We Lay Strangers

Chapter 4

Carter stumbled to the ruins of the medical pavilion. Everyone had gathered there, digging around in the mess for anything that could be of use. Ernie was sat to the side, staring at the doors to the maze.

Carter sat next to him, looking out over the wreckage.

"They must know." Ernie said. 

"The People?" Carter asked.

"Yeah, them, WCKD." Ernie finished. "Why else would they send the Stalkers into Base? They obviously dont want us to escape."

"What are we going to do then?" 

Ernie sighed. "I dunno." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Carter!"

Carter looked up. Amelia was standing a few feet away, gesturing throwing a roll of bandages over. Carter held up her hands, and Amelia threw the bandages. 

"Thanks." Carter said. 

She unrolled the bandages, covering up her legs. She tied them off, careful not to cut off circulation. The rest of the bandages were passed to Ernie, who started to cover a slice on the back of his hand.

"We should go through with it." Carter said.

"What?" Ernie looked up.

"We already have the code, we almost died protecting it last night." Carter said. "Even if they dont want us to escape, Wiggins died for that code. It cant be all for naught."

Ernie pursed his lips. "I dont want any more of us to die."

"I dont either but-"

"Uh, Ern?"

Marie was standing there, dirty and beaten. She was clutching Wiggins notebook. "I found Wig's notebook in the ruins... I thought you would maybe want it..." She trailed off.

"Thanks Marie." Ernie said, forcing a smile. He took the notebook, flipping through the pages. Diagrams and measurements flashed by.

"You're right." Ernie closed the notebook. "We'll go through with it."

He stood up, drawing everyone's attention to him. "We're going to escape." He said. "Even after last night, even after Wiggins."

Muttering broke out.

Ernie kept going. "Wiggins died for that code. He was adamant that the maps be saved before him, so the rest of us could escape. It cant all be for naught. Ham, Ore, keep digging out this pavilion. Marie, Vic, Cleo, get to work making packs for everyone. Amelia, Kenny, I want you to see if you can find where the Stalkers took Wiggins."

Ernie took a deep breath. "I know everyone's a little... shell shocked. But the sooner we get out of here, the less times we go through... that... again."

Marie and Victorie started up the hill, Cleo tagging along. Amelia approached Ernie. 

"Ern, Ken's pretty beat up from last night, can he stay here maybe and I'll just go?" She asked.

"I dont want you out there alone... I'll come with you." He said. "Carter, you've got things under control?"

"Got it." Carter said. Ernie and Amelia jogged off, leaving Kenny sitting near the ruins. He staggered up, walking over to Carter.

"I dont want to just sit, is there anything else that needs to be done?" Kenny asked. 

"Do you think you can manage making sure everyone has the code memorized?" Carter asked. Kenny nodded. "Great." Carter smiled. "The paper's with the maps."