𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ★ 𝙏𝙈𝙍

[32] Bertha

Bertha, was a car. a heap of rusty metal with pealing turquoise paint on wheels, that still worked fine enough. the Gladers all piled into Bertha, Jorge taking the wheel. Elsie popped her head out of the window, feeling the cool breeze blowing softly on her face as she looked around the surroundings at the beautiful mountains they were driving towards. The ride was peaceful as they drove up the mountains, but they soon came across a huge pile of abandoned cars on the street blocking their path up the mountain. 

The Gladers all got down from the Car, standing behind Jorge who was staring at the heap of vehicles blocking their path into a tunnel in the mountain. "What do we do now?" Elsie said into the silence. there was no way of getting through that blockage with Bertha. "I Guess we're on foot" Jorge sighed. "We have to leave Poor Bertha behind" Elsie said disappointedly, patting the heap of rusting Metal that was Bertha. 

The Gladers all collected their things before continuing on their journey, crossing through the blockage of Cars. Elsie walked up to one of the Cars, taking in the shattered windows and the dust that had collected inside the car. She circled around the car, frowning as she spotted what looked like a bullet hole in the windscreen of the car. Newt walked up behind her, reaching out to touch the distinct bullet hole in the window, when all of a sudden, a shower of bullets fell upon them, hitting the cars around them. "Get down!" Thomas yelled.

Newt was quick to fall to the ground, pulling Elsie down with a tug of her wrist as he pulled her behind the car. Elsie kept her hands over her mouth tightly, not letting any sound escape as her eyes searched the area around them for any sign of the attacker. she slowly slid her gun out of her pocket, but Newt stopped her, putting a hand on the gun and lifting his finger to his lips, mouthing at her to not use it. 

"Hey, is everyone okay out there?" Thomas's voice sounded in the eerie silence following the final echoes of the gunshots through the valley. "We're fine!" Teresa's voice echoed. "Anyone know where those bloody shots came from??" Newt yelled. Elsie watched as Thomas slowly popped his head out from behind the Car a few feet in front of her, looking around for the attacker only to duck back down with a shout as he was shot at twice, leaving fresh bullet holes in the bonnet of the car. "Everybody, Get set to sprint back to the Truck!" Jorge yelled. "and hold your ears!" 

but the explosion never came. 

"Drop it. Now!" 

Two girls now stood infront of Jorge and Thomas, holding them at Gunpoint. One of them was tall with long dark Locs. the other one, was slightly smaller in height, with blonde hair tied back into a braid. "I said, drop it!" The girl with the Locs shouted menacingly. "On your feet. Lets go!" Thomas and Jorge arose to their feet, keeping their hands in the air as they began to back away from the girls. "Move! Back up!"

"You two, over here, now!" The Blonde girl yelled to Elsie and Newt, who didn't have to be told twice. The pair stumbled to their feet, their hands in the air. Soon, the two girls had every single Glader stood up with their hands in the air, grouped right in front of them. The Girl with the Locs kept her Gun aimed right at the Gladers, her eyes scanning over them, when all of a sudden, her eyes widened, her face melting into surprise. "Aris??" she exclaimed, lowering her Gun. The Gladers all looked towards Aris in complete and utter confusion.

"Oh my god, Harriet??" Aris exclaimed as the Girl pulled down her mask, taking a few steps forward. "My God! What the hell are you doing here?" Harriet exclaimed, running forward and embracing him. The Blonde girl pulled down her mask, smiling happily. "Sonya!" Aris exclaimed as the Blonde girl ran to him, engulfing him in a hug aswell. "Aris! You're lucky we didn't shoot your dumb ass! you all right man?"

The Gladers all watched the happy reunion in complete confusion. "uh, What's happening?" Minho asked the question every Glader was asking themselves in that moment. "We were in the Maze together!" Aris said with a Grin as he stood together with his two friends. Harriet kept grinning happily, walking towards the edge of the road and lifting her hand to her lips, whistling loudly. "We're clear guys!" Harriet yelled.  "Cool!" Elsie exclaimed, eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Copy that! we're clear, stand down!" a voice replied from the distance. Elsie looked up, spotting the multiple armed men and women standing above them on the mountain ledges, keeping guard.

The Gladers were lead through the tunnel by the smiling Sonya and Harriet. On the other side, They were all surprised to find many vehicles and other people waiting. "We're taking them to base!" Harriet said to the others who Elsie assumed to be her Co-workers of some sort. "You are so cool and badass!" Elsie exclaimed, running up to Harriet who grinned down at her. "Thanks, Kid. What's your name?" 

"Elsie." Newt replied for her, grabbing Elsie by the shoulders. "She's very straightforward and has this thing with getting herself into danger" he muttered. "I think she's adorable" Harriet laughed, patting Elsie on top of her head as she continued to walk along. "Wait, so how did you guys get here?" Thomas asked as he caught up with Harriet. "Newt! You embarrassed me in front of the Cool girls," Elsie whisper shouted to Newt with a frown on her face. Newt simply began to laugh, tugging her cheek. "I apologize for cramping your style, feisty little Madam"

"The Right Arm got us out," Harriet said to Thomas as she walked over to a Car, reaching out for the door handle. "Wait, wait" Thomas said, causing Harriet to turn and look at him, waiting to hear what he had to say. "The Right Arm? do you know where they are?" Thomas asked her. Harriet smiled and nodded, cocking her head towards the car. "Hop in" she said, pulling the car door open. 

"Easier said than done!" Elsie chimed, darting forward and hopping in the car first so that she could get the window seat. "Elsie! don't get in strangers cars!" Newt exclaimed in horror, climbing in after her.