The group hangs upside down, their feet tied together by the ropes that hang from the ceiling like some cruel trap. The tension is suffocating, and the silence only amplifies the weight of their situation. Minho’s sharp voice breaks through the quiet, filled with sarcasm and irritation.
"Good plan, Thomas. 'Just hear what the man has to say.' Really working out for us." Minho scoffs, his tone dripping with frustration.
Thomas clenches his fists, the feeling of helplessness pressing down on him. His temper flares in response, his protective instincts overriding his calm. "Shut up, Minho!"
Katherine glances downward, her stomach twisting as she sees how far they would fall if they lost their grip. The ground seems like a million miles away, stretching into an abyss of uncertainty and death. The thought of plunging down into that darkness makes her shiver, her breath catching in her throat. "We’re screwed. Aren’t we?" Her voice is quieter now, the fear in it undeniable.
Chris, always the optimist, swings his bound legs side to side, a small, stubborn grin on his face. "This isn’t so bad. I mean, this is better than getting eaten by a gang of cranks." His words are spoken with that same quiet confidence, the kind of unwavering belief that things could somehow still turn out okay.
"We can’t hang like this forever, Chris." Katherine’s voice is exasperated, her tone betraying the tension she feels deep inside. Chris just shrugs, unbothered by her irritation. Aris gently nudges his twin, his expression quiet but supportive. They’ve been this way since they were kids—inseparable, always looking out for one another.
"Maybe I can reach the rope." Minho struggles again, his muscles tensing as he tries to pull himself up. The frustration is etched on his face as he fails for what feels like the hundredth time. His pride won’t let him admit defeat, but his exhaustion is beginning to show. His voice is sharp, his usual sarcasm fading.
"Enjoying the view?" Jorge steps into the dim light, his grin amused as he takes in their predicament. His calm demeanor only adds to the tension, his presence cutting through the silence like a knife.
"What the hell do you want?" Minho snaps, his voice brimming with annoyance. The sarcasm is still there, but now it’s tempered by something far more urgent—his need to protect his friends, his family.
"That is the question. My men want to sell you back to WICKED. Life has taught them to think small. I’m not like that. Something tells me you’re not either." Jorge’s words are deliberate, his tone steady. His gaze lingers on Thomas, but his attention seems to take in each of them, sizing them up as if he knows they’re not just pawns in WICKED’s game.
"Is the blood rushing to my head, or is this shank not making any sense?" Minho asks bitterly, the sarcasm back in full force. Katherine chuckles softly, the sound low and hollow, but it helps break some of the tension. Minho shoots her a glance, his irritation softened by her laughter.
"Tell me what you know about the Right Arm." Jorge’s cane thuds into the ground as he presses his question. The force of his action makes the ground seem to tremble beneath them.
"I thought you said they were ghosts." Newt speaks up, his voice steady, but the question hangs heavy in the air. His gaze shifts between Thomas and Jorge, the concern evident in his features. Katherine’s eyes flick to him, seeing the worry in his expression—worry for all of them.
"I happen to believe in ghosts. Especially when I hear them chattering on the airwaves." Jorge’s hand hovers near the lever, his eyes hard as he watches each of them, waiting. His grip on the lever is steady, controlling their fates in this moment.

YOU ARE READING
Feral → newt, tmr
FanfictionFERAL ━ ❝If you won't embrace her madness, then you'll never taste her magic.❞ Based on Maze Runner Trilogy Maze Trials (Act 1) ✓ Scorch Trials (Act 2) ✓ The Dead Cure (Act 3) ✓ Extras ✓ Newt × Fem OC © 2021 Wattpad @RavenDiaries