Surviving The Scorch

Chapter 2

We all stood there like idiots for a few seconds, before some lady got us, and led us to a room. She was heavily guarded by two guards, wearing protection and holding rather large guns.

The door to the room shut behind us, but we weren't too focused on the lock. In front of us, there sat a whole table, with rows and rows of warm food.

My mouth was watering at the sight of it, and the smell wafting to us didn't help the matter. "Alright." Frypan finally said something, a smile cracking onto his face as we all ran forward.

I guess no one had really thought about how we hadn't eaten in a day or two, but we were all starving. No one said anything for the next ten minutes, we were all busy stuffing our faces with food.

The food was gone fairly fast, but we had all eaten until we were literally stuffed. Winston had a sort of sick look on his face, but he was smiling, so he seemed happy with his nausea. 

"That was the best food I think I've ever had." He muttered, holding his stomach as we all sat down on the small couches and chairs to the side. "No offense, Fry."

"None taken. Because I completely agree, that food was heavenly." He nodded, smiling to himself and chef kissing the air. "I don't even know who those people are, but they can cook."

We all sort of sat there, thinking about who those people actually were. They weren't W.C.K.D, but they had a strong enough system to hold off the cranks and other dangers outside.

I looked up as the door unlocked, and was opened by another guard. We jumped to our feet, nearly falling over, as a man appeared in the doorway.

He was dressed in a turtle neck sweater, a black jacket over that. His hair was grey on most of his head, and he had a distinct look to him. I felt bad for thinking it, bit his face was thin, and his body was long. He looked a bit like a rat.

"You kids doing alright?" He asked, his voice a bit stretchy and rough, but quiet. "Sorry about all the fuss. We had ourselves a bit of a swarm." 

I think he was talking about the cranks. They were almost not even acting like people, the way their silhouettes had ran and stood, the way they yelled. 

"Who are you?" Thomas asked, as we stepped closer to him, walking forwards. Teresa and I exchanged a glance, before looking back to the Rat Man.

"I'm the reason you're all still alive." How kind of him, but where was he when we were getting murdered by the Grievers. "It's my intention to keep you that way. Come with me, we'll get you kids squared away."

He turned and slowly walked down the hall, as we all looked at each other. I slightly raised an eyebrow as Thomas glanced back, before stepping forward.

We followed the Rat Man down a series of hallways, and out into the main room we had first entered from outside. 

"You can call me Mr. Janson. I run this place." I had already forgotten his name. I was too busy watching the people around us, working on different things. "For us it is a sanctuary, safe from the horrors of the outside world."

The more he talked, the more I got a bad feeling. It was like every word that came out of his mouth just stacked up on my list of reasons not to trust him. I just wasn't getting a very good vibe.

"You all should think of it as a way station. Kind of a home between homes. Watch yourselves-" He pointed up as a few sparks fell down, hitting my shirt and bouncing off.

"Are you taking us home?" Thomas asked, stepping forward, and over a few wires on the floor. I looked up and watched Rat Man's face.

"A home of sorts." He turned forward again. "Sadly, there wouldn't be much left of wherever you came from. But we do have a place for you. A refuge, outside the Scorch, where WICKED will never find you again. How does that sound?"