This scene happens while and after Thomas and Brenda arrive at Marcus's in the second book. For my story its Chapter 9: Just Don't Die. It's a tad bit that I meant to involve and then it got too long and I left it out. So here goes.

They walked for a long while, but at least there was something to look at. Cleo couldn't remember if she had ever seen buildings this tall before and found herself wondering what they must have looked like before all of this started. She wondered who lived in them or worked there, what their purpose was. She wondered who had the stomach to stand at the top of some of them, and if they swayed like they were now, back then. Regardless, she was a bit mesmerized by the entire thing.

It helped distract her from the things on her mind, keeping her relaxed and focused. All she could do was follow Jorge and hope it wasn't just another trap. Thomas had trusted this man, and his smaller companion, and if Thomas trusted them, she could to.

If only slightly.

An uneasy feeling settled in her gut as they neared a crowded building. She got an incredibly bad vibe off the people lounging out front, and by the slowing of his pace, knew Jorge did too. He seemed a bit confused, eyes searching the crowd with a look of uncertainty and Cleo began to lag behind. She was subconsciously looking for an escape route, something her body had picked up as a defense mechanism recently.

The building must have been pretty back in the day, the architecture rivaling that of the buildings around them. It was tall, but not nearly as tall as the ones they had seen before but seemed sturdier because of this. Large pillars created a long, covered walkway, now filled with worn couches and broken chairs. Piles of debris and old cloth mingled with garbage. The people watching her dangerously seemed to fit right in with the ruins but out of place with the character.

But maybe they would have, she thought, maybe this was their home at one point. Maybe they had once been just as magnificent and breathtaking as the buildings surrounding them.

When they came to an abrupt stop, her guard was up once more. Eyes darting towards the boarded-up windows and heavily guarded door. Jorge was arguing with a large man, demanding they see Marcus. The situation was hostile from the beginning and Cleo was itching to get away.

She quietly began stepping backwards, leaving the others to watch the argument crescendo. Others had gathered to watch which gave her the opportunity to go unseen. Slipping back the way they came, she took an immediate left, ducking around the side of the building.

The alleyway cleared up, both from the bustle of the dilapidated city and the beating sun from above. Cleo could hear the music from inside, the walls practically shaking from the bass trembling within. She looked for any way inside.

He's in there. She was sure of it.

Relief came in the form of a large metal door. The stairs leading to it were destroyed but she could still reach it. Getting it open, seemed to be a different story. She tried ramming herself against it, but her body ached with each push and soon, she was leaning against the railing, trying to steady her breathing. The music seemed to be growing louder, and now she could hear voices. Fear built up inside of her and she found her want to getting Thomas back was turning into a need.

She needed to know he was okay. She needed to see him. She needed him to come back to her.

Pushing off the railing once more, she used all the strength she could muster to throw herself against the door. It shook with her weight but didn't budge.

"Dammit!" She punched at it like a child, huffing and puffing with anger.

"Cleo!" Newt's voice startled her, but relief soon took its place.

"He's inside. He has to be." She panted, moving as Frypan all but leapt up beside her.

He backed up as far as he could, placing an arm across Cleo, "Stay back."

With one solid hit, the door swung open, sending light into the dark building. There was a commotion of voices, people scattering away from the group now stampeding in.

Cleo found Thomas immediately. Watching him collapse to the floor. His eyes found hers, relief seemingly washing over his features before he fell into unconsciousness. She dropped to her knees, face inches from his own.

"Thomas! Thomas, can you hear me?" She was frantic; shaking his shoulders, slapping his cheeks, anything she could to get him to respond. She was unaware at the attention they had gathered, only pulling away when Minho forcibly lifted her off the ground.

"He's fine, Cleo! He's fine!" His voice was sharp, but he meant well.

The crowd of party goers around them were quickly trying to funnel out of the building. If any of them had stopped for a moment to see that the threat wasn't much of a threat at all, they might have stopped. Jorge had disappeared somewhere in the crowd when they had first arrived and was now reappearing with a terrified, and bleeding, man and Brenda following behind closely. The two men had a bit of a struggle and Jorge reveal a gun, lifting it in the air and firing once.

The man froze immediately, the rest of the crowd disappearing out the front door.

"Get me something to tie him up with," Jorge ordered with a snap of his fingers, "And open those windows," He pulled a chair out into the middle of the room, "I want to get a good look at my old friend, Marcus."

Hello hello hello! I'm so so so so sorry for my inactivity. It's been literally forever. I feel terrible. Things just kept happening and this story had to be pushed back for a little bit. But I'm back, though it might be a little sporadic for a while, and I'm starting the third book here soon.

Thank you to everyone who has read the first two and enjoyed them, and again sorry for the lack of content. Xx