The rag tag group of teens and their token adult and child packed up to leave after a breakfast of canned food and bottled water.

Thomas was looking pale, but he was able to sit up and ate a little, which Alex took as a good sign. Brenda on the other hand wasn't looking so good, herself. Alex had gotten up to go sit beside her.

"Hey girl." Alex said as she plunked down beside her. Brenda nodded.

"Did you do it?" She asked quietly, playing with a stick.

Alex nodded. "He deserved more than a quick death." Staring into the dying fire. "That sick son of a shucken Griever..is now a disgusting smell in the attic."

Brenda nodded again. "He was the one who took my brother. At least that was the rumor anyways."

"That sucks. I'm sorry B. " Alex said quietly. "He can't take anymore kids. He's rotting in his club now."

"Good. Alex the Ace is back at it." Brenda gave her a sly smile.

"GIRLS! Time to go!" Jorge called from the truck.

"Okay, you need to explain that name sometime." Alex chuckled. She stood up and offered her hand to Brenda. She accepted. But she stumbled a bit.

"You doing okay? You want some water or pain killers or something?"

"Are you saying I don't look good?" Brenda asked, raising her eyebrow.

"What I'm saying is...." Alex said in defence, raising her hands up. "Ya. You look like klunk." Alex responded, looking her up and down, with a smirk.

"I'm fine."

"Ya sure? Cuz-" she was interrupted.

"I said. I'm Fine." Brenda snapped.

"All right. Slim it cranky. Are you typically this shucken stubborn and snappy? Or is it a natural thing?" Alex asked, cocking an eyebrow, folding her arms and sticking a hip out.

The guys all stopped loading the truck and watched the girls, expecting a possible cat fight.

"Oh I was absolutely born to be the biggest pain in the ass. 100%." Brenda sassed.

"Huh, I guess you're right." Alex said soulfully. She looked down, then back at Brenda sadly, clapped her on the shoulder, "klunk happens my friend...I mean....look at your face! Looks like I drew it with my left hand!"

The boys burst out laughing. Jorge snorted, trying to hide his smile. Brenda on the other hand got an evil grin, even though she did look pale and sweaty.

"It's like looking in the mirror!" She sassed back.

"Brenda?" Alex asked seriously. Brenda cocked her head. "Brenda...I'm honestly not insulting you....I'm.. I'm just accurately  describing you!"

Brenda gasped. Alex giggled so hard she snorted.

"What is wrong with you?" Brenda huffed.

"So much, B. So much is wrong. You got time to listen? Though you'd need therapy after listening. Like it's dark and shucked in there." Alex dropped the sassy smile. "But seriously, you okay?"

Brenda nodded, "Ya, I'm fine. Just...tiered."

_____________________

Thomas was propped up in the trunk again. Alex, Minho and Teresa were in the back seat, Frypan, Chloe, Brenda and Aris squished into the middle and somehow Newt called Shotgun again.

It took most of the morning to get to the base of the mountain. And then another hour or two to make their way up the winding road. Alex had her head resting on the window, watching the scenery pass by out the window. Minho had her hand in his lap, playing with her fingers and rubbing slow calming circle on the back of her hand.

"Hey Jorge?" she called.

"Yes Hermana?" He glanced at her in the rear view mirror.

"What's with the abandoned cars on the road? People just left their vehicles? Why? Seems weird. Doesn't it?"

"That is a very good question. I noticed it's getting more congested." He replayed as he slowly passed around another abandoned car. He slowed down and came to a stop. He climbed out of the truck. Alex watched him, the road up ahead was impassible, it looked like a traffic jam, but everything was empty and abandoned. Jorge took a few steps, turned and called back, "Well, I guess we're on foot."

Grumbling, everyone got out of the truck and grabbed their bags, Alex helped Thomas out.

"You good?" He nodded. "Sure? You're white as a ghost. And kinda sweaty"

"Okay...ya I'm a little dizzy." He panted.

"Hey Min! Help." Alex called. Together the two helped him along. They slowly followed Jorge.

Cars and trucks were all squished together, there was only space to walk, no way to get their truck down here. Alex peered into some of the car windows. Bags were left on the seats, some seats were ripped, a few windows were smashed, some had tiny little holes, or spider cracks.

"Hey Jorge, come look at this!" Alex called, she stopped walking, Minho slowly lowered Thomas down to sit. He was extremely pale and sweaty. He winced with each movement and his breathing was ragged. Jorge walked over. Alex had an uncomfortable feeling, she felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. She snapped her eyes up to the mountain range around them. She slowly spun in a circle, her eyes searching.

"What's up Hermana?"

Alex slowly turned back to Jorge and pointed to the car window, "Look at this...it looks...odd. Something about this feels uncomfortable. And I think we're being watched." She whispered to him.

His eyes went wide. No sooner had she said that when something small whistled passed her and made a sharp ding sound as it hit the car beside her.

"Shuck! GET DOWN!" Alex shouted.

"Get down! Take cover!" Jorge called beside her. There were a few more metal ting sounds as more bullets hit the cars around them.

"Hey, is everyone okay out there? Chloe?! Tes? Brenda?" Alex yelled.

"We're fine." A small voice a few cars away yelled.

"Thanks babe, we're doing ok too! Thanks for asking! Appreciate it" Minho sassed.

"Minho! Shots being fired. Time to focus!" Alex scolded, "but glad you're not shot, Thomas is bad enough."

"Rude." She heard Thomas huff.

"Anyone know where those bloody shots came from?" Newt called.

Alex couldn't see him, but he sounded like he was on the other side of a car.

"Ya, from somewhere up in the mountains, they're hiding. Either they are horrible shots and missed us all or...they're average and it's just warning shots ..but why waste bullets?" Alex yelled back.

"That son of a -"

"Language Jorge!" Newt called

Alex rolled her eyes, "priorities Newton! Bad words versus shot in the head.."

"Marcus! He led us into an ambush." Jorge growled. He took his bag off and started rummaging inside.

"What do we do?" Alex wondered. She wasn't planning on getting shot. How could she protect everyone?

"Here. Hold this." Jorge said, handing her a homemade explosive.

Alex smiled evilly. "I like the way you think Sir. But this time, make sure a building doesn't fall on me."

"Seeing as there are no buildings around, I'd say your odds are pretty good." He gave her a quick apologetic look. "We gotta create a diversion. You get ready to chuck it." He explained as he pulled out the detonator. He matched her evil smile with his own.

"Everybody! Get set to sprint back to the truck!" He called.

"And hold your ears!" Alex yelled.

"Or in your case one ear!" Minho retorted.

Alex snorted.

"Ready? One...Two..."

There was a click behind her, and Alex felt something cold press to the back of her head.

"Drop it."

Alex growled

How many shucken times will I be snuck up on? Where did these slint heads come from? Ahhh the snipers were just a shucken distraction! Shuck sakes...maybe we can still use the bomb...

Alex slowly brought her hands up, still holding the explosive.

"I said drop it!" Her head was pushed forward a little as the cold metal pressed into her skull.

"On your feet. Let's go." Another female voice yelled.

Shuck.

She caught Jorge's eye who shook his head, Alex sighed and let the explosive drop.

"Let's go! Move!"

Alex slowly stood up

"Back up!"

"Easy!"

She saw out of the corner of her eye Minho trying to help Thomas to his feet, someone was trying to push Minho away.

"Hey, that pale sweaty kid was shot, easy on him!" Alex called angrily.

Anger springing up, she felt protective of him, he took a bullet for her. She could never repay that. She saw the person double take.

"You two, over here now!"

Frypan and Chloe slowly appeared and walked over, once Chloe was close she flung her arms around Alex's waist. Alex slowly pushed the child behind her, blocking her with her body. Alex was also feeling protective of Chloe...actually of everyone.

"Come on, let's go!" One of their captors was indicating with their shotgun to Teresa, Brenda and Aris to come stand by the rest.

"Don't be stupid! Move."

The group tried to huddle together. One captor was still following Brenda and the other had their eyes on Thomas and Minho.

"Slowly."

"Aris?"

Aris's eyes went wide and his mouth fell open.

"Oh, my God. Harriet?"

He was staring at the girl who had followed Brenda. The one captor pulled her scarf off her face.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She gasped. Their other captor pulled her scarf off.

"Sonya!" Aris gasped.

"Aris, you're lucky we didn't shoot your dumb ass!" She rolled her eyes

"SONYA?" Alex and Newt yelped, Alex spun around.

"SONYA?!?" She screamed.

"No way ..." she breathed, her eyes wide.

No one moved. And no one said anything. All eyes bounced between Alex, Sonya and Newt.

As if someone had unpaused them, they all screamed and sprung forward. Newt wrapped his sisters in his arms, while the girls clung to each other and him. Alex didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry. So, she did both.

Sonya pulled away, and cupped Alex and Newt's check. Just looking at them. Alex doing the same. Huge grins on all their faces.

"Plot twist!" Called Minho, making Newt roll his eyes and Alex laugh.

Sonya glanced over Alex's shoulder, and her eyebrows raised, a smirk sliding onto her face.

"Now that I'm not holding you at gunpoint... You must be Minho."

"The one and only." He puffed his chest out, "how do you know me? No wait..." he put a hand up as if to stop her. "Correction how much do you know about me?"

He glanced at Alex, who blushed but winked at him.

"Oh, Alex told me ALL about you." Sonya smirked.

"Did she now..?" Minho sent a sly grin at Alex, who's face heated up a little more. He came beside her, held his hand out.

"Minho."

"Sonya."

"I gotta thank you. That one time...you gave some shuck amazing advice. Not that I needed reminding, but.. definitely remembered." He smirked at Sonya and then gave Alex one roguish smile, his eyes flashing.

Sonya grinned back shaking his hand, she looked him up and down, "anytime my man...any time. Glad my advice was useful." She winked at them.

She leaned towards Alex. "Alright, I like him. Your description was spot on. Big brother approved?" She teased, looking at Newt.

He huffed and crossed his arms. "Ya...sometimes." He gave Minho a glare.

"Dude, I'm your best shucken friend!" Minho smirked at Newt, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles look bigger.

"Except when you leave Dracula marks on her neck!"

Alex rolled her eyes, "someone is cranky, he interupted our wild passionate bathroom floor shenanigans back in WICKED."

"ALEX!" Newt yelped, "it better not have happened!" He rounded on Minho.

Sonya doubled over laughing and Minho just looked proud.

Someone awkwardly cleared their throat.

"So..How...? You guys know Aris?" Frypan cut in, trying to change the uncomfortable subject.

"We were in the maze together." The other girl, Harriet, explained.

"I shucken knew it!" Alex whispered to herself.

Harriet whistled loudly and waved a hand, and called, "We're clear, guys! Come on out!"

Heads popped up from various hiding spots, one guy called back, "Copy that! We're clear! Stand down!"

"My Goodness! You're actually alive!" Sonya said in disbelief, still looking between them.

Alex's face darkened. "Ya, somehow. Hardly..."

"Ya the last time I heard you in my head, you were screaming something about your maze and escape ..or something?" Sonya questioned, linking her arm through hers.

"Ya...we escaped, were all that's left. And we picked up Asris, Chloe, Brenda and Jorge after the maze..." Alex said sadly, quietly.

Sonya's face fell.

"I sense a long story. We need to catch up! And looks like you need a doctor, that kid doesn't look so good."

"What are you talking about? I look great! I'm fine." Thomas mumbled, as he stumbled, Frypan caught him.

"Thanks Fry-Guy!" He mumbled, a goofy smile on his face, then winced and moaned.

"All right Tommy. Come on" Newt sighed. Glade Mama Newt and Frypan helped hold him up.

They followed Harriet through the cars to a tunnel, she slapped the hood of a big truck that was blocking the road.

"Back it up, Joe! Back it up!"

"We're taking them to base." Sonya added, the man driving nodded his head.

"Wait, so, how did you guys get here?" Alex asked

"The Right Arm got us out." Harriet said, glancing over her shoulder.

"Wait. The Right Arm?" Newt asked.

"Do you know where they are?" Thomas wandered in disbelief, his big whiskey brown eyes met Alex.

"Do you believe us now Newt?" Alex cocked an eyebrow at him, placing her free hand on her hip, glaring at him. He looked at his shoes and smiled sheepishly at her and then at Sonya.

*****************************************

SISSY IS HERE! SONYA!!!

**Also Newt will never let those Dracula marks go...or the passionate bathroom floor shenanigans.