Left Behind//The Maze Runner

E I G H T

The city around us grows more populated the further in we walk. There are people sitting around fires, others are walking in and out of the buildings. All of them are disheveled, their clothes filled with dirt and grime.

"Blend in. WICKED started to smell around these parts." Jorge says, his eyes moving around the many people walking about. "Most of the Cranks here aren't Past The Gone. The ones back where we came from are."

I take a step closer to Minho, I don't want to meet another Crank that's Past The Gone. That was one of the worst things of my life. And that's saying something since I lived with Stingers for three years.

All of the people have little to no food, most of them looking like they haven't eaten in months. The children's faces look as if they've seen their entire world crash down and crumble. They try to have a good time while they can, most of them playing different kinds of sports with their friends.

My heart breaks as we pass a mother and daughter. The little girl looks like she's been through hell and back, her eyes stained with tears and a frown on her lips. A weird twisting motion plays around in my stomach at the sight of the pain on her face, tears springing to my eyes.

Her sweet brown eyes make their way into mine, a smile growing on her lips as she looks up at me. I send her a little wave, forcing a smile on my lips. She returns it, continuing on playing with her doll.

My heart falls to my feet, tears falling down my cheeks as I turn away. She's no more than five and she's been forced to live in this abandoned city that could be overtaken by vicious Cranks at any moment.

Why hasn't WICKED done anything to help these people? They're suffering and WICKED has just turned away and given them the cold shoulder. They don't care about anything but their stupid cure.

"You okay?" Minho asks, my teary eyes moving up to his.

I nod, forcing on a smile. "Yeah, I just can't believe this is how people are living," I say, wiping the tears from my eyes. "It's like WICKED just doesn't care about anyone other than themselves."

Minho nods, a sigh leaving his lips. "They have so many resources," He says, looking around the city before his eyes make their way to mine. "It wouldn't be that hard to help."

"And that little girl back there," I sigh, my eyes moving down to the dirt road as tears poke at the corners. "They're leaving kids like that with nothing. They're letting people suffer without even batting an eye."

A small smile grows on Minho's lips as he nods in agreement. "You've got a big heart Sandy," He says, softly bumping my shoulder with his, causing a blush to creep up my cheeks.

I let out a soft laugh, a smile growing on my lips. "I like to help," I shrug, earning a bright smile from Minho.

"Marcus's house should be up this–"

"Everybody stop what you're doing and get into your sections!" A man shouts through an intercom, cutting Jorge off.

I jump at the sound, my eyes moving from Minho to the middle of the square, fear growing in my chest. A large WICKED transport vehicle pulls around the side of a massive building. Tons of guards file out of the back, all of them packed and loaded with launchers and other weapons that I don't want to get hurt by.

"Shit! Behind that truck, hermanos!" Jorge says, pointing to a black and white truck behind us.

My heart beats fast as I turn around, running toward the truck with the others. The seven of us duck down behind it, Aris piling in next to me, his breathing rapid and his eyes shining with fear. I take his hand, his eyes moving to mine as I flash him a smile, trying to convince him and myself that we'll be okay.