Atomic [Newt || Maze Runner]

[Chapter 4] ✙ The Glade and The Glen

Thank you stilestastic for providing some of the Group B slang and terms used in this chapter.

[Chapter 4] ✙ The Glade and The Glen

Eden spent most of the night drifting in and out of sleep, continuously shifting her attention between Winston and the distant howling of the Cranks. She thought about the numerous kids they left behind at the WICKED facility, as well as all the girls that were taken from their group during the first three days. They had and will be harvested, tied up and drained of whatever WICKED wants from them, and there wasn't anything she nor the others could do about it. She then thought about Jack, the boy she'd only known for a few hours, who plummeted to his death while trying to help everyone else escape the bloodthirsty Cranks.

As the first traces of dawn broke over the horizon of the desert, Eden sat up, figuring she wasn't going to get any rest either way. She stilled for a moment, staring past the shattered window of a nearby van and into the outstretched desert.

She thought back to those creatures from the night before, and the video message Doctor Ava Paige left for her group after they completed the maze trial. The Solar Storm, the Scorch, the Flare, the Cranks and WICKED's search for the Cure...

Why did the world turn out like this?

Before she could think further on the matter, Winston let out a soft groan, causing her to snap her head in his direction.

"Winston? Winston, can you hear me?" She scurried to the corner where he laid, asking in a hushed voice.

Shifting on his back, the olive-skinned slowly opened his eyes. He furrowed his brows, taking a moment to remember who she was before nodding weakly.

"Okay. Stay with me, alright?" She whispered, gently brushing away the hair that stuck to his face with the most reassuring smile she could muster at the moment. Focusing and holding her breath, she began listening for any form movement around the vicinity of their makeshift den.

After confirming that there were no Cranks around the area, she turned to grab her backpack. "Give me a second," She told the boy, pulling out the first aid kit from her bag as quietly as possible.

"This might hurt," She warned, receiving a strange look from him as she carefully untied the blood-stained scarf around his waist. As she lifted the fabric from his torso, the dried blood caused it to stick to his shirt, tugging at his wound as he let out a sharp hiss.

"I-I'm sorry!" Eden panicked. "I can help you. So just bear with me, okay?"

Though skeptical, Winston slowly nodded.

Removing the scarf in one swift yank, she turned back to her kit, taking out a clean towel and her water bottle. Opening the metal lid, she dumped a generous amount of water onto the towel, allowing it time to soak the liquid up before turning back to Winston. "Excuse me," She murmured, gingerly reaching forward to lift his shirt with a professional mindset, finally giving her full view of the deep gashes the Cranks had left the night before.