Chapter Thirty Six:

Heat with low setting sun, pain both jagged like sharp sickle's stabbing my raw fresh skin. The meds are slowly kicking in. The chocking sensation of shortness of breath the higher the elevation. The world is orange and still, teethering to a harsh path if you call hard ground and lose foot holding that leads straight up to the ridge, overlooking the mountains as from where they've tracked the trail below.

Nyx stood tall as a short older male dark skin a shade darker then mine sat with a pair of binoculars. This must be Jorge. A short yet semi older female with sleek tan skin stood aside of Nyx with a small smile. And Aris the pasty pale boy in the jacket standing in the background as if he didn't realize he was alive.

Soc map although a rough translation was somewhat right on the money of locations. Then I remembered where I saw this layout. It was back in the factory in Wrenches office, he had a map roughly spanning the Scorch. Did he memorize the layout. It was impressive.

"To think we was about to call search and rescue to find you guys," Jorge spoke with a hoarse laugh.

It went over everyone's head but mine. It was old world term to have some law enforcement mount a search party to find the missing.

"You must be Jorge, it's a pleasure." I say walking over to him in attempt to shake his hands.

"I've heard alot about you, hermano! You're Thomas's bosom buddy," he pointed out as he stood up. "Let's get this straight I'm only along for the ride beside Thomas promise he'd get me and Brenda to the Right Arm." He said firmly looking at me with a firery expression.

"Noted!" I say stepping back.

I step aside giving myself some room away from the group, it was just different without Thomas and having that grim old man is a buzz kill.

"Don't mind him, Jorge old school and rough around the edges," the new female said approaching me. "I'm Brenda."

"It's nice to meet you. Glad you guys help my friends in that sticky situation.'

"I didn't do much but I mean look what happened, it's a big mess."

"We'll get him back.'

"I've heard rumors, apparently you have feeling's for the same girl. How's that going to work when it's time to confront her?"

"If she really tends on killing Thomas, then she must be removed. This place has done so much to me, I don't second guess killing people. I'll do what the other's can't!' I say with firm grin.

"The Scorch is hell on Earth, reveling the truths we tend to hide. It changes people in ways they never thought."

"You might be right," I said walking away from everyone keeping to myself.

It was too much to process as the meds went about numbing the pain as I sat alone on the further side of the ridge. Down below was nothing but dead flat scorched Earth, rough and cracked. There hasn't been a sign of life in the encroaching twilight. Just more dirt and burnt ground, the ridge is the perfect vantage point if we had time to wait.

Running my hands over my face there is a scar across my nose and a indent on my right cheek. My face and hands are stained in dry caked blood. There is apperent body odor coming off my body it make me wish for rain.

As I sat clenching my fist over and over again with a bit of residual pain. Claire messed me up badly, now that I realized I was baited into fighting her. She was a lost cause nothing more then a pawn. WICKED will answer for all their sins. I want to personally kill Ava Pagie, but happily settle for the beady eye man with the rat face and salt and pepper hair. He did this to us!

A idea rather minut and fallible springs into my weary mind. It is worth the shot even if it leaves the element of surprise shattered. I've no doubt she's aware of my presence here. But I have to reason with her before anything drastic happens and some other then me gets to get her first. Minho is rather pissed and has no issue striking her down for her betrayal.

'Can we talk?' I call out to Teresa.

'Stay out of this, I know why you're contacting me!' She snips.

'I'm begging you, let Thomas go.'

'No!' She mentally spat out.

'Don't force my hand, Teresa. I've been through hell these past weeks, I won't hesitate to hurt you!" I warn.

'You may try to, but then by that accord aren't you dangling Thomas's life by a short tread.' Teresa said in a way so harsh I never figured she could do.'Unfortunately for you, I hold the advantage and don't you forget it or otherwise, I'll be adding brain damage to his list of injuries.' She warns before blocking me out.

I tried, I really did. What's ever come over here, it's turning her into the enemy. I wish I could had convince her, but she stubborn as hell.

Wishing is a funny jest in the way it's regretting about what's about to happen next. We often wish because we failed at preventing or turning things around. It's a form of pre regret.

"There you are." A voice said coming from the other side of the clearing. "We're heading out to breach the gap in distance." Said Minho extending his arm out for mine.

"I tried!" I said half angry half defeated. "I reach out to her with in my head, she made it obvious she's calling the shots, so what ever happens to she brought it upon herself." I grinned as I tug on Minho hands as he pulled me up with a quick whoosh.

"I'm not going to pretend I understand how this mind talk works, but I know when I believe you're telling the truth. Don't worry, ain't no group a girls going to get the better of us for long."

With a few nods and yeses we reformed back into a group and headed North again this time following the dying foot prints the sand began to cover. If we don't hurry will lose the track.

Just hold out we're coming Thomas. Just don't rile her up, please. I'm on the way.