The rag tag group of teens and their token adult and child piled into the truck after a breakfast of canned food and bottled water.
Thomas was looking pale, but he was able to sit up and ate a little, which Alex took as a good sign. Brenda on the other hand wasn't looking so good, herself. Alex had gotten up to go sit beside her.
"Hey girl. You doing okay?" Alex asked as she plunked down beside her. "You want some water or pain killers or something?"
"Are you saying I don't look good?" Brenda asked, raising her eyebrow.
"What I'm saying is…." Alex said in defiance, raising her hands up. "Ya. You look like klunk." Alex responded, looking her up and down, with a smirk.
"I'm fine."
"Ya sure? Cuz-" she was interrupted.
"I said. I'm Fine." Brenda snapped.
"All right. Slim it! Are you typically this shucken stubborn and cranky? Or is it a natural thing?" Alex asked, cocking an eyebrow, Alex leaned back to rest on her elbows.
The guys all stopped loading the truck and watched the girls, expecting a possible cat fight.
"Oh I was absolutely born to be the biggest pain in the ass. 100%." Brenda sassed.
"Huh, I guess you're right." Alex said soulfully. She looked down, then back at Brenda sadly, clapped her on the shoulder, "klunk happens my friend…I mean….look at your face! Looks like I drew it with my left hand!"
The boys burst out laughing. Jorge snorted, trying to hide his smile. Brenda on the other hand got an evil grin, even though she did look pale and sweaty.
"It's like looking in the mirror!" She sassed back.
"Brenda?" Alex asked seriously. Brenda cocked her head. "Brenda…I'm honestly not insulting you….I'm.. I'm just describing you!"
Brenda gasped. Alex giggled so hard she snorted.
"What is wrong with you?" Brenda huffed.
"So much. So much is wrong. You got time to listen?" Alex dropped the smile. "But seriously, you ok?"
Brenda nodded, "Ya, I'm fine. Just...tiered."
Alex stood up and offered a hand. Thomas was propped up in the trunk again. Alex, Minho and Teresa were in the back seat, Frypan, Chloe, Brenda and Aris squished into the middle and somehow Newt called Shotgun again.
It took most of the morning to get to the base of the mountain. And then another hour or two to make their way up the winding road. Alex had her head resting on the window, watching the scenery pass by out the window.
"Hey Jorge?" she called.
"Yes Hermana?" He glanced at her in the rear view mirror.
"What's with the abandoned cars on the road? People just left their vehicles? Why? Seems weird. Doesn't it?"
"That is a very good question. I noticed it's getting more congested." He replayed as he slowly passed around yet another abandoned car. He slowed down and came to a stop. He climbed out of the truck, took a few steps, turned and called back, "Well, I guess we're on foot."
Grumbling everyone got out of the truck and grabbed their bags, Alex helped Thomas out.
"You good?" He nodded. "Sure? Your white as a ghost. And kinda sweaty"
"Okay…ya I'm a little dizzy." He panted.
"Hey Min! Help." Alex called. Together the two helped him along. They slowly followed Jorge.
Cars and trucks were all squished together, there was only space to walk, no way to get their truck down here. Alex peered into some of the car windows. Bags were left on the seats, some seats were ripped, a few windows were smashed, some had tiny little holes, or spider cracks.
"Hey Jorge, come look at this!" Alex called, she stopped walking, Minho slowly lowered Thomas down, to sit, he was extremely pale and sweaty, he winced, and his breathing was ragged. Jorge walked over. Alex had an uncomfortable feeling, she felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. She snapped her eyes up to the mountain range around them. She slowly spun in a circle, her eyes searching.
"What's up Hermana?"
Alex slowly turned back to Jorge and pointed to the car window, "Look at this…it looks…odd. Something about this feels uncomfortable. And I think we're being watched." She whispered to him.
His eyes went wide. No sooner had she said that when something small whistled passed her and made a sharp ding sound as it hit the car beside her.
"Shuck! GET DOWN!" Alex shouted.
"Get down! Take cover!" Jorge called beside her. There were a few more metal ting sounds as more bullets hit the cars around them.
"Hey, is everyone okay out there? Chloe?! Tes? Brenda?" Alex yelled.
"We're fine." A small voice a few cars away yelled.
"Thanks babe, were doing ok too! Thanks for asking! Appreciate it" Minho sassed.
"Minho! Shots being fired. Time to focus!" Alex scolded, "but glad you're not shot, Thomas is bad enough."
"Rude." She heard Thomas huff.
"Anyone know where those bloody shots came from?" Newt called. Alex couldn't see him, but he sounded like he was on the other side of a car.
"Ya, from somewhere up in the mountains, they're hiding. Either they are horrible shots and missed us all or…they're average and it's just warning shots ..but why waste bullets?" Alex yelled back.
"That son of a -"
"Language Jorge!" Newt called
Alex rolled her eyes, "priorities Newton! Bad words versus shot in the head.."
"Marcus, he led us into an ambush." Jorge growled. He took his bag off and started rummaging inside.
"What do we do?" Alex wondered. She wasn't planning on getting shot. How could she protect everyone?
"Here. Hold this." Jorge said, handing her a homemade explosive. Alex smiled evilly.
"I like the way you think Sir. But this time, make sure a building doesn't fall on me."
"Seeing as there are no buildings around, I'd say your odds are pretty good. We gotta create a diversion. You get ready to chuck it." He explained as he pulled out the detonator. He matched her evil smile with his own.
"Everybody! Get set to sprint back to the truck!" He called.
"And hold your ears!" Alex yelled.
"Or in your case one ear!" Minho retorted.
Alex snorted.
"Ready? One...Two…"
There was a click behind her, and Alex felt something cold press to the back of her head.
"Drop it."
Alex growled
How many shucken times will I be snuck up on? Where did these slint heads come from? Ahhh the snipers were just a shucken distraction! Shuck sakes…maybe we can still use the bomb…
Alex slowly brought her hands up, still holding the explosive.
"I said drop it!" Her head was pushed forward a little as the cold metal pressed into her skull.
"On your feet. Let's go." Another female voice yelled.
Shuck.
She caught Jorge's eye who shook his head, Alex sighed and let the explosive drop.
"Let's go! Move!" Alex slowly stood up
"Back up!"
"Easy!"
She saw out of the corner of her eye Minho trying to help Thomas to his feet, someone was trying to push Minho away.
"Hey, that pale sweaty kid was shot, easy on him!" Alex called, anger springing up, she felt protective of him, he took a bullet for her. She could never repay that. She saw the person double take.
"You two, over here now!"
Frypan and Chloe slowly appeared and walked over, once Chloe was close she flung her arms around her waist. Alex slowly pushed the child behind her, blocking her with her body. Alex was also feeling protective of Chloe…actually of everyone.
"Come on, let's go!" One of their captors was indicating with their shotgun to Teresa, Brenda and Aris to come stand by the rest.
"Don't be stupid! Move."
The group tried to huddle together. One captor was still following Brenda and the other had their eyes on Thomas and Minho.
"Slowly."
"Aris?"
Aris's eyes went wide and his mouth fell open, "Oh, my God. Harriet?" He was staring at the girl who had followed Brenda. The one captor pulled her scarf off her face.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She gasped. Their other captor pulled her scarf off.
"Sonya!" Aris gasped.
"Aris, you're lucky we didn't shoot your dumb ass!" She rolled her eyes
"SONYA?" Alex and Newt yelped, Alex spun around.
"SONYA?!" She screamed.
"No way …" she breathed, her eyes wide.
No one moved. And no one said anything. All eyes bounced between Alex, Sonya and Newt.
As if someone had unpaused them, they all screamed and sprung forward. Newt wrapped his sisters in his arms, while the girls clung to each other and him. Alex didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry. So, she did both.
Sonya pulled away, and cupped Alex and Newt's check. Just looking at them. Alex doing the same. Huge grins on all their faces.
"Plot twist!" Called Minho, making Newt roll his eyes and Alex laugh.
Sonya glanced over Alex's shoulder, and her eyebrows raised, a smirk sliding onto her face, "Now that I'm not holding you at gun point... You must be Minho. "
"The one and only." He puffed his chest out, "how do you know me? No wait…" he put a hand up as if to stop her. "HOW much do you know about me?" He glanced at Alex, who blushed but winked at him.
"Oh, Alex told me ALL about you." Sonya smirked.
"Did she now..?" Minho sent a sly grin at Alex, who's face heated up a little more. He came beside her, held his hand out. "Minho."
"Sonya." She shook his hand, looking him up and down. She leaned towards Alex, "alright, I like him. Your description was spot on. Big brother approved?" She teased, looking at Newt.
He huffed and crossed his arms. "Ya...sometimes." He gave Minho a glare.
"Dude, I'm your best shucken friend!" Minho smirked at Newt, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles look bigger.
"Except when you leaves marks on her neck!"
Alex rolled her eyes, Sonya doubled over laughing and Minho just looked proud.
"So..How…? You guys know Aris?" Frypan cut in, trying to change the awkward subject.
"We were in the maze together." The other girl, Harriet, explained.
"I shucken knew it!" Alex whispered to herself.
Harriet whistled loudly and waved a hand, and called, "We're clear, guys! Come on out!"
Heads popped up from various hiding spots, one guy called back, "Copy that! We're clear! Stand down!"
"My Goodness! You're alive!" Sonya said in disbelief, still looking between them.
Alex's face darkened. "Ya, somehow. Hardly…"
"Ya the last time I heard you in my head, you were screaming something about your maze and escape ..or something?" Sonya questioned, linking her arm through hers.
"Ya…we escaped, were all that's left. And we picked up Asris, Chloe, Brenda and Jorge after the maze…" Alex said sadly, quietly.
Sonya's face fell. "I sense a long story. We need to catch up! And looks like you need a doctor, that kid doesn't look so good."
"What are you talking about? I'm fine." Thomas mumbled, as he stumbled, Frypan caught him.
"Thanks Fry-Guy!" He mumbled, a goofy smile on his face, then winced and moaned.
"All right Tommy. Come on" Newt sighed. Glade Mama Newt and Frypan helped hold him up.
They followed Harriet through the cars to a tunnel, she slapped the hood of a big truck that was blocking the road.
"Back it up, Joe! Back it up!"
"We're taking them to base." Sonya added, the man driving nodded his head.
"Wait, so, how did you guys get here?" Alex asked
"The Right Arm got us out." Harriet said, glancing over her shoulder.
"Wait. The Right Arm?" Newt asked.
"Do you know where they are?" Thomas wondered in disbelief, his big eyes met Alex.
"Do you believe us now Newt?" Alex cocked an eyebrow at him, placing her free hand on her hip, glaring at him. He looked at his shoes and smiled sheepishly at her and then at Sonya.
She smiled mysteriously at the group as two huge trucks pulled up. Sonya opened the back door, "Hop in."
"I CALL SHOTGUN!" Alex yelled. Newt slumped a little.
"Gotta be faster there dear brother."
Even though the trucks were big, they split up into two groups. Alex, Newt, Minho and Thomas climbed into one truck with Sonya behind the wheel and the others climbed into the other with Harriet. Chloe opted to stay with Frypan. It was a wild ride up the mountain.
The truck was full of laughter and snarky comments. Newt and Thomas didn't stand a chance with Sonya, Alex and Minho. It was like adding gas to a fire, the three of them together.
"Ya know, Sonya, you're not so bad. It's like a copy and past of Alex."
"Don't get any ideas there big guy!" Sonya shot back, "I'm not into the sister wives thing!"
"Oh shuck no! Alex is a handful enough. But I must say, I got the better one." He smirked, Sonya's jaw dropped.
"Did you just call me ugly?"
He shrugged, "well if the shoe fits." Alex just laughed as Sonya sputtered. Thomas chuckled but then groaned. He was starting to shiver. He was slumped over into Newt, his head on his shoulder.
"Sonya, you said you had a doctor?" Newt asked. She nodded, looking in the rearview mirror at the guys in the back.
"Ya, Mary. She's great. She'll take a look at him. Get him set straight."
"Good. We cleaned it best we could while on the run from cranks, Brenda and Tes and I … but I guess it still got infected."
The truck pulled up to the top of a hill and Sonya stopped the truck and got out.
Alex hopped out, there was a camp at the bottom of the hill. Tents of all sizes, trucks, a few fires, and a cooking area. The other truck pulled up, Chloe climbed out and bounded over. Alex smiled at her.
"We did it kiddo! We made it! I promised Zach to get you here!" Alex sighed happily.
"We sure did! Zach would be proud of you!" Alex whispered, hugging her tight.
"He would be proud of you too!" Alex gave her a squeeze.
"They've been planning this for over a year now." Harriet said walking up to the group who were clumped together, taking in the scene. A few people with guns were walking around, a few taking curious glanced up at them.
"This is all for us. You guys are lucky you found us when you did." Sonya nodded.
"We're moving out at first light." Harriet added.
So glad we made it then! We actually made it! The Right Arm! Zach…I got her here! We did it! She'll be safe now! Your sacrifice wasn't in vain guys!
"Where's Vince?" Harriet called down the hill to someone walking past.
"Somewhere over there, I think." He called back, pointing.
"Who's Vince?" Minho asked, he slipped his hand into Alex's.
"He's the one who decides if you get to stay." She answered, glancing down at their intertwined hands. The group was quiet for a minute the Gladers taking in their surroundings.
"I thought the Right Arm was supposed to be an army." Minho pointed out, his eyes sweeping the camp, his forehead had creased and his eyebrows were furrowed.
"Yeah, we were. This is all that's left of us. Lot of good people died getting us this far."
A tall middle aged man strode up to the group. He stopped in front of them, eyeing them all up. He had long blond hair pulled into a pony and a scruffy beard. He had a stern look on his face, but unlike the blond haired crank Alex killed, his eyes seemed gentle, especially when they landed on Chloe. His eyes wandered over the rest of the group. His eyes stopped at Alex, and his eyes went wide, he looked over at Sonya and then back to Alex. She raised her eyebrows, smirking.
"Who are they?" He directed his question at Sonya and Harriet but kept his eyes on Alex. Who was trying very hard not to laugh.
"They're Immunes." Harriet answered
"Caught 'em coming up the mountain." Sonya added, also trying hard not to laugh as Vince tried to figure out why a red haired Sonya was standing in front of him. His eyes glanced to Sonya, then back to Alex again.
His face still scrunched, he called "Did you check 'em? Why does that one look like Sonya, but with red hair? And that guy looks like a male version?"
"I know this guy, Aris. I trust him." Harriet said, clapping Aris on the shoulder.
"And I know that red head, and the bloody tall blond. I trust 'em." Sonya said her attempt at a straight face was failing.
Alex rolled her eyes "You bloody better trust us, you twat! I'm your twin!"
"Well, I don't trust them. Check 'em."
"Hey, boss…"
Thomas hit the ground at the same time as Brenda collapsed.
"Brenda! Brenda!" Jorge shouted, pushing forwards.
"SHUCK! TOMMY?!" Alex dropped to his side.
"What's going on?" Vince asked, backing away.
Brenda's breathing was ragged, and she was coughing, pale and sweaty.
Thomas was the same, but he had bright red seeping through his bandaged shoulder.
"Brenda! Brenda." Jorge shouted, shaking her
"Shuck Tommy!" Alex called. She looked to Vince, and pleaded, "He took a bullet to his shoulder, I'm assuming it's infected. Sonya said you had a doctor! Please help him!"
Vince rounded on Sonya, who stood her ground. "You told them that?"
"He's immune Vince. He was in the maze."
He growled, "fine." He snapped. He nodded at two guys who picked him up and carried Thomas down the hill. All attention went to Brenda who had another coughing fit.
"Brenda, talk to me." Jorge pleaded.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She whispered.
"What's going on with her?" Vince demanded.
"I don't know." Alex answered, she had crouched beside her, she felt her forehead, she was burning up.
"Brenda, are you all right?" Alex asked her gently. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she passed out
"Brenda? Talk to me!" Jorge pleaded again, his voice was getting more desperate.
"What the hell?" Vince had also crouched down beside Brenda, he had pulled up her pant leg,
"Shit! Crank! We got a Crank!" He yelled, scrambling back, he had pulled a gun out and aimed it at Brenda. All the gentleness Alex saw in his eyes was gone, replaced by a cold stone wall.
"No!" Jorge yelled. A few of Vince's guys had grabbed onto Jorge pulling him back.
"NO!" Alex cried. A guy tried to grab her, but Alex ducked the hand and elbowed him in the face, he stumbled back, holding a bloody nose. Alex had pulled her knife out of her boot and stood up, in front of Brenda, guarding her. Minho had tried to jump forward when he saw the gun pointed at Alex. She didn't move from her protective stance over Brenda. Newt and Frypan had grabbed him. Harriet had grabbed Sonya, who was pleading with Vince to stop.
"Wait, wait!" Alex called. Her knife twirling in one hand, the other was palm out towards Vince. Her knees were bent, she was ready to fight if she had to
"Step back!" Vince demanded.
"Fat chance." Alex snapped. She took a breath trying to stay calm. It had been really hard to stay calm, the last few days.
"This just happened, okay? She's not dangerous yet." Alex tried to reason.
"You shouldn't have brought her here!" Vince growled at her, still holding his gun at Alex.
"I didn't know. None of us did." Alex rolled her eyes.
"We let Cranks in here now, the safe haven doesn't last a week!" Vince cried.
"Yes. I understand that."
"Step back!" One of his guys called, he also had a gun pointed at Alex.
"I understand, okay? I understand. Just listen. Please, okay? Can't you help her? I smuggled out information about a cure from WICKED. She also helped get that information here. You're going to shoot both of us? I thought you were here to help kids, not shoot kids!"
"No, there's nothing!"
"There's got to be something you can do. Your telling me you had the information for a year and you didn't do shuck with it?"
"Yeah, there is something I can do." He cocked the gun, "I can put her out of her misery."
"NO!" Jorge screamed, fighting against the guys holding him.
"NO!" cried Minho who was fighting against the guys.
"VINCE!" Sonya pleaded
"Bring it." Alex challenged. "Shoot her, you deal with me. And I can promise you'll drop with this in your chest!" She spun the knife once more, and then gripped it tight, ready to use it.
"Vince, that's enough! Let him go." A voice called from behind Vince.
A middle aged woman, with dark hair walked up beside him, she placed a hand on his arm, forcing him to lower his gun. Alex didn't move. Still coiled to pounce.
"Let him go!" The woman called again.
"She's infected, Doc. There's nothing we can do for her." Vince protested.
"No, but she can. And Thomas can." The woman said calmly.
That caught Alex off guard, she frowned, the woman looked familiar. But she couldn't place her. She glanced at Minho and Newt, who looked just as confused.
"Hello, Alex."
"What the shuck? You know me?" Alex blurted.
"Interesting. It makes sense they'd put you in the maze. Though I must admit… I was worried they'd kill you after what you did." The woman said thoughtfully, looking Alex up and down.
"What I did? Oh, stealing information from WICKED, passing it to Brenda, who gave it to Jorge who gave it to you, The Right Arm?"
"Yes. The first time we spoke, you said you couldn't take it anymore… watching your friends die, one by one, and when they sent one particular boy up you had had enough. You, Thomas and Teresa," her eyes landed on Teresa in the group, the woman smiled, and waved her over, Teresa slowly crept forward beside Alex. Alex still gripped her knife hard, but she reached for Teresa's hand, and gave it a squeeze.
The woman continued, "the three of you came up with a plan to sneak information, you did for about a year, until you were caught. The last time I spoke with Thomas and Teresa…" She looked at Teresa.
"You guys gave me the coordinates of every WICKED compound, trial and lab. And Alex, you gave us the proto types for a cure they were working on."
"Those three were our source." Vince said dumbstruck.
"We couldn't have pulled all this off without them." The woman nodded.
"Take her to the tent." She indicated to Brenda, "Take them to the showers, get these guys some warm clothes and feed them." She instructed the guys.
"Careful." Jorge called, he followed behind Brenda.
"Thank you!" Alex said quietly. Relieved she didn't have to actually fight anyone. Her adrenaline was still pumping. Her chest was rising rapidly.
"Hey, it's the least we can do." The woman said, "by the way, my name is Mary."
Alex was having trouble catching her breath, her hands were shaking and were going numb. Her eyes darted around, trying to find something to anchor herself. Her eyes found warm coffee ones. He shook off the hands still holding him, pushed forward and pulled Alex into a tight hug, he held her head against his chest. She could feel and hear his heartbeat. Her hands grabbed handfuls of his shirt and held on tight. She closed her eyes, ignoring everyone around, and their staring questioning eyes. It took a few minutes for her breathing to become normal again and her shaking to stop.
"Thank you." She breathed.
"I'll always be there for you Sunshine." Minho whispered back. She pulled back and smiled at him.
"Alex? Could you come with me? I need to get some blood from you." Mary asked gently. Alex nodded. She turned to Minho, and smiled gently up at him.
"I'll be ok, love." She placed a hand on his check. "I'll come find you when I'm done."
"Are you sure? I can come with you..?" His concerned eyes searching hers.
She glanced at Mary who smiled and nodded her head.
"Ok. It's a date." Alex smiled, she slipped her hand into his.
"Uhg, are they always this…couple-y?" Sonya whispered to Newt, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Newt snorted, "WORSE! Just wait sis! It's so much worse!" He draped an arm over Sonya's shoulders, "I walked in on them going at it one time" he shuddered.
"Ok. first off we were ALONE. In a room. Alone. Two, you never knocked, just waltzed right in! Who does that? Three, we weren't 'going at it' you make it sound like something more happened! And lastly, my dear siblings... We make it worse just for you!" Alex called back, and winked.
"Well he doesn't know we weren't at it before he barged through the door!" Minho winked at him too, "Or in the bathroom at WICKED…before we were rudely interrupted!"
Newt stood there white as a ghost, mouth open, eyes wide. Alex giggling at the look on her brother's face turned and followed Mary who was waiting at the bottom of the hill, pulling Minho with her.
"This way everyone. First stop the showers!" Harriet called.