The Scorch Trials (Fanfiction)

Chapter 13

(Chloe's POV)

After a few minutes of watching the approaching people, Poison was able to identify Thomas, Teresa and Aris. When they arrived, there were hugs, slaps on the back (as well as a punch or two from me) and explanations from the three of them. Twenty minutes passed and nothing happened. Well, nothing other than one monster-of-a-storm heading our way. Just when everyone was beginning to think (and look) like nothing would happen (other than the storm gradually getting closer and closer), dozens of squares in the ground began . . . . . . flipping, like you'd flip an egg in a frying pan. Each square was maybe fifteen, sixteen feet wide and the other side was bearing a white, oblong shape with rounded edges that reminded me vaguely of coffins. By the looks on the others' faces, they'd seen them before; where I do not know.

'What are those things?!' I yelled (anything quieter than that and the others wouldn't hear over the wind).

'Don't you remember?!' Minho yelled back. I deadpanned and raised an eyebrow at him. 'Oh right, you couldn't see.' He muttered.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Newt and Thomas, hoping they would actually tell me what they were.

'They're Griever pods!' Thomas yelled. 'We saw them back in the Creators lab!'

Nodding my thanks to him, I scanned the faces around me to find my sister. Spotting her, I began making my way through everyone until I reached her.

'Get your weapons ready!' I yelled in her ear. 'I think we're gonna have to fight something real soon!'

She nodded as she pulled out her bow and began assembling it. Once she'd gotten it strung and knocked an arrow, she and I began heading towards Thomas, Newt, Minho, Teresa, Sonya and Harriet. They briefly looked up as the two of us neared, but quickly went back to their conversation. Letting Ivy pay attention to their conversation, I glanced around, but froze as I saw the first of the Griever Pods opening.

'Um, guys?' I asked, poking the nearest person (it happened to be Minho).

No response.

'Um, hey guys?!'

Still no response.

'GUYS!'

Now I was getting annoyed.

'HEY GUYS!!' I yelled, resorting to punching Minho.

'Oww! What?!' An annoyed Minho exclaimed, rubbing his arm. I punched him again as I pointed to the almost-open Griever Pod.

'THAT'S what you mutton-head!!' I yelled. They all turned around and yelped in surprise as they saw what I was talking about.

'Everyone! Grab whatever weapon you have!' Minho yelled.

'Minho!' I yelled. When he turned to look at me, I tossed him my sword. 'You get to use, not keep, it! Give it back with bloodstains and it'll be the last thing you ever do!'

Tossing my axe to a Glader I recognised as one who used to be a Slicer, I drew my daggers.

'Poison! I don't think your bow will be much use!' I shouted. 'It's gonna be close-combat!'

My sister nodded, slung the bow over her shoulder and simply pulled four arrows out of her quiver and held them in her hands. Knowing they'd be as good as knives (but maybe a tad more breakable) if not slightly better as they gave her more reach; I scanned the others' weapons to see what they had. When I looked back to the pods, quite a few of them were fully open and whatever-were-in-them began to emerge. A beige, wrinkled and severely misshapen hand with four equally-misshapen wriggling fingers had emerged and was groping around in the dust. More of the creature began to emerge and everyone, including me, gasped (actually I gasped and pulled a face) as the horrible replica of its arm flopped out. A . . . thing was stuck on what should have been its' elbow; a thing that was perfectly round, roughly three or four inches in diameter and that was glowing bright orange. It honestly looked like a lightbulb was attached to its elbow. After the arm, its foot flopped out; again as deformed as its' arm.

'I think I'd prefer Grievers.' I mumbled to myself.

By now the rest of the creatures had emerged: all misshapen and with about two dozen lightbulb-thinggies attached to it; on its knees, elbows, back, chest, head, everywhere. Blades had also sprouted from its fingers, toes and shoulders; thus making it even more dangerous (but I don't mind dangerous things; I mean come on, I'm a dangerous thing!)

'Go!' Minho shouted.

All of us charged forwards, heading towards the monster we'd chosen. As I ran towards my chosen monster, I ducked as it tried to decapitate me, before swinging my daggers towards its arm; intending to hack it off. Instead, the blades only sunk about an inch into its flesh and clanged into something that rang like metal and rattled my teeth. Seeing as I would lose my head in the next few seconds if I didn't move, I yanked my (blood-free) weapons out of its arm and rolled under the blow and through its legs. Springing to my feet, I slashed at its back; unintentionally popping about five of the lightbulb-globe-things. It let out a scream uncannily like a Grievers' as I slashed behind it, although it seemed to be a fraction slower. Putting two-and-two together, I began a deadly dance with the monster (oh, and I was also throwing taunts and insults at it, even though they probably weren't doing anything, but I felt like it); dance in, pop a few bulbs, okay, try keep my head intact, dance back out of reach, dance in, pop a few bulbs, dance back out, ouch shoulder got clipped by one of its blades, dance in, pop a few bulbs, dance back out, repeat. Now it was defiantly slowing down. Once I'd popped a few more bulbs, it jerked and spasmed every time it moved. Finishing off my monster quickly, I left it twitching on the ground while looking around to see it anyone else needed help. As I looked around the battle field, I noticed a boy and a girl sprawled lifeless on the ground. Noticing a girl from Group B was having a bit of trouble, I threw one of my knives at her monster; popping a few of the bulbs on its head. Another quick glance around showed no one else was having trouble, so I began to run towards the Group B girl. I'd only gone a few metres however, when a fizzing, sparking white thing hit the ground in front of me. I flew backwards before the air went out of my lungs as I hit the ground. Looking up, I quickly looked back down as rain began to pound the ground. The storm had arrived. Finally getting enough air into my lungs, I scrambled to my feet before proceeding to slip and stagger my way over to help the other girl. Reaching her, I pulled out my other knife and began helping her. I ducked under a blow from its hand and ran forwards to try yank my other knife from out of its head. Let's just say it didn't work. I almost got decapitated, but managed to deflect it with my other knife.

'I'm gonna have to kill it to get my knife back, aren't I?' I mumbled to myself under my breath.

My question was answered when my second try rewarded me with a nice, painful cut on my side. Between the two of us though, we managed to kill it and only receive minimal injuries.

'Finally.' I sighed as I pulled my other knife out of its head.