Jumping away from the Swipe-removal and to the Epilogue of the last book :)
4. Harriet
"You should be in charge."
Harriet's eyes widened in shock once her brain processed the words that left Sonya's mouth.
"No way in hell, stick," Harriet said automatically.
"Yeah, well, I'm not the one with 'Leader' tattooed on my back," Sonya pointed out.
"He has it, too!" Harriet exclaimed as she emphatically pointed at Minho, who took a cautious step back. "And Thomas - wherever that damn stick is - he had his own plaques all over the goddamned Scorch."
"Harriet," Sonya started calmly, "there are over two hundred people milling around a random place. If anyone can stay levelheaded for long enough to get everyone organized, it's you. After that, you can decide if you want to stay in charge or not."
Harriet glared back at Sonya. She hated when her former co-leader just made so much sense.
She had always made a lot of sense, when Harriet thought about it.
When Harriet first met Sonya, she thought that the girl one year her senior was just such a girl.
Harriet soon realized how wrong she was.
Sonya is logical, kind, and ambitious. She is someone that Harriet looks up to, and whenever they are partnered together for puzzles, Harriet is overjoyed.
Except in this particular moment.
"Come on, Harriet," Sonya urges. "You know this."
"I don't."
"It's just a leaf cross-section."
"Exactly."
Sonya sighs over-dramatically and pushes the drawing closer to Harriet. The eleven year-old girl just has to label and define all of the parts of a leaf cross-section in under six minutes and then the two of them will be free for the rest of the day. Sonya probably doesn't think it's too difficult and, knowing her, she's probably already finished the task in her mind, but plant biology is her area of expertise.
For Harriet... not so much.
Harriet doesn't understand plants. She doesn't understand why she has to understand plants. Ask her to design an indestructible bridge, or put together a wristwatch with parts from a Jack-in-a-box and she will excel. But plants? No can do.
"Harriet," Sonya starts, "the sooner you get started on this and finish, the sooner we can go for lunch."
Harriet deepens her glare.
"And go talk to the cute boys," Sonya adds.
Harriet's glare softens.
"And play cards."
Finally, Harriet lets out a dejected sigh and picks up her pencil as she says, "Fine. But only for the cards. Not the boys."
"Sure thing, sweetheart."
"Although, I would like to kick the boys' butts at cards."
"Damn you for being right," Harriet grumbled as she glared at Sonya.
Sonya only smiled and looked around at the rest of their small group. The people that were chosen for Guild Leaders. The ones that had, somehow, mustered just enough energy to stand around in a circle and make decisions.
There was Minho, who would be in charge of the Navigators. He hadn't seemed all too eager to lead anything at first, but then Clint pushed him into their circle and said something about how he drew great maps. That automatically got him nominated for a position that he begrudgingly filled.
Dora and Clint would be in charge of the Medics. The boys swore by Clint's skill as a Med-jack (what a silly name) in the Maze, and the girls couldn't help but brag about how Dora could cauterize a wound blindfolded. Neither of them wanted to create a scene, so they gladly shared the leadership.
Joan would be in charge of the Guards. The curly-haired blonde girl may have only been fifteen, but she was taller than some of the boys and all muscle. She was also insanely good at making weapons and could look quite menacing when she wanted to.
Frypan would be in charge of the Cooks. There was no dispute about that, and he seemed happy to take charge. Harriet briefly wondered what codename WICKED had given him, but then she realized that he probably kept it hidden for a reason.
Gally would be in charge of the Builders - a position Harriet had originally shared with him, before her nomination as Leader. She hated that she wouldn't be in charge of designing the village and made a point to criticize him at every turn.
Mala would be in charge of the Teachers. The girl was a complete sweetheart and was very much against doing anything that remotely resembled her role in the Maze, so teaching it was.
Gail would be in charge of the Apothecary. She knew her way around plants just as well as Sonya, so Harriet figured that that was a smart decision.
Aris would be in charge of the Hunters. Harriet could tell he still felt horrible about the things WICKED made him do and was trying to make amends by taking on the role, since he didn't look all too comfortable. Minho's glares probably weren't helping.
And, finally, Sonya would be in charge of the Foragers. That was the one person Harriet knew she wouldn't be having too much trouble with keeping motivated.
But things would still be hard, for all of them, and Harriet knew that with certainty. How could a bunch of teenagers be expected to restart civilization? Was it even possible?
They would have to make it possible.
"All right, Guild Leaders. First things first," Harriet started. "Find people to lead. There are over two hundred people out there. Doctors, pharmacists, teachers, nurses, architects, cops - find them."
"What about the kids?" Mala asked.
"Once you find some people to help you teach, keep them busy with drawing in the sand or something," Harriet suggested.
"Clint and I will handle the injured as soon as we find some others to help," Dora offered. "I think there's an Internist somewhere in the throng."
"Sounds good," Harriet confirmed. "Navigators and Builders: work together to find a good place for our central village. Cooks, Foragers, and Hunters: work together to figure out rationing and meal plans. Any other questions?"
Silence.
"Then get moving, sticks!"
"Aye, aye, captain," Sonya shouted in reply with a joking salute.
Look at all of the business getting done while Thomas and Brenda were otherwise occupied. Honestly. ;)
Sneak peek of next chapter:
Aris didn't reply right away, and this prompted Thomas to look back at his hunting partner. He nearly jumped when he realized that Aris had been staring him down with a furrowed brow the entire time.
"You know, I still think you'd be better at leading the Hunters than me," Aris finally said.
Thomas looked away. He was done leading, but Aris wasn't done pestering him about it. "Well, you're wrong."