Defier - The Scorch Trials (Book 2)

Chapter 38: Shuck Sewer Rat

Alex spun on her heel, and sprinted to catch up with Thomas. Alex felt horrible leaving a struggling Teresa behind. It must have taken so much willpower and strength to break away and warn them. That took bravery.

WICKED. It's always WICKED. They ruin everything, all the time.

Alex and Thomas ran as fast as they could, yelling and calling for their friends, their family.

"MINHO?"

"NEWT?"

"SONYA?"

"CHLOE?"

"FRY?"

The first explosion happened beside them, throwing Alex onto her side. The tent ignited with an instant roar of fire.

Please, be no one inside!

Thomas pulled her to her feet.

"We gotta find them! Where are they?" Thomas asked desperately.

"I don't know!" Alex yelled.

Something else exploded, making them dive to the ground. It looked like everything was on fire now, people were screaming. A helicopter opened its door and WICKED soldiers started dropping in, guns blazing.

"SHUCK! WE GOTTA GO!" Alex screamed.

She grabbed Thomas's hand and they ran, weaving around fires. They rounded the end of a row of blazing tents and a soldier stepped in front. Alex didn't stop running, adrenaline surging; she screamed at him, jumping up and slamming her knees into his chest. He was knocked to the ground.

Thanks Minho for the awesome ninja move! More effective with a solid wall behind us though.

She fell on top of the soldier, his helmet had come loose with the impact. She scrambled to grab it, as the soldier scrambled after her, forgetting his gun that fell to the ground. Her fingers reached the strap, just as he grabbed her jacket and pulled her. Alex fell backwards twisting and swinging the helmet at the same time, smashing it into his face. He let go of her with a screech, reaching for his face. Alex swung it again, a better grip on it. She smashed his face again, he fell and didn't get back up.

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE THOMAS! HELP!" Alex screamed.

Thomas blinked at her, shook himself and grabbed the gun.

"Give it here." Alex held her hand out. He obeyed and they kept running.

"I think we're even now. And I saved your shuck butt and without gettin' shot!"

She flicked the safety off, and cocked it, ready to shoot. Thomas followed behind. Alex didn't see anyone but Right Arm members. Alex kept her head on a swivel. Another set of soldiers appeared. Alex shoved Thomas behind a box. She ducked behind it too, peeking around it. A shot rang out, missing her by inches. Alex raised the gun, took a deep breath and flung her body around the box pulling the trigger. One soldier dropped with a bullet in his forehead. Alex had to roll, as the other soldier was shooting at her. Alex rolled again, came up on her knee, pulled the trigger. He dropped, with a bullet in his forehead.

"Thomas! Let's move!"

Thomas sprung from the box. They sprinted past another burning tent.

Alex scrambled to a stop.

"Shuck shuck shuck!" Alex almost broke down in tears.

She saw her family, in the middle of the camp, surrounded by fires. Vince was in the back of a truck, using a huge gun. Surrounding the truck was Sonya, Harriet, Aris, Fry, Newt, and Minho. Each firing a gun of some kind, covering Vince.