Atomic [Newt || Maze Runner]

[Chapter 12] ✙ Lesson Number Four

[Chapter 12] ✙ Lesson Number Four

"Harriet...?"

The words got past Eden's lips in a whisper as she felt her legs nearly give out once more. She didn't expect to see that face, albeit ever again. After witnessing first-hand how horrifying the Cranks were with Winston and their escape from the shopping mall, she had long resigned herself to the idea that Harriet and Sonya must've perished at the hands of the Scorch's many perils. Perhaps they were mauled to death by those flared-up creatures; perhaps they encountered another group of survivors who were less than sensible compared to the likes of Jorge.

Either way, all Eden could hope and pray for every night was that her friends didn't suffer in their final moments of life.

So never did she imagine, she'd find them here. Alive at that.

"Harriet...!" Eden spoke again, her voice trembling with joy and disbelief as she stumbled past Newt and Minho. "Harriet!" With an outstretched hand, she took another staggering step forward only for her knees to buckle from the strange mixture of pressure and relief that flooded her system. Before she could even register the sudden imbalance in her body, Harriet instinctively extended her arms, catching the raven-haired girl snug in her chest with an equally shell-shocked expression.

"It's really you, right...?" Clinging onto her friend's brown aviator jacket, Eden craned her neck, trying her best to refrain her vision from blurring up with tears. "You're okay?"

"Yeah," Harriet assured her with a sniffle, gently running a hand through Eden's tangled hair. "It's really me."

With those words, the tears quickly gushed forth, flowing down Eden's cheeks faster than her already erratically beating heart. She began to mumble incoherent things, choking on her sobs as Harriet reeled her head back in so she could weep against her chest.

Surprised by the sudden turn of events, their other ambusher, the shorter girl with bright blonde hair also removed her mask with wide eyes. Revealing herself to be none other than Sonya.

"Harriet?" Aris's voice sounded from the side, having come out of his hiding spot despite Teresa and Frypan's protests. "And Sonya too?"

"Aris!" Both girls gasped in recognition, the blonde running forward to wrap her arms around him.

"You're lucky we didn't shoot your asses," She teased. "Are you both okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine," Aris replied with a heavy breath, his stormy-grey eyes darted between the two girls as they pulled apart. "How...?" His voice trailed off, looking as if he were struggling to find the right words to say in such a situation.

Luckily, he didn't have to; considering Minho had plenty to say regarding these... odd developments.

"Uhh, what's happening here?" He cocked an eyebrow at the four.