Michelle 47

My shoes dig into the ground as I try to pull the rope backwards, nearly kicking the girl helping in front of me. Somehow, we managed to tie all four ropes together, enough so that it reaches the three and a half storeys to the ground. My arms shake as I rip them backwards. It's impossible to see with the hair, but I don't dare brush it away.

"Keep going!" Saph's voice scratches against her throat. It's rough from screaming. "Only a few more metres to go!"

Seriously? "Shuck me." I mutter but continue to pull.

More boys and girls pull on the rope as it comes up, since it gets longer and longer. Though my arms are tired, we pull up Beth's unconscious body more and more. Eventually, Hilde's head peaks over the edge, and she climbs up.

I let go of the rope, running next to her. Saph is still holding Beth's body, trying to keep her in place, making sure the ropes don't snap. I grab one of Beth's arms, and the swarming crowd around me grabs the other. Slowly, but surely, we lift Beth up over the edge.

I thought someone might applaud, since everyone seems to be happy with the accomplishment. Instead, our chests huff together. Beth still doesn't stir. How much of a shucking dosage did Leo give the girl?

The sun should be rising soon. I can feel it in the air, which is warm around me. None of us have even begun to scour the top of the mountain for an overhang, or a cave. This is the closest that I've ever been to the sun, and that I will ever be. Maybe I'm not actually a ginger according to Brenda, but I'm still aggressively pale.

Hilde sits on the ground. She puts her face in her hand, curling up into a ball. I don't need to look over the edge to see her other friend's body. Joan must've fallen a great deal.

I barely knew her. Joan was whiny, but hardworking. Still, I can't bring myself to look at her body, nor can I find myself consoling Hilde on the ground.

A boy with dark skin bumps into me, and I flinch. He glances me up and down, crossing his arms over his chest. He must be one of us from Group B.

"You're Michelle, right?" He asks. "The Hermit?"

I nod, up and down. What's his deal? "You want my subject number too?"

His eyes light up, looking around. It's as if it's the best news he has heard of all week. "What is it? I hadn't even paid much attention to the numbers, when I should have. Trust me, I like numbers more than the next guy, but I got too caught up in the words."

He's way too weird. I shake my head back and forth, brushing him off. I stalk away, looking around. If someone is going to fine a place for us to stay during the day, it might as well be me.

I pass by Leo, doting over Dawn. Minho's jacket hangs over Dawn's lap. The two are wrapped in a full embrace. Newt is next to them, his hand resting on Leo's shoulder, waiting for her to continue. I feel out of place, so I keep walking.

Since the rocks are jagged, I nearly trip and fall. My friends linger behind me, until they blur together. See, I was never really meant for crowds, or people, or friends. How many people are back there? The only possible answer is too many.

This is the highest point on the mountain. In the dark, it's impossible to see anything but the ground directly beneath me. It is harder the farther off I move, since my eyes have become accustom to the flashlights.

I hear some rocks cracking behind me, and I turn around.

Behind me, a boy with brown skin and red eyes stares at me. For a second, I think he might be a Crank. His head twitches slightly, and his black hair is unruly. I pull my hammer out of my belt, waiting for him to charge at me, or to start screaming like Gally did only days ago.

"You're twitchy," he comments. My eyes continue to scan him, until I realise I have seen him before, but only vaguely. Only in glimpses. Group B, again.

"What's your number?" He asks, glancing me up and down.

What is his name again? His clothes smell like a clumsy night around the bonfire. Like drinks and sweat. They are dirtier than I think they ought to be, even for the Scorch. He circles around me. I half expecting him to breathe in my scent or lick my neck. I am ridiculously thankful when he doesn't.

"They dye your hair?" He notices, a faint grin on his face. "It's odd. Why would WICKED do that?"

"What do you want?" I ask, turning away. The sun begins to peak over the horizon.

"Subject. Number." He enunciates every single letter as carefully as he possibly can.

Which one is he? I wish I remembered any of the boys other than Jay. I mean, there is the boy with diabetes, but I've got no idea what his name is.

"Who are you?" I ask, turning my head to the side.

"Lott," he smirks, biting his lip. The muscles under his shirt tense. I can feel my heart climbing into the roof of my mouth, so I turn away. Gally is on my mind, even when I look at him. He isn't Gally though. I told myself after Winston that I was done trying to distract myself. It doesn't work.

"The Wires," he tells me.

"Michelle," I swallow, staring him up and down.

"Number," he steps even closer, until his chest is practically against mine.

I blink a few times. He places a hand in my hair, before leaning in. His lips graze mine. They are dry, but warm. I can feel our breath mixing in the air.

"Hey," I pull back, looking over to Doug. He's stalking over towards us. "Hank and Aidan found an over pass that way." He points behind him, back towards the group.

The sun is sweeping over the horizon its bright light casts shadows over our faces. Lott smirks, winking over to Doug. He backs away, heading up the hill towards the rest of the group. My feet stay planted firmly.

"Michelle, what are you doing?" Doug asks, stepping closer towards me. "Seriously?"

I cross my arms over my chest, turning away. From here, I can see all the way down the mountain. From here, I can see where our journey brings us. We have two nights to walk, and then we are done. The second, and hopefully final, trial any of us will ever have to endure.

"You know that he is seeing Sheil, right?" Doug asks, moving up next to me.

How would I know that? Besides, I don't even know who Sheil is. I glance over, scanning Doug's face. I wait for him to accuse me of being a man stealer, like has happened to me a dozen times before, but nothing comes. I am not one to value the sanctity of relationships, especially since I'm one to break them myself.

"Do you have a thing for me?" I ask, looking him up and down.

Doug flinches backward, before he grimaces. His face sucks in on itself like I've just force fed him a lemon. Ouch.

"No, I just don't trust Lott," Doug says. "He's obviously got a drinking problem."

I think he is Group B's me. Similar ways of operating, similar expressions, similar methods. There's got to be some weird reason he wants my subject name and number. It was really clever the way he almost pulled it out of me though. I could tell from his smirk.

"I don't think he actually wanted to sleep with me," I tell him. "He's much sneakier than that. Information is his game."

"Don't let it be," Doug warns. He grabs my shoulder, squeezing it, though he is still grimacing. I get that he thinks I'm repulsive, but it would be nice if he pretended, if even just for a second, that my body could be somewhat attractive in dim lighting.

"Do you think I'm a brunette?" I ask, beginning to lead the way back to the rest of us.

Doug shrugs, before actually looking at me. "It's hard to tell. Your hair is so wild. I thought it was just dirty."

So did I. "People keep commenting on it. Why would WICKED dye my hair?"

"Shuck if I know," he offers.

We reach the remaining members of the group. Doug moves over to help with Beth. The only people left here are Leo, Dawn, Minho, and Newt. Great. I can be the fifth wheel. That's just spectacular.

"Don't..." I pause, thinking maybe this isn't the time. They were silent before I came, but that's to be expected, given all of this. I shake my head back and forth. "How are you feeling?"

"Like klunk," Dawn notes, before sighing. "Relieved too, actually."

I look to Minho, waiting for him to flinch, or to chime in, but he remains silent. I guess I can't blame him for that.

I nod. Klunk, it's embarrassing how bad I am at this. Can't I just be comforting like a normal person? I reach down, carefully patting Dawn on the back. I try to smile, but I think it just comes across like I have Vaseline covering my teeth.

"Thanks," Dawn manages. I hope she can't tell how difficult this is for me.

"We'd better get inside, before it gets any brighter," Newt offers. He pulls himself to his feet. Leo follows after him, as Minho helps Dawn up.

"You two, hey," I call. They all turn around, and I sigh. "Just Leo and Dawn."

Minho looks to Dawn. When she nods, both he and Newt peel off from us, heading into the cave.

"You sure you good?" I ask, looking over Dawn.

She pauses, her eyes flickering to the ground, and she shakes her head up and down. Leo's gaze does not leave Dawn. I wonder if she even notices I'm here.

"You good?" Dawn asks back. "You mentioned how awful it was to be on your own."

I nod. I wasn't on my own most of the time, since Gally was around, but it wasn't easy. "Yeah, I'd rather not talk about it though."

Dawn puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes gently. What's it with everyone and suddenly being touchy feely? She lowers her hand, looking over at Leo. I'd rather talk about anything else.

"I know it's not the best time," I begin, "but we aren't going to get a best time. Just, don't tell anyone your subject numbers."

Leo's eyes widen. Finally, it seems that I have stolen her attention. "Subject numbers? That'll link us up with the boys. We'll know our counterparts."

"Yeah, well, Lott is being weird about it," I cut her off, not exactly happy to curb her excitement.

"Weird how?" Dawn asks.

I sigh, rolling my head to the side. I huff out another breath. I might as well tell them, even if it's weird. "He tried to kiss me."

"Doesn't he have a thing with Sheil?" Dawn asks, confused. "I always got that vibe off him."

"He could be like me," Leo offers.

I raise an eyebrow, and Leo sighs.

"I like both," she answers, her voice quieter.

I guess that's fair. "Maybe he does, but he's still freaking me out. For now, let's just keep it to ourselves. Deal?"

Leo and Dawn both look to each other, and they turn back to me. Dawn nods first, and Leo follows suit.

"Might as well get inside then," I shuffle forward, trying to escape the awkwardness of this encounter.

"Not so soon," Dawn grabs my collar, pulling me backwards. From behind, she wraps her arms around me. "Come here you big lug."

My shoulders tense up. "Dawn-"

"You can be all stiff and weird, but I can tell you are worried about us," Dawn mutters. "You're so sweet. Leo, hug us."

"Really, it's fine," I stammer, my cheeks burning.

Leo hesitantly moves her arms around us, pulling the pair of us into a hug.

We stand, the three of us, together on the top of the mountain. Holding on to each other, albeit reluctantly, in face of the day.