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G    A    M    E         O    F
S    U     R     V     I     V     A     L

· 。ﾟ

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

𝐢'𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮
𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬
𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲
𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲
𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, "𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮"

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

 
chapter sixteen
walkin' after midnight

.·:*¨༺ ★ ༻¨*:·.

     THE GROUP OF GLADERS hesitated before the girl yelled at them again to follow her. Everyone pushed one another rushing to catch up with her. Mara sprinted being the one behind realizing one person in the group was missing. Her body spun around to see what had caused Teresa to stay back. Mara caught a glimpse of Teresa picking something off the floor and quickly stashing it in her pocket.

       Teresa looked up to see Mara already watching her stand up. "Come on!" Teresa rushed as she passed Mara acting as if nothing suspicious had happened. "My hair tie fell."

       A song started to play throughout the speakers as Rosie became confused as to why there was a song playing. Goosebumps ran down her body once she started to hear a familiar voice start singing, "I go out walkin' after midnight, out in the moonlight—"

       The group continued to follow the girl through the halls as quietly as possible. They ran trying to hide from any soldiers. Rosie had heard that song play before. Actually, she had heard it play dozens of times. "Just like we used to do—"

      And then it hit her.

       The sound of laughter erupted in the tiny living room while the song Jingle Bell Rock played at a quiet volume. The strings of colorful lights were lazily hanged up around the room. There was a small artificial Christmas tree terribly decorated by the group of girls who had given up on it and instead sat on the couch to drink the liquor that was stolen from Maya's shoplifting adventures.

       "Hit me." Eirene stated as Maya handed her another playing card. Eirene furrowed her eyebrows in deep concentration as she lifted the card up to check what number she got. "Fuck!"

       "Bust!" Maya exclaimed happily as Eirene slammed her losing cards on the table. "Gimme, gimme!"

       Eirene handed the girl her last green chip she had. "This is b.s!"

      Jessie and Rosie laughed at Eirene's terrible luck in playing cards. "Rosie?" Maya asked.

       Rosie's laughter died down as she took a look at her playing cards. She had a five of hearts and an eight of diamonds. Jessie already had reached to 20 and decided to stay but Maya being the lucky dealer had dealt herself 21. The only way Rosie could win was if she too reached to 21. "Hit me." Rosie responded hitting the table motioning to Maya.

Maya dealt her another card not letting anyone see. Rosie flipped the card upwards and getting a three of diamonds. The girl had gotten to 16 and she needed five more to beat Maya. "Another one?" Maya questioned her trying to throw her off her game by swirling her drink around.

"Hit me." Rosie replied uncertain.

"Whatever you say, boss." Maya called handing Rosie one more card and placing it upside down for her.

The nervous girl reached for her card turning it upwards to reveal the number. Rosie's eyes lit up when she saw a five of spades. "Blackjack!" Rosie exclaimed slamming the cards down on the table before standing up to do her victory dance to show off to her friends. "I won!"

"That's my girl." A male voice spoke causing the girls to turn their heads towards the doorway to reveal Jeremy and Malakai entering the living room with a bag of food in both their arms.

Rosie sat down in embarrassment as Jeremy had probably seen her humiliating victory dance. "Not y'all finally deciding to show up." Maya complained standing up from her chair after giving Rosie the leftover chips she won. Eirene nudged Rosie on her side before wiggling her eyebrows at her.

"Lawrence had us training the rookies." Malakai explained as him and Jeremy placed the brown bags on the open kitchen counter. "None of them could aim correctly if their lives depended on it."

Maya reached for Jeremy as they shared a quick embrace and a quick kiss on the cheek before ignoring him and going through the bags of groceries. "Where's the vape I asked for?" Maya asked the two boys.

Jeremy shook his head taking his jacket off and placing it on the stool before responding to his sister, "dude, I told you I'm not buying that shit for you."

The sister turned her head towards him, "you're kidding me right? I need it!"

"No, you don't." Jeremy shrugged his shoulders, "it's bad for you and I'm not going to be the reason you get lung cancer."

Hitting her head softly on the wall, Maya groaned in frustration. "Why do you have to be such a goodie goodie?"

A chuckle left Jeremy's lips before asking her, "a goodie goodie?" Maya nodded sighing. "Someone's gotta have to balance you out."

Jessie stood up on her feet once she heard the lyrics of a song playing. "I'm always walking' after midnight—" The girl sang along rushing towards the beat up stereo before turning the volume up. "I love this song!"

The group of friends watch the girl start to dance by herself in the middle of the small studio. A cup of liquor in her right hand and fuzzy socks on helping her twirl herself more smoothly. "Guys come on! Someone dance with me!" Jessie exclaimed tipsy over the few drinks she already had.

       "I walk for miles along the highway—"

       The three girls turned their heads to the two single boys who looked at one another shaking their heads. "Not me, man." Jeremy spoke to Malakai before taking a sip of liquor he poured himself.

       "What? Why?" Malakai questioned as he hated dancing. The poor boy had two left feet and as much as he tried to learn, he was never able to coordinate.

       "I already got myself a partner." Jeremy answered causing the boy to furrow his eyebrows wondering who it was. Jeremy grinned motioning his head towards the girl on the couch. "Aye, pretty girl!" Jeremy called for the girl who tried to blend into the couch as Eirene tried to pull her up on her two feet.

       "Come on, idiot, he wants to dance with you." Eirene stated standing up and trying to pull her by her arms as Rosie tried to stay sitting on the couch.

      Jeremy made his way towards the nervous girl who started shaking her head when he reached her. "Dance with me." The boy offered his hand to her.

      "No!" Rosie replied, "I suck! You know that."

      "C'mon, I'll teach you." Jeremy stated as Rosie accepted his hand.

      "You're so annoying." Rosie groaned to the boy who couldn't get rid of the grin on his face as she stood up.

      "But you love me." The boy replied pressing a kiss on her forehead.

      Rosie clicked her tongue wanting to do the same and kiss him but held back as she added, "doesn't make you less annoying."

       Jeremy twirled the girl knowing how nervous she was in his arms. The two walked to the middle of the room where Jessie and Malakai danced together. Rosie let herself be lead by Jeremy who placed one hand around her waist and the other holding her hand up.

      "Maybe he's cryin for me—"

       The two danced to the rhythm of the song. Little content smiles were displayed on both of their lips as they slowly moved closer to each other closing the gap between their bodies. Their bodies swayed to the song circling around as they enjoyed the quietness of their friends and the song.

      "And as the skies turn gloomy—"

      "I really want to kiss you." Jeremy whispered into Rosie's ear sending shivers down her spine. "I don't really think you understand how beautiful you are."

       Warmth spread across Rosie's cheeks as she buried her face into his neck as they continued to dance. "Stop." The girl mumbled, "everyone's here."

       A smirk displayed on the boy's face as he shrugged his shoulders, "I don't think they'll mind."

"Just hopin' you may be, somewhere a-walkin after midnight—"

Rosie pulled away staring into his brown eyes. The kitchen light shined down on them making his eyes look more warm. He was everything she didn't know she wanted. And he was willing to be on his knees for her if she wanted. Rosie raised her feet tippy toeing before pressing her lips on his.

      Rosie was safe.

      Rosie was warm.

      Rosie was at home with Jeremy.

      "Brenda! Hurry up!" Jorge exclaimed as the gladers rushed up the stairs. Rosie finally snapping out of her thoughts as she followed the girl. "We don't have much time!" Jorge started to gesture with his hands as he rushed them to a corner of the building. "Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Right this way!"

Sudden gasps left from the bunch of gladers mouths as Jorge opened the doors revealing a zip line connecting to another building. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me." Frypan murmured terrified of heights.

Jorge pulled down the ropes from the ceiling as he turned his head towards Thomas who was very unsure of what they were about to do. "Plan B, hermano. You kids want to get to the Right Arm? I'll lead you to them." Jorge lifts up his pointer finger at him, "but you're going to owe me. Follow me!"

The man grabs onto the rope and runs out the building zip lining to the other building. "Alright! Let's go! Come on!"

The group looked at one another quite terrified of what they were about to do but there was no other way. "Go, go, go!" Thomas exclaimed pushing the group closer to Brenda who handed Minho a rope to hold onto. "Everyone go!"

Jessie started to shake her head as Mara pulled a rope down for her. "No, Mara! I can't! I legit can't! Don't you see how high up we are!?" Jessie exclaimed trying to take steps back.

"There's no time to protest, Jessie!" Mara responded handing Jessie the rope.

"No!" Jessie argued as she could feel her hands start to tremble of fear and her body start to sweat.

"Hey, come on, I'll be right behind you, okay?" Minho spoke to Jessie as he grabbed a hold of her.

"What if I slip?" Jessie questioned him.

"You won't." Mara explained making sure Jessie had her hands gripping the rope. "We'll see you on the other side." Mara murmured before pushing the girl off the building's edge without any warning.

     Jessie almost let out a piercing scream before remembering to stay quiet. "Shit." Minho muttered before running and zip lined across.

Frypan followed right after with Samadhi and Mara after him. Rosie gazed down to her hand clencing and unclenching it as she hoped her hand was going to heal quick from the man's foot on it. Rosie grabbed the rope hoping her hand wasn't going to betray her as she was ready to zip line across before making sure Newt was ready. His eyes lingered down towards the ground and the boy gulped already starting to panic as he held onto the rope.

"Hey," Rosie spoke knowing there wasn't much time left, "I'll be right behind you. Okay? Just look straight ahead."

Newt didn't say anything but acknowledged her by nodding as he tried to breath in and out to control his nerves. The boy took a few steps back before running and zip lining across. Rosie watched the boy zip line with the helicopter's light shining on him.

"Teresa, you're next after Rosie." Thomas spoke handing her the rope after Rosie. Rosie turned her head to see Brenda digging into her pockets searching for an item. "Rosie, c'mon! Go!"

A stressful groan left Brenda's lips before turning around running in search of something. "Brenda!" Thomas exclaimed as Rosie assumed the boy was going to bring the girl back.

Rosie held her breath before lifting herself off the edge and zip lining across the two buildings. The lights of the WICKED helicopter shined bright on her as it followed her to the other building. Rosie could feel the cold air brushing through her as she flew fast. Adrenaline kicked in her body as a smile appeared on her face feeling alive.

The girl reached the other end realizing she had to force the rope to stop her before smashing into the building wall. "Let go of the rope!" Jorge yelled as he could see Teresa zip lining a few yards away.

Rosie let go of the rope trusting herself to jump inside the open building. The girl landed rather easily as she had done an impressive somersault in the air. "Where'd you learn how to do that?" Frypan asked.

"Where's Thomas?" Newt asked

"Where's Brenda?" Jorge asked Teresa who has entered clumsily into the building noticing no one was behind her. Aris helped the girl up on her two feet before turning to point at the building.

Teresa motioned to the building before answering to him, "she went to look for something and Thomas went with her. They said they'll be back."

"No! No! No!" Jorge exclaimed shaking his head as he started to walk in the empty parking lot. "Come on! We have to keep going!"

"We're not leaving without him." Minho stated as no one else had taken a step forward to follow Jorge.

Jorge stopped midway to turn around, "my kid's smart. She'll know where to meet us. Now let's go before you kids get caught. Keep quiet and just follow me."

The gladers took their chance all looking back to the see the building before following Jorge down the stairs. Rosie whispered the end of the song to herself as she rushed down the stairs. The girl tended to be at the end of the group as she wanted to make sure everyone was safe and counted for. Before anyone besides Jorge could think, the gladers all fell to the floor hearing an explosion extremely close to them.

Everyone reached for one another in fear huddling together to try and figure out what that explosion was. "Come on!" Jorge yelled rushing down another set of stairs not letting the gladers think.

The group of friends followed the man before getting a glimpse of the building they had just left starting to deteriorate and flames bursting out of it. "What the hell did you do!?" Minho yelled grabbing a hold of Jorge's back before turning him around to grab him by his collar.

Frypan, Aris, and Newt stared at the window watching the flames consume the building. The helicopter pulling itself higher to move away from the fire. Teresa gulped as her mind raced with thoughts about Thomas burning inside that building. Guilt consuming her making her wish she had told him to go with her. The three girls looked at one another not knowing what to believe if Thomas was still alive or not.

"I did what I had to do." Jorge explained himself trying to get away from Minho's tight grip.

"I'm going to fucking kill you—" Minho was stopped by the quiet sound of a gun clicking. Minho had tried to pull out Rosie's knife he carried but wasn't quick enough. The boy's body went cold as he could feel a gun pressing onto his stomach.

Everybody's heads turned hearing the familiar click of a gun, Samadhi had made them familiar with. Minho let go of Jorge's shirt as his breathing had started to become short and uncontrolled intakes. Rosie watched a small smile curve on Jorge's lips, "you should watch your tongue, hermano." He spoke quietly moving the gun up to Minho's chin, "it'll get you killed in these streets."

Minho didn't say anything only nodded knowing he couldn't do anything to him when Jorge had the upper hand. Rosie tried to find any weakness coming from the older man but he seemed so secure with himself. There was nothing that was holding him back from pressing that trigger.

"If anyone tries that again, I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your heads, y'all understand me?" Jorge questions the group of friends who nodded silently. "Good. Now let's keep going."

The group continue down the flight of stairs worried about Thomas' life. "There's a few soldiers outside." Samadhi warned as they had arrived to the first floor. "They've surrounded the majority of the building."

The group of friends hid behind a wall as they crouched down looking to Jorge to tell them what to do. The man took a peek out of the wall trying to see if any of the exits weren't blocked. "What do we do?" Frypan asks worried that they were going to be caught and put back into the glade.

"Who knows how to fight?" Jorge asks the group of gladers that knew how to handle themselves. No one said anything but just looked at each other. "I know you two can." Jorge pointed at Samadhi and Rosie. "You two look like you can as well." He pointed at Minho and Frypan. "You four come with me. The rest of you stay inside until we tell you to run."

"Why do you only want us?" Rosie questions him.

Jorge searched for something inside his backpack as he responded. "The others look more weaker. And don't think I didn't see what you two girls did with my men."

Rosie searched for any weapons but was left with a tiny knife that wasn't going to do much to help her. "Remember they want all of you alive. They won't kill you. So, we'll send two on that side and the other two on that side. I'll be at the door—"

Minho cut Jorge off as he asked him, "how do we know you're not just letting us walk into a trap and leaving us?"

Mara glanced once again towards Teresa who feels eyes on her and makes sure to stash the device for their inside her pocket. The two glance at each other Teresa worried that Mara was catching onto her.

"I never break my promises." Jorge stated. "Now, let's hurry up."

Rosie stood up from her crouching position ready to do what was necessary. Minho grabbed a hold of her hand stopping her. Jessie watched the interaction play out feeling a sense of jealousy forming in her chest. "I think you'll need this." Minho spoke handing Rosie her knife she had used to save his life back inside the abandoned mall.

Rosie glanced down to the knife seeing Jeremy's name carved in. The girl's thumb rubbed the name as she couldn't stop thinking about her recent memory about him. "Thank you, Minho."

"Yeah," Minho replied tilting his head down before whispering the next part, "just don't hurt him more than you already are."

The girl looked up at the Asian boy who shrugged his shoulders at him. "What's that suppose to mean?" Rosie questions Minho about his comment about Newt.

"Rosie," Samadhi spoke up grabbing a hold of her arm. "You're gonna help me with those two soldiers in that area." The girl pointed at the two soldiers as she wanted to keep Rosie focused and away from her messy love life.

Rosie nodded as she followed behind Samadhi who took initiative. Frypan grabbed a rock from the ground before throwing it in the opposite direction of where the girls were headed. The rock had smashed a window getting the attention of multiple soldiers who ran towards that direction.

The girls were able to walk out the door only seeing three soldiers waiting for the rest to come back. Rosie pulled Jeremy's knife out before hiding behind the side of a black truck, the WICKED logo displayed on the side of the door. Her hand let the knife drag against the truck's paint. The screeching noise of the knife keying the truck caused the three soldiers to turn around and spot Rosie.

"Oh, whoops, is this yours?" Rosie asks innocently.

"Hands in the air!" One of the soldiers yelled commanding her as the three pointed their guns at her.

Rosie put her hands up with a smile on her lips as she tilted her head at them, "Christ, I didn't kill a man, I only keyed your car. No need to point your guns at me."

"Identify yourself miss!" The same soldier yelled recognizing the girl with her hands in the air. He'd seen her inside the WICKED compound walking around the halls with a lab coat on before. The man wondered what the hell she was doing here.

"I would but then I'd have to kill you." Rosie replied her fingers starting to twirl the knife in her hand. "And honestly, I'm not in the mood for it tonight."

Rosie took a step forward until she was stopped by the soldiers. "Don't take another step! We will shoot! Turn around! Hand me the cuffs." The same soldier spoke to the other one who handed him the handcuffs. The soldier yelled at Rosie who hadn't done as she was told to do, "I said turn around!"

"Damn," Rosie responded doing as she was told turning around her knife still in her hand. "No need to be so harsh."

The soldier walked up to Rosie who had been waiting for him to get close to her proximity. "Don't move, miss." He spoke this time in a normal tone as the handcuffs were on his right hand. "Drop the knife."

"Can't do that sir."

"Why not?"

Rosie glanced behind her shoulder, "because if I do, I won't be able to do this."

Rosie turned her body swiftly using her knife to slash the man's wrists causing him to drop the weapon and the handcuffs to the ground. The two other soldiers eyes widen behind their masks opening fire at her. Rosie was able to use the man as a shield to cover herself. Samadhi jumped off the top of the trailer landing on one of the soldier's shoulders. The girl brought the man down to the ground leaving one soldier Rosie could focus on. The girl used the soldier's body to get closer to the last standing soldier.

Rosie was quickly able to get the gun out of the man's hands who was fearing for his life. Rosie pointed his weapon at him before telling him, "run."

The man took a second to get a good look at her before sprinting towards the direction the other soldiers had gone to. Rosie couldn't control her impulse she fought it for a split second before letting her finger press the trigger. A sudden rush of adrenaline went through her body. Samadhi's eyes widen seeing the bullet leave the gun and fly towards the direction of the running man. The girl turned around watching the man fall down to the ground as the bullet carved itself inside his lower back. The man let out a painful yell.

"What the hell, Rosie!?" Samadhi yelled at Rosie who was shocked at her own behavior as she dropped the gun to the ground when she came to her senses a few seconds after.

Minho and Frypan rush out the door hearing the cries of a bleeding man. "Are you two okay? We heard gunshots!" Frypan asked.

Samadhi glanced to Rosie giving her time to respond but realized she wasn't going to say anything. "We're okay. The rest can come out. We need to leave now!"

Minho and Frypan rush inside to get the rest out. Samadhi sprinted towards the man on the ground. The girl flipped him on his back looking for a pulse on his neck. She didn't find anything. Samadhi walked back before the rest scurried outside the building.

"He's dead, Rosie." Samadhi stated.

Rosie could feel her chest start to ache. Her hands starting to tremble. She gazed down at the other man Samadhi had gone against realizing Samadhi had only put him to sleep. She didn't kill him.

"What's happening to me?" Rosie whispers to Samadhi. Rosie couldn't recognize herself. The girl was hard headed and protective of the ones she loved and hurt a lot of people but she's never killed someone for the fun of it.

        "I used to think you were like me. You were attracted to the darkness." Samadhi spoke in a low tone, "but I think you're becoming the darkness."