial to their study. She urges her team to remain professional, reminding them that humanity’s fate is at stake. She notes that the end of the experiment is near and, despite the deaths and sacrifices, everything has been worth it for the promise of a cure for the Flare. She announces that, once approved by the psychologists, the remaining subjects will regain their memories and learn whether they are immune. This message makes clear that WICKED’s plan is far from over and that every step has been meticulously calculated to achieve a greater goal. The epilogue confirms the fight isn’t finished—and the most decisive phase is yet to begin.

Conclusion – The Scorch Trials

The fire doesn’t die when the book ends. The Scorch Trials, the second novel in James Dashner’s The Maze Runner series, pushes Thomas to a crossroads where guilt, betrayal, and isolation are no longer side effects—they are the test itself. This book summary by chapter has followed every scar, every lost friend, and every secret that scorched their way through the Scorch. What seemed like punishment was a pattern. What felt like love became a weapon.

Because the true revelation isn’t buried in tunnels or masked by madness—it’s etched into Thomas’s identity: “The true leader.” WICKED isn’t finished. The cure is still out of reach. And the darkest trial has only just begun.

Follow the next part of the saga here: The Death Cure – Book Summary by Chapter ➤

FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Scorch Trials

Why does Teresa betray Thomas in The Scorch Trials, and what is WICKED testing with that break?

Teresa’s “betrayal” is a designed variable: WICKED weaponizes intimacy to fracture Thomas’s trust and measure leadership under emotional pain. By separating them, introducing Aris, and labeling Teresa “the traitor,” the organization stresses their telepathy and forces Thomas to act without his emotional anchor. For SEO intent: Teresa betrayal explained, Aris and Group B, telepathy test, WICKED manipulation. Within The Scorch Trials, the rupture pushes Thomas toward independent choices, confrontations with Group B, and a clearer sense that the experiment’s script—“everything went as planned”—feeds on his reactions more than his words.

What is the Flare in The Scorch Trials, and how does it affect Cranks and the Gladers?

The Flare is a neurodegenerative virus that strips away judgment and identity, turning people into Cranks—wounded, paranoid, and violent. WICKED admits to infecting the Gladers and dangles a cure for those who survive Phase 2. In narrative terms, the Flare is a ticking clock and a fear amplifier: it drives alliances (Jorge and Brenda), hardens moral choices (killing to live), and turns every city block into a psychological minefield. Search-friendly angles: Flare symptoms and stages, Bliss drug vs. cure, difference between infected civilians and trial subjects, and WICKED’s rationale for controlled exposure.

What does “THOMAS, YOU ARE THE TRUE LEADER” mean for Group A’s mission?

That message is a trigger and a mirror: it signals WICKED’s focus on Thomas as the key decision-maker under stress. For Group A, it reframes roles (Minho as tactical captain, Thomas as moral driver) and stokes tension as they cross the Scorch. Keywords to target: Thomas leadership sign, city poster meaning, power shift with Minho and Newt. It also hints the experiment is still scripting outcomes, keeping readers debating whether Thomas acts freely or simply fulfills WICKED’s predictive model.

Brenda vs. Teresa in The Scorch Trials: what happens in the city, and how does it shape Thomas’s choices?

In the ruined city, Brenda offers practical loyalty, warmth, and street survival; Teresa embodies loss—distance, threats, and a kiss that feels like goodbye. The triangle functions less as romance and more as a variable: WICKED measures how Thomas chooses between mission and attachment. Helpful keywords: Thomas and Brenda relationship, Teresa kiss scene, Underneath tunnels, guilt after killing a Crank. The effect is maturation through pain: Thomas learns to distrust scripted feelings and to see love and loyalty as levers in WICKED’s larger game.

What is the “safe haven” in The Scorch Trials, and why does WICKED set a two-week deadline and a 100-mile trek north?

The “safe haven” is the carrot: a promised cure and shelter used to drive a measurable, hostile journey. The two-week limit and distance north make the route a controlled stress test—extreme heat, lightning storms, scarcity, and Crank encounters—yielding clean data on judgment and resilience. Keyword ideas: safe haven meaning, Phase 2 rules, Flat Trans explained, WICKED’s timeline. The goal isn’t merely arrival; it’s observing how Thomas and Group A adapt under shifting variables that validate WICKED’s thesis about sacrifice, strategy, and survival.