Runner of Group D (Maze Runner fanfic)

Chapter 3

"Flour, switch places with me," Sandra called up. "Marge, pull me up." She stuffed the paper into her pocket and put her foot in the loop of rope.

"What's going on?"

"Is that a boy?"

"What's happening?"

Hundreds of question hit Sandra like a wave as Marge pulled her up. She wasn't planning on answering any of them. While Flour got into the Lift, she continued to give orders.

"Someone go get two more ropes, not the Runners. I need you over here. You're included, Mary." Now the questions became a riot. Everyone knew Mary was her replacement whenever she was staying in the Field. Why everyone had to know, she wasn't sure.

Sandra had eight Runners standing in front of her at the outskirts of the crowd. Luce and Mary were the only temporaries. But every single one of them gave her a look of curiosity and shock.

"I'm only going to say this once, so listen up," she told them. "The boy down there said things are going to change. I'm sure you all heard that." They nodded. "What you didn't hear was what he told me before passing out. He said things would change soon and that the end was near."

"What does that mean?" Luce asked, covering her mouth immediately. Sandra turned to her.

"Means we need to look harder for an exit until we get a note saying we're being freed," she replied. "For now, we'll have to swallow the truth about this one." She pulled out the paper and handed it to Paige. She looked at it, her eyebrows knitting together in concern. She passed the note down so everyone got to read it.

"No more Fledglings?" Mary questioned, staring at the paper. Sandra nodded.

"That's what it looks like. Who knows what's going to stop coming next." The Runners looked up at her with determination.

"We won't be here long enough to find out," Paige replied. Sandra smiled.

"Good. Get your gear and some weapons. Grievers have armor now, but their undersides are still unprotected. Find anything in there, come running back." Everyone nodded and ran for the storage closet, Mary handing the note back before taking off.

Sandra headed back toward the chaos. She shoved her way to the front of the crowd. Flour and Carol were with the boy, the three ropes dangling above them. Marge was holding all three, confusion written across her face. Sandra walked around to the side they were on.

"Sandra, what did you have in mind?" Flour asked, noticing her approach. Sandra kneeled down and started pointing.

"A rope per arm and the strongest tied around his chest." She stood up and glanced behind her. She stepped toward the crowd, patting three girls on the shoulder as she ordered, "You, you, and you. Grab those ropes and don't pull until I say so." She turned to the crowd. "It would be preferred if everyone else stood back about ten feet. Medics are exceptions if you're helping."

"You know it," Florence replied, standing by her as everyone else backed away.

"Marge," Sandra continued, "I need your help getting him up. Carol and Flour you're pushing him up from down there." Flour nodded.

"Everything's tied," Carol called.

"It's tight," the people with the ropes responded. Sandra nodded.

"Count of three. One...two...three!" The people behind her grunted as they pulled on the vines. Sandra could hear Carol and Flour struggle as they shoved him up. Florence kept looking over the edge and giving directions while Sandra shouted at the rope-pullers to dig their heels into the ground. Finally, the boy's head came into view.