Tired of Running

50|| little light

// there's miles of
land in front of us;
and we're dying with
every step we take,
we're dying with
every breath we take;
and all fall in line \\

    •

    The wind roared, beating the gladers from every direction; the sand tearing at their skin.
Newt held an over sized sheet over his head, Harper and Minho huddled close to him, the three pulling their sheets tightly around their faces.  Frypan stumbled forward, Aris and Thomas caught him.  "Easy, Fry..."
Thomas steadied him, holding his arm tightly.
"Thanks..." He breathed, pulling the sheet around him tighter.  Harper leaned into Minho, letting out a moan.  Her limbs felt heavy, her head dropping to the side.  "Hey..."
Minho stopped suddenly; he could sense Harper's weight shift dramatically.
"Harper..."  Newt grabbed her arm tightly,
"What's wrong?" His eyes were wide,
"Harper, are you okay?"

    Harper gasped, shaking her head,
"Something's..."  She looked to her arm weakly.
Minho picked her up, feeling her forehead, "Shuck..." He looked to Newt sadly, "We need to get her out of the sun."  Newt nodded, attempting to keep the sheet from blowing off.
Thomas had abandoned his own covering, seeing his sister being carried, "Harper..?"
"She needs water..." Newt's voice was dry; cracking.  Thomas immediately dropped his backpack, pulling his water out, tipping it up to Harper's mouth.  She drank, nodding gratefully. 

    Minho leaned Harper against rocks, as shielded from the sun as they would find. 
She had lost color, but the sun burn on her skin made it difficult to tell.  Newt unzipped her jacket, pulling the long sleeve off her shoulder.
Thomas gasped, Minho's eyes getting wide.
"Sh-" Minho didn't finish; "It looks..."
Harper glanced down at it and sucked in a breath; the skin was all red, bleeding again- something must have ripped it open- and the veins surrounding it were blue.
"Harper..." The boys all stared at her with wide eyes.  Harper sucked in a short breath, eyes closed tightly, "I know." 
She wasn't immune.
She got bit by one of those crazies-
She would end up like Winston...
Or worse.

    "Just shut up.  We have to keep moving..."
Harper stood up again, putting her arm through the sleeve, wincing as it touched her shoulder.  "Harper..."  Thomas met her eyes.
Harper shifted her eyes, "Let's go."
She walked ahead of them; tears starting to fill her eyes.  No one tried to talk to her further;
they walked on, their heads low.  Newt looked to Minho, his eyes dark, "If she-" 
Minho shook his head, "She won't."
Thomas lowered her voice, "Does this mean she isn't immune..?"  His eyes were glossy, tears begin to spill down his cheeks.
"She's going to be fine."
Minho's nostrils flared; hissing through gritted teeth.  Thomas backed down nervously, "Okay..."

    They were walking again; Harper leading the way.  Minho and Newt followed behind her,
legs feeling heavier, sinking into the sand deeper with each step.  Their hearts ached-
thinking of anything but the possibility of the inevitable.  They could not lose her...
They wouldn't.  Newt swore to himself he would die before he would lose Harper.
His thoughts spun; if something happened to him and he wasn't there for her-
"Minho."  He stopped, the other gladers passing them.  "If... something happens to me..."  Minho put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't.  Don't even say that."
His eyes moved to Harper; a dark, sad look deep in them.  "Minho."  Newt stepped toward him, "You have to take care of her...  If something happens to me.  Swear to me you'll watch over her."  Minho opened his mouth, eyes studying Newt's face; this was the last conversation he wanted to be having.
"Newt... I-"
"PROMISE ME."
Minho sighed, closing his eyes.  He ran a hand through his hair, "I promise... 
Of course I promise.  Always..."
And he meant it.
He would kill to protect Harper...

~~~

    The sun had set; the gladers were all huddled in a group; the sun no longer burning their skin, but the air was no cooler.  Minho fell asleep almost instantly.  Newt was sprawled on his back, staring up at the murky, dull grey sky.  There were no stars here...  The glade at least showed they weren't alone- here he just stared up at void, black, smokey sky.  His thoughts quieted; sleep eventually taking him.  Thomas held Harper tightly in his arms, her weak and shaking body pressed against him.
"Nothing's going to hurt you, Harper...
I'm not losing you again."  Harper just moaned, her unconscious self pressing her face into his chest- his scent had become security.  He was all she had left in this world that was familiar.

    Thomas didn't fall asleep.  He listened to the mixed sounds of sleep- snoring, moaning, shuffling, rustling.  Thomas squinted, trying to make out his surroundings.  It was a pitch, inky black.  His exhausted eyes formed dancing shadows.  And in the distance, there were lights.  He shook his head, rubbing his eyes.
More lights appeared; being flipped on like light-switches.  He squinted harder, sitting up.
It was lights...  It was a building.  With power.
A city.  People...