Hello all and welcome to the story. It's something I came up with over time and I hope you all enjoy. The beginning will seem to start out a bit slow as it will cover the time between Scorch Trials and Death Cure. I'm also going to be following the movie version more so than the book version. Just like all creators here on FF it's always a huge help when you review and leave your thoughts. I ask only for positive reviews please or positive ideas on how to help the story get better. Thanks! XOXO
The near extinction of humanity. Chaos. Death. All things Melinda has experienced in her life, the only moments she can remember since childhood. A life before is only a distant dream that occasionally graces her with its presence when she sleeps. She was an orphan, the whole world was. Everyone alone and struggling for survival in the virus infected world they were thrown into. Being refused and rejected from the people who claimed they were trying to help and save them all.
WCKD.
The organization that took control, promising a cure to end all the suffering and destruction that had taken place. But it didn't take long for that hope to die after it shortly began. All children gone, almost all thanks to those who were smart enough to hide the few that were left or not yet taken.
Melinda was one of that few and every day she would be grateful for her chance at life and not being pricked and prodded like a lab rat. Like her brother, who she missed and thought of every moment of every day. Fighting hard to always keep his memory alive.
Folding up her picture and stashing it safely inside her jacket pocket she pulled up her hood and made her way out of her makeshift room and out into the wasteland of a city she could've once called home. A day like any other to her and those around her. Wake up, scavenge whatever food you can, stay on your guard, and survive until the next day. Thankfully the small community in her block had started to create a system. Those with previous occupational experience were able to create their own version of a market. With modified tools some were able to start an ever growing garden, while others used their skills for fixing/making new clothes, creating tools and weapons to help them with day to day tasks or protecting themselves and others from the cranks that found their way nearby at times. Many had trinkets and objects to contribute, and since money wasn't a factor in society anymore, they based it all on trade. Whatever was found that seemed interesting enough and useful to another, became the currency to buy the meal or items necessary to keeping oneself alive another day or two.
The rebellion, at least that is what Lawrence deemed themselves to be, always made sure that there was peace. If everyone got along with each other, then there never needed to be a worry about problems. They say they keep the peace, but Mel knew that from the very beginning everyone had mutual agreements that sticking together and looking out for one another was the best way of survival. But it didn't mean there still wasn't any trouble. Besides the cranks, WCKD guards would move in and out of the city time to time and they were never welcome when they moved through the smaller city outside the walls. Within seconds they would be surrounded by mobs, shouting and crying at them in anger for help. And almost every time someone always got hurt, their way of showing force and how they weren't to be trifled with. But that lesson never gets learned.
It was that reason that Mel took up medicine and practiced with others. With everything she had experienced so far in life, she knew she wanted to help people, and she does just that. As she got into her teens a doctor from the last city had been cast out after refusing to continue working for WCKD and threatening to reveal secrets. It was a shock they didn't just kill her, but she believed it was fate showing her the way to them, and maybe a little bit of blackmail. Mel became an apprentice and began learning anything she could, along with a few others. They'd all become useful assets whenever someone got injured or sick, and it made her feel useful in a way that she couldn't when she was younger and unable to help. She tucked her butterfly necklace into the inside of her shirt as she began to tie her hair up making her way to one of the destroyed buildings they worked in. Only a small group of people were in today and she was happy for that. The less people they saw meant less worries about outbreaks or worse.
"Morning Elise." She greeted to the ex-WCKD doctor before setting her bag down on a nearby table. After cleaning herself up the best she could she began with the only patient left that had yet to be seen so far. She went over the routine checklist, temperature, listening to heartbeat and lungs. And most of all going over any possible signs of the virus. It was always the first and most important part of checking patients. They always did everything they possibly could, but learned after a time that only so much can be done to an infected person before it just becomes a waste of supplies.
There had been a few other patients that cycled in throughout the day, nothing but minor scrapes or a stomach ache. Mel was about to head out for the day and get everyone a late lunch before a rebel soldier barged in, catching his breath before speaking.
"Hey doc, your gonna have incoming. Found a kid at one of those labs, he's got a pretty good wound. We did what we could on the way back but he'll need your expertise." And with that he was back out the door. Mel flew into action grabbing any and all supplies Elise might need while the other helper, Joshua, cleared off the closest bed for the kid to be laid on.
Mel furrowed her brows in confusion as she thought about seeing another person around her age. She vaguely remembered hearing stories about children taken to different facilities spread out across different cities when they were still standing, before the virus got bad. She didn't think they'd still be functioning. Elise saw her look and only shrugged.
"I'm sure we'll get answers in time." She responded just as more guys came in carrying the boy and setting him down where directed. Mel and Joshua looked down at him, seeing the wound in his chest. She winced trying to guess how deep it was before Elise gently turned him for a moment to see that whatever caused his wound went all the way through him.
Looking closer she could see he definitely seemed to be in her age range. She was only sixteen, at least that's what she hoped after trying her best to count the days as much as possible. But he seemed at least seventeen, maybe eighteen. Elise snapped her out of her thoughts when asking for help and she stepped in giving her whatever tools were needed. Elise did the best she could given the circumstances and what supplies they had, and after what felt like an hour, he was finally stitched and patched up. All that was left was to let him rest and see if he pulled through.
Melinda watched him tensely. She had a lot of questions for him, hoping he'd had any sort of answers for her. But that was only if he healed enough to stay alive and even wake up. The day was starting to end and Joshua had already left while Elise finished cleaning everything up. Even though the beginning of the day was easy, after the boy came, she started to feel tired. The adrenaline and shock he brought her starting to wear off. Standing up she took one last look at him, then planted a soft kiss to the top of his dirty blonde hair.
"I hope you wake up." She whispered to him then took her leave. Getting back to her room she plopped down onto her makeshift bed and pulled out her picture from her jacket again. Staring at the people captured on it and lightly touching one spot on the photo. Her and another, small innocent smiles on their faces. Bringing it to her lips she gave the picture a light kiss before whispering goodnight to it and setting it on the small table beside her bed. It only took a few minutes before her eyes closed and she was consumed by sleep.