|I am a soldier, I won't surrender, faith is like a fire that never burns to ember

|Song: The Resistance, Skillet

|||

Dawn's P.O.V.

Minho was the first one to offer explantion. 'Maybe some Cranks broke in and took whatever weapons were here, stunned people, then started eatin' their shuck bodies. Maybe we've only seen a few guards because the rest are dead. Maybe that's why Ratman was so determined to get our shuck brains.' 
I felt all the color drain from my face. An image of Newt screaming and bending down to eat someone's insides came up in my mind and I couldn't shake it. I turned away from the others and heard Lisa hit Minho on his arm.
'Way to go, smartass,' she hissed.
Brenda sighed. 'I hate to say it, but you might be right. Seriously that would explain it. Someone came in here and took a bunch of weapons.'
'If that's it, our problems are a whole lot worse than we thought,' Thomas said.
'Glad to see the guy not immune to the Flare isn't the only one with a brain that still works,' a familiar voice sounded from behind me. I looked up and heard the others turn around. Newt stood leaning against the door.
I took a breath. 'Newt...' I whispered but he ignored me.
'Next time just explain yourself instead of getting all snippy,' Minho said, his voice empty of all compassion. 'I didn't think you'd lose it so fast, but glad you're back. We might need a Crank to sniff out these other Cranks if they really broke in.'
I bit my lip, the words cutting into my very soul. I looked up at Newt and he looked furious. 'You never have known when to shut your hole, have ya, Minho? Always gotta have the bloody last word.'

'Guys,' I whispered but was again ignored.

'Shut your shuck face,' Minho said calmly, his eyes only concentrated on Newt. The tension in the room was rising fast.
Newt slowly walked over to Minho and stopped in front of him. Then, quick as lightning, he punched the asian boy in the face. Minho fell back into the empty weapon rack. Then he rushed forward and tackled Newt to the ground.
Lisa let out a yell, Thomas ran forward and tried to pull the two apart. 'Stop!' He screamed but it was no use. The two Gladers continued to hit each other, arms and legs everywhere.

'NEWT!' I screamed, my voice bouncing off the walls. At the same time Lisa had screamed Minho his name just as loud.

The two boys suddenly froze and Thomas and Brenda quickly ran forward to pull the two apart.
'How stupid can you get?' Thomas yelled, sounding more angry than I ever heard him. 'We're running from at least one enemy, maybe two, and you guys are gonna brawl?' 'He started it!' Minho snapped.
'What are you? Two years old?' Brenda asked, disgust sounding through her voice. Minho didn't answer, just stood there breathing heavily.
I looked at Newt who got to his feet.
'It's my fault. Everything's just tickin' me off. You guys figure out what we should do, I need a buggin' break.' He turned to walk, I stepped forward and took his arm but he looked at me with burning eyes and I quickly released him. He disappeared and I saw him walking into a room across the hall.
Lisa walked up to me but I shook my head at her and she stopped, a look of hurt crossed her face. I didn't care, I didn't want her sympathy right now. The look of pure disgust on Newt his face when he looked at me was burned in my mind and it made my insides twist and turn. Pain was flaring up in my chest and I had to take a deep breath to keep the tears from falling. I had to concentrate, pain could be dealt with later.

'Minho,' Thomas started, taking me out of my thoughts. 'Find a few more Launchers for us to bring and then get a couple of pistols on that shelf over there. Brenda, can you fill up a box with as much ammo as possible? Lisa and Dawn, help them find good weapons and ammo. I'll go get Newt.'

'Sounds good,' Brenda responded, Lisa simply nodded and Thomas left the room.
I looked around, feeling a bit lost. Without a word being spoken Minho handed us all a Launcher and went to find some good pistols.
Brenda walked to a corner to get bullets and other ammo. Lisa went to help her.
I let my eyes wonder through the room and noticed a shelf with a case on it. In desperate need of some distraction I walked towards it, letting my hand wonder over the lock before taking a deep breath and pulling it off the shelf. The others turned around at the noise.
'Dawn...' Lisa began but I already opened the lid and gasped at the sight.
'What is it?' Brenda said worried.
'A compound bow,' I answered, a smile covering my face. It was the most beautiful bow I had ever seen. Silver with blue strings. There was a bow sight on it to aim more straight and a leather glove to protect my fingers as I pulled the string. The quiver was flat so it wouldn't take to much space on my back. The arrows were long and small and ended in a perfect point with light blue feathers at the end. 'Woah,' Lisa's voice came from behind me.
I nodded and picked it up. It was heavier than a normal bow but not too much. I took the quiver and threw it over my back, the bow in my hand.
Brenda frowned. 'Are you sure?'
I nodded and smirked, not knowing what had gotten me in such a good mood all of a sudden. 'Trust me. I know how to use it.'

Suddenly Thomas came walking back, without Newt.
I was about to talk but he waved my worries away. 'He'll be fine, just needed to do something real quick.'
I took a deep breath but decided not to say anything.
'Who knows what the guy is up to,' Minho said. 'He's never acted like this before. Flare's eatin' his brain already.'
'He said he'd be back soon,' Thomas said, sounding tired. 'And watch what you say around him. The last thing we need is you setting him off again.'
Minho opened his mouth but Lisa put her hand on his shoulder. 'Just because you don't know how to deal with him turning into a Crank, doesn't mean you have to push him away while trying to figure it out,' she spoke softly. Minho closed his mouth and seemed angry but didn't protest.

We gathered everything we needed and took as much as we could carry. I had taken two loaded pistols and put them behind my belt. I had refused to take a Launcher because I trusted my skills with a bow and I couldn't carry one if I had my bow.
The others all had a Launcher thrown over their shoulder and one in their hands. They all had a few guns hidden in their clothes as well.
Suddenly there was some noice behind us and we turned around.
Newt stood in the doorway. 'I need to talk to you, Tommy. It'll only take a second.'
It stung hat he wanted to talk to Thomas and not me, but I should've known it by now. It was going to take a lot more than saying sorry for him to talk to me again.

'What's this crap?' Minho asked.

'Just cut me some slack. I need to give something to Tommy here. Tommy and no one else,' Newt replied, sounding tired.
'Whatever, go for it,' Minho said, adjusting the straps of the Launchers on his shoulder. 'But we need to hurry.'
The two left the room and I stared at where they left. 'Dawn are you-' Lisa started but I cut her off. 'I'm fine. Let's just gather whatever we need.'

When Thomas and Newt came back I narrowed at them but their faces revealed nothing. Thomas took his Launcher and Newt lifted a box with ammo.
'Let's go find Jorge,' Thomas said. Then he headed back the way we'd come and we followed in a line.

I had my bow loaded and ready but we saw no one and heard nothing.
As we crossed the building I became more and more spooked by the empty hallways and echoes of our footsteps. The entire place appeared to be totally abandoned.
Finally Brenda stopped at a set of double doors, one of them standing slightly ajar. Thomas gestured for us to take our positions. Minho and Newt on both sides of the door, Thomas and Brenda with their Launchers raised and their knees bended and Lisa and I behind them.
Lisa had her Launcher raised and I loaded my bow. The bow was easily held in my hand, it made me feel safe.

'Open it,' Thomas said.

Minho swung the door wide and Thomas charged through with me and Lisa right behind him. I turned in a circle, my bow raised high, the arrow ready to fly.
The hanger looked like it was built to hold three of the enormous Bergs, but only two stood in their loading spots. They loomed like giants, watching the room. The rest of the area was nothing but open space with here and there a few boxes placed.

'Hey!' Minho suddenly shouted. 'Over here. Someone's on the...' He cut off himself off.

I turned around and saw a man lying hidden from view on the other side of the wooden box, groaning as he rubbed his head. 'Careful there buddy,' Minho warned. 'Nice and easy, no sudden movements or you'll smell like burnt bacon before you know it.' The man leaned on an elbow when he dropped his hand from his face.
Brenda let out a small cry and rushed forward, pulling him into a hug.
Slowly I lowered my bow.

It was Jorge.

'What happened? How'd you get hurt? Who took the Berg? Where is everyone?' Brenda asked in one breath.
Jorge groaned again and gently pushed her away. 'Calm your pants, hermana. My head feels like it's been stomped by dancin' Cranks. Just give me a sec while I get my wits back together.'
Brenda gave him some space although her face was anxious.
I looked at Minho and felt suddenly an urge to laugh. Images of Jorge and him fighting in the destroyed building of the scorch flashed through my head and now Jorge was our only hope of getting out of here. Minho seemed to realise that as well as he lowered his Launcher.
Jorge blinked a few times then started talking. 'I don't know how they did it but they took over the building, got rid of the guards, stole a Berg, flew out of here with another pilot. I was an idiot and tried to get them to wait until I could find out more about what's going on. Now my head's paying for it.'
'Who?' Brenda asked. 'Who are you talking about? Who left?'
For some reason Jorge looked up at Thomas when he answered. 'That Teresa chick. Her and the rest of the subjects. Well, all of them except you muchachos.'

|||

So, this chapter didn't turn out as great as I wanted it to be, it's far from perfect but it will have to do.

My exams are finally over so no more stress for a few weeks! So I can finally get back to writing some good chapters. I really love working on the new dynamic between Newt and Dawn, with him being sick and her going to extreme lengths to safe him. I realise I haven't given them an easy time in any one of the books but trust me when I say they won't stay mad at each other forever.

Please leave a vote or a comment, no one likes ghost readers. :)

xXx

UYM