Aversion (The Maze Runner, Newt / Sequel to Violation)

6 - Into The Desert

The woman, though, merely asked several questions back, seeming to have ignored and disregarded Newt's question. "How'd you get in the Scorch? Where'd you come from? How'd you get here?" she spoke.

Minho turned to Thomas, Newt, and her before asking quietly. "What do we tell these people?"

"I don't know. The truth? It can't hurt." Thomas mused, and Wendy slapped his head immediately. He yelped quietly as Minho did the same, except with words.

"The truth?" Minho said sarcastically. "What an idea, Thomas. You're freaking brilliant, as usual." he huffed before straightening his face and turning to the Cranks. "We were sent here by WICKED. Came out of a hole just a little while that way, from a tunnel. We're supposed to go one hundred miles to the north, cross the Scorch. Any of that mean a thing to you?"

But yet again, the Cranks acted as if he hadn't even uttered a word. "Not all Cranks are gone. Not all of them are past the Gone. Different ones at different levels. Best you learn who to make friends with and who to avoid. Or kill. Better learn right quick if you're coming our way."

"What's your way?" Minho asked. "You came from that town, right? Is that where all these Cranks live? Is there food and water there?"

Wendy was growing impatient by now when they didn't answer yet again. Their eyes continued roaming though, and again did they land on her. The woman's brows were furrowed again, eyes seeming mischievous as the man's portrayed as rough instead.

"You're Wendy." The woman stated, slowly walking forward towards her. Newt and Minho reacted instantly and stepped in front of her to where her head was only visible through between their shoulders.

"What's it to you?" Newt asked harshly, "How do you know her?"

"Wendy." The man repeated before he let out a sound that seemed much like a laugh. "She's looking for you." he commented before altering his gaze, "If you don't have it yet, you'll have it soon. Same with the other group. The ones that're supposed to kill you."

The strangers then turned around and ran back towards the town they came from. Then, they disappeared with the blur of dust, and Wendy found her body becoming slightly relaxed when Frypan said, "Other group?"

"Wonder if they're talking about my group." Aris mused, and the group had a wide discussion over who they were gonna kill. Wendy though, kept in the same spot, eyes still bouncing on the horizon of the buildings where the Cranks had left to. "Who did they mean by she?" Wendy suddenly sounded, and like that, the chatter died down to nothing but complete silence.

She turned, eyes meeting multiple gazes. As if she could turn people to stone, they all looked away, eyes finding somewhere else to stare at as she desperately tried to find an answer. "Who is she?"

Newt suddenly came up to her and placed his hand on her arm, but Wendy could tell something was off because his touch wasn't relaxed, it was tense, yet he still met eyes with her and said, "Nothing to worry about." he told her with a half-smile. "Probably just some whack, ya know? They're Cranks after all."

Wendy nodded after she processed his words, but despite the understanding gaze she gave, she knew that he was lying. She could tell that they all were when they agreed, but continued to keep it to herself. With a sigh, she turned her body and crossed her arms as they continued to make a plan. The question still ringed in her mind as she did so, "Who was she?"