𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑻

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🚨 𝐓𝐖 : 𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐞/𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐬𝐞

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I watched with disdain as Nick put his backpack on. His hair was pushed to the side messily, his dimples more apparent than before. His eyes, skimming the Glade widely, screamed with excitement. Minho, standing by his side, was shaking his head at a joke Nick must have said. Newt was sitting with one leg stretched out in front of him near the duo, chatting quietly to Alby, who was inspecting them from beside his second in command.

Either they hadn't noticed me or they were just ignoring me. It was probably the first option, because I was pretty far away from them, and it was so early they probably expected nobody to be awake yet.

Newt got up, walked over to the duo, rolling his shoulders back as he did. Alby stood back, nodding solemnly as they waved goodbye. Then, Minho and Nick ran into the Maze, fist bumping each other before splitting up. The plan was for Minho to run like usual, and Nick to find a good hiding spot. That way, he could surprise a Griever when one would eventually pass by.

I stared at the Door that had just engulfed them. Running into a cloud of darkness, wisps of it escaping the Maze and souring my day. The Door that might be the passageway away from this hell hole, or just bring us deeper into the devil's lair.

I was still staring at the empty ivy hallways when Newt appeared in front of me, frowning.

" You know you should just apologize to 'im. Minho's been really upset. "

I stare up at him, my eyes sharpening into slits, my eyebrows furrowed. I was going to apologize. But if he thinks that I hadn't thought of it yet, and that he needed to point it out to me, as if I'm some airhead just bumbling around, then he's got another thing coming.

" And what, I'm not? " I grunt, feeling my fists ball up at my sides. " He called me a cowardly mean bitch, in case you forgot. I just told the facts, with some embellishment. "

" That's not what I meant, and you know it. Stop unraveling simple conversations, Valentina. " His gaze is filled with disappointment and shame, making me writhe in my skin. I shrink down, hunching my shoulder as I try to make myself as small as possible.

" Tina. " He says, in a way I know he's sorry about his harsh but true words. " Promise me you're doing okay? "

I search his eyes, but I can't bring myself to tell him the truth. Ever since Max showed up, a headache had developed into a familiar electric pain behind my eyes, waves of nausea hitting me like a tsunami hitting a building on a beach. At certain parts of the day, I would feel my body go numb, as if it disappeared, yet I was still there, watching myself fall deeper into an abyss of no control.

I clench my teeth as I smile. " Yeah, you don't have to worry about me, Newt. "

" I trust you, so I'll let it go. " He says, a concerned edge to his usual stern voice.

I get up to leave, my back facing him. My fingers are burrowed into my hair, creating knots that I'll spend hours undoing later. I'm far away when I hear his voice, a faint call drowning in the morning crickets.

" Don't be a stranger, Tina. "

I look over my shoulder, and Newt gives me a slight wave, which I mimic.

" Will do, Newton. " I say, overenthusiastically.

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I stand behind the crowd that is standing in front of the Door, their excitement bubbling out of their throats and echoing down the large pathway that is stretched out in front of us. Yesterday, Minho came back without Nick optimistically. Today, he's going to follow the path our former leader took the previous day in hopes of finding a clue to Nick's status.

As in, dead or alive.

My hand is burrowed into Chuck's fist, both of us watching from afar. Like everyone, I hope Nick is alive. Like a few people, I fear that he's not. I spot Gally, who ever since this stupid idea came out, hasn't stopped fuming. We make eye contact, and I let go of Chuck.

" Hi. "

" Hey, " He says, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. " You don't actually believe that this plan is going to work, right? "

I sigh, and look up at him. His jaw is clenched, and his eyes are unwavering, staring directly into the mouth of the Maze.

" No. " I respond, crossing my arms over my chest. " I hope he's okay, though. "

Commotion grabs my attention as screams and shouts bounce off the Walls of the Glade.

" I guess we're about to find out. " Gally grabs my arm, dragging me to the front of the crowd.

Most people are standing back, their mouths slack and hands hanging limply by their sides. I hear a few sobs, but they're drowned out by the panicky quietness that has just re engulfed our home.

I see Newt, Alby and Minho talking, with Clint and Jeff crouched beside them, hovering over what seems to be a tree trunk. I'm against approaching them, but Gally pulls me over, letting go when we reach them.

Alby turns to me and immediately, I know something is wrong. His eyes are wide, filled with panic and sorrow. His breaths are slanted, as if he's holding back tears while trying to stay calm. I can't think of what to say to him.

He faces the crowd, and as stable as he can muster, tells them to fuck off. Well, more politely.

He then leaves with Newt, who walks away as if all his joints were made of steel. The only people left are the Medjacks, Gally and Minho.

I watch our leader walk away as the others exchange brief words. I hear Gally inhale sharply, then quick footsteps disappearing away from us. I turn to face Minho, who is now standing alone.

" So...you find your taxi? " I say, trying to lighten the mood and cut the tension between us.

Minho's gaze glazes over, as he stares at me, speechless.

I stare back , confused. I know the joke was bad, but there was no need to stare at me like I just burnt off my eyebrows.

" Do you really want me to say it? " His head is shaking in disbelief. " You were right, Valentina. Like fucking always, I should have listened to you. Congratulations, he's dead. " He stalks past me, his breaths becoming more ragged by the step, as if he's been attained by a virus that is killing him quickly, at each pace he makes.

Then his words sink in. Quickly, I turn to Clint and Jeff, and I see that the tree trunk isn't' really a tree trunk.

It's Nick.

I feel my heart trying to squeeze its way out of my chest, but I try my best not to get sick.The bottom half of his body is gone completely, severed as if he were a marshmallow, and not a boy. His face is completely disfigured, like a beaten and broken pumpkin. He was completely and undoubtedly unrecognizable, his clothes soaked to the bone with blood. As I inspected him, something caught my attention. A knife, about as long as my forearm, stuck out from in between his shoulder blades. Realisation struck me hard, making my legs collapse from under me. It was the knife Nick had brought into the Maze. His own weapon was a cause of his downfall. I felt tears prick the side of my eyes as I searched for a sign of life. I desperately wanted him to laugh, get up and tell me it was all some big joke. No luck. This was no longer my smiling friend, the one who saw over the Glade calmly, the one who always had a twinkle of mischief in his eye.

This was a corpse.

Suddenly, I can't move. My hands are shaking and my gaze is foggy. I hear someone call my name, but it blends in with the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.

I need to get out.

Need G et out.

G E T O U T.

GET OUT.

Someone else's voice screamed that last warning, making me jump in my skin. I look around, but no one seems to have said anything. I gasp, as if taking a deep breath before going underwater.

" Tina? Wait a sec, Tina. The Baggers will come collect...him, and then we'll take you to the Medjack Hut, okay? "

" geyrt owrt " I repeat, but it sounds indecipherable. I can't take it. I get up shakily, trying my best to appear calm and collected. My head feels foggy and too big for my neck. I start walking, losing balance every few steps but I do not look back. I keep my eyes straight in front of me, avoiding eye contact. I get halfway to my hut when suddenly, I think it's a good idea to go to the tall corn fields, but I can't explain why. I head there, and the minute I'm deep enough in the field, I crash. Hard. I feel no pain, just panic as my eyes start getting invaded by the darkness that is unconsciousness.

I'm sorry, Liza.

But you'll thank me later.

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a/n

[ thank you all for your comments, they really make my day. ]

ps- i'm going to prince edward island for a tournament, so don't be surprised if i'm not updating for a few days, i'll try my best to respond to comments tho

as always

stay safe

xox, claire