chapter fifteen:
Survive

The room was silent when Elizabeth walked in, which was a relief for her. Since Ben has been screaming ever since they, Med-jacks, inserted the Griever Serum. The serum that the Creators sent up to the Glade to help when a Glader gets stung by a Griever. But from what Elizabeth heard from Gally was that it was a painful process and that they are never the same. The Changing. Elizabeth took his word for it since he has gone through the Changing and since Ben would be screaming at times that it drove Elizabeth crazy. It brought the imagines of Nick's body to him getting buried when the Runners found his body the next morning.

The story on how Ben and Nick ended up in the Maze spread like a fire. A Bagger saw Ben entering the Maze twenty minutes before the Doors closed so he informed Nick. So Nick took it upon himself to enter the Maze after Ben to get him before he got lost or shut in there with the Grievers. Then rumors on how Nick died and Ben was only able to get away started to spread. Some said that Nick probably distracted the Griever so Ben could get away only it didn't end how he wanted it. Others said that Ben probably pushed the leader and tried to get away. But what Elizabeth said was completely different. "Shove off. What happened to Nick and Ben was horrible so unless you want the same to happen to you, I suggest you get workin'." That did earn her glares and a couple of Gladers to dislike her.

There were the loud sound and rumble of the Doors closing, informing the blond that the Runners were already back. Probably in the Map Room going over the changes of the Maze. Elizabeth let out a sigh and decided to do what she was assigned to do before Minho went to check up on her.

It made her frustrated that Minho and Newt were keeping an eye on her whenever they can ever since she found Nick and helped Ben. Afraid that Elizabeth would break after seeing what she had seen. It pained Elizabeth to admit it but it did break her instead of making her stronger. So she decided to slowly make herself strong and one of those things to help her was to treat Ben.

Elizabeth took a seat beside Ben and started to feed him the soup she made. She made sure he didn't choke or die from the soup and that he was actually taking the food. After it seemed he had enough, Elizabeth quickly pulled away, not wanting to witness Ben when he started to scream and thrash around. He already looked horrible with a twisted, pale figure writhing in agony, chest bare and hideous. Tight, rigid cords of sickly green veins webbed across Ben's body and limps. Purplish bruises covered Ben, red hives, bloody scratches.

There was a high and shrill scream that caused Elizabeth to jump up in the air in surprise, causing her to drop the bowl in her hands. Panic arose in her but she pushed the feeling away and quickly rushed to Ben's side. She did everything that Clint and Jeff told her to do before they busted in the room and helped Elizabeth. There was another horrifying scream in which Newt and Alby busted in.

"What now!?" The new leader asked. Alby's usual scowl faded a bit since he was still getting used to his new position. Clint immediately explained what Ben went through while Elizabeth and Jeff finished up, hoping that Ben wouldn't scream again.

"Ya drop this Lizzy," Newt commented, picking up the bowl before taking a glance at Ben. He knew why his sister felt so torn when she saw Nick's dead body and had to drag Ben's body. Elizabeth nodded her head and took the bowl from Newt before she left the room. She left out a breath when she was outside of the Kitchens. The state that Ben was in was something that she didn't want to witness but she had to suck it up.

With one final deep breath, Elizabeth entered the Kitchens and put the bowl in the sink. Frypan sat on the picnic table that was inside the Kitchen, eating dinner.

"Elizabeth, grab some food and join me. Ya haven't eaten since breakfast." Frypan commanded the blond Glader. Her stomach let out a grumble before she quickly grabbed an apple and a few other fruits. She took a seat across from Frypan and started to eat. The door suddenly flew open and Minho entered the Kitchens.

"Newt informed me that you'll probably be here," Minho answered the unasked question before he served himself some grub. He then took a seat next to Elizabeth before they all ate in silence.

"I'm done," Frypan stated after six minutes and stood up and then proceeded to leave the room. Once Frypan was out of the room, Minho immediately spoke up.

"I heard what happened. All the way from the Map Room."

"Wasn't it just bloody brilliant? It certainly didn't scream bloody murder." Elizabeth muttered sarcastically. Her mind then raced to seeing Nick's lifeless eyes staring straight at her when she tried to pick Ben up.

"Beth." Was all Minho was able to say. It was enough for Elizabeth to turn her head and to look at Minho. When his eyes met hers, all he was was pain, guilt, and sadness. He took a deep breath and soften up. "What's wrong? Other than seeing what you saw in the Maze."

"I'm afraid that I wouldn't survive the Glade or the Maze."

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little filter because Thomas is coming in the next chapter.

updates are starting to get more frequent because school is starting up on August the 22nd and this is a forgiveness present in case I fall off the face of the planet. for a few months or a couple of weeks. NOT ready for high school.

*insert Castaway lyrics*

jAzLyN