Injured Feet & Rickety Hearts {Book 1 Completed}

//Chapter 78//

"The sun flares couldn't have been predicted. Sun flares are normal, but these were unprecedent, massive, spiking higher and higher – and once they were noticed, it was only minutes before their heat slammed into earth. First our satellites were burned out. And thousands died instantly, millions within days, countless miles became wastelands. Then came the sickness. As the ecosystem fell apart it became impossible to control the sickness – even to keep it in south America. The jungles were gone, but the insects weren't. people call it the flare now. it's a horrible, horrible thing. Only the richest can be treated, no one can be cured. Unless the rumours from the Andes are true. As for you, all of you – you're just a few of millions orphaned. They tested thousands, chose you for the big one. The ultimate test. Everything you lived through was calculated and thought through. Catalysts to study your reactions, your brain waves, your thoughts. All in an attempt to find those capable of helping us find a way to beat the flare. Most of the physical effects of the flare are caused by something else. First the delusions start, then animal instincts begin to overpower the human ones. Finally, it consumes them, destroys their humanity. It's all in the brain. The flare lives in their brains. It is an awful thing. Better to die than catch it. We won't let them do this to children. We've sworn our lives to fighting WICKED. We can't lose our humanity, no matter the end results, you'll learn more in time. We live far in the north. We're separated from the Andes by thousands of miles. They call it the scorch – it lies between here and there. It's centred mainly around what they used to call the equator – it's just heat and dust now, filled with savages consumed beyond help by the flare. We're trying to cross that land – to find the cure. But until then, we'll fight WICKED and stop the experiments and tests. It's our hope you'll join us"

...

I had woken what felt to be a few hours later, Newt's gentle pushing coaxing me out of my slumber. I blinked away the sleep and creased my brows. I had heard a voice in my sleep, the slight chattering of Thomas and Teresa too.

I remember feeling my conscious coming back before It went way again, I assumed Thomas and Teresa were talking to one of the soldier women. But it could also just be a dream. The words this woman spoke made a lot of sense, it clicked something in my memory bank. But half of the dreams I had were clicking something in my memory bank.

I lifted my head from Newt's shoulder and glimpsed up at his tired and dirty face.

"We're slowin' down"

He stated, and I sat up completely, gazing out of the window as the bus began to roll along. It was still dark outside; the rain still fell, and my heart hung low in an overcast of sorrow. It took a long moment before the bus came to a stop in a muddy car park.

Across the asphalt was a bland building that had several rows of windows, its red brick exterior reminded me of a prison. My heart lurched, and I stood up on instinct.

Bark and Newt both gathered to their feet as the soldiers stood up, they rushed out the door before ordering us to follow. The Glader's were quick to start flooding out of the bus, everyone desperate to get to some sort of safe zone, but I think they were expecting something better then what was given.

I hesitated slightly, but the hand on my back made me follow in suit of the fleeting Gladers. We got off the bus before running after the soldiers, across the parking lot before they opened a set of squeaky old metal doors. We all scrambled in and me and Newt came up beside Minho.

"Where the bloody hell are we?"

Newt growled under his breath and Minho just shrugged. He looked glad to be off that bus and out of the rain. Bark let a sook out, the sound echoing off the walls in the dark hall. The room gave off a creepy vibe and my heart raced.