Scorched // Thomas (The Scorch Trials)

VII

They ran through the warehouse portion of the compound and opened the doors.

The kids ran out into the open and Thomas glanced behind, noticing guards with flashlights behind them. The kids ducked behind a sand dune and stayed low as they kept running.

Teresa slid down into a broken building. Something told Ariella that they shouldn't be there, but it was better than nothing.

Thomas wanted to keep moving, but Teresa stopped him. "No. Thomas, stop! Tell me what's going on."

Thomas glanced at Ariella before saying, "It's WICKED. It's WICKED. They lied to us. We never escaped. Me and Aris, we found bodies. Too many to count."

"What do you mean?" Minho asked. "Dead bodies?"

Thomas shook his head. "No, but they weren't alive, either. They had them strung up. With tubes coming out of them. They were being drained. There's something inside of us that WICKED wants. Something in our blood. So we have to get as far away from them as possible."

"Okay." Newt answered with a nod. "So, what's the plan? You do have a plan, right?"

"Yeah. I don't know."

"Well, we followed you out here, Thomas...and now you're saying that you have no idea where we're going...or what we're doing."

Aris frowned. "Wait. Janson said something about people hiding in the mountains. Some kind of resistance army."

Ariella nodded. "The Right Arm. If they're against WICKED, perhaps they'll be willing to help us."

Thomas glanced at her. "How'd you know that?"

"You'd be surprised what people tell you when you ask nicely."

Thomas nodded at her then said, "Uh, they're people. In the mountains."

Newt frowned. "Mountain people. That's your plan?"

"It's the only chance we have."

Winston noticed something and said, "Hey, guys. Check this out. Minho, give me a light." Minho knelt down next to him with the light and we saw footprints. "Someone's been down here."

They explored the area and Minho reached a security gate. "Come on. Open up." The security gate was unlocked and pulled up.

The group started exploring the room and each grabbed a flashlight. Minho picked up an article of clothing and shook the dust off. "Looks like people lived here."

"Where are they now?" Newt asked.

Thomas slipped on a jacket as he said, "Let's pack some of this stuff up. Anything you think you might need. We'll split up, see what else we can find. Meet back here."

"Wait, Thomas."

"Let's go."

Thomas, Minho, and Ariella went to one area while the others went to another.

"Thomas." Minho said.

Thomas turned to his friend. "Yeah?"

"All those kids that we left behind back there. I don't want to end up like that." Thomas seemed distant. "Hey. Do you hear me?"

Thomas nodded. "Yeah, I hear you."

"Good. Now, what are we looking for out here?"

"Signs of life." Ariella said, looking through some crinkled papers. "People. Survivors."

"Anyone who can help us." Thomas added.

Minho's flashlight panned to a figure sitting. "Does he count?"

The trio walked closed to investigate and Thomas let out a breathy word. "Shit."

Minho noticed a light and said, "They had power."

They walked along the trail of wires to a set of double doors and opened them. They came to a gate and slowly investigated the room. Ariella gripped Thomas' hand, feeling nervous.

They saw a memorial and while Minho walked to the generator, Thomas and Ariella knelt in front of the gate. It was a little girl's bed, but Ariella was feeling off about the whole situation, and she could tell Thomas was too.

The generator made noises, meaning Minho was turning it on. "Hey, Minho. Wait!" Thomas said, turning back.

The lights turned on, filling the entire compound. Ariella screamed as a grunt sounded from next to her. "Thomas, Ariella, watch out! Get back, get back!"

"Jesus." Thomas muttered as Ariella pushed him back.

"Her eyes!" Minho cried.

They heard more grunts and quickly realized they were surrounded by Cranks.

Minho picked up a rod and yelled, "Stay back!" He hit the Crank and it fell to the ground. "What the hell is that thing?"

"Some sort of zombie-thing, you idiot!" Ariella retorted.

"Gotta move! Go!" Thomas cried as he started running, Ariella and Minho hot on his tail.

They ran back through the set of double doors and the boys held them. "Hold it down!" Thomas ordered."

"What?" Minho asked.

"Hold it down!" Thomas said as Minho stepped away. "Minho, what are you doing?"

Minho pushed a shelf towards the doors. "Watch out! Watch out!"

Thomas stepped out of the way and the shelf fell, blocking the monsters.

They resumed their running. "Go, go, go! Let's get the hell out of here! Shit." The ran up a flight of stairs to join the others.

The monsters were following them as they ran, and they were fast.

As they tried to escape, they had to hit the creatures out of the way and kick them out of the way.

Newt was held down by one and Thomas rescued him. They ran into a room which turned out to be a dead end.

Teresa called for Thomas to help, and Ariella rolled her eyes as she kept kicking at the door. Eventually, it opened.

They made it to a safe-looking area and sat in silence.

Thomas held Ariella close and covered her mouth, as she was breathing hard.