The Trigger (A Newt fanfiction)

Chapter 22

"Wake up," someone says, shaking me awake.

I open my eyes and see that I'm face to face with Lucy. She grins and says, "Morning."

I sit up and rub my eyes. The usual chatter fills my ears then. I glance around and see everyone talking in a big group. How do I always miss these talks?

I force myself to get up, pushing my body to stand. I stumble over to Newt, who looks at me. He arches an eyebrow at my dizziness. "You need a few more minutes?"

I smile at his remark, knowing that he's just saying that he loves me in a strange way. Newt's serious facade wears away and he chuckles, his brown eyes staring into mine. "What?" he asks, and without waiting for an answer, he says, "You better listen in on this, it's important."

I obey and try to direct my hearing onto Jorge and Brenda, who are giving the message. "We're gonna try to make it through the last of the city, and then we'll be at the base of the mountains. But, as always, be careful," Jorge warns.

"Don't die," Brenda adds. "It might get crazy, so be prepared."

"We got this," Lucy says, nodding.

"Yeah. After all the shucking stuff we've been through, I'd say we're prepared," Minho replies.

"Then let's go," Brenda says, turning around.

The whole group starts moving and luckily, this time everyone is together, minus those we lost. I glance up and examine the dilapidated skyscrapers that tower over us.

Thomas walks up to me. "Hey," he says.

I glance at him. "Hi," I reply.

"How're you holding up?" he asks.

"Okay," I respond simply. I could be sarcastic and say 'like a million bucks', but being sarcastic is Minho's forte.

Thomas frowns. "I know this sucks. I seriously hope WICKED is telling the truth. But then again, no one can trust them for sure."

"Yeah," I reply dolefully. I then remember how much crap he had to go through with that girl. I think her name was Teresa?

"But hey, we're still alive. So that's a good thing, right?" Thomas says.

I nod. "As good a thing as any."

Thomas smiles. "I'll catch you later. I'm gonna fall back a little, my legs are killing me."

"Alright," I say, but then I get nosy. "How come they hurt so bad? We just started walking."

"I might've scouted around a little bit when the rest of the group went to sleep," Thomas shrugs. "But no big deal."

"Oh, okay," I reply.

Thomas then slows his pace and before I know it, he is walking at the back of the group. Sonya then pulls my gaze away.

"Hey," she says, walking along beside me. "You eat anything?"

I shake my head, and suddenly, my empty stomach decides to send a message to my brain.

She laughs and digs into her pack. "My last can of beans. Eat up."

I gasp. "The last one? Already?"