Bad Dreams | Newt x Reader (Being Edited)

Chapter 55-Mistakes were Made

Warnings: blood, mentions of death, angst, heartbreak.

Alex's POV

One week later

"Well, this is bad."

Nik's eyes slid sideways to where I was standing by his side. "Really?"

"How's she going to find us now?" I demanded, glaring in the direction we had come and ignoring the sarcasm oozing off his voice. "Seriously, why on earth did cannibals have to show up and ruin everything?"

"Could've been worse," Nik decided, staring out at the burnt ruins of the town. "At least there weren't any Cranks brandishing rotten fish."

I side eyed him. "What?"

He shuddered exaggeratedly. "Don't ask, it was disgusting."

"Whatever, I'm going to go take my guard shift."

He nodded and didn't move as I walked away. I allowed myself a glance back. The sun was setting, casting warm orange light dancing around him. His gaze dropped and my attention snagged on the curve of his eyelashes.

Harriet's hand smacked lightly against my face.

"What?" I demanded, spinning to face her and suddenly away of the three people watching me—Harriet, Skylar and Felix.

"Nothing," Harriet answered, staring pointedly at Nik. "Not that I'm interested, but he's not half bad."

"Got good hair," Skylar added, flashing a cheeky smile.

"A grin like the devil," Felix joined in.

"Shut up all of you," I said, taking off in a sprint to avoid further conversation.

Guard duty was so boring. Unfortunately, that meant my mind wandered to a certain friend of mine. He had no right to look like some kind of angel. I forced my attention to the town. Cars and rubble were littered through the street, hindering my sight as I kept watch. There hadn't been many Cranks so far, but there were always more out there.

After the cannibal incident, we were forced to move away from our last camp. Hopefully, Y/n would still be able to find us. Or we were screwed.

As night fell, I shone the torch over the street. My hand tapped nervously against my side, waiting for something to happen.

A small sound caught my attention and I jerked the torch to face in that direction. "What the actual f—"

"Hi Alex," Y/n said with a little wave.

Dark splatters stained her torn shirt. Blood. Dry patches of it were crusted over her skin. I'd mistaken her for a Crank at first glance.

"What the hell?" With the amount of blood on her, I was surprised she was even standing.

"Get Nik, please?" she asked awkwardly, looking down at her bloody hands. It was even under her fingernails.

I snapped out of my daze. "Let me heal you first."

Y/n stumbled back a few steps, making me stop in my tracks. Her lips thinned. "Uh, no, that's not necessarily. I'm not...hurt."

"Then who's..." I trailed off, watching her eyes drop and effectively scream that she didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"Just get Nik."

"Uhhh, okay." I slowly walked off, eyes still on her for a few seconds before I took off.

I slowed down as I entered camp.

Nik was busy shoving a spoon of stew into his mouth when I found him. He'd chosen to sit with Newt, Thomas and Fry tonight. Even from a distance I could pick up on the awkward tension between the group. Newt held a rock in his hands, content on studying it intently.