Free The Kill Order by James Dashner Page A

case they were dealing with something contagious.
    “I’m not sick,” she concluded as they readied to leave the stream and go back to the village. “It happened so quickly—and the ones who got sick afterward have already died. I think I’d have symptoms by now.”
    “How fast?” Mark asked her. “How fast did it take effect?”
    “All but Darnell were dead within twelve hours,” she replied. “They woke up and showed symptoms within two or three. I really think if anyone is still alive and symptom-free right now, they’re clear.”
    Mark took in their group: The Toad, fidgeting nervously. Misty, looking at the ground. Alec and Lana, staring at each other intently in what appeared to be a silent conversation. And Trina, looking at Mark. Her eyes said it all—they were going to live through this just like they’d lived through everything else.
    They were back at the Shack an hour later, filling backpacks with as much food and supplies as they could carry. As they worked, they kept their distance from each other. Caution seemed to come naturallynow. Mark washed his hands at least three times during the packing frenzy.
    They had just finished up, each of them with a loaded pack on his or her back, when Misty groaned. Mark turned to agree with her—the packs
were
heavy—but when he saw her face, his stomach sank.
    She was pale and leaning on a table with both hands. Mark was stunned—the last time he’d looked at her, she was fine. But then her legs gave out and she collapsed to one knee. She touched the side of her face, tentatively, almost as if she was worried about what she’d feel there.
    “My … head hurts,” she whispered.

CHAPTER 13
    “Everyone get out of here!” Lana yelled. “Out! Now!”
    Mark was speechless. Everything in him wanted to do the opposite of what she’d just ordered. He wanted to help his friend.
    “Get outside. Then we can talk!” Lana insisted. She pointed to the door.
    “Go,” Misty said weakly. “Do what she says.”
    Mark and Trina exchanged a look, but she only hesitated a second before marching out the door. Alec was right on her heels, then Lana.
    Mark turned to leave but then noticed that the Toad hadn’t moved.
    “Hey … come on, man. Let’s just go out there and talk about this. Misty, tell him.”
    “He’s right, Toadie,” she said. She’d slipped her backpack to the floor and sat down next to it. Mark couldn’t believe how quickly she’d gone from totally fine to literally on the ground, too weak to stand. “Go and let me figure this thing out. Maybe I just ate something weird.” But Mark could tell she didn’t believe that.
    “We can’t just keep abandoning people,” the Toad said, glaring at Mark.
    “Who cares what you do if it makes you end up dead!” Misty countered. “How would you feel if it was reversed? You’d want me to leave. Now go!” That seemed to drain a good chunk of her energy—she slumped and almost lay down.
    “Come on,” Mark said. “We’re not abandoning her. We’re just going outside to talk.”
    The Toad stomped out of the Shack, muttering under his breath the whole way. “This is all so messed up. Totally messed up.”
    Mark looked at Misty, but she was staring at the floor, taking long, deep breaths. “Sorry” was all he could get out. Then he joined the others.
    They decided to give her one hour. They’d see what happened. See if she got better or worse.
    Or if she stayed the same.
    It was a maddening hour. Mark was unable to sit still. He paced outside the Shack, worried on so many levels. The thought that a virus might be slinking its way through his system … it was unbearable. And Trina’s, too. He wanted to
know
. Now. It was so overwhelming that he found himself forgetting that Misty could very well have it and die soon.
    “I think we need to readjust our outlook here,” Lana said toward the end of their allotted time. Misty hadn’t improved or gotten worse—she still lay on the floor in the