A MAZE RUNNER TRILOGY
"And one day someone walks into your life,
a total stranger, and they become so important
to you. And while you're only known them such a short time,
you feel you're loved them for a lifetime."
#1 Ranking for #TheMazeRunner
#1...
THE MOMENTUM OF THE VAN finally began to shift, throwing Thomas slightly against the ribbed metal wall. He could hear the heavy tires transitioning from asphalt to uneven terrain, the loud crunch of gravel grinding beneath them before the vehicle lurched to a complete halt. The engine cut out abruptly. For a tense, drawn-out moment, the only sounds were the ticking of cooling metal and Elizabeth's shallow breathing.
A heavy fist pounded twice against the exterior. The back door was thrown up with a violent clack-clack, and a flood of blinding light spilled inside. A masked soldier filled the doorway, sweeping the barrel of an assault rifle over them.
"Get out!" the soldier barked, the weapon tracking Thomas as he scrambled to his feet.
Thomas jumped down onto the cement, dust swirling around his boots. His eyes immediately darted across the large area, desperate to lock onto familiar blonde hair. He spun around, searching the perimeter, ignoring the soldiers around them. He needed to find Newt.
A second van barreled into the clearing. It didn't glide to a stop; it braked erratically, tires skidding. The vehicle rocked violently on its suspension, shaking back and forth as heavy thuds echoed from within.
"Where you going?" Jorge's muffled voice roared from behind the metal panels.
The back doors of the second van flew open. A masked soldier was hurled out backward, hitting the cement flat on his spine. Before the man could even twitch, Jorge jumped out of the back, landing squarely on the soldier's chest. Jorge raised his fist and drove a brutal punch directly into the visor of the mask, the crack of impact echoing loudly across the stronghold.
Thomas saw Newt stepping out of the same van just behind the fray. Newt leaned heavily on his bad leg, looking disoriented as he blinked against the harsh lighting, with Frypan stepping down right behind him.
Thomas's eyes connected with Newt's. The crushing anxiety that had gripped Thomas since the gates immediately dissolved, replaced by relief. Newt was upright. He was okay.
"Where is she?!" Jorge demanded, ignoring the weapons raised all around them. He grabbed the soldier by the collar, pulling his fist back for a second strike.
"I'm right here! I'm right here!"
Brenda rushed forward into Jorge's line of sight, raising both of her hands to show she was completely unharmed. Jorge froze, his fist lowering. He practically scrambled off the downed soldier, closing the distance to pull Brenda into a firm, desperate hug.
