XX

Five months earlier

VZZZZZT. VZZZZZT.

Brenda was startled into wakefulness by the vibrating of her phone. With a groan, she rolled across the lumps in her mattress and reached over to grab the device that was sitting on her bedside table.

Groggily, she struggled up into a sitting position and peered down at her mobile.

The name VINCE flashed across the screen. Brenda let out a half-grunt, half-sigh as she accepted the call and lifted the phone to her ear.

"Yeah, Vince, what's up?" she queried, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Huh, bit early for you, Sleeping Beauty?" Vince chuckled on the other end of the line.

"What? No, no ... " Brenda shook her head as she ran her fingers through her tangled black locks. "I - uh - have just been feeling a bit exhausted in general lately, that's all."

"Trust me, we're all feeling it," Vince responded, his tone now sober. "These last few weeks have taken their toll on everyone, what, with those WCKD helicopters doing their night-time air patrols. They're getting closer and closer to us each time and to be honest, it's making me really uncomfortable. I ... well, that is, I think we may need to move camp ... again."

By this time, Brenda was wide awake.

"Are you kidding me right now?" she yelped. "Vince, this is ridiculous, you know we can't ..."

"Whoa, Brenda, hold up!" Vince quickly cut in. "Meet me at the HQ in five. We'll discuss further plans there."

"Fine. I'm on my way," Brenda turned off her phone and kicked the warm blankets away. Shoving the device into her back pocket, Brenda leaped hastily off of her bed and grasped her leather jacket that was lying across the back of a nearby chair. Shrugging it over her shoulders, she seized her scarf and her pair of boots before creeping softly past a peacefully sleeping Chuck and out of the tent.

As she stepped out from behind the canvas flaps covering the tent exit, she paused momentarily to fill her lungs with a breath of fresh, crisp morning air. Winding her scarf around her neck, Brenda hopped on one foot and then another, as she struggled to pull on her tight-fitting shoes.

Smoothing down her shirt, Brenda started walking through the camp when she was suddenly accosted by a melodious voice that belonged to none other than her close friend, Sonya.

"Hey, Be, slow your ass down!"

Brenda raised her eyebrows as she spun around, coming face to face with the blonde-haired beauty. "You going to the HQ too?"

Sonya nodded and groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Vince woke me from a very deep and refreshing slumber," she complained, her words muffled. "He's so annoying."

A smile tugged at the corners of Brenda's mouth when she saw the dishevelled state Sonya was in. Wrapping an arm around her friend's waist, she stated, "Might as well see what he wants then."

Sonya grimaced as her hands dropped to her sides.

"Oi, stick-brains, what's up?"

Brenda rolled her eyes as she glanced over her shoulder. "Harriet!" she called out. "Come join the party."

A dark-skinned girl, her long hair done up in dreads and a rifle slung over her shoulder, came bounding up the path towards the two girls.

"Do you have to carry a gun everywhere you go?" Sonya moaned.

Harriet shot Sonya an irritated glare. "You have to be ready for anything, idiot. You know that already so why do you keep pestering me about being prepared? It's more than you ever do."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Brenda held up her hands and cast a stern glance at both Sonya and Harriet. "Let's just shut-up and go see what Vince needs, okay?"

"Okay," the two girls grumbled simultaneously in reluctant agreement.

Brenda smirked as she threw her arms around both of her friends' shoulders. She wouldn't trade being in the middle of their comical arguments for anything in the world.

"So, what's the plan?" Brenda piped up as her gaze skittered across the faces of the people in front of her. "We do have a plan right?"

Sonya, Harriet, Vince, Jorge, and her were all gathered in a spacey, makeshift shed that had been constructed on the outskirts of camp. They were all sitting around a table that was covered with maps, bits of broken charcoal and scribbled, torn notes.

"I hate to say this, but I'm out of ideas," Vince sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "If we move farther out into the Scorch, we'll hit the dead zone. It's pile of radioactive, unsurvivable crap. The distance between us and the neighbouring villages on the Scorch border are already a good five days journey away. It's too risky to keep moving out. Our supplies are running low and our jeeps are cracking under the pressure. WCKD gets closer with every passing day and we keep moving backwards ... straight into a corner."

"So, needless to say, we've arrived at another dead-end then?" Sonya whined as she slapped her hands down on the table in front of her. "Damn it!"

Vince nodded soberly. "Looks like it for now."

An idea, a ridiculous and far-fetched idea, suddenly popped into Brenda's mind. She opened her mouth to speak before shaking her head and closing it again.

"You were going to say something?" Jorge eyeballed her.

Brenda hesitated. "Uh ... don't worry about it ... it's silly anyways."

"What is?" Vince persisted. "C'mon, Be, I need ideas! Give them to me."

Brenda licked her dry, cracked lips and shrugged. "We could move closer to the capitol."

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her, aghast.

Brenda sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. When no one made a move to respond to her statement, she continued, "WCKD would never look for us in a place that they don't think we'll be. If we return to the city, try to blend in, then maybe we'll have a better shot at retrieving more of the Immunes. And, before you say anything, I think I know a place where three hundred rebels can crash without being noticed."

"You do?" Harriet guffawed disbelievingly.

"Yeah," Brenda smirked, her teeth tugging at her lower lip as she gazed straight at Vince. "If you remember, our old friend Marcus owns a place in rural Flat Trans. It's big. It's roomy. It's perfect." A knowing look crossed Brenda's features as she spoke, "Marcus calls it Crank Palace."

Gif: Sonya as she meets up with Brenda and Harriet.

Q: Who are you most like? Harriet or Sonya? Be honest! :)

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