Chariot | Group B → The Scorch Trials²

ii.twenty

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● [ ii . continued ]

"What's this crap about, Teresa? Nice way to greet your long-lost buddies."

Teresa didn't reply. The kid's question faded under an eerie sweep of silence. No one moved.

Then Teresa stepped forward.

Rogue watched her walk, calm as ever, until she stopped about three metres from the two boys in front. They stood shoulder to shoulder.

"Teresa?" the blond boy asked. "What the bloody—"

British. Like Sonya. Rogue glanced at her, but Sonya was elsewhere, eyes narrowed like she was lining up a shot. She didn't react at all.

"Shut up," Teresa said. Rogue felt something cold trickle across her spine. "And any of you makes a move, the bows start shooting."

She shifted her spear, lifting it into a fighting stance, then paced past the boys as though they were furniture. Rogue watched Group A part around her, unsure whether to defend themselves or keep still. Teresa looked at each of them, pausing on the brown-ponytailed girl Rogue had seen with Thomas at the party. Teresa's stare was hard enough the girl looked away.

Then she walked right up to Thomas.

He let out a shaky breath. "Teresa."

She didn't react.

"Teresa," he said again, louder. "What's—"

"Shut up," she repeated.

"But what—"

Teresa stepped back and slammed the butt of her spear into his cheek. Thomas crumpled to his knees with a strangled sound, clutching his face. Rogue winced despite herself. It looked like it rang his whole skull.

"I said shut up." Teresa grabbed his shirt and yanked him upright again, forcing him to his feet. She placed both hands on the wooden shaft and angled the spear at his chest. "Is your name Thomas?"

"You know who I—"

She cut him off with another blow, right across the side of his head. Thomas staggered sideways, grabbed his ear, and cried out. The rest of the boys flinched, but no one stepped in. None of them matched the cruelty Teresa had described. They almost looked afraid of her.

"You know who I am!" Thomas yelled, voice cracking.

"I used to, anyway," Teresa said, dripping contempt.

Rogue rolled her eyes. Bit dramatic, she thought. But Thomas didn't argue again.

"Now," Teresa continued. "I'm going to ask you one more time. Is your name Thomas?"

"Yes!" he shouted. "My name is Thomas!"

Teresa gave a single, satisfied nod. Then she turned and walked back toward the girls, the sea of bodies parting for her. It was going a lot smoother than Rogue had expected. Almost too smooth.

"You're coming with us," Teresa said without looking back. "Thomas. Come on. Remember, anyone tries something, the arrows fly."

"No way!" the Asian boy snapped. Rogue looked straight at him, raising her machete. He glared back, but didn't move. "You're not taking him anywhere."

Teresa ignored him entirely, eyes still locked on Thomas. "This isn't some stupid game. I'm going to start counting. Every time I hit a multiple of five, we'll kill one of you with an arrow."

That surprised even the Glenners. Harriet shot Rogue a questioning look. Not part of the plan. Rogue saw Alejandra shrug. A sure, I'll do it gesture.