The Cranks

Lore & Background

The Cranks represent the tragic endpoint of the Flare virus infection within the post-apocalyptic world known as the Scorch. When a human contracts the pathogen, they progress through stages of fever and confusion before reaching Stage 3, where humanity is lost entirely. At this point, the infected become feral predators known as Cranks, possessing heightened aggression but no higher reasoning or memory. They are often found wandering in packs across the wasteland, wearing tattered remnants of clothing from their lives before the collapse. Their skin may appear decayed, and they exhibit a terrifying resilience to injury that makes them difficult to stop with conventional force. While WCKD claims to be working on a cure for the virus, many survivors believe the organization is responsible for spreading the infection in the first place.

In Their Own Story

The sandstorm howled outside the bunker, masking the sound of their footsteps. Thomas pressed his back against the cold metal wall, listening as claws scraped against the reinforced door. Inside, the air was thick with dust and fear. He knew what waited on the other side—eyes glowing faintly in the dark, mouths gaping for flesh that had long since turned to ash. They didn't speak or bargain; they only hungered. With a deep breath, he checked his flare gun, knowing one shot might not be enough to stop the horde gathering in the shadows of the Scorch.

Reader's Guide

The Cranks operate without a traditional hierarchy, functioning instead as a chaotic swarm driven by primal instinct. There is no leader or command structure among them; they simply exist to hunt and consume survivors of the Flare pandemic. Their stated goal does not exist in human terms, but their biological imperative is survival through predation. WCKD originally sought to study the virus to find a cure, inadvertently creating these monsters when subjects progressed beyond Stage 2 infection. While WCKD personnel sometimes wear protective gear to handle them, they view Cranks as failed experiments rather than people. The organization uses containment zones and fire to manage outbreaks in the Scorch. Resistance against the Cranks is purely reactive among survivors like Thomas and his group. They avoid open conflict whenever possible, relying on stealth and barricades during sandstorms or nightfall. There are no key leadership figures within the infected ranks, though WCKD agents occasionally hunt them for data. The only true control comes from immunity, which allows certain individuals to survive exposure without turning into a Crank themselves.

Did You Know?

• They are drawn to noise and light, making stealth essential for survival in the Scorch.
• Immune individuals possess biological resistance to turning into Cranks after exposure.
• The term is used by survivors to distinguish fully infected humans from healthy people.
• WCKD studies them closely to understand the virus progression stages.