" BAD BLOOD " T. SCORCH TRIALS²

twelve.

[CHAPTER TWELVE]
desert runner

~

The sun eventually set over the open horizon, and Eleanor was more than thankful for the darkness that engulfed them. The temperature immediately dropped as the light died away, and she was eventually able to unwrap the sheet from around her body. It was a relief to feel the cool night air touched the bare skin on her arms, and she felt as though energy was slowly trickling back into her body as she walked under the moonlight.

The Gladers continued on in the direction of the town. A faint twinkle of lights had appeared on the silhouettes of the buildings, and Eleanor almost enjoyed the rhythmic blinking. Though the almost peaceful moment was soon interrupted by a ear-piercing scream ripping through the air. The sound was strangely familiar, though she was able to quite put her finger on it as the sound continued to tear through the air like a bullet through water. It belonged to a girl, coming from somewhere in the distance- perhaps from the town itself.

The others had obviously noticed it to, for she heard several worried whispers coming from the group of boys traveling behind her. Newt eventually brought the Gladers to a stop, and once everyone cuaght their breath, it was easier to hear the bone-chilling sound.

It was similar to a cry of an injured cat. It was a noise that made Eleanor's skin crawl and her heart pound uneven against her chest. It was almost unnatural, as if it was a recording that had been altered with in order to make it sound as creepy and eerie as possible. The darkness that surrounded them only added to the creepiness, for Eleanor was now unable to see even a few feet in front of her. The sandy ground blended in with the night sky, and it was hard to tell with the horizon even ended. Whoever was screaming in the night, she wasn't very close, but her wails traveled through the night air and easily met the Glader's ears as if she was standing right beside them.

"You know what that reminds me of?" Minho asked, his voice laced with fear.

Eleanor knew it reminded her of something, but she just couldn't remember what. Thomas was the one who spoke. "Ben. Alby... Me, I guess." Eleanor immediately knew that he was talking about the Changing, for it clicked as soon as he said the first two names. What surprised her, however, was that he included his own name, as well. She didn't know what Thomas had went through the Changing. "Screaming after the Griever sting."

"You got it," Minho confirmed with a single nod of his head.

"No, no, no," Frypan moaned in fear. "Don't tell me we're gonna have those suckers out here, too. I can't take it!"

Beside her, Newt shook his head. "Doubt it. Remember how moist and gooey their skin was? They'd turn into a big dust ball if they rolled around in this stuff."