Sacrifice

Chapter Thirty-Three

Soon the group found Marcus's place. As they approached the run down building they could see people lazily sitting or laying on the ground looking bored. Through a small door they could see a group of people swaying back and forth. This must be the party Jorge was talking about. 

"Can I help you?" a woman standing by the door asked. 

"Yes, tell us where Marcus is," Jorge said, doing his best to keep eye-contact with the woman. Even though she tried to look uninterested, he could see her stealing glances at the kids. 

"Who's asking?" the woman questioned, tilting her head. 

"An old friend." 

"Marcus isn't here," the woman said, glancing at the door. 

Jorge turned around and saw Marcus trying to get back inside and hide before anyone noticed. 

"Red hair, purple jacket," Jorge told the group, leading them inside. 

It wasn't easy weaving through the crowd of drunk people. Jorge and Minho managed to push through quickly and catch up to Marcus. 

As Claire made her way around a tall, drunk teenage boy, she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. It was Thomas. He was walking around the room, looking like he was in a daze. All of a sudden he jumped backwards and collapsed onto the ground. Claire couldn't see what had startled him, but she had to get to him quickly. 

"Teresa!" Claire called to the closest person to her. 

As soon as Teresa saw Thomas she whizzed past Claire and clawed her way through the crowed to get to him. Claire was right behind her. They had to get Thomas out of here fast before he was trampled by the crowed, and since the others weren't in sight, it was up to them. Teresa started lifting the upper part of his body off the ground while Claire grabbed his feet. 

Thomas was heavy, but the girls were fueled by adrenaline and determination. They managed to carry their friend away from the dance floor. They walked along the wall so they were out of the crowed. They carried Thomas in the general direction they saw the boys go, hopping to run into them soon. 

After going through a set of curtains into another room they were able to find the group. Jorge had Marcus pinned against the wall, Aris was trying to console a drunk Brenda. Newt was the first one to notice the girls' arrival. 

"He's heavy," Claire said. Newt and Minho helped the girls gently lower Thomas on the floor. 

"Oh good, we're all here," Jorge said. "Why don't we take this upstairs." 

Jorge took out his gun and forced Marcus to walk upstairs. Minho, Newt, Frypan and Teresa carried Thomas while Aris and Claire guided Brenda upstairs. 

Once they made it up, Claire found a sofa for Brenda to rest on. Teresa quickly set up a place for Thomas on the floor with pillows and blankets she found. Jorge wasn't so gentle with Marcus. With Minho's help he tied the red-haired man to a chair and began the interrogation. 

Claire moved over to the far corner of the room by the window. She turned her back on the violence, facing the outside. Newt sat down next to her and took her hand. 

"Hey," he said. 

"Hi." 

They heard a loud smack as Jorge slapped Marcus across the face. Newt squeezed her hand. 

"Thank you," Claire said. "For what you did in the alley." 

"Of course. Are you sure you're alright?" Newt asked.