A Group B fanfiction following Group B's Keeper of the Runners (Minho's equivalent), Rogue. This story is split into II parts: most events before Rachel & Aris, and all events after.
'Then, next to her, another girl. And another beside that one. She...
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ROGUE KEPT a steady pace as she sprinted alongside the other girls, navigation the stone pathways towards the Drop. Ada was right beside her, her eyes fixed ahead. Rogue insisted her touch at all times — just to feel her, just to know she was there and she was safe.
The group spread out across the corridor's width, running as fast as they collectively could. Rogue worried about how long the less experienced runners of the group could maintain the pace. As if in response to the thought, Harriet fell back and tapped her on the shoulder. 'You lead the way now,' she said, panting.
Rogue nodded, pulling Ada to the front and guiding the Glenners through all the turns necessary. Every step was agonising. Her initial courage had dwindled into sheer dread, anticipating the Crawlers' pursuit at any moment.
They ran on, the non-Carriers gasping for air, yet no one gave up. They pushed forward relentlessly, with no sign of the Crawlers. Finally, after what felt like the longest hour of Rogue's life, they reached the long alley leading to the final turn before the Drop — a short corridor branching off like the stem of a letter T.
Rogue, heart pounding, sweat drenching her skin, slowed at the corner and signalled for the others to stop. Then she heard it: the eerie mechanical sounds of the Crawlers. They had been lying in wait and were now coming to life. It sounded, to Rogue, as if there were a dozen of them.
Fear gripped her harder than ever before. She glanced at Ada, about to speak, but paused when she saw the terror etched on her face. 'Hey,' Rogue said, gripping Ada's shoulders and gently moving her back. 'You're okay. There's tons of us. We can do this.' The tremble in her voice betrayed her attempt at reassurance.
Ada opened her mouth to reply, but a loud noise from behind the group interrupted her. Rogue spun around to see Crawlers advancing down the corridor, their spikes gleaming, metal arms reaching out. There were more of them.
The Crawlers surrounded them, closing off all potential escape routes. The Glenners surged towards Rogue, forming a tight huddle, pushing her out into the open intersection where the Drop's corridor met the long alley ahead. Ada had been pushed back in the crowd, swallowed by the mass of bodies.
Ahead, the pack of creatures blocked the way to the Drop, their pincers extended, their moist, pulsing skin glistening. The other groups of Crawlers had stopped just metres away, also waiting, watching.
The Glenners compressed into a tighter group around Rogue, everyone facing outward, weapons clutched tightly. Rogue found herself between Sonya and Hashslinger, feeling Sonya's tremors against her arm and hearing Hashslinger's groans as she struggled to support Wally.
