|Couldn't get away, I couldn't get away

|Song: I ran, Hidden Citizens

|||

Lisa's P.O.V.

Once Thomas and Jorge had left through the hallway the Cranks made us sit against the wall. The Crank who held Dawn captive stood in the middle of the room.
'If anyone tries something, she dies,' he snapped and another drop of blood appeared, showing us he was serious. I shot a dangerous glare towards the Gladers, meaning I would kill them if they tried something that would hurt Dawn.
And so we waited for Thomas to return. I sighed and started to braid my hair to keep myself busy.

Minho, who was seated next to me, tried to sit in a comfortable position and touched my arm while moving.
I shot him a glare. It was his fault we were in this situation. And I was not going to forgive him.
Suddenly my stomach cried out for food, completely taking away the effect of my glare, making Minho smirk. I shot him an even more angry glare but it only made his smirk wider.
And so I sighed and leaned my head back against the wall. Forcing myself not to look at him.

It took Thomas and Jorge a lot more than just ten minutes and I spend all that time braiding my hair.
Though now it had become more of a way to distract myself from my hunger.
The cramps in my stomach had spread to the rest of my body. It was like my body was trying to eat itself.
I took a deep breath and tried to ignore it.

'All right, everybody listen!' Jorge suddenly broke the silence as he walked back into the room.
I sat up a little straighter and let go of my hair.
'Me and the bird-face here have come to a solution.' Jorge came to a stop in the middle of the room and turned around in a circle, looking at all of the Cranks who still stood at attention.
'First, we need to get these people food. I know it seems crazy to share our hard earned grub with a bunch of strangers, but I think we could use their help. Give 'em the pork and beans, I'm sick of that horse crap anyway.'
One of the Cranks snickered, but I couldn't see who it was.
'Second, being the grand gentleman and saint that I am, I've decided not to kill the punk who attacked me.'
A few disappointed groans broke out but I let out a small sigh with relief. Then quickly threw a glare at Minho but he didn't seem to notice it. His focuse was on Jorge.

The Crank pointed at Minho, who, not surprising me at all, smiled and waved at the crowd.
'Pretty happy, are you?' Jorge grunted. 'That's good to know. Means you'll take the news well.'
'What news?' Minho asked sharply.
'After we get you stragglers fed so you don't go dying of starvation on us, you get your punishment for attacking me.'
'Oh yeah?' If Minho was scared, he didn't show it. 'And what's that gonna be?'
Jorge just stared back at Minho with a blank expression. 'You punched me with both of your fists. So we're gonna cut a finger off each hand.'

'Are you insane?' I yelled, but not at Jorge, at Thomas. How could he agree with this? That was not like him at all.
Minho stood up and would have attacked Jorge again if a pretty girl with long brown that was jealous making clean, hadn't stepped right up to him and placed her blade under his chin. A drop of blood appeared. He couldn't even talk without risking some serious harm.
Jorge made a movement with his hand and the Crank holding Dawn threw her on the ground.
She groaned, feeling at her throat. I raced forwards, kneeling down next to her. Newt was right next to me but she ignored him completely and took my arm to help herself stand. She didn't as much as glare at Newt when I walked back to our group with her.
I frowned and saw a look of hurt cross over Newt's face. What was going on?

'Here's the plan,' Jorge said calmly. 'Brenda and I will escort these moochers to the stash, let 'em eat up. Then we'll all meet on the Tower, let's say one hour from now.' He looked at his watch. 'Make that noon on the dot. We'll bring up lunch for the rest of you.'
'Why just you and Brenda?' Probably the oldest man in the group said. 'What if they jump you? There's eleven of them and two of you.'
Jorge gave him a stern look. 'Thanks for the math lesson, Barkley. Next time I forget how many toes I have, I'll be sure and spend some counting time with you. For now, shut your flappin' lips and lead everybody to the Tower. If these punks try anything, Brenda will slash Mr. Minho here to tiny bits while I beat the living hell out of the rest of 'em. Now get!'

'Fine,' the man said after a long silence. 'But if they jump you and slit your throat, we'll get along just fine without ya.'
'Thanks for the kind words, hermano. Now get, or we'll have double the fun on the Tower.'
Barkely laughed as if the whole situation had been a joke. Then he walked through the same hallway Thomas and Jorge had disappeared through.
Once all the Cranks were gone I saw Thomas and Jorge sharing a glare of relief, making me wonder even more what kind of deal they made.
Then Brenda dropped her knife from Minho's throat.
'I really would have killed you, ya know,' she said in a slightly scratchy voice. Almost husky. 'Charge Jorge again and I'll slit your throat.'
Minho wiped the blood away from his throat. 'That's one sharp knife. Makes me like you more.'
I felt a small stab in my heart and frowned at Minho, trying to figure out why.
'Looks like I'm not the only Crank standing here,' Brenda responded. 'You're even more gone than me.'
'None of us are crazy yet,' Jorge said. 'But it won't be long. Come on. We need to get over to the stash and put some food in you people. You all look like a bunch of starved zombies.'
Honestly, I felt like one.
'You think I'm just gonna walk over to a sit-down with you pyshos, then let you cut my freaking fingers off?' Minho said offended.
'Just shut up for once,' Thomas snapped. 'Let's go eat. I don't care what happens to your beautiful hands after that.'
I frowned, that was nothing for Thomas to say and yet it were those words that put me at ease. He had planned something or else he wouldn't say such things.

Suddenly Brenda walked up to Thomas, standing dangerously close.
'You're the leader?'
'No, it's the guy you just nipped with your knife.'
Brenda looked over at Minho. Then back at Thomas and grinned. 'That's stupid. I know I'm on the verge of crazy but I would've picked you. You seem like the leader type.'
'Um thanks,' Thomas replied, his cheeks turning pink, making me smirk. 'I would've picked you, too, instead of Jorge over there.'
Brenda leaned forward and kissed Thomas on his cheek, making me raise my eyebrows.
'You're sweet. I really hope we don't end up killing you, at least.'

'All right,' Jorge said, gesturing for everyone to move out of the building. 'Enough of this lovefest. Brenda, we have a lot to talk about once we get to the stash. Come on, let's go.'
But Brenda didn't take her eyes off Thomas. 'I like you,' she said, her tongue touched the corner of her mouth then she left and walked to the door. 'Let's go.'
Every Glader was now staring at Thomas but he kept his gaze to the ground although I did see a slight smirk on his face.
I sighed, shook my head and started moving towards the exit.

'Lisa?'

I stopped walking and turned around. Minho looked at me, while the others went through the door outside.
'I suppose the word you're looking for is thanks?' I said, crossing my arms.
He frowned, opening his mouth but closing it again. 'I guess-'
I didn't give him a chance to finish. 'Let's go,' I interrupted him.
He kept on staring at me for a couple of seconds as if he was trying to figure something out.
Then he looked away and made his way outside.
A small breath I hadn't even realized I had been holding, escaped my lips. I turned on my heels and walked towards the door.

Brenda led while Jorge took up the rear. I had a hard time looking into the bright sunlight that was scorching the landscape.
Suddenly the Gladers before me walked down a few steps into the ground.
I frowned and an image of some kind of underground train system came up in me. It was so strange how some memories appeared at such unexpected moments.
Gladly I followed the others into the dark, eager to get out of the sun and to the food.

We walked a bit further into the tunnel and then Brenda told us to sit down against the wall.
When we all found a place to sit she started to hand out canned beans with some kind of sausage. We ate it cold but it still tasted delicious. I knew it wasn't smart to eat quickly after days of eating nothing, but I didn't care. I was way too hungry.
Dawn came sitting down next to me, she already reached the bottom half of her can.
'What's going on with you and Newt?' I whispered not caring to be careful about the subject.
'Since when do you care about my love life?' she asked, sounding tired.
'Since you're my little sister,' I said taking another bite of the beans. 'And since it's pretty obvious you two are having some kind of trouble.'
Dawn shifted uncomfortably and looked down at her can. Then she sighed and looked back at me. 'You know the way he acted when we just got out of the thunder storm?'
'When you pretended to be asleep?' I asked, licking the sausage of my spoon.
She nodded. 'Yeah, he's acting that way all the time, but only when I'm not around. He is trying to protect me from something, something he's not telling me, but I don't want him to.'
She sighed again and put her empty can down.
I nodded, staring at her while she played with her fingers.
'I think he is trying to protect me from...himself,' she whispered.
I frowned at her. 'Himself?'
She nodded, taking a deep breath. 'I can't explain it but he seems so far away all the time. And I just...' she shook her head, moving her hair out of her face.
I lay my hand on her shoulder, telling her without words she could share everything with me.
'I tried to talk about it with him but he just...avoids the subject.'
I nodded. 'I get you want to help him but if he doesn't want to talk about it, maybe you should it give some space and try another day.'
She sighed. 'You think?'
'Yes, and if it's that important to you and he still doesn't want to talk about you should maybe try to be a little more clear.'
She looked at me and gave me a small smile. 'Thanks, sis.'
I smiled at her words, they made me glow up with pride, somehow. Then I gave her a hug. 'I'm going to get more of this stuff,' I said, pointing at my empty can and stood up, walking towards Thomas and Brenda.

When I reached them I immediately noticed how close Brenda sat next to Thomas but I decided to ignore it.
'Hey guys, can I-' But I would never finish that line a crash came from down the hall, making me gasp and look up.

It was a horribly loud sound, the crumple and cracking of a building falling apart. A cloud of dust fogged its way toward us, killing all the lights.
I coughed and was about to run forwards, trying to reach Dawn.
'Don't!' Brenda yelled, grapping my shirt and pulling me back.
Just in time because massive rocks started to rain down from the ceiling.
'Run!' Brenda screamed.
'But what about the others!' I yelled above the noise.
'We can't leave our friends!' Thomas yelled as well but before Brenda could respond an entire section of the roof came crashing down onto the floor right in front of us. Blocks of cement fell down with loud cracks.
'Come on, run!' Brenda yelled again.
And without arguing I turned around and ran after her and Thomas into the darkness.