DISTURBANCE!
CHAPTER SIX.
screaming for a break.

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BACK IN THE GLADE, THERE WAS PLENTY OF SAD MOMENTS FOR THE GROUP OF TEENS- MORE THAN ANYONE WOULD EVER DARE ESTIMATE. Having heard of the environment the young kids had lived in for a span of a few months to a few years, you wouldn't doubt that there must've been some rough times that fell upon them . . . but nobody would truly understand like the Gladers did.

Back in the Glade, there was never a good day for them. Sure, they had okay days . . . but no day was ever a day the young kids wanted to spend the rest of their lives living out. They wanted freedom- all of them did . . . but only a few were considered lucky enough to actually receive it.

And even then, as the surviving Gladers sat in the Scorch that restless night with a dimly lit fire being their only source of light; they were left to ponder. Minho was the first out of the group to speak, breaking the thick silence to voice what seemed to be on most of their minds. "I thought we were supposed to be immune."

Teresa, who was staring at the fire as if in deep thought, answered with. "Not all of us," there was a pause to her words before she tumbled out in a mumble. "I guess."

"If Winston can get infected, we should assume so can the rest of us." Newt advised in a tough, authoritative response, his eyes too trained on the flickering flame before them.

That was a scary thought for Rita as she hugged her arms around herself, the action appearing to be an attempt to warm up . . . when in reality, it was a move of fear.

The young girl didn't want anyone- especially her friends- to go through what poor Winston did. Obviously, she wasn't dumb, she knew that right now her mental begs would never be good enough.

"I never though I'd say it," There was an emotional layer in Frypan's voice as the group collectively looked at him just to see a tear leak out of his red eyes and roll down his now salty cheek. "but I miss the Glade."

Thomas later excused himself from the conversation, walking away from the group to sit by himself in the night air. Nobody seemed overly concerned about the young boy, blind by their own emotions to even see that . . . but Rita did.

Even with the subtle way his shoulders slumped in the distance, the young girl knew he wasn't okay. A part of her felt guilty, wondering if she could be a possible reason why due to the last time they spoke.

She knew it was a bad idea and would only later cause her tormenting pain, but Rita got up anyway and made her way over to him. Thomas heard her approaching, recognising the way her light footsteps padded in the thick sand. He didn't turn around, leaving the young girl to sit in a seconds silence behind him before gently speaking. "Are you okay?"

The girl saw the boy's lips purse in response, slowly nodding as his words rushed out in a small sigh that was almost lost in the Scorch. "I've been better."

". . . Is that my fault?" Rita hung her head low like a kicked puppy, feeling the guilt tremble up in her stomach like she had just swallowed something vile.

"Depends," a shaky breath escaped the female's plump, pink lips when her boyfriend turned round to allow eye contact to be made. He studied her carefully, as if she were a book that was slowly losing all its pages. "is it my fault you're not okay?"

The brunette's frown deepened, her tongue peeking out to run over her chapped lips before she sucked them back in between her teeth. "May-May I sit with you?" She hesitated, slowly bringing herself down when she was given a nod of access.

Heavy was the silence that hung over the young couple as they gazed upon the sky that seemed to be the only beautiful thing among the night. Rita tried her best to focus on the stars and wonder why she always felt the need to gaze upon them when in need of help. Out of habit, she began to hum a simple melody that had resided in her brain from the very beginning of her hellish journey.

The song attracted a pair of amber toned eyes that would steal longing glances until the muted conversation shielding them was broken by his gentle voice. "You always sing that song when you look up at the stars. Why?"

For once, Rita was actually happy Thomas had questioned her about her singing. Normally, she would find it to be embarrassing and shy away, but now . . . practically any conversation topic seemed better than what had been brung up before.

"Honestly, I have no idea. It just feels like second nature to me, like I had done it a million times before even without knowing what the song was." Her gaze trained on the gritty sand. "I still don't know the song- and I most likely never will, but I like it. Something tells me that the me before all of this I liked music; found tranquility in it."

"Do you still find that in it?" Thomas proposed, shuffling closer as his knee gently knocked hers. He felt the girl tense and tuck into herself further as he did this.

"Maybe. I just," Rita was the one to cut herself off with a sigh, her chin coming to rest on her knees currently being hugged by her arms. "I just wish I could be a normal teenager and listen to whatever music past-me was into."

Not even the stars could compare to the twinkle that appeared in Thomas' eyes that fought hard and long to stay hopeful, forcing his lips to gently rest upwards comfortably. "After all this is over, maybe you can do just that. This isn't forever, Rita, remember that?"

"We're walking targets, Tommy." The nickname slipped before the teen herself could catch it and swallow it back down, the teen's face across from hers going to a gentle resting face to a soft one. Rita knew, sadly, she was going to be the one to get rid of it. "I-I don't we'll ever have a normal life."

The crystal waters of tears began to coat her eyes, discreet enough to be unrecognizable had Thomas not been paying so close attention. He immediately encased her into his arms, his nose nudging against her soft hair as his murmurs tickled her skin. "We will; you will. There's got to be somewhere out there, Rita. There's got to be a place where we stand a chance."

"Not in this world." The stubborn girl shakes her head, biting her lip as she closes her eyes. What had she become since the Glade? She was always one to be so hopeful and optimistic at a normal life, but now, with the visions she had seen, a normal life just seemed impossible to picture; especially one involving her and Thomas. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me recently, I just- oh god, I'm so sorry."

An unforeseen smile crossed the youthful face of Thomas, his arms tightening round her. Her senses allowed her to feel his lips lift up in a smile against her petite frame while in the embrace, shaking his head stiffly. "You say sorry way too much."

"Uh . . . sorry?" The boy playfully pinched her in response, making her release a small squeak. "Okay, okay, sor- I mean, I just . . . everyone here isn't getting the life they deserve; and for that reason, I always feel the need to apologize."

"Hmm," Thomas lifted his head to rest his chin on her shoulder comfortably now, reminiscing back when him and his girlfriend would sit like this under a starry night sky before he would go running into the Maze for another long day filled with endless mapping and running. "is that the only reason?"

It soon won't be. Rita couldn't help but think as she brung her hand up to curl around the mop of matted brown hair that was still soft to touch despite the grains of sand that littered around it. "You know they're gonna use things you love against you." The girl warned, dodging the question given as she thought back to the company thats main goal was to have them back in their evil hands to hang them up like slaughtered animals and drain them of blood.

"Impossible." Thomas denied commonly, his calloused hands dropping to grasp onto his girlfriend's waist to take him back to the stargazing nights in the Maze even more.

Rita turned in his grasp, her face the spitting image of a lost puppy. "How so?" She uttered, her voice coming out smaller than it intended to be.

In acknowledgement, the former-Runner collected himself to his feet and brought his girl up with him by the gingerly holding of hands. His smile could be seen even in the crackles of the darkened light, the action making the day appear all the more bright to the girl it was delivered to. "WICKED can't hurt me, Rita, and they won't. I will not allow them to."

"You can't hold such a fragile mindset like that, Thomas." Rita warned him in a low tone, feeling as if one side of her body was as light as a feather while the other was the weight of a thousand heavy rocks. "Your spirit will be broken- and I don't want that to happen . . . not when you have so much promise in helping us all."

In response, the teen tilted his head as his brows came forward in a cutesy manner. "What do you mean? Is this something about earlier? You know . . . before Wins-"

"No." The girl lied, well, sort of. Even from the beginning when stepping out of the Box, Rita knew the stubborn boy filled to the brim with questioned was something. She didn't know just what back then, but she thinks she was beginning to understand now.

Thomas was not just the Glader's hope anymore, but the whole world's now, as it seemed. WICKED had made it as clear as day in what they had shown Rita back in the facility. He and Teresa were that step forward towards a greater society . . . and they wanted her to take the risk and believe it.

Did Rita think Thomas could help better the world? Of course she did, but finding a cure for what she had seen back at the abounded mall . . . she pondered daily if there could be such a thing to ever exist. For, what if WICKED were just toying with them? What if they were using the false hope of this already so far gone world that a better life could be available to them in an unfair trade for their help/blood?

Whether that be the case or not, Rita knew that whatever was held in the future for her friends . . . she was most likely not going to be a part of it. Why though . . . was all in the future of their story.

"Lay with me?" Thomas' melodic request came like a parting to the clashing waves that was her thoughts as he looked down upon her rather bashfully, the girl getting flashbacks to when he had given her that look many, many times before.

Though it was a bad idea that would only conflict her later once more, Rita found herself agreeing with a shy nod and allowing herself to be lured back to their sleeping group of friends. From there, her and her dear boyfriend settled down with her head finding home on his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist once more.

"Things are okay between us, right? I don't want to lose you, Rita. I need you." The pressure of a kiss being delicately pressed over her hairline made Rita shudder, a heat weave suddenly being admitted within her. She hadn't heard those words since first stepping into the Maze to hopefully escape, and she had remembered how much hope and joy that everything was going to be okay it had filled her with . . . if only it had the same affect now.

For, as Thomas drifted off into a peaceful sleep behind the teen after confusing her silence for sleep, his girlfriend surveyed the other female sleeping peacefully across from them.

She couldn't help but wonder about Teresa in Thomas' arms, and if she were to be the one in dear Rita's spot right now. Would things have panned out differently? Would the percentage of the dear friends we have lost along the way decrease? She wasn't sure, but WICKED certainly was.

This was the first time since her escape that Rita wished she was back in the stone walls that used to fill her body with dread and anxiety, but now the mere thought of them seemed better than the reality she had to face herself with now.

Because, at least the Rita in the Maze back then . . . didn't have all the thoughts and weights she was carrying regarding how destructive she could be to everything and everyone around her.

❚ ❚ ❚

Long hours passed as the night drowned over the Gladers while they caught up on the rest they had been missing out on since their grand escape from the facility that they once respected and thought to be safe. They had slipped far from comfort so it seemed now; going from hammocks and proper beds to the outside, sanded floor.

Heck, the group of teens didn't even get the proper sleep they felt justified enough to deserve for the undeclared leader of the group awoke them all, hopping up to his feet as he pointed amongst the distance and its contents.

It didn't take Rita long to realise why the frantic awakening had occurred, for she could see that, even at a distance, there was the source of lights coming from the edge of the mountains they had been hoping to gain on.

Many of the girl's friend shared her eagerness at the small light- literally and metaphorically- at the end of their tunnel. They just were about to reach for their bags/kits when the sudden crack of lightening came through their eardrums.

The continued threats of lightning thundered down on them in a caging manner, making the group of teens feel desperately trapped in a moment of panic as they sprinted towards their source of hope; the light.

Rita's legs were screaming for a break, telling her the moments rest was not enough to gain her enough strength to carry her forward at the pace she desired. She lagged behind, hoping her lacking of speed did not draw the attention of her friends in means of distracting them.

The closer the group of friends got, the more the lightning increased. Every Glader had almost been hit twice or so by the time they had reached the front of the building standing tall at the foot of the mountain.

Hurried shouts escaped all of the young teens as they made sure no one was struck/or harmed. For a good while, that statement ran true . . . until disaster struck. Literally.

Minho grew distracted for a quick moment by the crackling in the lining sky, his worried gaze being seen from Rita's perspective. Seeing how the lightning seemed to draw closer to where the former-Keeper was standing, the girl behind him was quick to make sure he was okay.

"Minho, go!" She urged him forwards with a light push, causing him to stumble closer to the group and at a lesser risk to danger. Unfortunately, Rita wasn't so lucky as a lightning bolt came down close to where she was standing in the Asian boy's place.

The force made the teen fly back a few feet, landing with a hard thud that would be the main cause of pain had the girl not just been grazed by dangerous volts.

Everything seemed to fade in and out of focus for Rita as she could vaguely feel the pressure of hands on her, or was it just the sand? Her clothes felt tattered, burned almost in parts as her whole body slumped like jelly with little strength to open her eyes.

Lifted. The lightness in her stomach told her she was being lifted, but was that feeling caused by actual hands or for a spiritual reason. Could this be it? Her thoughts set war at what was dreaming and reality, wondering if this could be how the journey ends for her.

The brown-haired girl's thoughts couldn't help but drift to the curious boy with an infectious spirit. Maybe this would be the last time she ever saw him, the feeling of his arms wound around her body being the last of human touch she will ever receive truly.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the best outcome for them. Rita wouldn't have to make the hard decision and battle with her inner demons whilst no longer holding Thomas back. Without her, he could be a free man . . . maybe even with Teresa and do what they were predicted to be destined for in the eyes of some. She didn't want them to do it for WICKED; but she wanted them to do it for themselves and their friends for a brighter future. In the end, all Rita wanted was a life worth living for her friends; and she didn't care if that involved her or not in the end.

Little by little, she began to feel again. The first thing that came among her was the feeling of hands shaking her limp body, her ears beginning to faintly pick up inaudible voices hurriedly speaking while a high pitched ringing shielded her.

Once all was faded, the girl found the strength to open her green eyes. What she was met with was an almost blinding source of light emitting from a flashlight above her, causing her to squint and groan. "I love you guys, but can you take the light off my face . . . please?"

The boys and Teresa all let out collective breaths of relief, Minho being first to speak after exchanging a glance with his British friend. "You're so stupid, Shuck-face. You just got struck by lightning."

". . . sorry?"

Her friends helped her up, many staying near her in case she needed their help. Looking down, the young teen cursed when she saw a few burnt marks littering her skin and ruining her clothes in certain places.

"We'll try and find you some new clothes." Teresa reassured her, rubbing her back gently as she made sure not to touch any possible spots lining with sensitivity.

Rita nodded, allowing the raven-haired girl to help her up so she could stand. Thankfully, she was steady enough to require no assistance. Thomas walked over as soon as she was up, wrapping her in his care silently as another sigh of relief escaped his cupid-shaped lips. In response, the girl just hugged him back lightly, her heart suddenly heavy once more knowing that the lightning did not take away her responsibilities as she had faintly hoped.

"Hey," Teresa spoke yet again as the group tried to calm down from one hell of a thunderstorm that they had just barley escaped from. Breaking away from her boyfriend ever so slightly, Rita watched as the other girl looked around in a disgusted curiosity. "what's that smell?"

Beginning to notice the foul stench herself, Rita was standing amongst her close friends just as their flashlights flicked on. The young teen got the fright of her life when a Crank came out of nowhere in the deep shadows as it swiped for her, unable to reach due to the chain secured around its middle half.

Thomas immediately reached for his girlfriend's arm, pulling her taunt against his side as the group all huddled once aware that they were not alone. Cranks were positioned everywhere, just missing each of them due to their chained up positions. However, most of the Gladers knew they should never underestimate the strength these far gone, mutated humans could have.

"I see you've met our guard dogs." A voice, a woman's voice, smoothly sounded just as a light flickered on in a doorway. The light protected her like a shield, all that was shown being her silhouette until she stepped forwards.

Unaffected, the unknown girl strutted past all the snarling Cranks with no fear as if she had done this a million times before. She was a pretty woman that didn't seem too far off from their age. Her hair was cut short to show off her delicate features, more so her dark brown eyes as they scanned over the group. Rita couldn't help but feel small under her gaze as she smirked gently. "You guys look like shit. Come on, follow me." She took a few steps forwards, looking over her shoulder at the unmoving teens with a pointed look. "Unless you wanna stay here with them."

One glance made back towards the Cranks told Rita what her friends decided on. It was worth the risk if it meant getting out of this room, right? The brunette thought as she felt her boyfriend protectively grab her hand for walking forwards.

The stranger led them to a stairway that led up a warehouse type of ordeal with better lighting, viewing other people walking freely around the place. Most of them were older men that didn't look pleasing to the eye unfortunately, the looks she was being giving stirring her stomach as uncomfortable. Thomas wasn't blind to the stares of the older men either as he gently coaxed Rita in front of him, shielding her body with his slightly when one guy stared too much for his liking.

"Come on, keep up," the unknown girl instructed the group, leading all of them to an unknown location that could quite possibly mean nothing but danger for them. "Jorge wants to meet you."

"Who's Jorge?" Thomas inquired, staying tightly knitted to his girlfriend as they descended up a flight of stairs.

"You'll see, no one's ever come out of the Scorch in a long time. You've just got him curious," was the smug reply the boy got back, watching as she looked over her shoulder yet again to eyeball him up and down. "and me too."

Before the group could walk any further, Rita suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her hand was snatched away from Thomas', the boy whirling back in a panic only for that to become concern when he saw his girlfriend huddle into herself. "Rita? Baby, what's wrong?"

"Something isn't right." The girl felt her gut twist as soon as she made the warning, looking around wearily as she captured the gaze of a few smirking men. "I think we should leave now, just in case things escalate out of our control."

"Let's just hear him out, Babe. See what he has to say." Her boyfriend seemed to neglect her words, taking light steps forward until she was holding his hand once more. He gave her a light lipped, reassuring smile. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promised you that, remember?"

There it was again; the promise. The promise that Rita knew couldn't be fully fulfilled, not when the young boy had a whole department after him and his friends. Plus, as bad as it sounded, Rita wasn't even sure she wanted the promise fulfilled . . . because that way Thomas would stop wasting his energy on someone who could quite possibly be his downfall in the end.

Choosing wisely not to speak anymore, the dark-haired brunette merely sent him a small nod before she was following behind her friends with the thought sparking from within herself not to look back.

After following another flight of stairs, the Gladers were left into the clearing of an attic of sorts, the only person occupying the space being a single man older than the rest of them all. "Jorge, they're here." He played with the toggles of his crackling radio, shushing the girl when she spoke to alert him of their company as she sat on a tattered leather couch near the side.

The man now labelled as Jorge eventually released a curse before he flicked his radio off, now giving the arrivals his full attention. He had tanned skin that seemed to belong of Latino ethnicity, his dark, curly hair beginning to grey at the sides. With one hand resting on the hip, he released a loud exhale with no welcome. "Do you ever get the feeling the whole world is against you?" No Glader answered, Thomas and Minho exchanging a look as the uncalled leader reached down to wrap a hand around his girlfriend to make sure she was close and safe.

"Three questions: Where did you come from, where are you going, and how can I profit?" Jorge listed as he poured himself a drink by his desk covered in mysterious items and leaned against it. Again, none of the young teens spoke at the stare they were getting from the older man as he shrugged. "Don't all answer at once."

"We're heading to the mountains." Thomas stepped up, choosing his words carefully just in case as he kept in mind his anxious girlfriend beside him. "We're looking for the Right Arm."

Everyone gathered in the secluded area let out rough, scratchy laughs, leaving the group confused with frowns as to what was so humorous. They only got some form of answer when Jorge chuckled as he retorted with. "You're looking for ghosts, you mean?"

Rita's frown deepened, something in her gut telling her that, with the way things were planning out, this conversation wasn't going to end all fine and dandy. Not to mention, the girl felt like Jorge seemed to be dancing around a certain something as he asked. ""Question number two. Where did you come from?" He came closer, the hand holding his beverage raising- which made Rita flinch slightly.

"That's our business." Minho took the stage this time, straightening up in an act to look more tough for the man and his goons- who were eyeing them up- to back off.

The next thing the group knew, they were grabbed and thrown into the chests of tough hands gripping at their skin after Jorge had scowled upon them with a shrug. The Gladers struggled to free themselves, but to no avail.

Thomas was suddenly chucked down onto his knees by the man holding him, the former-Runner shouting and fighting to fend off the hold as his wide eyes casted over his girlfriend; a deep hatred burning in his brown eyes at the way she was being handled so roughly.

The unknown girl suddenly got up from her position on the leather couch, collecting one of the many unknown devices on Jorge's desk as she walked towards Thomas while the man holding him kept the boy's neck down.

Fearing the worst, Rita was quick to cut in with a cry. "No! Stop! Do it to me!" Her frantic shouts of begging couldn't help but gain the attention of the olive-skinned girl, her dark eyes boring into her with slight surprise. "Scan my neck." Her words were clear as all her friends looked to her as if she had grown three heads.

The short-haired girl didn't seemed fazed for much longer as her face fell into a cold one once more, shrugging. "Alright." Rita replaced her boyfriend from his spot on the floor, her hair being swept to the side to bare her neck. "Now, hold still."

"Hey, get the hell off her!" Thomas' yells were the loudest as all the boys- and Teresa-struggled to free their elbows currently forced behind their backs. "Don't touch her!" he roared.

"Oh, shut up, you big baby." The unknown girl rolled her eyes in response, the cold material of a scanner hitting the pale skin on the long-haired brunettes neck for a short moment before a short, mechanical click and beep sounded. ". . . You were right."

The hold on Rita loosened until she was finally free, the young girl immediately allowing her arms to come down in order to help support her currently on all fours. Now free also, Thomas immediately pushed away the man who had been holding her harshly and scooped her up to stand in his warm embrace. He shielded her entirely from view, his shaking fingers running through her hair as he muttered soft words of apologies. He then took his time turning to Jorge. "What do you mean? Right about what? What is she talking about? What did you do to her?" He rushed, needing answers.

Jorge placed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, giving him a clearer view to inspect whatever was pulled up on the scanner. With a laugh that could mean nothing good for the group, the older man removed his specs and looked to Thomas. "I'm sorry, hermano," he apologized insincerely, holding up the scanner to reveal a short profile of Rita with WICKED labelled in bold, white font at the top with a short subject introduction underneath. "looks like your girl here is tagged."

"T-Tagged?" Rita's plump lips wobbled as she subconsciously touched the skin on the back of her neck with sweaty fingertips, fearing that something may have happened when WICKED had separated her from her friends back at the facility. She didn't feel anything, but there obviously was something there for a scanner to pick up on and label her like an object. "What-What does that mean?"

"It means you came from WICKED." Jorge smirked at the beginning of his words, a certain enjoyment sparking in his eyes when he saw the young girl back into the comfort of her boyfriend. Then, the joy went ice cold as he straightened up to eye everyone involved with the group individually. "Which means . . . you're very valuable."

Rita was practically shaking with fear at this point, wondering if she even had the ability to stand properly without Thomas giving her his chest to lean on for support. She could feel said boy's arms tighten protectively around her when snickers that made shivers easily run down your spine like spiders sounded like a hell cry, the body heat of strangers coming closer . . . and closer.

Rita let out a weak whimper, her eyes squeezing shut so tightly that all she could see was coloured lights flashing underneath her eyelids as she prayed to wake up from this nightmare.

She prayed that when her eyes opened again, she would be back in the Maze in the comforts of the hut her and her dear boyfriend shared where she would cuddle with him until his morning run; free of problems, worries and well . . . everything.

A U T H O R. N O T E
this chapter took way longer than it should've considering, in my opinion, it's pretty dull compared to other chapters. i am so sorry this is what you have been given after not receiving an update for a decent length of time.

thank you so much for getting this book to 4k reads btw! it means so much to me that you're liking this book and actually putting up with me and my writing lol.

thank you for reading and showing this book support! i really appreciate it! ilysm!

GIF MADE BY ME !
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