So chapter 16 is where the alternate ending starts. The beginning of the chapter stays the same pretty much but from the last few paragraphs and on is where the changes begin. Enjoy!
Mel gave one last look around the area before climbing back on the bus and telling brenda they were clear to leave. She hoped the boys were doing ok and that they were already making their way down. Brenda was just about to start the vehicle when another couple of guards walked by. They quickly ducked down to keep from being seen. Mel slowly peeked her head up so see if they were gone or not yet. As they moved past she stood and watched them until they were out of sight.
Sighing in relief she nodded at Brenda, "Alright let's hurry and get out of here."
Brenda turned the ignition and they both listened as the bus came to life, she gave it a moment to run before putting it in drive and taking off out of the lot as fast and discreet as she could. Thankfully their destination wasn't too far and they were just pulling in to the garage parking for the building the others went into when Gally sounded over the radio asking where they were.
"There there!" Mel pointed out to her as she saw Gally and a group of kids appear from around the corner.
Brenda pulled over and quickly opened the doors so everyone could climb on. But something was wrong that caused Mel to frown, where were Thomas, Newt and Minho? Did something go wrong with the plan? Why was he alone?
"Where's Thomas?" Brenda asked those thoughts aloud as she helped usher in kids and making sure they were all in a seat.
"I was hoping he was with you two." Gally said honestly, wiping the sweat off his forehead as he lifted his helmet up.
Mel started to worry and immediately moved to get off, "We need to go back." But Gally just stopped her and pushed her back on.
"Wait stay with the kids. I'll find them ok? I promise Mel." He nodded at her confidently and placed a quick kiss to her lips before pulling away and tugging his helmet back down. "Just wait for us ok? I'll be back!"
And as quick as he came he was gone again. Off to find her brother and Thomas. Mel and Brenda looked at each other unsure but Brenda placed a hand on her shoulder and confirmed that they weren't going anywhere without them, a determined look now in her eyes. After watching them the past few days, Mel was able to see that Brenda held some sort of affection toward Thomas. Whether it was something she's acted on already or not, she could see the girl cared for him, just like how she cared for Gally.
More minutes had gone by, Mel could see how nervous the kids looked so she moved to sit down next to one and smiled. He gave an unsure smile back, readjusting his grip on the bag he was holding. She glanced down at it and lifted her hand toward it slowly, looking at him gently in question, "Can I see?"
The boy gave a short nod and carefully opened the bag to let her peek inside. It was full of little bottles of serum, like the one Elise had made almost a month ago for Lawrence. She gave an encouraging smile to him as she picked one up and looked at it. She gripped it and pulled off her bag to place it inside.
"I'm gonna hold on to this one alright?" The boy just pulled the bag close to himself again.
"He said to guard it with my life." His voice small.
Mel rolled her eyes at Gally's dramatics, "Not literally ok? Just keep holding it like you are now ok? We're gonna be out of here soon."
"Everyone down!" Brenda called out suddenly and everyone dropped to the floor.
Mel crawled forward toward Brenda to see what was going on. She then noted the guards that came and ran inside, but one had stopped and noticed the bus. Brenda peeked up to see the rest of them had come back and were now making their way towards them. Brenda looked sympathetically at Mel.
"I'm sorry but if we don't leave now, these kid's are in danger." She said looking back at said children.
Mel knew she was right, and as much as she wanted to stay and wait like Gally told them to, they had a priority. She nodded and crawled back towards the kids and reassured them it was ok, and to stay down until they say. Brenda climbed into the seat, still keeping herself down as she turned on the bus again, prepared herself, then launched upward, and pressed down on the gas taking off, almost running over one of the guards.
They swerved a few times as she moved them out of the lot and onto the streets. Brenda's thoughts were to stick to the original plan. Get to the spot and get them out. It didn't take long for the few guards they drove away from to call in backup. Two squad cars were now driving up beside them trying to get them to stop.
"Shit, hold on!" Brenda shouted back at everyone. Mel came up next to her, gripping the nearby hand rail for support as she watched the cars close to them.
"Gun, give me your gun." Mel said suddenly causing Brenda to give a quick confused glance. Mel only held out her hand for emphasis. If she wasn't sure then, she was now. Anything she could do to try and help she would.
Brenda handed it over and Mel then leaned out the window on the right side and aimed at the first car. She missed the first two shots and hissed at herself. She then took a deep breath and remembered what Brenda had told her about aiming. She steadied her hand, aimed, and shot once more. The tire of the vehicle blew out and caused them to spin out and hit a nearby road block.
Mel laughed and cheered, pride overriding her worry. Brenda cheered with her, but the moment was short lived as they had another to worry about still on the left side. Brenda yelled as she turned the wheel and rammed themselves into the car, it grinded itself along a wall until that one too hit an obstruction and flipped. Mel was barely able to catch herself from falling over.
Just as they thought their luck was turning up, more cars appeared. Brenda continued to take as many turns as she could to try and lose them. She noticed one of the streets they were supposed to take and pointed it out.
Brenda took the turn and stopped halfway down the street as they saw the rest of the way blocked, the following vehicles stopping behind them. Even though it was part of the plan and they were right where they were supposed to be, Mel couldn't help but feel like it was wrong. She didn't want to leave the others behind. Reaching into her bag for the other gun she looked to Brenda who only shook her head.
"Get out of the vehicle!" One of the men shouted, all the others with guns aimed at the bus, ready to take action.
Mel glanced outside, "It's ok, just stay here with them. I'll take care of it." She said smiling at her and then the kids to try and keep the spirits high.
Brenda knew it was a bad idea to let her go alone but let her anyways since she was already moving out the door. She stayed where she was and told the kids how great they were doing so far, reminding them it was almost over.
Once Mel was off the bus, the man shouted for her to step away. She slowly moved forward, hand gripping the gun firmly. When she was in front of the bus she carefully raised her hands. The man ordered her to drop the weapon, but instead she smiled, made sure it was pointed at the sky, and pulled the trigger.
A flare launched itself high into the air, all the men looking up watching it. And only seconds later a long and giant hook fell down in front of her. She smiled up at the towering crane than hung overhead, Frypan somewhere inside operating it.
Mel moved quick and made sure the hook was secured onto the front of the bus. The men realized what was happening and they started to move forward. She gave one last glance out into the city before hurrying back onto the bus and telling everyone to hang on.
Within seconds the front of the bus began to lift and they were being pulled into the air. All the kids screamed as it then swayed forward from the weight. Two guards getting knocked back who got close enough to the bus. Mel quick threw herself into a seat so she could hold on better herself as they watched the buildings go past them as they continued to get higher in the air. Once high enough they were then moving in a half circle, the side hitting one of the buildings on the way.
Everyone screamed again worrying it would make them fall. Finally they were outside the wall again, just hanging in the air waiting for Frypan to lower them. The front of the bus began to creak and they felt a shift. Brenda glanced back at Mel with a scared look.
"Hold on!" She shouted before they began a quick decent, nothing but screaming as they fell. Moments before hitting the ground they jerked to a stop, then the hook attached to the front of the bus snapped off taking part of it with it and they fell the last few feet onto the end side of the bus leaving them sticking up in the air. The bus groaned and slowly it began to lean forward, before falling fast and landing on it's wheels.
All eyes were wide at the experience they just had. Once Brenda was able to compose herself she ushered everyone off. Mel was the last one to make sure no one was left behind. Together they all started running towards Lawrence's. Frypan catching up with them halfway. Once inside they noticed how empty it was, making Mel feel on edge.
"Lawrence!" She shouted, waiting for anyone or anything to respond.
"Where is everyone?" Fry asked as he had the kids stay back a few feet.
Mel and Brenda split up as they ran around looking for anyone. No clue in sight to show that they were still hanging around.
"Everything is gone." Brenda said coming back after a few minutes.
Mel thought hard as to why no one was around, the surrounding area just as empty. Then she thought back to all the times Lawrence had said they would take out WCKD. Get their revenge. That's when it clicked.
"No no no. We need to stop him. We need to-" She was already heading out the door back toward the walls when an explosion cut her off.
In the not too far distance, they saw flames and smoke rise. Part of the wall gone. Brenda and Frypan looked to Mel for answers but she had none in the moment. Just worry written all over her face.
Things were about to get alot harder for them.