Break My Bones

Chapter 4: Shadows

Rachel quickly made her way over to where the few vehicles that the Right Arm owned were hidden inside an abandoned warehouse.

Technically, the vehicles were scattered across several warehouses just in case anything happened to one storage. But she and Newt were certain they knew which car Thomas would go for - the jeep. It was one of the few completely enclosed vehicles that was still higher above the ground and good for rough terrain, but also not as big as the one truck that they owned. Owned being a loose term for stolen in this case.

Newt was already waiting, and she could see the shadow inside the car. She smiled as she came up beside him and Newt tucked her under his arm as she leant against the truck beside him.

"What took you so long?" Newt muttered while they waited and Rachel scoffed.

"He's not even here yet - I think that's what we should ask him." She murmured back as she tossed her bag into the back of the jeep. She saw the hint of a smile on Newt's face before they lapsed into silence, waiting.

They didn't have to wait long as not five minutes later, Thomas arrived, hastily zipping up his own backpack. Newt cocked a brow at the dark-haired boy's appearance before he called out, "Where do you think you're going then?"

Thomas started, absolutely surprised when Rachel flipped on the small lamp beside them to reveal herself and Newt to Thomas. The raven-haired boy blinked rapidly before he sighed.

"Newt..."

Thomas trailed off, unsure how to even begin convincing them.

Newt strode forward, warning his friend, "Don't be a twat about it."

Thomas grimaced before he stilled in shock as Newt added, "We're already in."

He took Thomas's bag from the boy's slackened grip while Thomas gaped at the pair. Rachel grinned at Thomas's gawking before jerking her head at the jeep.

"Hurry up - you already kept us waiting." She joked, and that seemed to snap Thomas out of it. Mostly.

"No."

Thomas shook his head and the self-proclaimed non-couple glanced back at him as the dark-haired teen stood his ground.

"No, not this time. Look, even if we find Minho, there's no guarantee we make it back from this."

Both Rachel and Newt raised their brows at Thomas's words in an eerily similar manner. Thomas was beginning to think they spent too much time together, especially when Rachel walked over to the jeep door while Newt replied dryly, "Well, you'll need all the help you can get then, won't you?"

Rachel opened the door at his words, as if on cue; and Thomas realized all his friends must be spending far too much time together when Frypan beamed out from the driver's seat, perfectly timed and set-up.

He began shaking his head again, about to protest, when Rachel piped up, "It's not really your decision anymore, Thomas."

Thomas paused to look at her and then Newt as the blond finished, "We started this together. May as well end it that way, too."

Thomas looked from Frypan's smiling face to Rachel's equally amused one and finally to Newt's firm expression. And he exhaled.

"Okay." He agreed.

His friends smiled before their eyes all steeled in equal determination as Thomas finished firmly.

"Let's go get him back."

******************

It was a much more subdued group that settled into the jeep as Frypan carefully drove them out of the warehouse, the dim headlights of the car providing just enough light for them to get away from the Right Arm base without attracting attention.