I Corrupt. ~ Minho (The Sequel to "For My Help")

The Unexpected Scream

"We're cranks."

"Like the ones that tried to break in a few nights ago..." River heard Minho mumble under his breath. The words were all tied together, and it was clear he let them all out in one breath.

"Break in?" River's heart skipped a beat as she repeated his words, letting him know she heard him. Minho gave her a small, reassuring smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. It only made River feel worse.

"What are you doing here?" Thomas looked off at the two cranks, squinting into the sun.

"Came t'see if you were cranks." The man's voice was softer than River had originally expected, but it didn't exactly put her at ease. "Came t'see if you got the Flare."

"Doesn't matter though, they'll get it eventually." The woman responded for them.

"And when they do it won't be pretty." The man laughed wholeheartedly, and the woman joined in. The laughter was one of the most unnerving things that River had ever heard, and it caused a shiver to go straight down her spine. It was full of insanity and craze and River was sure the next time she would hear it would be in her nightmares. The laughter from both cranks stopped immediately, as if it was choreographed earlier, and a deadpan expression replaced it.

"How did you get in the scorch?" The woman asked.

"What do we tell these people? The truth?" Thomas whispered in Minho's direction.

"Another brilliant idea, Thomas." Sarcasm was dripping from Minho's every word.

"Well it can't hurt." Newt shrugged.

"WICKED dropped us off here. We were told to head off North until we reach the 'Safe Haven'. Any of that mean anything to you?" Minho had turned to face the cranks and spoke loud and clear.

The cranks ignored him completely. 

"Not all cranks are gone." The man said. "We're all on different levels. It's the ones past the gone that you really gotta worry about. But it's best to just kill whoever comes your way. It's hard ta trust anyone out here."

"Where did you come from? The town back there?" River couldn't hold back the questions burning in her mind. And if no one else was going to ask, then she for sure was. "Is there food and water there?"

"If you don't have it yet, you'll have it soon. I know that for sure. Same with the other group." The woman continued to ignore any and all questions being thrown at her. 

"The other group?" Newt asked for clarification. 

"The ones that are supposed to kill you."

And with that, the man and woman ran back off towards the town at a surprising speed, kicking up dust as they went.

"Do you think she meant Group B?" Thomas asked no one in particular. And no one gave an answer.

"We need to keep going." Minho stated, looking straight ahead. Agreeing, they all started forward once again in the direction of the town.

It felt like they weren't getting any closer to their goal. They had been walking for what seemed like forever and the town was still in the distance. All River wanted to do was get inside somewhere and take a nap, but she knew that wasn't going to happen in the near future. So she persevered. 

It made her feel better somehow knowing that she wasn't even feeling half as bad as everyone else, as the heat had taken a bigger toll on them. It also made her feel horrible though, she couldn't even imagine what they were feeling and realizing that, she instinctively reached out and squeezed Minho's hand.

It was a friendly gesture, she decided. As a friend. Minho looked over and smiled at her before turning back and looking forward again. No one was talking as they could barely spit out words between their furious pants.

As darkness began to drape over them like a blanket, they began to take off the sheets. They all shook out their arms, as they were tired from being held up for so long.

River gazed out into the distance, towards the town. Lights twinkled in and out of existence coming from windows of dilapidated buildings. They were almost as bright as the stars that winked above them. In these short moments, River forgot what was happening around her. Her mind was so completely at ease that she found herself relaxing. 

She didn't know how tense her muscles had been until she let go of the pressure. She straightened out her back for the first time in a while and sighed, separating herself from the group a few paces as she definitely needed some alone time.

For those few moments everything was okay. And then those moments ended.

A scream ripped through the air, tearing apart the silence with such violence that River almost jumped out of her skin. It came from a girl, that much was obvious. But she was the only girl in the group, and the scream sounded so close. It unnerved River to say the least.

When the scream stopped, Minho spoke up. "You know what that reminds me of?"

"Ben. Alby. Me, I guess. After being stung by a griever?" Thomas guessed, correctly apparently as Minho nodded a bit too enthusiastically. 

"Aw man, don't tell me we've gotta deal with grievers out here too." Frypan complained from far back in the group. His voice was just loud enough for River to hear most of his words, but she was able to piece together the rest.

"I doubt it." She shouted back. "They'd shrivel up and die out here. Long before we would." 

"River!" Newt shot an annoyed glance in her direction and she smiled sheepishly in response.

"I say we rest up. Get rehydrated and sit for a bit." Minho suggested, looking to the group for confirmation. They all agreed a little too quickly and sat down right in their spot. 

River let herself lay down and stare at the stars. She thought about the universe and how big everything was. That there were so many other living beings out there that weren't in a horrible situation. This made her feel slightly better with her life, and she let her eyes close. She very slowly drifted off to sleep.

___________________________________________________

Author's Note

Umm hi. That was a long break and was totally unexpected. I didn't even get to the part that I found difficult to write, so that'll be in the next chapter. I don't really have an excuse other than the fact that I'm really good at procrastinating things. So I give you all permission to hate me. This time.

Well if you're back and still reading, then thank you! Sorry about that!!!

Marin