𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐑, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

43. the last city

Bea grimaced the second she steps foot in the small town.

Aromas of soot and burning was inhaled, making Bea uncomfortable the more she breath the air. At that moment in time, she wished she had one of the masks many people around her were sporting. Bea heard a violent coughs coming from behind her, her eyes immediately trailed to where Vicky was walking, too grimaced at the scent of the smoking air.

Bea stumbled as a random citizen barged passed her in a busily way. Bea's mouth agape at the action, eyes widening at the person who's now running forward, not even caring to look back who he bumped to.

Bea immediately searched for Prim, her brown eyes scanning the rest of the group, seeing Prim holding hands with Vivian who was with Jorge and Thomas. Bea immediately marched forward, heading directly towards Nancy and Vicky, who are struggling against the heavy crowds.

"Hey," Bea called, touching Nancy's shoulder. Nancy swirled around startled, "Hey, come on. Let's go. Don't lose sight of eachother. Gladers sticks together." Nancy said, holding Bea's hand with her free one, as the other hold Vicky's.

"This place had already gone through hell." Bea heard Jorge told her brother as she, Nancy and Vicky finally made it to the others, now easy to keep with. "Do we agree WICKED are Satans?" Bea pursed her lips, raising her hand while she keep on walking. Vicky looks at her, nodding mischievously before wrapping her hand around her's, developing a handshake.

Nancy roll her eyes from in-between them, "Guys, come on." She urged on, dragging them both. Bea pulled her jacket around her cautiously while Nancy continued to drag them on. Vicky escaped Nancy's harsh grip, adjusting her coat before walking normally, well hidden since, she well.. not immune.

"We are the voices of voiceless!" Bea heard one of the man, behind her who's holding a board said. "They hide behind their walls, thinking they can keep the cure to themselves, while they watched the rest of us wither and rot."

Bea's gut clenched at the guilt feelings, her mind immediately thought about Thèrèse.

Bea's head snapped behind her, like the rest of the group, as their ears perked up at the loud voice. The male voice boomed through a megaphone as the person was sitting in the trailer a truck that was driving past them in their direction.

Bea slipped to the side, bumping into Nancy who caught her by the arm. Cheers roaring, some curses were thrown, urging him to carry on, causing Vicky to roll her eyes.

"But there are more of us than them! And I say, we rise up and take back what's ours! Let's bring back a victory!"

Vicky noticed the discomfort on Nancy's face, she walked over to her urgently, grabbing her hand. "Hey, you're okay?" She asks worriedly, kissing her forehead as comfort. Nancy nodded, gulping while squeezing Vicky's hand.

The crowd cheered once more as the man in the came clearer in sight. Him and other several men in the trailer wore masks along with army gear. Bea raised an eyebrow in curiousity, not realising she had come to a stop next to Vivian and Prim.

Prim reaches out for Bea's hand, whimpering insecurely. Bea noticed this, giving her baby sister a genuine look before glaring up ahead, "Stay strong, Prim. I'm right here." She assured, patting Prim's head as the young girl cling onto her older sister.

One of the members of army, in particular seemed 𝘵𝘰𝘰 interested in Bea and the A-team. Bea shielded her face, bringing Prim away as they stumbled across.

"Hermana, hurry up!"

She heard Nancy yelped, Bea glance over seeing Jorge grabbed her by the arm, pulling her forwards as an indicator to keep walking. Nancy remained infront of him as a way for him to keep an eye on her. One of the boy's locked eyes with Thomas, she noticed, and the brunette boy looked back in a realization kind of way before blinking and continued walking after Vicky practically pulled him forward to get his attention.