Atomic [Newt || Maze Runner]

[Chapter 12] ✙ Lesson Number Four

Aris looked to Eden for a brief moment, smiling wryly as he watched her bawl her eyes out against Harriet. "We were in the maze together," He explained, turning back to face the Gladers with a bright beam.

As if to prove his point and show they meant no threat, Harriet raised her hand from Eden's head to her mouth, giving a sharp whistle towards the mountain ranges. "We're clear, guys!" She shouted. "Come on out!"

"Copy that!" A voice hollered back. And soon, several figures emerged from beyond the chasms, each carrying a sniper rifle and dressed head to toe in camouflage. "Stand down! We're clear!" One informed the rest of their comrades.

Harriet scanned the group of unfamiliar faces, chuckling slightly at their relieved yet skeptical expressions as they stared up in amazement. She then turned her attention down to Eden, who has since stopped mumbling incomprehensible words and resorted to crying her heart out.

Unlike the late Marie or even Sonya, Harriet was never really the type to indulge Eden and her timid personality. Instead, she'd often chastise her, telling her than she needed to toughen up and stop letting every little thing shake the foundations of her emotional state.

But just this once, she thought it'd be okay to spoil her just a little.

So she wrapped a hand around the raven-haired girl's head, holding her as tightly as possible while whispering words of reassurance. Just like that day, mere weeks ago, when she saw her stumble out of the Medical Ward after her tears had dried up from crying.

+ + +

"Back it up, Joe!" Sonya instructed, leading the group through the inner cavern, which had been previously blocked off by the nose of a truck. But as her voice's command, the ignition of the old vehicle roared to life as the headlights flickered on.

"Backing up!" The man sitting inside nodded, slowly inching the truck backwards to reveal the path further up the mountains. A few men congregate to the side of the road, eyeing the newcomers with suspicion. One of them turned to Harriet with an inquisitive look.

"We're taking them to base," She explained, trying her best to seem tough and put-together despite Eden sticking to her side like a little lost puppy.

Aris glanced around at the crowds of people. "Wait, so, how did you guys get here?" He asked curiously.

"The Right Arm got us out," Sonya replied, her words immediately piquing Thomas's interests as he stepped to the front of the group.

"Wait. The Right Arm?" His brows furrowed. "Do you know where they are?"

Hearing his question, Harriet and Sonya exchanged a knowing look. The former of the two then reached for the back door of the truck, tugging it open with a firm yank. "Hop in," She said, a mysterious smile pulling at her lips.

+ + +

Riding in two separate SUVs, Harriet and Sonya took the group further up the mountains until they finally arrived on the outskirts of what they could only presume to be the Right Arm's base.

As Eden climbed out of the backseat of the car, she couldn't help but gawk at the beautiful view that panned out before her eyes. Situated under a towering cliff, the sunlight drew a soft shadow across the various tents set up within the vicinity as people bustled about. Some were crowded by the food tent, gulping down on the latest batch of stew while others were busy carrying boxes supplies from place to place.

"They've been planning this for over a year now," Harriet said, drawing Eden out of her thoughts as she began to make her way down a slight incline. "This is all for us."