We Lay Strangers

Chapter 9

They were rushing through the halls now, Carter anxiously following Frypan, who was following Thomas and Aris. She had dreamed of escaping, but it always seemed like a silly dream. And now it was actually happening.

A million emotions fought over Carter's consciousness. Anger, that WCKD had lied to them, the adrenaline and nervous excitement from escaping. Worry that the Scorch would kill them all. And mixed into all that, the sadness that never left anymore.

Aris suddenly stopped, turning to Thomas. "You guys go ahead. There's something I gotta do."

Thomas looked at him incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

Aris continued quickly. "Trust me, it's important. You guys wanna get outta here, right? Just go."

A boy behind Carter spoke up. "I'll go with him."

Thomas nodded quickly. "Okay, Winston, go! Go! Come on."

They were moving again, jogging down the hallway. Every time they turned a corner, the whole group was on edge, as if Janson was waiting behind every wall.

"You sure we can trust this kid?" Minho asked.

"You don't want to know where we'd be without him." Thomas replied. He stuck his head around a corner before waving everyone forward.

And then, a doctor Carter had seen around before came out of a door. She turned, they stopped and her eyes widened. 

"What are you kids doing out?"

Thomas reached forward, spinning her around and holding her arm. "Where's Teresa?" A deadly whisper.

~~~

"Dr. Crawford, are you here to..."

Thomas pushed her inside, opening the door for eveyone else. They piled into the room, Thomas pointing the gun they had stolen at anyone who moved.

The doctors pressed themselves up against the walls. "Wait, wait. Okay, okay."

"Where is she?" Thomas growled. "Where is she!"

The gun was tossed to Minho, and Curtians were ripped aside, revealing a girl Carter could only assume was Teresa. Thomas knelt down beside her bed.

Bang.

"Thomas?" Frypan was looking to the door. Armed guards were beating at the lock.

"We gotta leave right now." Minho said.

Thomas looked over his shoulder, leaning back down to pick Teresa up off her bed.

Bang. Bang.

"Guys? They're coming! Where do we go?" Frypan asked.they were peering through the window.

Carter glanced around the room. A table. "Frypan, move!" She said, grabbing the table and pushing it at the door, wedging it in place against the wall.

A muffled voice through the a mask. "They've got the door barricaded. Send backup!"

"Okay, we gotta get outta here!" Carter looked to Thomas.

"Everyone stand back!" Thomas grabbed stool, swinging it against the window. The glass bounced. "Newt! Help, help!"

Newt grabbed another stool, and they hit the window again, harder. The glass shattered, sending shards everywhere. Carter winced as a piece of glass cut her forearm that had been covering her eyes.

"Go, go, go!" Thomas shouted.

Teresa threw her blanket over the lose shards, and everyone climbed through. Carter hopped down, glass crunching under her boots. Thomas took the gun from Minho  again.

Thomas reached forward, opening the door. A man stood there. There was a split second of confusion before Thomas shot him.

He crumpled to the floor, writhing as the stunner sent electric currents through his body.

And then they were on the run again, leaving the man behind them.

~~~

Thomas slid the card through the slot. Denied. 

"Shit. Come on!"

Carter glanced down the hallway. Guards were coming around the corner. Thomas tried the card again.

"No, no, no!" He slid it through a few more times, desperate. 

"Thomas!"

Everyone turned. Janson was pacing down the hall, arms wide. Thomas gritted his teeth, walking to meet Janson, gun at the ready.

"Open this door, Janson!" He growled.

Janson lowered his hands in peace. "You really dont want me to."

"Open the damn door!" Thomas shouted. Minho tired the card again. Still denied. 

Janson smiled. "I'm trying to save your life. The maze is one thing, but you kids wouldn't last one day... out in the Scorch. If the elements don't kill you, the Cranks will. Thomas, you have to believe me. I only want what's best for you."

Janson stepped forward. "I only want whats best for you."

"Yeah, let me guess. WICKED is good?" Thomas jeered.

Silence. Janson lowered his hands fully. "You're not getting through that door Thomas."

And then, the door sprung open. Aris and the other boy, Winston, were on the other side. "Hey guys." Aris quipped.

"Thomas! Come on! Let's go!" Newt pushed Carter through the door. Thomas shot twice, then tossing the empty gun at Janson and his men. He sprinted towards the door.

"Go! Go! Stop him!" Janson shouted. " Shut the main vault door!" He shouted into his walkie.

The door began to close. 

"Thomas, come on!" 

"Thomas?"

"Thomas!"

The door was almost closed. Thomas was almost here.

He slid under the door. Carter grabbed his wrists, pulling him all the way through. The door slammed shut, and Aris smashed the control panel. The guards piled up against the door, banging on the metal.

Thomas got up. "Thanks."

"No problem." Carter said. Winston was rifling through a fallen soldiers gear.

Janson slammed against the door. Thomas looked him straight in the eye, flipping him off. Janson scowled. 

"You little shit." He slammed his fist against the door again. 

They backed away from the door, headed out into the Scorch. Carter glanced around her, looking for Frypan. She moved over to him, taking refuge in his wake. She wiped the blood on her forearm.

They were out.

Carter couldnt help but smile. She hadnt really hated that place, but it felt like she was leaving her demons behind. They had haunted her for as long as she had lived there, and now, she was gone.

Hopefully, the gloom would be too.

Maybe they were on the brink of an exciting sort of thing.