Scorched Vengeance (Maze Runner: Scorch Trials fanfic)

Chapter 17

Leo couldn't sleep that night. All he could think about was Melanie's plan. He had finally gotten the courage to kiss Sandra. After all this time, he finally did it. And now it could very well be ruined just because WICKED wanted him to do something. Well, they wanted Melanie to do something. She just dragged him into it.

"Are you asleep?" Leo sat up on his elbows a little. Trenton was kneeling in front of him. He had on a new shirt that fit him a little too well.

Leo pat the sand beside him. Trenton came over and lay down.

"I can't sleep. Piora isn't having much trouble, along with just about everyone else." Leo nodded, noticing the peaceful expressions on everyone's faces. His eyes fell on Sandra, just a few feet away. She was smiling in her sleep, something Leo had never seen since meeting her. He couldn't help feeling that he was the reason for that precious scene. And that it would be gone forever if he went through with Melanie's plot.

"You like her," Trenton said, "don't you?" Leo nodded.

"I love her. More than you know."

"It's nice you have someone special. I overheard some of the others. They miss some people that got left behind in their... what was it? A maze? Anyway, they also wish they had some of their memories. So they could remember family and stuff."

Leo turned to look at Trenton. He didn't want to know the answer, but he still asked, "Did you happen to hear anything from Darius?" Trenton glanced at the stars overhead as he thought about it.

"Not really," he replied. "When he did talk though, it was about some girl named Melanie." Leo practically broke inside. Darius might not like him right now, but he didn't want to crush his dreams of a girl he thought cared for him. "He also mentioned you and Sandra a little bit." Leo stared at Trenton, sitting up.

"He did?" Trenton sat up too, nodding.

"Yeah. Said you two looked happy together and stuff. Of course he was basically talking to himself. Seemed a little upset, but happy for you." Leo didn't want to hear this. Why couldn't Darius hate him? That would make things so much easier. It wouldn't be easy in the first place, but a little anger would make him want to betray the guy a little more. Now he had to break the heart of a perfectly good guy.

"You alright?" Trenton asked. Leo glanced at Trenton. The boy was harmless. Except when his life depended on it. It couldn't hurt, and he needed someone to talk to. And Sandra sure wasn't an option.

Leo sat a little closer to Trenton. The boy leaned in a little, realizing the need for secrecy. Leo turned to look around, making sure no one was awake and listening to their conversation. Especially Darius and Sandra.

"That girl Darius was talking about, Melanie." Trenton nodded so Leo knew he was paying attention so far. "She's been talking to me. In my head." Trenton couldn't hold back his shock no matter how hard he tried. Leo put his finger to his lips, reminding him to stay quiet.

"You hear her voice in your head?" Trenton restated. Leo nodded, realizing he didn't know anything about his telepathic conversations.

"Darius and I can do it. So can Melanie. But she hasn't been talking to him." Leo bit his lip, trying to find a way to phrase this. "Mostly because she has been plotting a betrayal." Trenton's eyes widened.

"Why is she talking to you about being a traitor?" Leo shook his head.

"Not a traitor. Just making Darius feel betrayed. And she needs my help. She needs me to... pretend to be her boyfriend or something." Trenton nearly screamed. Leo covered his mouth, checking their surroundings to make sure no one had awoken from Trenton's quiet yelp. Or had heard his silent confession.