Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 18: Brenda & Jorge

The following days feel endless—dizzying, exhausting, and filled with dust that clings to their skin and coats their throats. The water and food are running dangerously low, and the merciless heat gnaws at their already fragile spirits. Each step forward feels like a battle, the weight of their exhaustion dragging them down further with every passing hour.

The daylight begins to fade, the sky turning to an inky, oppressive darkness. There’s no shelter to be found, only the endless desert stretching out in every direction. The group halts by the flipped cargo container they’ve been using as a makeshift campsite. They settle in as best they can, knowing there’s still miles to cover before they reach their destination. Sleep comes reluctantly, but even in their weariness, the constant tension lingers.

Katherine snuggles into Newt’s side, seeking whatever warmth she can from him. His arm wraps around her, pulling her close as if instinctively drawn to her presence. She doesn’t speak, doesn’t need to. The silence between them is enough—comforting in its quiet understanding.

But sleep doesn’t come easy. In the middle of the night, Thomas suddenly jolts everyone awake, his voice urgent.

“Hey. Hey! Get up! I see something.” His words cut through the haze of exhaustion.

Katherine blinks, pushing herself up, heart thudding as she stares into the dark. Newt sits up too, rubbing his face in frustration.

“What is it? What—” Newt begins to ask, but his voice trails off as confusion replaces his tired expression.

“Lights,” Katherine mumbles, her voice almost inaudible as she points to the horizon. At the foot of a distant mountain, a cluster of bright lights pierces through the darkness, illuminating the desolation.

“We made it,” Newt says, his voice barely above a whisper, but his words are swallowed by a sudden, loud noise—a clap of thunder.

The clouds gather ominously, flashes of lightning tearing through the sky. The sight of it is both stunning and terrifying.

“Let’s go,” Thomas shouts, his tone urgent and sharp, snapping everyone back into action. His words are commanding, fueled by both relief and fear.

Katherine feels her breath catch as she pushes forward, desperate to escape the dangerous storm. She knows the others are right behind her, but her chest feels tight with every breath she takes, the air dry and suffocating. Her heart races as she gulps down the arid air, every step pulling them closer to the promise of shelter.

As they get closer, the lights begin to reveal structures—buildings, broken and crumbling, but they stand defiantly against the horizon. The relief floods Katherine’s chest, lifting her spirits for a fleeting moment, but she swiftly pushes those hopes down. Hope, she knows, is a dangerous thing. Not until they’ve truly made it through, not until they’ve found safety.

A bolt of lightning strikes the ground just a few feet away from them, causing the ground to shudder beneath their feet. Another follows soon after, illuminating the chaos around them. The group runs harder, faster, unwilling to be caught in the deadly storm.

Katherine’s eyes catch a figure ahead of her. Minho, lying motionless on the ground, smoke curling from his clothes.

“Minho!” Her voice cracks as she calls his name, panic rising in her chest.