Defier - The Scorch Trials (Book 2)

Chapter 16: Shuckin Sand

Alex jerked awake. Her head snapped up. She heard Thomas yelling. She had nodded off still sitting up. Her eyes were tired, burning and so dry. She opened them to see Thomas yelling at a bird.

"Shucks sake Tommy. Seriously?" She muttered angrily.

She heard a few others groan as they woke up. Minho still had his head in her lap. He blinked a few times, and smiled at her. When she didn't return the smile and stared gloomily out the cave entrance he sat up, and eyed her suspiciously.

"I was supposed to take a shift to watch. You didn't sleep, did you."

It was a statement, not a question. She avoided eye contact, staring at the little wood statue in her hands.

No, she didn't sleep. She had listened to the inhuman screaming late into the night, until they finally faded away when the sky started to lighten. And when she wasn't scared stiff from the cranks, her heart was breaking into too many pieces to put back together. She cried and sobbed last night. She was done crying now. She had no more tears left. She cried everything out, and now she felt empty.

She shook her head, and whispered "No."

Minho pulled her head towards him, wrapping her up in his arms, rubbing her back.

"I love you." He said quietly. "And it's not your fault, Alex. None of it."

Alex pulled away and smiled sadly, she didn't believe it. It was her fault, all of it. Because she wasn't good enough, fast enough, strong enough...Her eyes were tired and scratchy. It was already getting warm, taking her jacket off, she got stiffly to her feet. She came and crouched down beside Winston who had just groaned.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, brushing some sweaty hair off his forehead.

Alex could finally see the extent of the damage done. It was not pretty. She had nothing but water to clean the wounds and a few bandages. If it was possible, her heart broke a little bit more. He tried to give her a smile, but Alex knew he was hurting.

"Come on. We should keep moving." Thomas said, standing up and grabbing his backpack.

"Are they gone?" Frypan asked.

"Ya, I think we're safe for now..." Thomas answered, "Okay, we should get moving. Let's pack it up. Aris, come on. Fry, Winston, Tes... Let's go."

Thomas clapped people on the shoulders, trying to give them some encouragement. Alex brushed his hand off not in the mood and picked up her backpack.

"Hey, man. You okay?" Fry asked when Winston groaned and winced trying to get up.

Frypan held out a hand to help him up. Alex watched suspiciously. Teresa caught her eye, they both knew this wasn't good. He was in a lot of pain, and they didn't have anything to help. Everyone was ready to leave in a few minutes. They ventured out into the wide unknown wild world.

The sun was bright and harsh already and it wasn't even noon yet. The sand was hot and rough. And it was everywhere. They had taken refuge under part of a crumbled wall. It was also covered in sand. They walked up the sand hill and looked out, what they saw was not what they expected.

They were gazing out at a city. But the city was broken, abandoned and crumbling. Buildings falling over or already laying sideways half buried in sand. Broken rusted cars lay abandoned everywhere. And sand. Everywhere Alex looked there was sand.

"I see lots of sand...but no ocean." Minho whispered quietly to Alex.

She nodded sadly. She reached blindly trying to find his hand without taking her eyes off the apocalyptic world in front of her. It was eerie and unsettling, even in the sunlight. A gust of hot wind blew some sand through the empty deserted stretch between buildings, sending some garbage and a tumble weed towards them. With a deep breath she took a step forward. Her and Minho led them down the sand hill.