匚卄卂卩ㄒ乇尺 几|几乇ㄒ乇乇几
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❝ This is a product of who we are. ❞
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Aife could feel her legs aching as they stepped through the rubble, their shoes occasionally slipping on the dirty rocks. She was exhausted. They left not long after their conversation back at the old cabin, not wanting to sit in the room and feel useless any longer. Also, they needed to meet Thomas and Brenda. Aife would never admit it, but she was worried.

This boy changed her life completely, he freed her, and now he would be gone without her even being able to thank him. Which she rarely ever did.

She wasn't ever this concerned back in the glade, but she barely had anyone now. The gladers were dropping like flies, and she wanted to save them all. She kept her face in a hardened expression as she held her head up high, her eyes narrowed as she led the group up front, along with Jorge next to her, seeing as he was the one who was taking them to their destination.

Aife had her right hand on her belt, and her left arm was swinging loosely by her side. Occasionally, Jorge would glance over at her, and Aife knew it, she just didn't say anything. He was observing her actions, and how she reacted to certain situations.

She reminded him so much of Brenda, the girl he thought of as a daughter, they were just so similar. The way that she closed her self off, and was able to look after herself, truly impressed him.

She had been through so much at only the age of sixteen, but then again, they all had. She had arrived in the glade at the age of thirteen. She grew up with all of the gladers.

Aife could remember the first day she was sent up so vividly, just like she could remember all of them. Her hair had curtain bangs, having been grown out from the old thick ones she had that were covering her forehead, though, she didn't remember that. And she had more meat on her bones, now, she had more muscles, and she was more slim.

Deep down, Aife wished that she could go back to that day, so she could do it all over again. It was all so simple. Yes, it was torture, but she would do anything to live through it once more.

"We're almost there," Jorge spoke, earning a low groan from Minho, who was panting heavily as he struggled to keep up. No one else responded, they simply kept walking as the sun began rise and beam onto their already glistening foreheads.

They could still smell the lingering stench of the rotted flesh that the cranks had hanging off their bones, it was almost engraved in their minds. Aife wondered if that had happened to their parents. She would have asked, but perhaps she didn't want to know the true answer.

If they are gone, then they are gone.

Perhaps it was their time.

Hours of walking, I have finally arrived at the destination. It was crowded and there was music blaring, which confused Aife. She would have thought that it would attract all of the cranks. Who knows, maybe it scared them away.

The streets were crowded, and there were large buildings that looked historic as lightbulbs were strung around. There were large, and worn down flags that hung off the sides. Most woman wore  low rise jeans with skin tight crop tops, and the men wore nice fitted jeans with patterned shirts.

"This way," Jorge said, leading the group in another direction, Aife could smell the alcohol that wafted through the air.

"You sure this is the right place?" Frypan questioned, his eyebrows lifting in confusion as he glanced around uneasily, Aris stood next to the taller boy, silently asking himself the same thing.

"Shut up, just trust me," Jorge said quickly, his gaze landing on a man who looked to be in his early fifties, dirty blond hair covered his head, and he had a receding hairline. He wore a purple blazer and a low fitted black shirt, with gold chains around his neck, and a pair of dress pants. He had eye bags, and smeared eyeliner was on his waterline and covered his eyelids.

He fidgeted with his rings as he glanced around, ignoring the blonde woman that had a high ponytail, and bangs that was stuck to his left side. She was lingering over his shoulder, a bottle of an unknown substance In her hand.

She stalked around in her heals, a lazy smirk on her face as she swayed her hips before taking a swig of her drink. 

"There he is," Jorge hissed, his scowl deepening as he spotted the intoxicated man notice him as well, his eyes widening momentarily before he relaxed once more. He tried to subtly turn around, but the group had already began to make their way towards him.

"Marcus," Jorge seethed.

Axel grabbed the mans shoulder, glancing around before lowering his voice, "Look, sir, we need you to come with us," he spoke.

The man looked up at the boy, his eyes bloodshot red as he stayed silent, before turning to Jorge and opening his arms, "Hey! Its been long, how hav-" He was cut off when a fist flew into his jaw, causing a few heads to turn to them at the sound of his grunt.

Aife turned to Newt, to see him panting heavily as he glared down at him, raising a single eyebrow as the corner of her lip twitched upwards. The lanky boy suddenly became aware of what he had done, glancing around awkwardly as he stepped back.

Minho and Frypan looked at the boy, silently asking if he was done causing a scene, to which he nodded.

Axel froze before clearing his throat, "Well then, lets go." He nodded to himself as Jorge stepped forward, along with Frypan, grabbing both of the mans arms and dragging him away from the open crowds.

"Wait, guys, what about Thomas?" Aris spoke up, Teresa nodding in agreement as she looked at the smaller boy.

"Teresa, go get him, Brenda too, Minho, you go with her," Aife ordered, the Teresa and Minho nodded in agreement as Aris' shoulders deflated with relief.

"Lets go," Newt said, cocking his head in the direction before they stepped forward and continued to follow Jorge into a back room. The dirty blond man, whose name was Marcus, was hazily glancing around, not fully aware of his surroundings. Axel stepped forward as the man was sat in a rickety chair by Frypan, giving him a hand as he gripped an old rope and wrapped it around the mans arms, along with his legs and torso.

Aife was pissed. This man was wasting their time, they needed to get out of there quickly if they wanted to get away from WCKED. Her fists were clenched at her side, becoming frustrated as the man began to mumble nonsense.

Jorge sighed heavily as he watched them stop tying him, and step back as they waited for the next order. Aife and Jorge looked at each other, before she waved at him, telling him to make his move. She didn't know who this man was, and she had nothing against him.

Jorge gladly stepped forward, and without hesitation, threw his fist forward, his knuckles coming in contact with Marcus' glistening skin. His face flew to the side as he grunted, spit and specks of blood dribbled out of his mouth as he began to pant heavily.

He began to question him, only to receive nothing in response. So, he punched him again.

"Yow!" Marcus chuckled loudly, his eye was beginning to swell up, as his head hung lazily.

As Jorge went in for another punch, Axel stepped up and grabbed his arm, "Lets, maybe give him a sec." He said hesitantly, his eyebrows pulling together as he spoke.

Aife rolled her eyes as she looked to her left, taking a seat on the old bed that was in the room as well. She patted the seat next to her stiffly and awkwardly, watching as Aris thankfully stepped forward and planted his small body next to hers.

It was silent for a few moments before Aife spoke, "What are we doing here, Jorge. What information could this scum possibly give us," She spat in disgust as she looked Marcus up and down.

"Look, he has what we need, alright?" He sighed, these kids were becoming a lot to look after.

No one said anything else, but they were all cut off of their train of thoughts when Teresa and Minho burst through the worn down door, Thomas' arm slung around Minho's shoulder as his legs were limp under neath his own body. Teresa held Brenda steady, the girl going in and out of consciousness.

"Quick, get them on the beds," Newt sat up as he helped assist Brenda, guiding her to the second bed and watching as she shut her eyes lazily as soon as her head hit the hard mattress.

Aife and Aris quickly stood, watching as Minho placed Thomas on the bed. Teresa stepped back, worry washed over her body, seeing as she didn't know what to do.

Jorge moved to Brenda's side, placing a hand on the side of her face as he brushed his thumb over her pale cheek, Aife watched with an unreadable expression as she looked at the two, her gaze hardened as she averted her eyes.

It was silent as they all stood around the two passed out teenagers, thousands of thoughts roamed through their heads.

"Well, what now?" Frypan asked, his upper lip curling as he raised his eyebrows.

Jorge was about to speak, but Aife cut him off. Her voice cut through the tension filled air like a knife could with butter. Her words caused everyone to avert their eyes to her, trying to get a glimpse of her reaction, which she didn't seem to have.

"Now, we wait."

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SCHOOL IS ALMOST OVER!!  I PROMISE I WILL UPDATE SOOOO MUCH MORE ON ALL OF MY BOOKS