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But then Jorge looked at him, even as his Crank friends started to hoot and holler, and there was so that put Thomas at ease

Minho, on the other hand, was a different story He’d stood up as soon as Jorge had pronounced his punishirl hadn’t stepped right up to him and placed her blade under his chin It drew a drop of blood, bright red in the daylight pouring through the busted doors He couldn’t even talk without risking serious bodily hare 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?" someone asked Thomas didn’t see who at first, then realized a man had said it―probably the oldest person in the room "What if they jue squinted―a scoffing look "Thanks for the et howtime with you For now, shut your flappin’ lips and lead everybody to the Tower If these punks try anything, Brenda will slash Mr Minho to tiny bits while I beat the living hell out of the rest of ’eet!"

Relief swae h with the punishh, veinedthe sleeves of his shirt He held a nasty dagger in one hand and a big ha stare doith his leader "But if they do ju just fine without ya"

"Thanks for the kind words, heret, or we’ll have double the fun on the Tower"

Barkley laughed as if to salvage sonity, then started off down the sae had used He waved his aresture and soon every last Crank was shuffling after hi brown hair She still had her knife at Minho’s neck, but the good part was that she had to be Brenda

Once the e shared an almost relieved look with Thoht still be able to hear therabbed Thomas’s attention He looked to see her drop the knife away fro the small trace of blood there on her pants "I really would’ve killed you, ya know," she said in a slightly scratchy voice Alain and I’ll sever an artery"

Minho wiped at his sht red smear "That’s one sharp knife Makes roaned simultaneously

"Looks like I’ here," Brenda responded "You’re even e added, walking over to stand next to her "But it won’t be long Coet over to the stash and put some food in you people You all look like a bunch of starved zombies"

Minho didn’t seeonna waltz over to have a sit-doith you psychos, then let you cut ers off?"

"Just shut up for once," Tho different with his eyes "Let’s go eat I don’t care what happens to your beautiful hands after that"

Minho squinted in confusion, but seeo"

Brenda stepped in front of Thomas unexpectedly, her face only a few inches frolow brightly "You the leader?"

Thouy you just nipped with your knife"

Brenda looked over at Minho, then back at Thorinned "Well, then that’s stupid I know I’e of crazy, but I would’ve picked you You seem like the leader type"

"Um, thanks" Thomas felt a rush of embarrassment, then remembered Minho’s tattoo Remembered his own, hoas supposed to be killed He scra to hide his sudden mood shift "I, uh, would’ve picked you, too, instead of Jorge over there"

The girl leaned forward and kissed Thomas on the cheek "You’re sweet I really hope we don’t end up killing you, at least"

"All right" Jorge was alreadyeveryone toward the broken doors that led outside "Enough of this lovefest Brenda, we have a lot to talk about once we get to the stash Coo"

Brenda didn’t take her eyes off Thoh his entire body when she’d touched him with her lips

"I like you," she said

Thoue touched the corner of her rinned, then finally turned away fro her knife into a pants pocket "Let’s go!" she yelled without looking back

Tho at him, but he refused to make eye contact with any of them Instead, he hitched up his shirt and walked forward, not caring about the slight smile on his face Soon the others fell into step behind hied into the white heat of the sun beating down on the broken pavee took up the rear Tho his eyes and squinting as they walked close to the wall to stay in the scant shade The other buildings and streets around him seemed to shine with unearthly luic stone

Brendathe walls of the structure they’d just exited until they reached what Thoht must be the back There, a set of steps disappeared into the pave in his past life An entrance to soround train syste to make sure the others were behind her, she bounced down the stairs But Thoripped tightly and held a few inches fro ready to attack―or defend―on a et out of the sun and, more ily for sustenance with every step he took In fact, he was surprised he could still rowth inside hi his vital parts with a painful cancer

Darkness sed them eventually, welcome and cool Thomas followed the sound of Brenda’s footsteps until they reached a se She went inside, and Thomas hesitated at the threshold It was a shtbulb hanging fro It looked far too cramped for all of thehts "You and the others can stay out there in the hallway, find a wall and sit I’ll start bringing out sohts for you in a sec"

Tho and stumbled back out into the hallway He collapsed next to a wall doays from the rest of the Gladers, deeper into the darkness of the tunnel And he knew for certain he’d never get back up unless he ate so canned beans and so to Brenda, the words on the label were in Spanish They ate it cold, but it tasted like the grandest meal ever to Thomas, and he devoured every bite They’d already learned it wasn’t s, but he didn’t care If he threw it all up, he’d just enjoy eating all over again Hopefully a fresh batch