Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of The Scorch Trials
    DystopianScience FictionYoung Adult

    The Scorch Trials

    by Dashner, James
    “The Scorch Trials” by James Dashner is the second installment in the “Maze Runner” series, following protagonist Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by solar flares and a deadly virus. After escaping the Maze, they face a new set of challenges in the Scorch, a desolate wasteland, as part of a mysterious trial orchestrated by WICKED. Themes of survival, trust, and moral ambiguity are central as the group encounters treacherous environments, rival factions, and shifting alliances. The novel expands the dystopian lore while maintaining suspense and action, appealing to fans of young adult science fiction.
    PreviousNext
    The Scorch Trials

    Chapter 55

    by Dashner, James

    In Chap­ter 55 of *The Scorch Tri­als*, Thomas grap­ples with con­fu­sion and frus­tra­tion as Tere­sa and Aris reveal unset­tling truths about their past and the manip­u­la­tions of WICKED. Thomas strug­gles to rec­on­cile his frag­ment­ed mem­o­ries with their claims, par­tic­u­lar­ly Teresa’s admis­sion that she and Aris were part of a plan to make Thomas feel betrayed. The chap­ter high­lights Thomas’s inter­nal con­flict as he ques­tions the motives behind WICKED’s actions and the occa­sion­al return of his mem­o­ries, which only deep­en his sense of dis­trust and uncer­tain­ty.

    Tere­sa explains that WICKED forced her and Aris to deceive Thomas, threat­en­ing his life if she dis­obeyed. She reveals that the betray­al was orches­trat­ed to serve an unknown pur­pose with­in WICKED’s larg­er plan, though she remains unclear on the specifics. Thomas recalls vague dream mem­o­ries involv­ing Aris, hint­ing at a shared his­to­ry, but these frag­ments only add to his frus­tra­tion. The dia­logue under­scores the ten­sion between the char­ac­ters, with Thomas oscil­lat­ing between anger and reluc­tant accep­tance of the sit­u­a­tion.

    The chap­ter delves into the mechan­ics of Teresa’s telepa­thy, as she describes how she com­mu­ni­cat­ed with Aris dur­ing their comas, a skill she com­pares to con­trol­ling one’s limbs. Thomas, how­ev­er, remains skep­ti­cal and over­whelmed by the lack of clear answers. Teresa’s recount­ing of her abduc­tion and forced par­tic­i­pa­tion in WICKED’s schemes fur­ther empha­sizes the organization’s ruth­less­ness. Thomas’s headache sym­bol­izes his men­tal exhaus­tion, mir­ror­ing the reader’s sense of mount­ing ques­tions and unre­solved plot threads.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with a strained moment between Thomas and Tere­sa, as she kiss­es him in an attempt to recon­nect, but Thomas feels noth­ing. This emo­tion­al dis­con­nect under­scores the dam­age caused by her betray­al and the lin­ger­ing mis­trust between them. Aris’s pres­ence adds anoth­er lay­er of com­plex­i­ty, as Teresa’s instruc­tions to him hint at fur­ther hid­den agen­das. The chap­ter leaves Thomas—and the reader—with more ques­tions than answers, set­ting the stage for future rev­e­la­tions about WICKED’s true inten­tions.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does Teresa explain her ability to communicate telepathically with both Thomas and Aris separately?

      Answer:
      Teresa compares her telepathic abilities to how one instinctively knows which leg to move when walking—it’s an innate, subconscious process. She explains that her brain is somehow wired to distinguish between communicating with Thomas versus Aris without confusion. This suggests the ability is deeply embedded in her neurology, likely a result of WICKED’s experiments or modifications. The chapter shows her frustration when Thomas questions this (“It just does… It’s built into my brain somehow”), indicating she doesn’t fully understand the mechanism herself, only that it functions automatically.

      2. What were the two key things Teresa claims to know for certain about WICKED’s plans?

      Answer:
      First, Teresa reveals that WICKED threatened to kill Thomas if she deviated from their plan, mentioning they “had other options” (implying replaceable test subjects). Second, she explains the entire betrayal scenario was engineered to make Thomas “truly and absolutely feel betrayed.” While she complied to protect Thomas, she admits ignorance about why this emotional response was crucial to WICKED’s Variables. This highlights the manipulative nature of the trials—forcing participants into traumatic emotional states for undisclosed experimental purposes.

      3. Analyze how Thomas’s reaction to the betrayal revelation reflects his character development.

      Answer:
      Thomas demonstrates significant emotional maturity by processing his anger pragmatically. Though hurt (“excuse me for feeling a little ticked off”), he focuses on understanding rather than lashing out. His internal monologue shows analytical thinking—questioning WICKED’s motives for memory suppression and leaked fragments. Notably, when Teresa kisses him again, he feels nothing, signaling emotional detachment born from betrayal. This contrasts with earlier Maze Runner interactions, showing how trauma has hardened him. His restraint (“I’ll keep my mouth and brain shut”) despite confusion illustrates growing discipline in chaotic situations.

      4. What evidence suggests Teresa’s actions were coerced rather than malicious?

      Answer:
      Teresa provides multiple indicators of coercion: 1) She was kidnapped (“they put something over my mouth”) and moved to Group B against her will; 2) WICKED’s death threats against Thomas left her “no choice”; 3) Her apology emphasizes survival (“you’re alive, and so am I”); 4) She claims the cruel behavior was performance (“I put so much into it” for the Variables). Additionally, her return to kindness post-gas chamber and willingness to explain suggest earlier hostility was situational. However, Thomas’s lingering distrust shows the psychological damage persists despite her explanations.

      5. How does the chapter develop the theme of manipulated reality?

      Answer:
      The chapter deepens the manipulation theme through layered deceptions: 1) Teresa’s betrayal was scripted by WICKED; 2) Thomas questions whether forest events with Aris were imagined (“creation of Thomas’s imagination”); 3) Dream memories conflict with present experiences; 4) Physical environments (glass walls, force fields) distort perception. Even emotions are engineered—WICKED requires “true” betrayal feelings, making authenticity impossible. The kiss’s emptiness underscores this, as intimacy becomes another manipulated variable. These elements create pervasive uncertainty about what’s real, mirroring the characters’ fractured psyches.

    Quotes

    • 1. “I couldn’t fathom why WICKED felt it was so important to keep their minds clean of memory. And why the occasional leakage lately? Was that on purpose or an accident? A lingering effect of the Changing?”

      This quote captures Thomas’s frustration and confusion about the manipulation of his memories by WICKED. It highlights a central mystery of the series—the purpose behind memory suppression and selective recall—while also reflecting the psychological toll on the characters.

      2. “The whole purpose of what we did to you was to ensure that that happened.”

      Teresa reveals the calculated cruelty behind her betrayal, emphasizing WICKED’s manipulation of emotions as part of their experiments. This quote underscores the theme of trust and deception, as well as the moral ambiguity of the characters’ actions under duress.

      3. “WICKED got what they want, and I got what I want.”

      Teresa’s cold pragmatism here contrasts with her earlier remorse, leaving Thomas (and the reader) questioning her true motives. This line encapsulates the moral compromises characters make to survive and hints at unresolved tensions in their relationships.

      4. “They kissed, but nothing stirred inside Thomas. He felt nothing.”

      This stark conclusion to the chapter symbolizes the emotional distance between Thomas and Teresa after her betrayal. It marks a turning point in their relationship and reinforces the psychological impact of WICKED’s manipulations on their connections to one another.

    Quotes

    1. “I couldn’t fathom why WICKED felt it was so important to keep their minds clean of memory. And why the occasional leakage lately? Was that on purpose or an accident? A lingering effect of the Changing?”

    This quote captures Thomas’s frustration and confusion about the manipulation of his memories by WICKED. It highlights a central mystery of the series—the purpose behind memory suppression and selective recall—while also reflecting the psychological toll on the characters.

    2. “The whole purpose of what we did to you was to ensure that that happened.”

    Teresa reveals the calculated cruelty behind her betrayal, emphasizing WICKED’s manipulation of emotions as part of their experiments. This quote underscores the theme of trust and deception, as well as the moral ambiguity of the characters’ actions under duress.

    3. “WICKED got what they want, and I got what I want.”

    Teresa’s cold pragmatism here contrasts with her earlier remorse, leaving Thomas (and the reader) questioning her true motives. This line encapsulates the moral compromises characters make to survive and hints at unresolved tensions in their relationships.

    4. “They kissed, but nothing stirred inside Thomas. He felt nothing.”

    This stark conclusion to the chapter symbolizes the emotional distance between Thomas and Teresa after her betrayal. It marks a turning point in their relationship and reinforces the psychological impact of WICKED’s manipulations on their connections to one another.

    FAQs

    1. How does Teresa explain her ability to communicate telepathically with both Thomas and Aris separately?

    Answer:
    Teresa compares her telepathic abilities to how one instinctively knows which leg to move when walking—it’s an innate, subconscious process. She explains that her brain is somehow wired to distinguish between communicating with Thomas versus Aris without confusion. This suggests the ability is deeply embedded in her neurology, likely a result of WICKED’s experiments or modifications. The chapter shows her frustration when Thomas questions this (“It just does… It’s built into my brain somehow”), indicating she doesn’t fully understand the mechanism herself, only that it functions automatically.

    2. What were the two key things Teresa claims to know for certain about WICKED’s plans?

    Answer:
    First, Teresa reveals that WICKED threatened to kill Thomas if she deviated from their plan, mentioning they “had other options” (implying replaceable test subjects). Second, she explains the entire betrayal scenario was engineered to make Thomas “truly and absolutely feel betrayed.” While she complied to protect Thomas, she admits ignorance about why this emotional response was crucial to WICKED’s Variables. This highlights the manipulative nature of the trials—forcing participants into traumatic emotional states for undisclosed experimental purposes.

    3. Analyze how Thomas’s reaction to the betrayal revelation reflects his character development.

    Answer:
    Thomas demonstrates significant emotional maturity by processing his anger pragmatically. Though hurt (“excuse me for feeling a little ticked off”), he focuses on understanding rather than lashing out. His internal monologue shows analytical thinking—questioning WICKED’s motives for memory suppression and leaked fragments. Notably, when Teresa kisses him again, he feels nothing, signaling emotional detachment born from betrayal. This contrasts with earlier Maze Runner interactions, showing how trauma has hardened him. His restraint (“I’ll keep my mouth and brain shut”) despite confusion illustrates growing discipline in chaotic situations.

    4. What evidence suggests Teresa’s actions were coerced rather than malicious?

    Answer:
    Teresa provides multiple indicators of coercion: 1) She was kidnapped (“they put something over my mouth”) and moved to Group B against her will; 2) WICKED’s death threats against Thomas left her “no choice”; 3) Her apology emphasizes survival (“you’re alive, and so am I”); 4) She claims the cruel behavior was performance (“I put so much into it” for the Variables). Additionally, her return to kindness post-gas chamber and willingness to explain suggest earlier hostility was situational. However, Thomas’s lingering distrust shows the psychological damage persists despite her explanations.

    5. How does the chapter develop the theme of manipulated reality?

    Answer:
    The chapter deepens the manipulation theme through layered deceptions: 1) Teresa’s betrayal was scripted by WICKED; 2) Thomas questions whether forest events with Aris were imagined (“creation of Thomas’s imagination”); 3) Dream memories conflict with present experiences; 4) Physical environments (glass walls, force fields) distort perception. Even emotions are engineered—WICKED requires “true” betrayal feelings, making authenticity impossible. The kiss’s emptiness underscores this, as intimacy becomes another manipulated variable. These elements create pervasive uncertainty about what’s real, mirroring the characters’ fractured psyches.

    Note