The Hawk / Maze Runner/ Harriet

𝒞𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝒞𝒾𝓉𝓎

Jorge let us sleep in more, getting us up when it was almost noon. I hadn't realized how tired I really was until I awoke.

The outskirts of the city are sketchy and dark, I know everyone else is on edge.

Jorge says our chances of meeting a Crank are low, but if we were to meet one it'd be around here. I pray we don't encounter any.

A rat scurries by, stopping to sniff the mass amounts of garbage.

"Where are we going exactly?" I ask, stepping over the rat.

"I'm looking for an old..friend. He lives across the city." Jorge replies

"And who's this friend?" Minho asks, suspicion present in his tone.

"Marcus, he used to take kids into the mountains, I'm certain he knows where their camp is." Jorge states

Minho pauses, looking at me, he opens his mouth to say something but Jorge signals for him to stay quiet.

Jorge peers over a corner, quickly turning back.

"We got Cranks." He says in a hushed tone. "We are gonna have to sneak by them."
"Why not just go another way?" I question, careful to keep my voice quiet.

"Trust me, if there are Cranks here there's Cranks on every other path too."

Jorge looks back at the Cranks, stepping forward carefully, he motions for us to follow and I oblige.

I pull my hood up over my head, trying my best to lay low.

It's just one alleyway. I can do this.

Jorge walks swiftly past the Cranks, Minho copies him almost perfectly.

I step forward, my gaze buried into my feet.

A Crank let's out a small groan as I pass by, I'm not sure if it's conscious enough to notice me.

Jorge waits at the end of the small passageway, I stand next to him, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Soon Teresa is through..Then Newt, Frypan..

Aris is at the back, he walks nervously through the horde. He's almost through when a Crank grabs his shoulder tightly, muttering something.

I move forward uncontrollably, grabbing Aris' hand, trying to pull him away.

"Where do you think you're taking him girl.." The Crank mutters.

Its eyes are clouded over, veins pop out over it's body. It's clothes are torn, barely hanging on.

I pull Aris harder, ripping him away from the Cranks grasp.

The Crank stares at me.

It murmurs something that I cannot hear. It's not like the other ones at the mall, this ones not bloodthirsty..just creepy.

"Move. It." I tell Aris.

I walk with him to the end of the alleyway, Jorge shoots me a glare.

I don't look back at the Crank, worried if I do that he'll pop up behind me.

As we turn the corner, Jorge stops to look at me.

"What was that?" he asks, irritation present in his tone.

"Aris got stopped, and I thought it'd be best to get him out of there as fast as possible." I say, trying to hide the nervousness in my tone. Jorges gaze was terrifying.

"Don't ever do that again hermano Cranks are unpredictable."
Jorge turns back as he starts to navigate his way through the city's ruins.

Newt looks at me, I just shrug in response.

—---

"This is it." Jorge says "Keep an eye out for Brenda and the Boy."
Jorge walks through a doorway, briskly walking up a flight of stairs.

I enter another door, Frypan at my side. The others split off in pairs, ready to search for our long lost buddies.

My nose wrinkles at the smell of body odour and alcohol.

I push my way through the crowd, my eyes darting from intoxicated person to the next.

Fry' stands next to me, he nervously searches the crowd. He has a better view than I do.

I feel a hand grab my butt, and I turn around, ready to punch whoever it is.
A grimy man smirks at me.

"You like that sweetheart?" He asks, his words slurring together.

My mind flips a switch to pure rage, but before I can react Frypan has already stepped in front of me.

He stares threateningly at the man

"Scram." Frypan says

Luckily, the man does. Fry' turns back to me.

"You alright?" He asks

"I don't need you to defend me." I say "..But thank you."
The boy nods and we continue to make our way through the crowd.

"Char! Fry!" A distant voice cries out in the distance.

I start to push more aggressively, shoving the drunken crowd to the side.

"Char! Fry!" The voice yells again, it sounds like Minho.

I find the boy soon enough, he looks relieved to see me.

"Help me carry one of these shanks" He says

I look down, both Brenda and Thomas are passed out and have been slumped against a wall.

My and Fry haul up Brenda, her arms draped around our necks.

"Where to?" I ask.

"Jorge has a place, follow me."

—--

The sun is setting when we arrive at Jorges 'place'.

Jorge has a man tied to a chair, still unconscious.

When he sees us enter his gaze softens.

He comes over, helping us set Brenda onto an old couch.

Thomas looks passed out cold, but Brenda still stirs ever so often.

Minho and Newt set Thomas down on an old mattress in the corner.

"Who's this?" I ask, motioning to the man in the chair.

"Only my dear friend Marcus." Jorge replies

"And why is he.."

"He didn't want to give answers, so I thought I'd take them instead."

I set my satchel down on the wall, slumping down next to it.

I yawn, I hadn't realised how much sleep debt I must be in, we didn't even walk too far today yet I feel as if I haven't slept in weeks.

I lay down, resting my head on my bag. I can care less about how stupid I look. A quick nap couldn't hurt.