∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"I didn't think you guys had this kind of food here," I muttered, surprised.

As we walked to the fire pit and sat down to roast marshmallows, he explained that they were able to request some supplies whenever the box Greenie arrived.

I've been feeling weirdly lighter. I don't know what it is but it's like someone just stopped stepping on my chest.

Kinda feels nice, even though it might be temporary.

"I have a photographic memory, you know," I told Newt as I tossed a marshmallow in my mouth. "And it's kinda freaking me out."

He chuckled. "How did you figure that out? And why does it freak you out?"

"I realized it after zoning out for the first few days here. I remembered everything—where things are, people's faces, and all the changes," I said, shrugging and chuckling. "It sounds made-up, I know, but it's actually kind of cool. Still, it freaks me out 'cuz I can't just forget what I want to forget. And it's just weird having it."

"It'll be bloody helpful for mapping out the maze, especially with the way you remember things."

I glanced at him. He was right.

That's the plan.

It was already 9:30 pm, and most of the Gladers were still awake, tense after the recent events.

I couldn't blame them. Their leader had been stung by a Griever, and Thomas mentioned that many Runners had quit because of it. Then Thomas broke the rules by entering the maze, which created a clash between sides. And there's me and Teresa, who arrived less than a week apart.

We might not get any new resources from the box anymore, so there's that. Hopefully, the resources will last us for months.

Such good timing with my arrival.

We lingered by the fire, feeling its warmth against the cool night air, chatting for a while. I glanced around at the tense faces of the Gladers, their anxiety still noticeable.

"Want water?" I stood up as I asked Newt, and he just nodded. I headed to the kitchen for water, my thoughts drifting back to my conversation with Newt at the tower.

Vulnerability wasn't my thing, but there I was in the tower, walls cracked. Though of course, it will never be completely down.

I'm not that stupid.

"It makes you weak," a woman in my dream had said.

Her words struck a chord within me, bringing up snippets of memories I never even had. I wanted to forget them but couldn't.

Ironic isn't it? I still have no idea who I am yet I have these so-called memories that feel like they were embedded in me and I have no choice but to let them pass my head.

But then again, being a nobody among these guys who already know themselves has shielded me all this time. It's helping my walls stay up, so what's wrong with that?

I was filling my cup when I heard someone quietly call my name.

"Psst, Wren." It was Thomas, hiding behind a tree that was behind the kitchen with Minho, who wasn't making much effort to hide.

Why were they like this? Maybe they're just really weird, I don't know.

But then again, I've seen weirder guys.

I stood by the wooden counter in the kitchen, staring blankly at him.

"Come on, Ree-ree," he urged, making me scrunch up my face at the nickname.

Ree-ree? Seriously?

I sighed, set my cup down, and walked over to them, waiting for someone to speak.

"Can I ask you something?" Thomas asked, looking at me intensely, which made me uneasy.

I hid my discomfort with a shrug. "Okay," I replied.

After a moment of hesitation, Thomas finally asked, "When Teresa said her name, you bolted out. What happened?"

I clenched my jaw as I felt myself tense up. I wasn't in the mood to share that with someone else yet. "I don't know," I said, trying to sound casual. "It suddenly felt stuffy, I guess."

"What about a stinging pain on your head, like specifically here?" He brought his finger to his forehead. "Did you feel something like that?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, I did," I admitted reluctantly, frowning at him.

Thomas's eyes narrowed in thought, a flicker of realization passing through them. Minho just looked bored, crossing his arms with a cocky stance, as always.

Minho poked Thomas's forehead. "You still think it's a coincidence?"

Thomas smacked his hand away.

"What happened?" I asked Minho, furrowing my eyebrows.

He crossed his arms, looking even cockier. "Why do you wanna know?"

"Useless ass," I muttered under my breath, turning to Thomas, hoping for an answer.

"I also felt something like that when she said her name," Thomas replied. "It was like...a sense of familiarity." He waved his fingers around, adding sound effects.

Okay, damn.

Minho scoffed and muttered something under his breath. Ignoring him, Thomas continued, "And when she fell asleep, she started mumbling things. Things that didn't make any sense."

"Yeah, like she was drowning or something," Minho added, looking unfazed by Thomas's theorizing. "She kept repeating stuff."

I raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that what people usually do when they're dreaming? That's why it doesn't make any sense." I said, giving them a bored look.

They both stared at me, dumbfounded. "That...kinda makes sense, dude," Minho said, flicking Thomas's forehead. Thomas pushed his hand away again.

"But she said something, um," His mouth made weird shapes, trying to remember the word. "Uh...wo– wir– ugh, what's the word? Come one dude, back me up here!" He lightly smacked Minho's shoulder, who just rolled his eyes.

"Wicked–"

"Yes, wicked!" Thomas pointed at me, nearly hitting my eye.

I stared blankly at him, my lips slightly parted, "Okay."

There was nothing interesting about the word. What are they on about?

Thomas stared back at me, eyes full of anticipation, waiting for me to share his excitement.

Then he frowned when I didn't, "That's it?"

I sighed and shrugged, "Okay, then what the fuck is it? It's just a word describing him." I glanced at Minho, which made Thomas laugh.

"First of all, Greenie," Minho put his hands on his hips, "we don't tolerate dirty mouths here. So, cut the crap. No more fucks and shits–"

"Let me guess, dicks aren't tolerated either?" I asked innocently.

"Exactly." He grinned cockily. "I'm so glad you're catching on."

I put a hand to my mouth and gasped dramatically, "Then why are you still here?"

"Ohhh-eh-oh, roasted and toasted! Wren - one, Minho - negative zerooo!" Thomas cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify the sound.

I snorted at what Thomas did, while Minho just scowled at us, his jaw clenched, "Idiotic, shucking shuck-faces." He muttered under his breath.

"Aw, go cry about it," I taunted.

"Enough with the word-shagging, both of you," Newt said, coming up behind me and standing next to Thomas.

"Newt!" Thomas greeted, his eyes lighting up. Newt gave him a smile in response.

Minho and I both glared at Newt, who just chuckled. "Oh, don't be so bloody dramatic. And Wren, you never gave me my water."

I pointed at Thomas, "His fault."

He put his hands up in defense, "What?! Why me?"

Newt and I chuckled at his reaction, he knew I was joking. Thomas then pouted, while Minho just audibly groaned in boredom.

"Always a party pooper, this guy," I muttered to Newt, subtly pointing at Minho. He rolled his eyes at me, and Newt chuckled.

≪ °❈° ≫

We returned to the fire pit, forming a circle with Thomas and me between Minho and Newt.

Newt turned to Thomas, his voice calm. "You sure you don't know her? Because she seemed to know you."

Thomas shook his head, muttering, "No. I really don't." Newt hummed thoughtfully.

Minho leaned in closer, his tone serious. "Alright, here's the plan."

We definitely didn't look suspicious at all.

"After Alby wakes up, we'll also let him talk to Teresa. Then from there, we'll decide on what to do." Minho looked at Newt and Thomas and they nodded. "And we need to make sure everyone's safe first. No risks until we know more."

"That is if Alby wakes up," I muttered and their head turned to me in unison, frowning. "Not being a downer, just being realistic. I don't know how bad being stung is." I shrugged.

"Why are you still here again, Greenie?" Minho turned to me, his expression dulled.

"First of all, I have a name already. Secondly, he called me here." I pointed at Thomas as I squinted my eyes on Minho.

"That doesn't mean you're part of this. Got it, Greenie?" He emphasized 'Greenie', ignoring the first thing I said, and rolled his eyes.

"Fine, it's gonna be a shit plan anyway."

I stood up to leave them and headed to my bunker.

But I stopped halfway when I saw a figure running away from my hammock and back into the Med-hut.

Everyone was asleep and the trio were still sitting together at the fire pit, so it couldn't have been them.

And the figure was similar to a girl's.

It must be her.

My heart raced as I hurried back to my bunker.

"What the fuck?"

I spotted a small pouch among my belongings. It hadn't been there earlier, and its sudden appearance sent a chill down my spine.

I opened it as I sat down on my hammock. Inside, it was a silver necklace with a white flower pendant and a small medicine bottle full of pills, a handwritten label 'property of WCKD, for Lily' was on the bottle.

Lily.

It's the name Teresa mentioned earlier.

WCKD?

I remember my conversation with Thomas earlier.

"But she said something, um, uh...wo– wir– ugh, what's the word? Come one dude, back me up here!"

"Wicked–"

"Yes, wicked!"

"It can't be," I whispered to myself.

My heart pounded as I stared at the pouch, frowning in confusion. If I told anyone, I knew I'd be suspected of things I couldn't explain.

I slipped the pouch into my pocket and lay back on my hammock.

No one can know about this.

A/N: be ready for the next chapters (yes plural) is all I'm gonna say......good luck, babe! (C.R) :P o7.

idk if i like the long chapters but let me know what yall think !! and I'm soo enjoying writing this aaahh i hope y'all enjoy it too<3

also thank you guys so much for the votes and comments!! keep em coming i love reading it sm<3 it really means a lot to me