Hi dear readers :) I am so sorry, but this one is not my greatest chapter. I wasn't in the right mood, I really struggled with this one, oh my I hate this chapter! I didn't want to write it longer than I needed to, because I have some idea, but I want to put those in the following chapters, not in this one. But I promise in the next one will happen something. I have plans, I just have to clear them up a little and - I hope - everything will be all right :) I also need to find my mood to keep going - maybe I re-watch the film and I'll finish the 4th book. I have to keep motivated. Hoping, hoping...

The following days were silent. The girls didn't meet with the Cranks again, but they were alarmed. Harriet asked the former Runners to be their scouts. The Runners went ahead for a while then returned and reported what they saw.

In these past days Zera watched the girls who slowly started to lose the hope. They thought they will find freedom beyond the Maze's walls, but instead of that they found a ruined world and didn't saw the road's end. Sometimes even she believed they never will be free of WICKED's grasp. They will die like lab rats. Maybe they never were more than lab rats.

When Harriet asked Zera to be her pathfinder she didn't argue with her. In fact she was somehow happy because of it; she felt herself useful again. But with time she could see what was Harriet intentions; she wanted to keep her away from Teresa, who became more and more confident and the others also accepted her. Soon she will take Harriet's place as a leader. This still bothered Zera but the fact Harriet sent her away literally hurt her. It felt like a betrayal to her. But Zera concentrated on her task. The girls need to reach the Safe Heaven. They need help. She needs to find Newt. But first of all: They need to refill their food and water. They were running out from them already.

xXx

"Do you miss him?"

The question startled Zera. It was late night; she and Sam were at their exploring tour. Zera used to go out with Sam, but her friend was really quite nowadays.

"Who do you talking about?" she asked back confused.

"Newt."

Zera stopped. They were walking in the night and try to spare the water. Hearing the name, this name was so sudden. Zera faced so many problems since they met with the Cranks, she didn't have the time to think about Newt. Now, missing him hit her hard.

"Yes. Yes I do. Terribly."

Sam looked to the ground. "I miss Minho too. I hope... They are all right. What if they also met the Cranks? What if they hurt them? What if Minho is..."

"Don't think like that Sam! Minho is strong and he knows what he is doing. He is the Keeper of the Runners, remember?" Zera tried to give hope to her friend but Sam looked at her with fear in her eyes.

"I just don't want to lose him Zera. I really don't!"

"Hey girl, don't do that. We have to keep going. If we stop and think about what could happen with them we just give up. But we cannot give up Sam!" We have to stay alive and then find them. Just be strong for him, 'kay girl?"

Sam sniffed and held back her tears then nodded.

"Okay then. Listen: Do you remember what the Rat Man said? If we do exactly as he told us we will meet them again. So this means they are here too somewhere. And as I see they don't have many options where they can go, so I think we are going into the same direction. Maybe they are ahead of us."

"Do you really think that?"

"Yes Sam, I do."

That was a lie of course. Maybe WICKED captured them, maybe they needed their help, maybe... Maybe the things were otherwise, but Zera needed Sam to keep going. And she also had to believe her own words. If they had to kidnap Thomas, the boys needed to be around. Somewhere. And maybe they didn't know what are the girls are up to.

xXx

The following day they spotted buildings in the daylight. This caused a huge excitement between them. Harriet gave the order: They walked toward the city. Zera felt the excitement in her too, but she also felt fear. What will wait for them between those buildings?

As they got closer and closer, the buildings seemed to be bones in the desert. Zera wanted to take the Runners and go closer, but Harriet said no. The Sun almost reached the zenith on the sky, and the heat was unbearable. They needed to hide from the rays and Harriet feared if she let go the Runners, they will die out there. Zera couldn't do anything, just watched how Harriet and Teresa co-ordinate the others to take some rest and somehow this caused a bitter taste in her mouth.