𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘- TMR, Minho

010, 𝐃𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫? 𝐨𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.

The sun was already high in the sky by the time the group resumed their trek through the wasteland. The heat bore down relentlessly, turning every breath into a struggle. Sandstorms threatened to rise at any moment, and the echoes of distant Cranks were never far behind. Yet, their pace was steady, driven by the need to reach the WCKD facility and uncover the truth.

Lila was up front, leading as usual. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon, every muscle in her body tense as she kept watch for any danger. Thomas and Minho were just behind her, talking in low tones, while Dylan and Newt trailed behind, checking supplies.

"Are we going the right way?" Minho asked, squinting through the glare of the sun. His usual energy was dimmed by the oppressive heat, though his personality still shone through. "Because I'm starting to feel like a grilled piece of steak here."

Lila rolled her eyes without turning around. "Yes, Minho, we're going the right way. Unless you want to suggest a better direction. By all means, take the lead if you're feeling brave."

Minho grinned. "Not brave, just hot. But hey, if you need a break from the hero role, I'm happy to step in."

"Keep dreaming, Hotshot," Lila shot back, her voice deadpan.

Minho leaned toward Thomas, a smirk on his face. "See, she likes me. That's what this is. All this sarcasm? It's just her way of flirting."

Lila snorted but didn't respond.

Thomas chuckled under his breath. "Keep telling yourself that, Minho."

As they continued walking, Teresa moved up to join the group, her eyes narrowing as she fell into step next to Lila. The tension between the two had simmered since their argument, but it hadn't disappeared entirely. It hung in the air, heavy and unspoken.

Finally, Teresa broke the silence. "Lila, we need to talk."

Lila didn't slow down, didn't even look over. "I thought we already talked, Teresa. If this is about 'trust issues,' I'm not interested in a repeat."

"No," Teresa insisted, her voice tight. "This is about you. About why you're really here."

Lila's jaw clenched, but she still didn't stop. "I already told you. I'm here because I want to take down WCKD, just like the rest of you."

"That's not all," Teresa pressed. "You know more than you're letting on. About WCKD, about this journey. You've been too calm, too collected. It's like you knew exactly what you were getting into."

Lila finally stopped, turning to face Teresa with a sharp look. "What's your point, Teresa? You think I'm some kind of spy? Maybe WCKD sent me, is that it?"

"I'm not saying that." Teresa's voice softened, but her gaze remained intense. "I just want to know the truth. We've all been through enough to deserve that."

Lila folded her arms, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a sigh, she ran a hand through her messy hair. "You want the truth? Fine. I've been through hell, just like the rest of you. WCKD took everything from me. My family, my friends... they experimented on people I cared about. I escaped the Maze with Aris, but that doesn't mean I'm not haunted by everything that happened. And yes, I'm calm because that's what surviving in this world requires. So maybe you should focus less on questioning me and more on figuring out how we're going to take down the real enemy."

Teresa's face softened, the intensity in her gaze melting into something more sympathetic. But before she could say anything, Minho interrupted, his voice loud and cheerful as always.

"Look, I hate to break up this touching heart-to-heart," he said, stepping between them. "But we're all in the same mess. We're either working together, or we're screwed. So, what do you say we save the drama for later?"

Lila gave a short laugh. "For once, I agree with you, Minho."

Teresa nodded, though she still looked thoughtful. "Okay. We keep moving."

The tension slowly dissipated as the group pressed on, the sun sinking lower in the sky. But as the hours passed, Lila felt an uneasy prickle at the back of her neck. Something was wrong. She paused, looking around the desolate landscape with narrowed eyes.

Suddenly, the sound of distant engines filled the air. Everyone froze.

"WCKD?" Dylan asked, his voice low.

Thomas nodded grimly. "It has to be."

Panic gripped the group, and they scrambled for cover behind the remnants of an old, crumbled building. The sound of the engines grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable hum of heavy machinery. Lila pulled out her gun, her hands steady as she scanned the horizon for any sign of an approaching vehicle.

It didn't take long. Two large trucks appeared on the ridge ahead, their headlights glaring through the dust. Soldiers poured out of them, armed to the teeth and moving in their direction.

"Looks like we've got company," Minho muttered, drawing his knife.

Lila grinned, her eyes flashing with determination. "Good. I was getting bored."

Thomas glanced at Lila, concern in his eyes. "We can't fight them all."

"We don't have to," Lila replied, cocking her gun. "We just need to be faster."

With that, she darted out from behind the building, firing off a few shots to draw the soldiers' attention. It worked. Bullets whizzed past her as she sprinted, her movements quick and fluid, like she had rehearsed this a hundred times.

"Lila!" Thomas shouted, but she was already too far ahead.

While the soldiers were distracted by Lila's daring run, the rest of the group slipped around the other side of the building, making a break for the desert beyond. Minho, however, couldn't help but stop and watch as Lila ducked, rolled, and fired, taking down two of the soldiers with precision shots.

"She's insane," he muttered under his breath, but there was a grin on his face.

Finally, Lila made it back to the group, panting but still smiling. "See? Easy."

"You call that easy?" Minho asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

Lila gave him a teasing smirk. "What's wrong? Can't keep up, Hotshot?"

Minho's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, I'm keeping up. You're just trying too hard to impress me."

Lila's smirk widened. "In your dreams."

As the group continued running, Minho fell in beside her, still grinning. "You know, Wildcat, you're growing on me."

Lila rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips as she picked up the pace. "Don't push your luck, Hotshot."