Chapter Thirty One:

Curie and I were able to sneak into the back area with ease. This was thany to everyone so busy eating and partying. I would expect more guard keeping people out of certain areas, but it wasn't like that. It was so relax back here, that I can't help feeling we're bound to fall for a trap.

Still it was surprisingly unguarded the back of the house. Finally we reach a den. Inside was a rather hefty blonde hair middle age man working at a desk. He was busy writing something on a paper while drinking a brown liquid from a flask. It was so weird coming across someone not preoccupied with the party.

Curie and I step in as he reacted, still writing. "Can I help-" He pause looking up at us. "Great more children, what could possibly want. Didn't you take enough earlier?" The closer we walked we noticed he had a blacken eye and busted nose. "What else does Jorge want with me!?" The man complains.

"Where not with him, but we do need answers." I said as fright ran up my spine in response, when he took hold of a revolver.

"Marcus we mean no harm to such a influential person as yourself," Curie said softly.

"Who sent you then?" He went berserk waving the revolver.

Curie and I look at another knowing that we had no choice but to divulge the truth. Who knew what Marcus had plans or connection with?

"I'll answer your question if you answer ours first." I said trying to be brave.

"Fine but I'm watching you." He spoke putting down his gun.

"Where's Right Arm located? Also ehere is that group of kids heading?" I spat my question.

"The answer is one in the same but that's all your getting. Now talk!" He said rather distrustful of the two of us. Did one of the guys beat him up, mostly Minho would of.

"That's not a answer but I'll keep my word. We've been sent by WICKED."

"Is this test in loyalty? Didn't you people already send your agent to get the intell?"

"No moron, we're test subjects partaking in a Trial." Curie said rather pissed off considering herself a subject.

"Ha. So you're not calling the shoots. I guess I don't owe you answers. After all your nothing but lab rats." Marcus said rising from his chair.

"We kept our word, now keep yours." I demanded.

"I think not. Beside I have party to host, you can see yourselves out." He said so icy as if we weren't even here.

"Wait you answer our questions all of them and this can be yours." I said pulling out the diamonds.

"That's plastic, its worth squat. If you'll excuse me." Marcus said dimising us.

"How about a gamble? Does Russian Roulette work?" Curie said pointing his revolver which he left on his desk.

"You're nuts girl, but I like your style. Will use three bullet's and aim for our temples. For each shot you survive I answer one of three questions. If you get shot, well your friend works for me for now on! But if I get shot even once answer everything you want. Deal?" Marcus said prepping the game.

"I can't let you do this Curie, I won't." I barked at her sternly.

"Everyone has made sacrifices to keep us going, it's my turn." Her voice stern with resolve. There was no talking her out of this.

"We need you, without your skills and know how we're dead in the water."

"I know, that's why I don't plan on losing. Even if the odds aren't fair." She said walking towards Marcus.

"Ladies first." He laugh rather cocky, absorbed in his own hubris.

Curie took the gun holding it to her head before spinning the chamber. Without flinching or blinking she pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

"I survived, first question. Where is the Right Arm located and are the group of kids heading towards them?"

"In the mountains and yes! He said taking his gun and spinning the chamber, before pulling the trigger.

Nothing happened again.

"Your turn kid." Cure took it and didn't bother spinning the chamber. She took it her head and pulled.

Nothing happened once more.

"Who are you working for and did they supply you with medicine?"

"WICKED and just the basic antibiotics and supplements." He said rather nervous a single bullet hasn't been fired and all odds equal him being the victim.

"My turn now?"

"Actually no!" Curie said firing the gun as the sounds of loud yet drown out Bang! Bang! Are heard between us, as the music rages on. She had shot him in each kneecap. Marcus fell to the floor helpless as Curie smiles. "I've won, you'll answer everything I want know."

"You bitch! How could you think I would after you cheated." He moans in pain.

"That's where your wrong. Your rules said if you get shot, you'd answer everything. How you got shot never was discussed. So now, tell me where the medicine and supplies are please." She said in a childish manner.

"I like you, very crafty and tactile. Just like me when I was younger. If you promise not to shoot me again, the information is yours.

"Deal!"

"In my desk is a key that opens a panel under the desk. That leads to a storage area and beyond that is a exit to the side of the house."

I grab the key and pushed the table aside as Curie threw aside the gun. Taking off her sheet, she wrap Marcus's knees to stop the bleeding."Get the bullets removed and you'll be right as rain in a week." She said softly smiling.

Unlocking the panel,Curie join me as we took the steps under the floor and walked along a vast corridor. A door stood in our way, but it did take the same key as the lock on the floor board. Opening it we are met with more darkness, but I guess it be a shot in the dark looking for items.

That was until Curie, flipped a light switch. Suddenly I found a row of first aid kits. I grabbed a few and stuffed them in a duffle bag that was already filled with canned meat and other stuff that was at the entrance. Curie grab a pair of metal components. I grab a large canstier of gas and a quiver with bows. The guns and other ammunition was in another room which we had no way to get in. Leaving the supplies room, we found the ladder leading to the exit. It took some time but we pop out on the back side of the town house.

In the cover of shadows we sneak pass the townhouse party and head for the truck. 'Everyone get to the van ASAP!" I called out to Nyx.

'Meet us at the town square, we're almost to the van. I'll have Leon swing around to get you. Find the old water fountain.' Nyx relayed.

Curie was keeping up rather close as the fountain drew near. I couldn't believe we pulled it off. The sound of engine was getting closer. Leon was pounding on the horn rather ferociously as Nyx swung open the back doors. Leon didn't bother to stop as Curie leap inside when the chance arose. I threw the supplies waiting for them to turn around.

I got a running start as the truck made it circle back around. Getting a good head start I vaulted off the fountain base and went hurdling into the back of the vehicle, my head collides with the wall. I was likely going to feel that later on.

"What the hells happing?" I yell rather much in pain.

"WICKED, it's WICKED! I saw a airship drop men not far from here,"Soc said short of breath.

"What are we going to do?" Curie asks freighted.

"Not much we can do." Leon said.

"Not necessary, it would take some planning."Soc mentions from up front.

"Don't look at me, I just won a game of Russian Roulette!" Curie said relaxing In her seat.

"One problem at a time. We scored more food and a first aid kit, let's try to lower Elizabeth fever down." I reach for the duffle bag unzipping it for the kit.

"That's not going to work, she's far beyond our scope of helping her." Jacob said sadly as the others nodded. Curie mostly confused out of all of us.

"See needs medical attention, we can't provide that." Nyx said rather nervous of what's happening.

"There is one way, but that comes with a sacrifice." Soc voice echo hesitantly.

"WICKED is our best shot of getting her help, but someone has to take her. Ultimately giving themselves up on finding the Cure." My voice began to break at the thought of it.

"I'll do it… I want to do something worthwhile." Leon said stopping the car, pulling it over.

"Why should you be the one, we need to decide." Nyx said punching the wall of the car.

"Because. You all have talents worth wild. I'm... I'm just this ball of rage. Give me this chance to contribute effectively damnit." Leon voice broke off into mild frustration.

Everyone was quite. Still and quiet. But we needed to face to facts, there be turning back for whoever goes.

Let's be honest we've been lucky for far to long. Surviving the impossible, whatever it was keeping us alive it was also taking in return. We all knew this would happen. Despite how you prepare, it still catches you off guard the moment it transpires. Death can't be avoided. You can hide but it'll always find you. Now the youngest member of our family is on the verge of death.

She was an unexpected variable to come upon, we might have speared her a fate worse then she was living but all we did was prolong the inevitable.

Leon didn't wait for responses nor did anyone have any grievances. As the cold night air blasted into the back of the van, Leon gather what little supplies he could before putting Elizabeth on his back. Utilizing his blanket he'd manage to keep her latch on his back. There was no farewells no parting of sadden word's. What was the point? To save one we're sending another to die.

"Leon!" Nyx said grabbing his shoulder. "You let them take both of you, no matter what. Once this is over-. I swear, I swear to find you."

"Thanks boss." Leon said rather unfazed by what he was giving up on. He took his walk back towards the towering city to bring Elizabeth to help she needs. Without word's he broke away from the rest of us, willing to do what was for the greater good. Leon is a hero, no one could ever dispute that.

Soc now took the wheel, as Jane took a seat up front. She wasn't fooling anyone about her sadness. Yet she took her feeling and dirceted them at the goal ahead. She lost two people that mattered alot to her. Elizabeth was our kid sister as Leon was there for her during the time in the Drone. It hurts and for a while everyone going to be affected by this in different ways.

"It should of been me." Jacob spoke clearing the air.

"Can we not, seriously. Let's give Leon credit we'll see them soon enough. But talking as if there dead isn't helping the mood." I spoke rather harshly to Jacob.

"That was uncalled for." Nyx raised his voice to show he was upset.

"Look, I know this Is hard. But it's Leon we're talking about. Beside Ross was right, I shouldn't killed them off that way."

Leon was there from the start when Curie came to save me. I owe my life to him, dispite our little disagreements in the beginning. The runt grew on me. It was like losing Toven all over again. It was sudden and unavoidable and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. What was I doing, why aren't I still going if I can't even protect my friends.

I'm weak, I get that now. Elizabeth sweet little Elizabeth she didn't deserve to suffer as she did. Now WICKED would have their filthy hands on her. This Cure has to work. It just has to! I would save her and countless others from under going all these hardships. But that was unlikely.

WICKED isn't likely to stop with just the Flare. More ideas equal more man power. The Flare is just the beginning. Heal the world and rebuild it. That's going to need sacrifices and they have shown that they're committed to finishing what they began. No matter who suffers or dies. The truth although sad is rather ugly. The hands of the few will dirty the hands of the many. History is doomed to be reapated.

The drive out of the city limits is rather uneasy for lack of a better word. Nobody wants to think about this. It was midnight, tensions are high and hunger is forming up. During his waiting with Leon, Soc managed to put together a can opener of sorts. Everyone had a can of red beans and crackers. We didn't have any sliverware so people just ate from the can, chewing the mushy beans reluctantly.

The beans had a rather distinct taste to them, it was as if I had them before. Or the similar cans before. It was like the sloop WICKED brought up once a month in the Maze. They had a soft yet chewy texture and it didn't take much effort keeping them down. Unlike the rats and lizards from a while back. We each had a can of water to ourselves which I drank with a hardy swig. The taste of metal somehow apart of the water, yet it was more manageable than the tap and rain water we collected.

I wanted to speak yet didn't have the words. Two of us were gone and after all the struggles past week it's still shocking to bid farewell unsure what might happen. Curie and I took the front once more when it was time refill the tank. We only had half left of gas to use now. It took the second canister and half of the one taken from Marcus's stash.

The more I drove the more I felt unsure about anything at this point. It was late like usual and I wanted to rest. Prehaps curl up in a ball in the sleeping bag, forgetting tonight. But that wasn't afforded to me. I had to keep going.

Morning finally broke and the pain is still there, I want to lament and hide just to the sorrow subsides. But yet there is more important things to tend to. I'm not allowed to let my feelings hold back progress. Still in the back of my I still question. Still doubt. Aren't I allowed to grieve? Apparently not. This was still a survival game to WICKED. And halting or deviating from said goal is too costly. Still it isn't like thing are the same.

Each passing moment is dreadful some of us are up, others strung out not wanting to face the day. Soon, very soon we'll have to get back to walking. The mountains nearly closing In, yet far off still. There is a highway in the distance, broken overpasses and upper platforms each littered with garbage and broken cars. Soc is up working on something, as he took my quiver and bows. I wasn't good with a long range shot, but I could always improve.

The road only got more coarse and harder giving way to chip and crack pavement and street. The truck bump and rock, I swore at one point it could of titled over. The Scorch was kept at bay considering the road we drove upon, the early morning heat warmed the truck substantially that everyone needed a break. But I would not pull over, even if a night worth of driving I still needed to wided the gap between WICKED and us…

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Curie shifted over to face me from the passenger seat.

"What's there to talk about?" My voice empty cold like the Scorch at night.

"Obviously you're upset, it doesn't take much to see that. You need to let it out…"

Suddenly and abruptly I slammed down on the brakes, causing everyone to jerk forward. My wrists and arms pounding the dashboard and steering wheel, as I pummel the horn, which let's out a long honk. I was seething with anger before letting my tears drop. "How's about this for letting it out!" I shouted at everyone and no one. If they weren't up before they are now. "I couldn't protect them, just like I couldn't protect my other friends. I'll fail you all sooner or later just like them."

"That's the problem. You're not the only one here, we're a team, it isn't just the you against the world. It hasn't been, never will. Stop taking all the blame, it isn't anyone fault." Cure said her face red with anger. She was right to be upset with my behavior.

"You're right… Damnit you're right." I said pushing back her hair with my hand. "Anyone need a pee break, before we change driver's?" I spoke up to clear the tension before carrying on. Fresh air was needed at this point, even if it was hot as deadly. I need some time to myself.

A/N: These chapters are a little meh, but it will get better. I'm not rushing and at the same time rushing the story. It will pan out towards the end. I promise.