The healer [Maze runner Newt x OC]

Chapter twelve

The two girls finally found the right bus and made their way in. Grace was in the front seat behind Brenda, who was driving hastily, trying to get them past the WICKED compound's gates. Grace's hands shook, her foot tapping nervously against the metal floor as she scanned the area.

"We're almost there, just a few more minutes," Brenda said, glancing at Grace. Grace could tell they were getting close. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, her eyes darting around the parking lot. Suddenly, the walkie crackled to life.

"Brenda, Grace, where are you?" Gally's voice rang out.

"We're here," Brenda replied sharply, slamming on the brakes as they reached the designated spot. Grace's heart jumped in her chest as she saw Gally and the others waiting for them. She quickly moved to the front, opening the doors to greet them with a relieved smile.

"Alright. Come on, let's go. Quickly, quickly. Front and back, front and back. Let's go." Grace helped usher everyone onto the bus while Brenda kept an eye on their surroundings. But then, something caught her attention. She froze for a second.

"Wait, where's Thomas?" Brenda asked, her voice tight with worry.

"I was hoping he was with you," Gally answered, glancing around as panic set in. Both Grace and Brenda immediately started to move, but Gally held his hand up.

"Wait! Wait! Stay here with the kids. I'll find him. Just wait for us, okay?" Gally said, his voice urgent but calm.

Grace stepped forward, frustration mounting. "We're not going anywhere without them," she answered firmly, giving Brenda a pointed look.

Without waiting for further protest, Grace quickly closed the doors, trying to keep a low profile as she helped calm down the kids. There were more than she expected—some as young as Chuck, others her own age. The noise and tension in the bus were palpable. Grace's heart pounded as she tried to settle them down.

When a WICKED car came around the corner, Grace's breath caught in her throat. She immediately motioned for everyone to duck down, moving quickly through the rows, her voice barely above a whisper. "Stay down. Stay quiet."

She crawled back to the front and sat next to Brenda, her eyes fixed on the approaching WICKED guards. She turned to Brenda, giving her a soft, almost apologetic nod. "Go."

Brenda didn't hesitate. Grace's heart sank at the thought of what was happening outside, but they had no choice now.

"Sorry, Thomas," Grace muttered under her breath as she quickly turned the bus on, gripping a pole next to her to steady herself. "Hold on to something!" she called out to the others, bracing herself as Brenda whipped the bus around.

The vehicle swerved violently from side to side as Brenda expertly maneuvered to avoid gunfire, the sharp crack of bullets hitting the metal frame of the bus making Grace's stomach lurch. The chaos outside and inside the bus was overwhelming, but Grace stayed focused, her mind on what they had to do next.

"Come on, come on," Grace urged quietly, as they sped toward their next move.

Brenda drove the bus through the city, the kids and Grace gripping onto poles, seats, and anything they could find to stay steady. The tension in the air was palpable, every twist and turn heightening their anxiety. But eventually, they were trapped. WICKED cars surrounded them on all sides. The screech of tires filled the air as one of the WICKED guards stepped out of his vehicle.

"Get out of the vehicle!" he shouted, his voice sharp.

Brenda exchanged a quick look with Grace, her expression tense but resolute. She turned to the kids and Grace, her voice steady but urgent. "Don't move."