AU: Chapter is scheduled for revision.
"(y/n), wake up."
I feel someone trying to shake me awake, and I groan tiredly, rolling from my side and onto my back. My eyes flutter open, only to squint due to the piercing pale rays of the sun, although it's hardly risen above the horizon line. Peeking through my lashes, I see that Aris was trying to wake me.
"Did you sleep alright?" He asks, leaning forward on his knees with his hands supporting him in the sand.
Yawning, I bring my left hand to my eyes, using my pointer finger and thumb to rub the sleep out of them. "Yeah, significantly well for sleeping on the ground."
"Also, I don't know if you're aware," Minho begins, gaining my attention with a lifted brow and causing me to realize that he is the only other person awake, fumbling through his pack, "but you're holding onto Newt's arm for dear life." As expected from him, his tone snarky.
"Hm?" I furrow my brows and glance at my right hand which is clasped tightly to Newt's jacket sleeve while he sleeps soundly. With a gasp, I yank my arm away with momentarily widened eyes. "Yeah, no, I was unaware of that," I mutter awkwardly, propping myself on my elbows and pushing myself upright.
Minho snickers, smirking at me. "Mhm, sure. He definitely isn't your new security blanket," he notes in a sarcastic tone. "Isn't his charming accent just so calming!"
"He is not my security blanket," I retort defensively, now glaring due to both the bright sun and sleepy irritation.
Minho shrugs, packing his metallic water bottle in his bag. "Okay, if you say so," he says doubtfully, his mouth still tugged upward at one end.
Oh, how I wish I could slap that smirk off of his face right now, understanding how Newt feels when his buttons are pushed.
. . .
Today was unfathomably miserable.
Blinding, white sunshine beating down, radiating dry yet heavy heat with it, only to leave the waves behind as it reflects off of the grimy, irritating sand and jabs at the eyes.
A short temporary breeze that we thought would ease us from the blazing heatwaves turned to hot high winds, throwing and whirling sand into the air, pelting against any exposed skin and inflicting sharp, stinging pain. The flesh of my cheeks grew raw from the frequent minuscule scratching.
With low supplies of water following swiftly behind, the group could sense the impending doom, the inevitable risk of collapsing from dehydration and drying out beneath the ruthless sunshine, dying a slow and agonizing death in a matter of days if we don't find a water source to replenish our bottles.
The mountains seemed to move farther away as we desperately tread through the sand in their direction. The seconds dragged like minutes; the minutes, hours; the hours, days.
At one point, Aris had nearly passed out, toppling to his knees in the sand, so we had to take a fifteen minute break before returning to our seemingly never ending journey. There was no wreckage to hide beneath, no debris to spare us from the blinding, burning rays, so we all plopped into the sand without hesitation, the dirt and grime having already made its way to every part of our bodies, violating and irritating.
The break was strictly filled with the sound of heavy, exhausted pants cutting through the stagnant air of the afternoon, the collective group doing their best to recharge with the little they had. Frypan divided a couple packs of crackers among the group, but the small portion of food only teased my aching, growling stomach, leaving me hungry for more. Newt, knowing how I felt just by the look on my face, offered me some of his own ration, but I wouldn't allow it.
YOU ARE READING
The Other Side - A Newt Fanfiction
Fanfiction{Book 1 of 3} (y/n) and Aris have been stuck at WICKED's facility for days on end, and the meals are beginning to drag on, now that the rest of Group B has either been taken to Janson's promised paradise or disappeared. Although WICKED has been supp...