Conflicted

chapter 3

I led them across the way to where Jorge and the others were, and told them to wait outside. I wasn't going to betray their newly-earned trust, because that would probably only get me a slit throat. That is, if they could actually manage to restrain me. Again.

I stepped into the familiar building, and started up the broken stairs.

"Jorge?" I asked quietly.

"Where have you been, chica?" Jorge said, coming into sight, his face welcoming.

"Jorge, I need to talk to you," I said, pulling him aside. I told him the whole story about the supposed cure and that we could just tag along as "repayment" for our deed for leading them through the city and feeding them. I hadn't told them that they were repaying us yet. Jorge agreed, but we'd have to get rid of the Cranks in our group.

Jorge said to the others that he and I were getting food for all of them, and that they should guard the building. I didn't know if they believed us, but they didn't try and kill us, at least. They were definitely angry, though. I went out and got the boys, and introduced them to Jorge. I don't think Minho like the idea of him tagging along, but he didn't try and kill us either.

I led the boys to the food storage underneath the building, and got them fed and energized. I sat down in between Newt and Thomas, legs crossed, which let me press my knees into their legs. I had a good feeling about these two. They seemed like trusted me, and they didn't try and kill me. At least for now.

"Are you the leader?" I asked Thomas. He certainly took command when they bound me up and interogated me.

"No, that shuck over there is our leader," he said, thrusting his head in Minho's direction.

"What the hell is a shuck and why do you keep saying it?" I mumbled, opening a can of pork & beans. I get some wierd things could have happened in the giant maze of theirs, but they seemed to make up another language when they were there.

"Oh, it's uh... Glader slang," Thomas said, embarrassed.

Given I still had no idea what he was talking about, I decided not to press it. Newt laughed at Thomas' embarassment. It was a full, hearty sound that made me feel something I hadn't felt in a long time. Joy.

But that feeling was cut short as a loud boom sounded down the hallway. I jumped up, and so did Newt and Thomas. I looked at Jorge, who was running down the pathway that led to the right. I was about to follow, but then the ceiling above me collapsed.

Fully aware I was a goner, my legs seemed to be paralyzed until at the last second, someone tackled me out of the way. As the dust cleared, I looked up and saw Newt's bright eyes.

"You okay, pretty girl?" he huffed.

"Uh, yeah... I'm fine," I said, half-relieved, half-embarrassed. Pretty girl. What a flirt.

He helped me up and I was probably blushing, because Thomas cleared his throat and said, "Enough of this lovefest. How are we gonna get out of here? We have to find the rest of our friends."

"The bloody explosion seperated us," Newt scoffed.

It was just the three of us. Alone. With only one way out. The Underneath.