Atomic [Newt || Maze Runner]

[Chapter 9] ✙ Professor Minho

[Chapter 9] ✙ Professor Minho

"So, um," Aris managed between heavy pants as he followed Jorge and Minho down the sixth flight of stairs. "Where exactly are we going?"

"Zone A, hermano," The man replied. "If Brenda made it out, that's probably where she's taking your friend."

"If they made it out," Minho emphasized.

Jorge shot the Asian boy a glare before continuing. "When we first set up the warehouse, I told her that if we were ever separated, she needed to go find Marcus at a nearby settlement."

"Hold on," Teresa was the one to interrupt this time. "There are other settlements out here?"

"Few and far between, but yes." Jorge nodded, casting the girl's icy blue eyes a swift glance. "The Solar Storms forced people into underground sewers and passageways. They made a couple of settlements here and there, but after the storm went over, most people came back up to the surface to re-established civilization. Some people stayed down there though, scared that another wave might hit," He scoffed. "Though I doubt they're still alive at this point."

Eden cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean by that?"

"Cranks," Jorge stated, mentally rolling his eyes at the abundance of questions these kids seemed to have. He must've been blessed by the gods if he'd been stuck with an uninquisitive and straightforward girl like Brenda for the past few years. "Last thing I've heard, those underground settlements were being overrun by Cranks."

Newt was quick to put two and two together. "Wait, but isn't that where Tommy is right now?!" He asked, watching as Jorge hopped down three steps at once and landed on the bottom floor.

"You know, you kids ask a lot of questions," He complained, raising a leg to kick down the disfigured door of the building, revealing two WICKED soldiers standing behind.

"Oh, shit!" Minho hissed, nearly crashing into the Hispanic man as he followed his motions and leapt down the set of stairs.

"Freeze!" One of the men shouted, aiming the electric gun in their direction. "Don't- agh!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Jorge had already whipped out what seemed like a revolver from his back pocket and shot both soldiers dead at point-blank range.

Eden covered her ears, recoiling slightly as the ringing gunshot echoed in her ears. She watched as Jorge opened the chamber of his revolver, checking the bullets that remained within before huffing out a breath.

"Four out of six left, not bad," She heard him mutter before stepping over the soldiers' slackened bodies. "Come on, let's move!" He ushered them out. "No time for dilly-dallying, we've got a long way to go if you kids wanna make it in time."