Disclaimer: I still don't own The Scorch Trials

Chapter Eighteen:

Darkness cold pitch black void, where was I? Eventually stumbling over I end up landing on who's in front of me, to say they was upset was a understatement.

"Jacob is that you?"

"Who else, what's going on here it's to dark to see where I'm going to."

"Is everyone alright? Called back Nyx as Jacob and I managed to get back up. "Wherever you are is that Flat Trans, don't step back. Listen up, where in some hallway I feel both sides of the wall, follow my voice and will make it out of here."

Just like that we were off heading through a horrible cold stinky corridor. It did no favors if I saw shucking nothing. I felt discombobulated following through the narrow passage.

Everyone was talking taking steps forward, Nyx was doing great. I was worried about Curie this darkness has to be getting to her. Who would of figure that icy watery wall would lead into some forgotten abyss. Prepping for a flashlight hadn't come to mind.

On and on we went, the tunnel stretching ahead without ever turning to the left or right. My hand against the wall and the ground below my feet were the only things that kept me tied to reality or gave me a sense of movement. Otherwise, it would've felt as if I were floating through empty space, making no progress whatsoever.

The only sounds around were the scrapes of shoes on the hard concrete floor and occasional whispers between the group. I felt every thump of my heart as we marched down the endless tunnel of darkness. I couldn't help but remember the Box, that lightless cube of stale air that had delivered me to the Glade; it had felt much like this.

At least now I had a portion of solid memory, had friends and knew who they were. At least now I understood the stakes―that they needed a cure and would probably go through awful things to get it.

A sudden burst of intense whispering filled the tunnel, seemed to come from above. I stopped dead in my tracks. It hadn't been from any of the others, I was sure of it.

"Did y'all here that?" Nyx said rather curious. As he was met with hushed yeses.

The flash of whispering had been quick, just a few short words that had sounded as if they came from a very old and very sick man. But the message had been completely indecipherable. Nyx shushed everyone, telling them to listen.

Even though it was perfectly dark and therefore pointless, I closed my eyes, concentrating on his sense of hearing. If the voice came again, I wanted to catch what it said.

Less than a minute passed before the same ancient voice whispered harshly once more, echoing through the air as if huge speakers were installed on the ceiling. I heard several people gasp, like they'd gotten it this time and were shocked by what they'd heard.

But I still hadn't been able to isolate even one or two of the words. I opened my eyes again, though nothing changed in front of me. Utter darkness. Black.

"Did anybody get what it said?" Leon called out.

"Couple of words," Soc replied."Sounded like go back right in the middle."

"Yeah, it did," Curie agreed.

I thought about what I'd heard, and in retrospect, it did seem like those two words had been in there somewhere. Go back.

"Everybody hush it and listen real hard this time," Nyx announced. The dark hallway lapsed into silence.

The next time the voice came, I understood every single syllable.

"One-chance deal. Go back now, you won't be sliced."

Judging by the reactions in front of him, everyone else got it this time, too.

"Won't be sliced?" I question

"What's that supposed to mean?" Barks Jacob.

"He said we can go back!" Soc did confirm.

"We can't trust some random shank whispering in the dark." I noted showing bravery.

Without saying another word each one of us gather our senses and kept going, there was nothing waiting for us if we turned back. Nyx gain his leadership and handled the reins whilst we kept going.

After two miles more then a most of us was tired and craving food, yet in the absence of light it wouldn't be wise to start snacking away. The darkness the further we travel only became more uncomfortable as some soruce hot air filled the hall.

I became thirsty the more I walked but the last thing I needed was to spill my water on to the floor, but my thoughts stop when the sound of steam zipped across my ear overhead. Something was off.

"My shoulder!" Screams out Leon in seething pain.

"What happened?" Calls out Nyx which pauses us each, the sound of scrapping metal on the floor got louder.

"Something burnt across my shoulder."

"There something heavy rolling around us." Jacob claims as he is a bit worried.

"Won't be slice? That's what that whispering was about. Nyx we gotta move, now! We aren't alone down!" I yell to him.

"Alright everyone get ready to make a break for it, Curie climb on my shoulder we gotta a move."

Nyx took Curie as we mad dash forward each step, more and more heavy things either zipped by or fell to the floor. For some time everyone was surrounded by panic and dismay. Whatever they those thing are, they're nothing to scoff at.

Deadly and precise a simple mistake would prove fatal. That's when a loud shout came from most likely Jacob. Somehow he's fallen back as I can see a figure tall holding back with his weapon a orb, as the clashing brought about sparks that randomly brighten the corridor.

"Keep going, I'm right behind you.

"Jacob that's suicide, just run." I call back to him as Nyx declare he's found a flight of stairs.

Running back I yank Jacob by his collar pulling him along with me, he's crying out in pain but I managed to reach the stairs with him. At this point he's limping and dropped his weapon, his sack of food felt lighter.

A bang sounded from above, a deeper thump than the footsteps, but it still sounded like metal.

"Ow!" Curie yelled. Then there were a few grunts and groans as everyone bumped into each other before they could stop themselves.

"You okay?" Soc asked.

"What'd ... you hit?" I called up through heavy breaths.

Curie sounded irritated. "The freaking top, that's what. We hit the roof, and there's nowhere else ..." She trailed off, as I could hear her and Nyx sliding their hands along the walls and ceiling, searching. "Wait! I think I found-" A distinct click cut her.

"It's hot," Nyx motion her to be careful.

Suddenly the world around us seemed to ignite into pure flame. Leon cried out as he covered his eyes with his hands―a blinding, searing light shone down from above. He'd dropped his water bag, but he couldn't help it. After so long in pitch-darkness, the sudden appearance of light overpowered him―even through the protection of his hands. Brilliant orange burst through his fingers and eyelids, and a wave of heat―like a hot wind―swept down.

Where I stood it was if my clothes lit on fire, my eyes watering from immense heat, it nearly blinded me before I could slink back into the soothing dark.

Thats when I heard a heavy scrape, then a clonk, and the darkness returned. Exhausted I dropped my hands and squinted; spots danced across newly blinding vision.

"Fuck me," Leon said. "Looks like we found a way out, but I think it's on the freaking sun! Man, that was bright. And hot."

"One way or another we have to decide, take our risk with the death ball, or brave the outside." Jacob said sharply as he was gritting in pain.

"What about we go at night? Said Nyx.

"Let's just open it a crack and let our eyes get used to it," Soc said. Quickly I walk up the stairs to join Nyx and Curie. "Here's a shirt―wedge it in there. Everybody shut your eyes!"

I covered them with my hands again. The glow of orange returned and the process began. After a minute or so, I braverly lowered my hands and slowly opened each eye. I was force to squint, and it still seemed like a million flashlights were pointed on me, but it had become bearable. A couple of minutes more and everything was bright but fine.

I could now see that he stood about twenty steps down from where Nyx and Curie, crouched just beneath the door in the ceiling. Beside him was Soc as Jacob was a bit further down, Jane had gotten left behind; but Jacob has stood aside her. Soon three shining lines marked the edges of the door, broken only by the shirt they'd stuffed in the right corner to keep it open. Everything around them―the walls, the stairs, the door itself―was made of a dull gray metal. Leon had turned around to look back in the direction from which they'd come, saw that the stairs disappeared into darkness far below them. We'd climbed up a lot more than imagined.

"Anybody blind now?" Nyx asked. "I feel like my eyeballs are roasted marshmallows."

"It's bearable, but I can only imagine what's ahead.

After everyone was together it took a bit of doing to prepare to embark out of the tunnel, that reeked of rot and blood. If not for luck the balls would of taken more lives. Once we got to a safe space, we could exam the injury's. I took the first step out of the tunnel to find only desolation in each direction.

A endless sea of sand, buildings tall and in derelict. Behind me the hatch which I go to help the others out of.

The looks of there faces is something all to familiar. Now that we found open air, it was time to move. Nothing is safe, I know that from my encounter with Cranks.

"Welcome to the Scorch!" I mutter as we close the hatch from once we came.