~The Next Day~

The next morning we set off toward the Right Arm and it was another long and tortuous walk for all of us. I was extremely thirsty and none of us had any water left to drink and had to allow ourselves to get dehydrated. The sun was scorching down on our weary bodies and all I wanted to do was collapse and let my heavy ass legs take a break. I had put my hair up in a ponytail and my scarf was covering my mouth, but I was still sweating like a dog and the heat was getting unbearable.

Our tortuous walk came to a stop when night fell and all of us collapsed on the ground to sleep for the night. It was far from comfortable, but I'll take anything at this point. It was nice to feel the heat die down and have some sort of cool breeze blow across my dry skin.

——

"Astrid! Get up!"

My eyes shot open and I sat up in a panic, looking around and seeing everyone waking up. Newt was next to me and he held his hand out for me, which I took to stand up. All of us stood onto our feet as Thomas pointed at something ahead.

"I see something," Thomas said and I looked around, squinting my eyes at the blurry lights I spotted ahead.

"What?" I asked with a weak voice from the lack of water I've had.

Thomas breathed heavily, "it's lights..."

"We've made it..."

A clap of thunder rang behind us causing us to look back in shock. Lighting filled the sky behind us, meaning a dangerous thunderstorm was headed our way and we needed to find shelter for safety. I jumped when a lightning bolt struck the ground and picked up my bag, beginning to walk toward the shelter.

Thomas rushed us to get a move on and all of us began to sprint toward the lights in the distance before the storm could reach us.

The storm was moving at an intense and fast pace as we sprinted as fast as we could. I felt myself trail behind, but Frypan made sure I stayed with the group. Cardio has never been my forte and never will.

My heart was pounding out of my chest and I felt terror enter my soul as the storm got closer and closer. Rain poured down on our heads and we ducked every time we heard lightning strike the ground, fearing one of us could be the next victim of a strike.

"Astrid! Come on!" Frypan yelled and grabbed my hand, pulling me along with him.

"We're getting closer!" Minho called over the loud claps of thunder and lightning.

We ran past the parked cars near the shelter, but the storm had caught up and we had to manually dodge strikes of lightning that hit nearby. It felt like the most dangerous game of dodge ball.

"Get inside! GO!" Thomas shouted before a large bolt of lightning struck a nearby car and caused Minho and Thomas to get flown to the side. We all froze in our tracks and saw Thomas was okay, but Minho hadn't moved from his position.

All of us rushed over to Minho's smoking body and quickly helped him up. Thomas sat there in shock and I checked over this body, making sure he was alright.

After Newt, Aris, Thomas, and I helped Minho to his feet, we continued towards the shelter and rushed inside dragging Minho along.

Frypan opened the door and Teresa rushed in first with Frypan holding the door open.

"Come on! Hurry up!" He yelled and all of us safely made it inside the shelter.

It was pitch black and we couldn't see anything. My heart was still pounding at an intense speed and I felt extremely anxious still, but at least we're safe right now.

"Who's got a light?" Thomas asked and suddenly a flash of light appeared beside me that shined down on Minho's unconscious body. We all surrounded him in hopes he was alright.

"Minho!" Thomas shook his body.

"Come on, man," Newt breathed out with worry.

"Astrid..." Aris mumbled to me and I caught on to what he was trying to do.

"Minho?" I softly said and put my hands on his head to see if his mind was active, "he's alive. I can hear his thoughts."

That relieved everyone.

"Minho..." Thomas repeated and low and behold Minho let out a groan, which all of us sighed with relief.

"You okay?" Thomas asked him.

"What happened?" Minho asked.

"You got struck by lightning," Aris informed him.

"Oh?" He said and I chuckled, patting his head. His mind was calming down now that he was awake.

After that, we gently helped him to his feet and I began to look around the area. I had a very uneasy feeling about this place and suspected we weren't alone, I could sense something or someone was nearby.

Teresa seemed to notice the uneasy feeling and looked around with me as the boys assisted Minho.

"Hey..." I spoke and sniffed the air noticing the horrible aroma, "what's that smell?"

Teresa turned on her flashlight and I yelled when a face similar to a crank's popped into my vision, reaching for me. Teresa and I jumped back toward the boys and all of us began to panic at the sight of a crank.

Newt immediately put himself in front of me and I gasped when I saw more around us.

"Behind you!" I shouted before more began to appear around us and soon noticed that the whole place was filled with chained up cranks. I grabbed Newt's arm out of straight fear and he made sure to stay in front of me the whole time, despite his unstable and fearful state.

"What the fuck?" I cursed.

"I see you've met our guard dogs," A voice echoed in the room and all of us calmed down when a figure stood in the light. The figure began to walk over to us, not even phased by the fact that they had hundreds of cranks reaching for their body.

The figure reached us and I was able to make out the fact it was a woman with short hair and light skin.

"Stay back," Minho warned us as she got closer.

"You guys look like shit," she greeted and motioned us to follow her. "Come on, follow me."

We didn't react and she turned back to us.

"Unless you want to stay here with them," She added and I suddenly wasn't opposed to following a random person.

——

Not wanting to stay with the cranks, we followed the girl into the safer part of the building and I still didn't trust anything. The only reason I'm sort of calm is because Newt is still by my side and he, for some reason, gives me a calm and safe feeling.

I don't know why he makes me feel safe.

We walked through an area filled with other people and it looked like a cult of some sort.

"Come on, keep up," the girl called as we trailed behind to look at the area around us. "Jorge wants to meet you."

We walked up some stairs and Thomas caught up to the girl to ask questions.

"Who's Jorge?" He asked her.

She glanced back at him, "you'll see. No one's come out of the Scorch in a long time. You've just got him curious. And me too."

Newt and I shared a look before seeing a group of guys following us and Newt pulled me closer to him.

"Anyone else starting to get a bad feeling about this place?" Newt questioned and I scoffed.

"I always have a bad feeling."

"Let's just hear him out. See what he has to say," Thomas reasoned and I sighed to myself.

This won't end well. It never does.

We walked up another pair of steps that led to what seemed to be an attic that had a large window.

"Jorge," the girl called to the older man standing near the window. "They're here."

The man named Jorge shushed her, trying to listen to what seemed to be a radio.

The girl sat down on a chair as the rest of us stood there with the goons surrounding us. I heard Jorge curse to himself as he turned the radio off and faced us.

"Do you ever get the feeling the whole world's against you?" He asked us.

Every day of my life.

"Three questions," Jorge began, walking closer and I backed up standing behind Newt again. "Where did you come from? Where are you going? How can I profit?"

All of us stayed silent, unsure how to answer and I assumed Thomas would answer him.

"Don't all answer at once," he remarked with sarcasm.

"We're headed for the mountains," Thomas eventually responded. "Looking for the Right Arm."

Thomas's response received chuckles from the goons who trailed behind us.

"You're looking for ghosts, you mean," Jorge corrected and drank his glass of water. "Question number two: Where did you come from?"

"That's our business," Minho told him.

Suddenly, Thomas was grabbed by two of the goons and I noticed the girl grab something off the desk beside her.

"Get the hell off me!" Thomas grunted and she rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, you big baby," she said and used the object she had to scan the back of Thomas's neck. I noticed under the red light was symbols of some sort and when the girl finished, she back away and Thomas was released from the goons.

"You were right," the girl said and Thomas stood up unharmed as Jorge took the object from her.

"Right about what?" I finally spoke after a million years.

"What is she talking about?" Thomas asked him.

Jorge removed his glasses, "I'm sorry, Hermano. Looks like you're tagged. You came from WCKD. Which means... you're very valuable."

I looked around and saw the goons get closer to us.

Well, fuck.

——

Like I said before, this won't end well and it didn't.

Jorge and the girl, who we found out was named Brenda, assumed we were working for WCKD and tied us up from our feet above a large hole that led t death. I don't know how long they're planning to keep us here, but I could already feel the blood rushing to my skull and I didn't like it. My head was pounding and it wasn't just from the blood, it was all the rapid thoughts going through my mind.

"Good plan, Thomas," Minho sighed with sarcasm. "Just hear what the man has to say. Really working out for us."

"Shut up, Minho," Thomas grumbled and attempted to reach the rope. "Maybe I can reach the rope."

Thomas groaned at his attempt but failed and flung back upside down.

"Enjoying the view?" Jorge asked as he walked into our upside view.

"What the hell do you want?" Minho asked the man.

"That is the question," Jorge remarked. "My men want to sell you back to WCKD. Life has taught them to think small. I'm not like that. Something tells me you're not either."

"Is the blood rushing to my head or is this shank not making any sense?" Minho questioned.

"Both," I answered him.

"Tell me what you know about the Right Arm," Jorge ordered, ignoring Mino and me.

"I thought you said they were ghosts," Newt mentioned.

"I happen to believe in ghosts," Jorge responded. "Especially when I hear them chattering on the airwaves."

Jorge walked over to the lever the works the ropes and continued his speech, "you tell me what you know, and maybe we can make a deal."

"We don't know much," Thomas remarked and this made Jorge pull the lever, lowering us and we freaked.

I yelped in fear and Thomas gave in.

"Okay! Okay! They're hiding in the mountains," Thomas admitted. "And they attacked WCKD. They got a bunch of kids out. That's it, that's all we know."

Thomas glanced at me and I smiled to myself, knowing he kept the part about me a secret.

Jorge went to speak, but another voice entered the room.

"Yo, Jorge," I turned my head as much as I could and saw a goon walk in. "What's going on?"

"Me and my new friends were just getting acquainted," Jorge informed him. "We're done now."

"Hey, wait," Thomas called. "You're not gonna help us?"

"Don't worry, Hermano," Jorge spoke. "We'll get you back to where you belong. Hang tight!"

Jorge walked away and the goon left in the opposite direction.

——

"Minho, ready?" Thomas asked as Minho grabbed my stomach, ready to push me toward the railing so I can help us get down.

I was the closest to the lever and not to mention the smallest out of us. If I could somehow get to the railing, I could untie my feet with my ability and safely get everyone free.

"Ready?" Minho asked me and I nodded. "And three!"

Minho pushed me as hard as he could and I reached for the railing, just barely missing it. The others groaned and I rolled my eyes.

"Put some muscle into," I criticized him as I got swung back to him and he attempted again but failed.

"Come on, Minho, push her harder," Newt encouraged.

Minho caught me and let out an exhale, "this is it, one-two-"

He shoved me with lots of force and I was able to grab onto the railing, making the guys and Teresa cheer quietly.

I flipped myself over and used my power to flip the lever so I was sitting on the ground. It caused the boys and Teresa to get lower in the hole, but I was able to untie my feet and get free so I can free them.

I stood to my feet and I used my ability to bring Thomas over to me, so he can get free and help the others as well.

During all this, we heard helicopter noises echo throughout the area and my heart stopped and blood ran cold.

Jansen had found us. How did he find us?

"Good evening!" I heard Jansen greet loudly, "this is the World Catastrophe Killzone Department. We have your compound completely surrounded. You find yourselves, through no fault of your own... in possession of WCKD property. Return them to us unharmed and we'll consider this a simple misunderstanding."

Thomas freed himself and ran over to help the others as I used my power to bring Newt over.

"I got you, Newt," I said and slowly brought him over to me.

"...and every last one of you will die," Jansen continued and I could hear the yells of fear from the people in the building. "It won't be long before the Flare wipes out the rest of us. The hope of the cure lies in your hands. The choice is yours."

I untied Newt and he smiled at me when he got freed.

"Thanks, love."

I smiled softly, "Anytime."

After a few minutes, all of us were free from the ropes and began to make our escape.

We froze when a man stood there with a gun and we backed up slowly as he got closer.

"We're not trying to cause any trouble, okay? We just got to get out of here," Thomas carefully explained to the man and I squinted my eyes, clenching my fists.

"Is that so?" The man asked with a smirk and lifted a walkie talkie, "Jansen, I got' em for you. I'm bringing them down. Don't shoot us. Come on. Let's go. I said let's go!"

I used my ability to make the man's hand go to the right and I shoved him back with my mind. He growled at me and the boys and Teresa stayed beside me for protection and also safety.

"You little bastard!" He snarled at me and as he locked the gun, I lifted my hand as my eyes turned orange and he is body went numb, lowering the gun.

"Drop it," I ordered him and he fell to his knees, dropping the gun to the floor. I reached out and picked the gun off the floor, aiming it at him.

"Asta," Aris spoke behind me and I ignored his call, focusing on my target. "Drop it."

Before I could shoot, another bullet was shot at the man and he fell unconscious in front of me and my eyes returned to their normal color. I looked up and saw Brenda there with a gun in her hand.

"Damn girl," she muttered to me and I smirked at her, putting the gun away for now. "Come on!"

Brenda began to leave and I followed her, but the others were hesitant.

"Come on, let's go!" Brenda called in a rush and I motioned all of them to follow.

——

As we followed Brenda back up to the highest floor, music began to play and I was highly confused by it.

The events that just happened still lingered in my brain, I didn't like what I was about to do, it was too much power and it was scary. I'm scary and I don't understand how anyone isn't afraid of me.

As we reached the top floor, Jorge was there and he looked like he was in a rush and we followed him at a quick and panicked pace.

"Brenda! Hurry!" Jorge called and we walked over to the large window on the side. "We don't have much time! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

Jorge opened the window, which led to a giant drop outside and I felt my heart drop a million miles.

"Fuck that," I said with nervousness.

"You gotta be kidding me," Frypan added.

"Plan B, Hermano," Jorge said and looked up at the ropes that dangle above us, I assumed we were using them to get across. "You kids wanna get to the Right Arm? I'll lead you to them. But you're gonna owe me."

The helicopter sounds got closer and Jorge grabbed a rope, running out of the window and riding across the zip line that was there.

"Follow me!" He called.

"Come on!" Brenda called and grabbed one, handing it to us to use. "Everyone, go!"

Minho reached forward and so did Newt, and they took off onto the zipline. Next was Frypan and then I took one with hesitation before I exhaled and leaped out of the building and zipped across. I didn't bother looking down and or else I might puke on the spot.

I got across and Newt was the first one to greet me. He gently took my hands and I gave him a shaky smile as Teresa landed next to me.

"You okay, love?" He asked and I nodded.

"I believe so," I said and looked behind me to not see Thomas and Brenda.

"Where are Thomas and Brenda?"

——
What's this? A chapter after like six months???

It's 2021 and I told myself I'm gonna work on other stories and that's what I'm doing. My other stories are getting some love this year, cuz I feel like I've been neglecting them due to my focus being on my Henry Danger book.

Expect updates for this book and my others, because I'm devoting my attention to them. I really enjoy this book and there isn't a lot left of the movie I have to write. I got to skip the Thomas and Brenda section, which saved me a lot of time and this gives me lots of time to include Astrid, her background, and some Newt moments with her.

This book will be completed and then I'll start on the next book, which is about the Death Cure and I'm excited about that.

Yay, I can't wait to write more for this story and my other stories. Thank you for your patience and I love you all!

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See ya in the next chapter🦋