𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐎 (𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐔𝐒) *editing*

𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥🌞

Rewritten: January-May 2025

"Mae, it's time to wake up." Maeve felt a nudge from an elbow, causing her to jolt in her awkward position on the chair. With a groan, the auburn-haired teen squinted at the culprit. Both annoyance and relief washed through her, recognizing Ellie, who stood in front of her with her hands on her hips and a mischievous grin.

The room was shrouded in dim light from the distant flood lights, offering little visibility.

"Leave me alone," she muttered, shutting her eyes again and readjusting in the chair.

"Tess is back, and we're leaving. Get your ass up!" That voice wasn't Ellie's; it was deeper, and Maeve felt stupid for mistaking it. Her foggy mind struggled to think clearly. They both turned to see TJ slinging his knapsack over his shoulder. Maeve shot him a glare and finally pulled herself off the chair, yawning. She stretched a little and pursed her lips.

"Touchy, aren't we?" she sent a sharp look at him. "What an ass."

Giving attitude to someone who just woke up was a big no-no in Maeve's book. She was liable to give it all back, tenfold. Well, Mister TJ, I can play that petty game too. She yawned again, stretched one more time and picked up her bag from the floor.

Once she adjusted her bag straps comfortably, Maeve noticed Tess and Joel chatting in the corner, occasionally glancing at the probe lights outside.

"How's Marlene?" she asked, gaining their attention.

"She'll be fine," Tess replied with a nod. "Let's get this over with."

"Uh, alright?" Maeve furrowed her brows at Tess's enthusiasm, only to realize she wasn't directing her comment at her.

The older woman went into the next room, with Joel following closely behind. Ellie trailed after them, but Maeve hesitated a bit before moving.

"After you," TJ said, motioning for her to enter the door.

Maeve glanced at him, wanting to speak but holding back. She understood the futility of arguing, so she stepped into the somewhat small room as Tess pushed a shelf aside to reveal a hole in the wall. She watched her squeeze through the hole, followed by Ellie. Joel turned to Maeve with expectation, and with a grimace, she too slipped through the opening. Once inside, she rushed to join Ellie at the makeshift elevator as TJ and Joel entered the tiny room and began activating a generator to start the lift.

"Who're we meeting at the drop-off?" TJ inquired.

Maeve stood behind him as they lowered, her eyes narrowing at his ponytail. She despised his height. Fidgeting with her thumbs, she silently wished Jordan had been able to come with them. She knew Marlene wouldn't let him. She bit her bottom lips nervously.

"She mentioned some Fireflies coming from another city. They must be important," Tess remarked, peering at the sisters. "What's the deal with you two? Are you some big shot's daughters or something?"

Maeve exchanged a knowing glance with Ellie, "...or something."

"Still, you've gotta be pretty important," TJ continued, his voice softer than before. "Especially if you have to be snuck out of a quarantine area."

"How long will this take?" Ellie asked Tess.

"If everything goes smoothly, we should get to them in a few hours," Tess replied as the lift reached the tunnel. "Ellie, Maeve, once we get out, I need to stick close and follow my lead."

The sisters nodded, knowing they had no other option but to trust Tess, especially since they'd never been outside the zone before...

"Let's go, ladies," Tess signaled for them to follow, crouching as she entered the tunnel.