𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚

2 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧:

Combat boots thud against the thick vegetation, snapping twigs and crunching leaves as they sprint and dodge through thick brush.

Heavy breathing and gasps for air fall from the girl's lips as she runs for her life.

Terrified emerald eyes widen at the awful screech echoing through the trees behind her as she continues to push her legs faster.

Time seems to slow as trees before the girl fall to the forest floor, making the small brunette skid to a stop—flailing her arms out in front of her to balance herself.

Another loud screech rips through the air as the creature suddenly comes into view, crushing the vegetation beneath it as it's long metal legs stab into the dirt.

Panic surges through the girl's body as her emerald's almost pop out of her head. 𝘕𝘰. 𝘕𝘰...

The frozen girl finally kicks her feet into a sprint and darts in the opposite direction from the creature—running for her life, yet again.

Small trees and shrubs crush under the weight of the creature as it gallops after the girl—letting out an ear piercing screech as it runs.

Hair on the back of the small brunette's neck stands up as she feels the creature growing closer and closer. Goosebumps poke out on the girl's skin as she pushes herself to sprint as fast as her small body can carry her.

𝘕𝘰. 𝘕𝘰. 𝘕𝘰...

Just as the girl hurdled over a fallen tree, the creature pounced—landing its metal claws above the girl and sending her to the ground below.

Small hands clawed at the ground beneath her, digging her nails into the dirt as she flips her body around to face her inevitable death.

The girl froze as all of the color drained out of her face.

The griever let out another screech right in front of her face—blowing the strands of hair all around her as the girl's body trembled in fear.

Saliva from the creature's mouth dripped from its fangs while it's metallic claw spun above, quickly shooting out its needle.

A petrified scream left the girl's lips as the creature jumped forward.

Emerald orbs snap open as gasps and heavy breaths fall from the girl—trying to catch her breath as she looks around in fear.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘊𝘒𝘋 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. The girl tells herself as she squeezes her eyes shut tightly.

"Get subject A3 to her cell." The doctor says as she peels the wires off of the exhausted and terrified girl.

Blake ran a hand through her hair as she listened to the footsteps echoing outside of her cell. Not bothering to attack the incoming guards as the exhaustion weakened her body.

"A3. Up and to your feet."

Blake rolled her eyes as she pushed her hands against her thighs to help push herself up.

Once at her full height the guard quickly grasped her bicep and yanked the girl towards the door.

"What's wrong? Lost the urge to use me as a punching bag?" The guard asked as he led the girl down the small hallway.

"I'm giving you a break day to recover." Blake answered dryly, voice cracking as the back of her throat strung from screaming. "Don't get used to it, Bob."

"Tim." The guard corrected the girl as the cafeteria came into view.

"Whatever." Blake sassed as she ripped the guard's hand off of her bicep.

"You look like shit." A feminine voice whispered as Blake set her tray down.

"Thank you, Sonya. I tried to look my best today." Blake said as she sent the girl a half smile—picking up her fork to stab the disgusting food in front of her.

"Janson still torturing you?" Aris questioned as Blake lifted her eyes up to glance at the boy, chewing the food in her mouth.

"Are we still breathing?" Blake answered simply

"I don't know how much more of this shit I can take. It's been six months." Minho sighed as he picked at his food.

"We're never going to get out of here, are we?"

Blake swallowed her food as her shoulders slouched.

"Don't say that, Aris. We're going to get out of here." Sonya spoke softly as she lifted her heavy eyelids up to meet the boy's hopeless expression.

"Thomas is probably closing in as we speak. He won't stop looking for us. I know it." Minho added as he looked between the small group of friends.

"We should start planning. We need a plan B just in case things go south. We can't always rely on our friends to swoop in and save us."

The other three teenagers nod at the small brunette's suggestion. All remaining silent as a mixture of voices and silverware clanking against tables and trays carried over the room.

"I heard they're moving us soon." Minho spoke up after a moment as he looks across the table to Blake who now sat, poking at her food.

"Where?" Sonya questioned as her eyebrows furrowed.

"Heard something about the last city. I think it's WCKD's main facility. They control that place. If we plan on escaping—we gotta do it before then. Once we get into a place surrounded by everyone who works for and obeys WCKD..."

"We're fucked." Blake finishes the boy's sentence for him, batting her heavy eyelids as she watches Minho nod his head in confirmation.

"Yeah, to put it simply."