INTERTWINED ~ THE MAZE RUNNER

~THIRTEEN~

    Addy was exhausted. She hadn't realised just how much she had relied on adrenaline to keep her going until the group had finally settled down. The Gladers had found themselves lounged around the large storage room, some on chairs others on boxes or the floor. Addison had found herself sitting next to Thomas, across from Newt and Teresa, on a pile of cushions. She let her head fall back against the cushions and stared at the ceiling above her as she fought to keep her eyes open. The girl refused to let her guard down completely.

    "I don't know who these guys are, but they can cook." Frypan voiced from behind her. The brunette hummed in agreement.

   "Who are they really though? I mean we don't know anything about them." Teresa asked. Addison sighed, knowing the girl was right. She just wished things were much simpler.

    "Well, we know they're no friends of WCKD." Newt replied as the girl lifted her head to face her friends as they spoke.

    "That's good enough for me." Minho spoke up from where he laid across the table, propping himself up onto his elbow, "You guys think too much. We're free, enjoy it."

    The group was silent as Addison held Minho's gaze for a few moments. She could understand what his eyes were saying. They needed this. Eventually, she let out a sigh and rested her head back again. But just as she closed her eyes for the first time, the sound of the door unlocking interrupted her reverie.

Like the rest, Addison pushed herself onto her feet and moved toward the door. She slid herself in between her brother and Minho. She chewed on the inside of her cheek nervously as she waited for what was to come next.

    "You kids doing alright? Sorry about all the fuss. We had ourselves a bit of a swarm. But it's over now, the threat has passed." A middle aged man- whom had a slender face and pointed nose that made him resemble a rat- spoke as the group came to a halt at the door. Addy's gut twisted uncomfortably as he sent her a sly smile.

    "Who are you?" Thomas asked.

    The man simply tilted his head and walked out the door. Thomas hesitated before he followed after him. Addison looked back and shared a curious look with Newt before she followed after Thomas.

    "You can call me Mr. Janson. I run this place. For us it is a sanctuary. Safe from the horrors of the outside world." The rat man explained as they walked through the large and open cement building.

    "You all should think of it as a way station. Kind of a home between homes. Watch yourselves." Janson warned as they walked underneath some sort of welding project. Addison jumped out of the way slightly, analysing her surroundings carefully. Her mapping eye silently tried to memorize every person they saw and every turn they took.

    "That mean you're taking us home?" Thomas asked.

    "A home of sorts. Sadly there won't be much left of wherever you came from. But we do have a place for you. A refuge, outside the scorch where wicked will never find you again. How does that sound?"

    Addison furrowed her brows slightly, scrutinizing the man. His smile never faltered and it was difficult to read behind his eyes. If he was lying, then he was a damn good actor. To Addison, it all just seemed too good to be true. Teresa sent her a wary glance, agreeing with her thoughts.

    "Why are you helping us?" Minho voiced Addison's thoughts.

    "Let's just say the world out there is in a rather precarious situation. We're all hanging on by a very thin thread. The fact that you kids can survive the flare virus makes you the best chance of humanities continued survival. Unfortunately, it also makes you a target, as no doubt by now you've noticed." When Janson finished his spiel, they stopped in front of another large hangar type door.