❝ 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 ❞
▬▬ Chapter 05
• . ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳₊·͟͟͟͟͟͟͞͞͞͞͞͞➳💧

Madison stirred awake to the sharp sound of Thomas's voice, snapping at a bird that had stolen bread from his backpack. The early morning light filtered through the cracks in their makeshift shelter, casting a faint glow over the tired faces around her.

Rubbing her eyes, Madison sat up slowly, hearing Newt's quiet question. "Are they gone?"

"Yeah, for now. We better get going," Thomas replied, urgency lacing his tone.

Madison sighed, glancing at Aries, who was already awake, then at Evie, still deeply asleep despite the commotion. She leaned over, gently shaking Evie's shoulder.

"Evie, wake up," Madison whispered, her voice low but urgent.

Evie jolted awake, confusion in her eyes. "What's happening?"

"We need to move," Madison said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

As they packed up their things, a groan from Winston caught their attention. He struggled to sit up, his face contorted in pain.

"Hey, man. You okay?" Frypan asked, concern creasing his brow.

They set off through the ruins of a collapsed mall, navigating the scorched remnants of what had once been a bustling city. Madison couldn't help but imagine the vibrant lights and joyful crowds of the past, now replaced by desolation and sorrow.

"What the hell happened to this place?" Frypan asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

"I don't know, but it seems like no one's been here in a long time," Newt replied solemnly.

"I hope the whole world isn't like this," Aries muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, Thomas inhaled sharply, his body going tense. "What is it?" Madison asked, scanning their surroundings.

"Do you hear that?" Thomas whispered urgently. Madison strained to listen, her heart pounding. Then she heard it—a distant hum, growing louder.

"It's one of WICKED's bergs!" Thomas exclaimed, his voice frantic. "Everyone, hide!"

They scrambled for cover under a collapsed building as the berg and two helicopters flew overhead, their engines a deafening roar. Madison's heart raced as the sound faded into the distance.

"Is everyone okay?" Thomas checked, his voice a whisper.

Once the coast was clear, they climbed over the rubble and found themselves atop a sand dune, the mountains looming ahead. "That's our destination," Thomas said, pointing.

"It's far," Newt remarked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

They pressed on, but soon Winston stumbled and collapsed face-first into the sand. "Winston!" Thomas called out, rushing to his side.

"He's badly hurt," Evie observed, her brow furrowing with concern.

"What should we do?" Teresa asked, looking to Evie for guidance.

Drawing on her experience as a doctor in The Spring, Evie quickly assessed the situation. "Let's make a stretcher with our jackets and some sturdy branches."

Together, they worked quickly, fashioning a makeshift stretcher and lifting Winston onto it. His face twisted in pain as they secured him, preparing to continue their journey.

"Let's keep moving," Thomas directed, his voice steady but laced with worry. Madison stole a final glance at the ruined city behind them, the weight of their journey pressing heavily on her heart.

Hours passed in silence, broken only by the crunch of sand beneath their feet and Winston's occasional groans of discomfort. The sun climbed higher, casting harsh shadows over the barren landscape. Madison kept a vigilant eye on Winston, her worry never fading.

When they finally stopped to rest, Madison sat beside Evie, the exhaustion of the journey settling in. They exchanged a tired smile, silently acknowledging the strength they had drawn from each other.

Meanwhile, Thomas and Teresa conferred a short distance away. "How's it looking?" Newt asked, his voice filled with anxiety.

"Just a bit further," Thomas replied, his tone strained.

"Well, that's not reassuring," Newt muttered, turning back to the group with a grimace.

Suddenly, Winston's hand shot out, and he grabbed Frypan's gun, aiming it at his own head. Evie reacted immediately, disarming him before he could pull the trigger, the bullet harmlessly shooting into the air.

"Thomas! Teresa!" Aries shouted, panic in his voice.

Thomas sprinted back, his face a mask of alarm. "What happened?" he demanded.

"He grabbed my gun. Evie stopped him," Frypan explained, his voice shaky.

Winston looked at them, his eyes pleading as he reached out with a trembling hand. Thomas approached cautiously, but Winston suddenly doubled over, retching violently. He lifted his shirt, revealing a dark, spreading infection across his stomach.

"It's growing," Winston gasped, his voice strained with pain. "I'm not going to make it. Please, don't let me turn."

Newt, his expression heavy with sorrow, retrieved Frypan's gun and placed it gently on Winston's chest, offering him a solemn nod.

"Thank you," Winston whispered, his voice breaking. "Now go."

Madison felt a pang of sorrow for the boy she barely knew. "Goodbye, Winston," Newt said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper as he turned away.

Madison and Evie exchanged a small, sad smile before continuing their journey. The weight of Winston's loss hung in the air, an unspoken burden they carried with them.

As they moved toward the mountains, Madison replayed Winston's final moments in her mind, his desperate plea echoing in her thoughts. Beside her, Evie walked silently, their shared grief unspoken but palpable.

Nightfall found them sheltering beneath a rocky overhang, offering minimal protection from the elements. They made camp, the feeble fire casting flickering shadows in the darkness.

"I thought we were immune," Minho remarked bitterly, staring at the flames.

"Not all of us, it seems," Teresa replied softly.

"If Winston could get sick, any of us could," Newt added grimly.

"I never thought I'd say it, but I miss the Glade," Frypan admitted, his voice thick with emotion.

Madison thought of The Spring, memories of a time when things had seemed simpler. She waited until the others slept before slipping away, finding solace beneath the vast night sky.

She settled against a log, gazing up at the stars. A soft crunch of sand drew her attention, and she turned to see Minho approaching.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Madison asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Minho shook his head, settling down beside her. They sat in silence for a while, the vast desert stretching endlessly before them.

"Looking back, things seemed easier," Madison mused quietly, breaking the silence.

Minho nodded in agreement. "Tell me more about The Spring."

Madison shared stories of her time in the Glade, the struggles they'd faced, and the tight-knit camaraderie among the Icers. Minho listened intently, offering his own experiences from his days as a Runner and Keeper.

"We had our own struggles," Minho reflected, his voice thoughtful. "But nothing like this."

Madison glanced at him, the bond between them slowly strengthening amidst the desolation. Despite the hardships, there was comfort in sharing their stories, in finding common ground even as the world fell apart.

They talked long into the night, finding a fragile peace in each other's company before exhaustion finally claimed them both.

AUTHORS NOTE;

Thank you so much for reading! I really appreciate all the support and feedback, and it means the world to me that you've taken the time to follow Madison and her journey in this harsh world. This chapter was tough to write, as I wanted to capture both the overwhelming weight of loss and the quiet moments of connection that keep the group moving forward. Losing Winston was a reminder of how fragile their survival is, and the emotional toll it's taking on all of them is something I want to explore more in the next chapters.

I'm so grateful for all the comments, shares, and love you've shown this story. Let me know what you think of this chapter – any thoughts on the dynamics between the characters, or where you think the story might go next? I'm always excited to hear your ideas and feedback.

Stay tuned for the next chapter! Much love and appreciation to all of you. 💙

Until next time, GRACIEEEEEEE !!!!!! <2222