Sacrifice

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ahead was a long line of abandoned cars littered across the road. 

"I guess we're on foot from here," Jorge said. 

Everyone climbed out of the truck and began walking. All the vehicles looked like they had some wear and tear. Dents were on the doors, windows were cracked. A couple trunks were open, but all they found inside were dusty old blankets and bags. 

Thomas was at the back of the group. He closely inspected one of the cars, noticing a small hole in the windshield. 

A second later, something whizzed past Thomas, hitting the car right in front of him. Suddenly more shots rained down from above. 

"Take cover!" Newt shouted as he, Claire and Minho ducked behind a nearby car. 

Thomas hid behind the car he was standing near, Jorge joined him. The others took shelter by another truck. Bullets were bouncing off the vehicles. Everyone huddled together. Claire and Newt held on to each other. Minho had a protective arm around both of them. Soon the shots stopped and everyone caught their breaths. 

"Is everyone okay?" Thomas called out to the group. 

"We're fine!" Teresa answered. 

"Anyone know where those bloody shots came from?" Newt asked. 

"That son of a bitch Marcus, he led us into an ambush," Jorge muttered under his breath so that only Thomas could hear. 

Carefully, Thomas peeked over the car, trying to figure out where the shots were coming from. He spotted Minho trying to do the same. More shots were fired. 

"Shit!" Minho exclaimed as he ducked back down, shielding his two friends. 

"What now?" Claire asked. 

Soon they got their answer from Jorge. 

"Everybody, get ready to sprint back to the truck," he instructed. "And hold your ears." 

"Oh shit," Brenda whispered, knowing what Jorge was about to do. 

They all braced themselves...but nothing happened. 

"I said drop it!" came a sudden, and stern voice. 

Claire, Newt and Minho could see two young women, one blonde and one with dark hair wearing cloths over their mouths to hide their faces pointing guns at Thomas and Jorge, forcing them to their feet and pushing them back toward the rest of the group. 

"You three on your feet," the dark-haired girl barked. 

Newt, Minho and Claire rose to their feet with their hands up. Though the boys still attempted to keep Claire behind them. 

"All of you over here now," the dark-haired girl ordered the others. 

"Slowly," the blonde girl added. 

Soon everyone was gathered, hands in the air and none of them dared to move. 

The dark-haired girl's gaze landed on one of the teens. For a moment she looked away, then looked back as if she wasn't believing what she was seeing. "Aris?" 

Everyone looked at Aris in confusion, hoping for an answer, but he was just as perplexed as the rest of them. The girl lowered her mask and Aris recognized her instantly. 

"Oh my god, Harriet?" 

The girl lowered her weapon and ran over to give the boy a hug. "What the hell are you doing here?" 

The blonde girl lowered her mask and Aris recognized her too. 

"Sonya!" he exclaimed as the blonde girl hugged him after Harriet broke away.