Break My Bones

Chapter 1: Rescue

*A/N: I do not own the Maze Runner or any of its characters. I only own my own OC Rachel. Story contains spoilers for the movies and the book. Warning: mild swearing as was in the movies.

Rachel took a deep breath, attempting to calm her racing heart.

In the stillness of the dry, desert-like land around them, she could feel the tension rolling off her companions like a heat wave as they remained as still as possible. Despite the long wait, they remained alert, not even daring to shift unless absolutely necessary. It was only adding to her own nerves, but she didn't dare say anything, didn't dare even breathe too loudly, least it distract someone.

This was it. Six months of hard work, lost sleep, mistakes and small (tiny, really) triumphs had led up to this moment. They could not afford to fail now.

Ch ch ch ch ch ch.

As one the group tensed as they heard the chugging sound, faint at first and then growing steadily louder.

Raising her head, Rachel's grey eyes met Newt's chocolate brown. It's now or never.

They had one shot at this, one shot to make it work right. Hopefully, hopefully, with the numerous times they had practiced making this run, Thomas had set the bomb and timed it right. They had practiced it over and over: timing how long it took for Thomas and Vince to jump on a moving train, how quickly they could make it across and to the right carriage; testing how long it took for the bomb to explode, how much explosive power was needed to break the links in one try but not harm the rest of the carriage; simulating the time it took for the carriages to screech to an emergency halt after they became detached,. Vince had almost gotten himself blown up on one occasion while Thomas was almost run over when they underestimated the force with which the train came to a halt.

The one consolation they had was that the last nine practice runs they had simulated had been perfect, down to the extraction. But even practice couldn't predict the many variables that could impact the real situation and Rachel found herself twisting the cord on her cargo pant leg anxiously as she waited.

The train was getting closer - too close. The carriage links had to break soon, otherwise it might travel too far along the tracks from where Rachel, Newt, and the few others were hiding. That meant even less time for them to act, and time wasn't something they had.

Please. Please. Please. Rachel chanted in her head, willing luck to be in their favour. Because that was what this whole mission would boil down to eventually. It was like a card game - it didn't matter how well you knew the rules and how many times you had practiced; if you held a bad hand, you lost.

And they had too much to lose if they were dealt a bad card now.

Despite agreeing before they had set out not to be distracted, to not rely on each other, Newt reached out to Rachel. She took his hand without hesitation, clutching it tightly in her own as they prayed to whatever God might exist and as one they counted silently.

3... 2... 1...

Like clockwork, they heard an explosion not too far away, the sharp boom echoing across the plains and followed by a metallic screeching as train wheels automatically locked to prevent an accident. Rachel let out a small breath of relief. The stick actually did it.

Still, neither she nor the group moved, waiting for the signal. It was always the hardest thing to do - wait - but it was imperative that the coast was definitely clear. Otherwise, they risked being captured and the Right Arm really couldn't afford to lose any more people.

A sharp whistle sounded, and Newt instantly popped his head around the boulder where he and Rachel had been hiding.

"Newt!" Vincent's voice called, and Rachel stood up beside Newt.