The Death Cure - James Dashner [56]
Thomas noticed that Red Shirt was looking at him, and he finally met the guard’s gaze.
“What?” Thomas asked.
“Quite the show, huh?” Red Shirt replied. “Enjoy it while it lasts. When this is over, you’re coming with me.”
CHAPTER 31
Thomas’s heart sank. There was something sadistic in Red Shirt’s eyes, and he looked away, focused back on the infected man just as the blue gel reached his feet and solidified around them. The guy now lay completely motionless, wrapped in the hard, plasticky coating. The woman with the gel gun stood up, and Thomas saw that it was now nothing but an empty bag. She folded it up and stuffed it into a pocket in her green coverall.
“Let’s get him out of here,” she said.
As the four workers reached down and lifted up the infected man, Thomas’s eyes flickered back to Red Shirt, who was watching the others carry off their captive. What in the world had he meant that Thomas would be going with him? Where? Why? If the man hadn’t had a gun, Thomas would have run.
When the others had made their way out the door, Minho appeared again. He was just about to step inside when Red Shirt pulled out his weapon.
“Stop right there!” the man yelled. “Get out!”
“But we’re with him.” Minho pointed to Thomas. “And we need to go.”
“This one’s not going anywhere.” He paused, as if something had just occurred to him. He looked at Thomas, then back at Minho. “Wait a second. Are you guys Munies, too?”
Panic flared in Thomas, but Minho was fast. He didn’t hesitate, just bolted.
“Stop!” Red Shirt yelled, sprinting for the doorway.
Thomas lurched over to the window. He saw Minho, Brenda, and Jorge just as they made it across the street and disappeared around a corner. Red Shirt had stopped right outside the coffee shop; he gave up on the others and came back in. With his gun pointed at Thomas.
“I ought to shoot you in the neck and watch you bleed out for what your little friend just did. Better thank God above that Munies are so valuable, or I’d do it just to make myself feel better. Been a crappy day.”
Thomas couldn’t believe that after all he’d been through, he was stuck in such a stupid situation. He wasn’t scared, only frustrated. “Well, it hasn’t been so great for me, either,” he muttered.
“You’ll bring me a good hunk of cash. That’s all there is to it. And just for the record, I don’t like you. I can tell by just lookin’ at ya.”
Thomas smiled. “Yeah, well, the feeling’s mutual.”
“You’re a funny guy. Just full of laughs. We’ll see how you feel by the time the sun goes down tonight. Come on.” He gestured to the door with his weapon. “And trust me, I’m out of patience. Try anything and I’ll shoot you in the back of the head and tell the police that you were acting like an infected and ran. Zero-tolerance policy. Won’t even get questioned about it. Not so much as a raised eyebrow.”
Thomas stood there, sorting through his options. The irony wasn’t lost on him. He’d escaped WICKED only to be held at gunpoint by an average everyday city worker.
“Don’t make me say it again,” Red Shirt warned.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out in time. And I’ll be one rich sucker. Now get moving.”
Thomas had been shot twice already and knew how badly it hurt. If he didn’t want to go through it again, it looked like going with the guy was his only option. He glared at the man, then walked toward the door. When he reached it, he stopped.
“Which way?” Thomas asked.
“Go left. We’ll walk nice and easy for about three blocks, then another left. I’ve got a car waiting for us there. Do I need to warn you again what’ll happen if you try something?”
“You’ll shoot an unarmed kid in the back of the head. Got it, crystal clear.”
“Oh, man, I hate you Munies. Start walking.” He pressed the tip of the gun into Thomas’s