The Fever Code
Chapter 15
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 14 of *The Fever Code*, Thomas and his friends—Newt, Alby, Minho, and Teresa—venture into a hidden area of WICKED’s facility, uncovering the existence of Group B, a segregated dormitory housing only girls. Newt, visibly emotional, reveals his sister, Lizzy (renamed Sonya by WICKED), is among them. The group navigates cramped, dusty passages, learning this is a secret ritual for Newt to catch glimpses of his sister, despite WICKED’s strict prohibitions. The discovery highlights the cruel control WICKED exerts, separating siblings and erasing their identities, which deeply affects Thomas and fuels his growing anger toward the organization.
The chapter delves into the emotional toll of WICKED’s manipulations, particularly on Newt, who openly grieves the loss of his connection to Lizzy. His raw vulnerability contrasts with the group’s usual resilience, underscoring the psychological trauma inflicted by WICKED. Thomas empathizes, imagining how he would feel if his own mother were in Lizzy’s place. The somber mood lingers as the group returns to their quarters, their silence reflecting the weight of the revelation. Thomas’s dreams of Newt and Lizzy hint at his deepening emotional investment in his friends’ struggles.
Over the next few nights, the group explores more of WICKED’s hidden facilities, uncovering unsettling labs with mysterious vats of liquid and bizarre creatures. They witness workers in hazard suits conducting experiments, deepening the mystery of WICKED’s true agenda. Their adventures also include stumbling upon administrative offices and a hospital-like room with eerie medical devices, which unsettles Alby. Each discovery raises more questions about WICKED’s operations, leaving Thomas and the others both fascinated and disturbed by the organization’s secrecy and scale.
The chapter culminates in a sense of exhaustion and unease as Thomas grapples with sleep deprivation and the psychological strain of their nightly explorations. Despite their efforts, WICKED’s true purpose remains elusive, and the group’s discoveries only amplify their distrust. The chapter underscores the themes of control, loss, and resistance, as Thomas and his friends navigate a world where even familial bonds are weaponized. Their defiance in seeking the truth sets the stage for further conflict with WICKED, as the lines between curiosity and rebellion blur.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Group B in this chapter, and how does it contrast with Group A?
Answer:
Group B represents the female counterpart to Group A (the all-male group that includes Thomas, Newt, and others) in WICKED’s experiments. The chapter reveals this when Thomas observes the barracks full of sleeping girls, noting the stark contrast to his own living conditions. This segregation highlights WICKED’s controlled environment and manipulation of subjects, possibly to study gender-specific responses to their trials. The emotional weight comes through Newt’s connection to his sister Lizzy (renamed Sonya), showing how WICKED deliberately separates family members to maintain psychological control over their subjects.2. How does Newt’s emotional revelation about his sister Lizzy/Sonya develop the theme of family in a dystopian setting?
Answer:
Newt’s tearful moment while watching his sister sleep underscores the cruel reality of WICKED’s experiments—families are torn apart and identities are erased. His defiance (“They’ll have to kill me first”) contrasts with his forced compliance in other areas, showing how familial bonds persist despite oppression. This scene humanizes the characters amid the dystopian horror, emphasizing what they’ve lost. Thomas’s reflection—”How could he not break the glass and go to her?“—further amplifies the theme, revealing how WICKED weaponizes emotional vulnerability to maintain control.3. Analyze how the nighttime explorations serve both plot and character development purposes in this chapter.
Answer:
The explorations advance the plot by revealing WICKED’s infrastructure (labs, barracks, hospital) and hinting at their experiments (e.g., vats with creatures). For character development, these scenes showcase group dynamics: Newt’s leadership through vulnerability, Minho’s humor as coping mechanism (“transfer to Group B”), and Alby’s caution balancing curiosity. Thomas’s growing anger toward WICKED—sparked by Newt’s plight—marks a shift from passive observation to emotional investment. The shared risk also forges bonds, as seen when Teresa leans on Thomas for comfort after witnessing Newt’s pain.4. What does the discovery of the laboratory with “foul-smelling vats” suggest about WICKED’s methods, and why might this unsettle the characters?
Answer:
The vats—with their organic contents (fish, tentacles) and hazard-suited workers—imply unethical biological experimentation, possibly tied to the Flare virus or biomechanical hybrids. This unsettles the group because it defies explanation (even Newt, the most experienced explorer, is baffled) and underscores WICKED’s secrecy. The imagery (“steaming liquid,” “revolting liquid”) evokes disgust, mirroring the moral repulsion Thomas feels. The scene builds dread by showing WICKED’s scale of experimentation, hinting that the teens are just one piece of a larger, more horrifying puzzle.5. How does the chapter use contrasting settings to emphasize WICKED’s manipulation of its subjects? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes settings to highlight control:- Barracks vs. Private Rooms: The crowded girls’ dorm contrasts with Thomas/Teresa’s individual quarters, showing preferential treatment to divide subjects.
- Rustic “escape route” vs. High-Tech Labs: The grimy passages (once a “secret escape”) now lead to advanced facilities, symbolizing how WICKED repurposes everything for control.
- Hospital’s “Monstrous Spider” Equipment vs. Newt’s Intimacy: The cold, mechanical medical devices oppose Newt’s tender moment at the window, illustrating how WICKED prioritizes experimentation over humanity. These contrasts reinforce the institutional dehumanization.
- Barracks vs. Private Rooms: The crowded girls’ dorm contrasts with Thomas/Teresa’s individual quarters, showing preferential treatment to divide subjects.
Quotes
1. “Newt thinks up reasons to make it happen. See, they have his little sister over there, and when he says he wants to go see her…Well, we learned months ago that you better just go along with it or there’ll be hell to pay. You got me? Family, man. It’s something most of us don’t have anymore.”
This quote highlights the emotional core of Newt’s character and the theme of fractured family bonds under WICKED’s control. It reveals the desperation and loyalty driving Newt’s actions, as well as the harsh reality of their institutionalized lives.
2. “At least I can see her there, sleeping peacefully. How many people in this world would chop off their own arm to be able to say that about someone they love who’s dead and gone? It’s just the way of things.”
Newt’s poignant reflection underscores the tragic acceptance of their circumstances. The quote captures the duality of grief and gratitude in a dystopian world, emphasizing the small mercies they cling to despite systemic cruelty.
3. “They call us Group A… And this is Group B. We’re all boys, they’re all girls. How Aris and Teresa here fit into all that, I don’t get. I mean, I guess it makes sense to separate us. Who knows.”
This quote introduces the mysterious segregation within WICKED’s experiments, raising questions about their purpose and the roles of outliers like Teresa. It reflects the characters’ confusion and the opaque nature of their institutionalized existence.
4. “They may think they have us all brainwashed with our new names, but no way I’ll ever forget hers.”
Newt’s defiance against WICKED’s erasure of identity is a powerful statement of resistance. The quote symbolizes the broader struggle to retain humanity and personal history in the face of dehumanizing control.
5. “The world outside’s gone to hell. Why should we expect any different in here?”
This line encapsulates the chapter’s bleak worldview, bridging the external apocalypse with the internal corruption of WICKED. It serves as a resigned yet resonant commentary on the pervasive collapse of morality and normalcy.