𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐀𝐃

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🚨𝐓𝐖 : 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞

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" Steph. Come on, let go. "

" Liza, just be quiet. Do you remember the plan? "

A little girl sighs.

" If they catch us, I pretend like I got lost looking for Kathy and you found me. "

" Right. But Kathy's name isn't Kathy. "

" Shit, I forgot. "

The boy guffaws.

" Yes? "

" Where did you even learn to swear? I learnt that word like yesterday. "

" Listen, Steph. Just because I'm a year younger doesn't mean I'm stupid, you know. "

Her hands are on her hips now.

" Actually, Doctor Paige said I was the smartest out of everyone, even more than Simon. "

" Yeah, well, she's a bitch. "

" Shh! Look, it's up there. "

The girl stays quiet.

" Stephen, that's really scary. " The little girl sounds shaken, her breath accelerating. " Why would yo- "

" Young lady, what do you think you're doing here? You know this area is off limits. "

A tyrant seems to have appeared out of nowhere, looming in the shadow.

The girl turns around, but the little boy has disappeared out of her sight.

" I got lost looking for K- " A violent cough breaks out of the girl's mouth, cleverly cutting off her mistake. " Pardon me, sir. I got lost looking for Rachel, sir. "

" And why would you think it's appropriate for you to do so? "

There's no reply, but the girl looks around anxiously.

" Miss Tereshkova, we've talked about this, sneaking around after hours. We've also discussed the consequences of such action being repeated. Come along. "

" Sir please, let Stephen explain. " The girl's voice is getting hysterical.

" Not only do you not follow curfew, you refuse to obey the adoptive name measures that, as you know, are Wicked's protocol. "

No response.

" Very well. I shall discuss your punishment with Dr. Janson. Until then, you are not to come out of your dormitory. Are we clear?"

" Crystal."

The doctor grunts

" Take care of your language, Miss Tereshkova. This is your final warning. Are we clear?"

" Yes, Dr. Hendrix. Sir. " The girl shuffles her feet down the hallway, followed by the tall man after a quick check for accomplices.

If he had checked a little more thoroughly, he would have spotted a little boy, around the corner of a tall stone pillar, his hand on his mouth to cover his breathing.

He winces when he hears a door slam shut a few feet away.

" Sorry Liza. I really didn't want this to happen, but I can't risk getting in trouble right now. " He says to himself, promising to apologize tomorrow.

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" Listen, Jeff. I appreciate your concern, and she probably would too, but come on. Nobody else likes her right now, and it'd be so very sad for her to wake up with no one there. No one who's not required to be there, I mean, Jeff. "

" I just don't think she likes you very much, man. The last thing I want as her doctor and as her friend is for her to wake up distressed, because of a dude who she gives dirty looks to every time she passes him. "

" I assure you, we have a special connection. It's just a big joke, the dirty looks. "

" If you say so, man. But if she seems slightly uncomfortable, you're out."

" Understood, Doc. "

" Don't mock me, Sean. "

My eyes open. I'm in the Med-Jack hut. Goodie.

I sigh as I prop myself up. Jeff is in the corner, whispering with Clint. A creak brings my attention to the rocking chair, where a skinny boy is sitting, a smirk on his face.

" Hey, sleeping beauty. "

" Hello, toad. Who let you out of your cage? "

" Always a pleasure. " He says, leaning forward, his sneer getting wider. " Want to kiss me, to see if I turn into a prince? "

" Want me to punch you, to see if it turns purple? "

Someone runs in, saying something about Winston and a knife.

Immediately I see Nick, his face distorted, a thousand knives pushed into every crevice of his face, as if someone had drawn his profile with the weapons.

I snap back to reality when Jeff slams the door, running with Clint to go aid the Slicer.

" Isn't it sad that nobody came to see you? I was the only person. Not even that French guy. "

I lift my head up, a smirk crawling onto my face.

" And what? You expected me to cling onto you because I don't have an army waiting on me? That's funny, cause I can't believe you think I need a male's attention to feel good about myself, Sharon."

His gaze darkens as I use the wrong name on purpose, his face turning so red his lips blend in with it.

" Listen to me, bitch. You'll come crawling back to me the second you realize no one's talking to you anymore. And I'll make you beg for my attention, on your knees. "

" Listen Sharon, the only time I'll be on my knees around you, is when I double over, puking because of that smell, my man. Seriously dude, you should probably see someone about that, it can't be healthy. It smells like a cow died, then came back to life only to die again on a pile of fertilizer."

He grunts, and leaves. In the door frame, I see him take a quick and not so slick sniff of himself.

" Catch my drift? " I call, chuckling softly as he shouts in frustration from down the hall.

I swing my legs over the side of my bed. They feel fine, as do my arms. I feel no bandages. The last thing I remember are the corn fields, although I don't recall walking over there. I could have sworn I was going to my hut.

Clint comes back in, scanning the room as he does.

" No Sean? " He asks, scratching his nose.

" Nah. " I mull over the question before I ask it. " He told me no one came to visit, is that uh- is that true? "

Clint becomes slightly red. Not a good sign

" Uhm- I'm pretty sure Chuck stopped by, but you've been asleep for a few days and besides him, and Sean, I don't remember seeing anybody else. Of course, someone could have visited while we weren't here, Valentina. But most people have been grieving Nick's death, so... "

My heart drops. It feels like my lungs have been tied together with a piece of rope, leaving burns while getting tighter and tighter. It's stupid to be upset over being forgotten, but it does mean Sean was right.

" Goodbye, Clint. " I manage to squeeze out. " I'll be going, now. "

" Oh! Uhm- I'm real sorry if I hurt your feelings, Tina. They didn't forget you, I'm sure. It's just been really busy lately, what with the new Greenie coming up tomorrow and uhm- other stuff. '' Clint trails off, so I awkwardly step around him and out the door.

If he's right, then that means I missed Nick's memorial thing. We do it every time somebody dies, no matter if their body was found or not. Basically, it's where everybody brings a flame to the clearing in the woods, like a candle or a stick on fire, and we all burn the same spot in the grass, to represent the forever missing piece to our Glade. It grows back, but never perfectly, either in the size of the blade or the color. The clearing now looks like a quilt sown with many different kinds of fabric patches. I've only ever witnessed one, a long time ago. That was the only time I've ever seen Minho cry, even if he tried to hide it.

The sun seems blinding as I walk towards the Gardens. Newt is standing there with Zart, angrily explaining something as he waves a machete around erratically.

" - An' if Tina was here, she'd say the same thing."

" What would I say? " I say, tight lipped. I don't think I'll get over waking up to Sean and not one of my friends soon, but I know I'll get called dramatic if I say anything.

" Tina, you need to stop sleeping in, okay? Also, you've let the Gardens go to shuck all bloody week. If you want this position, you can't be slacking off. " Newt says, annoyed. " I was just saying that Zart needs to cut down this tree before the bonfire tomorrow, or else we won't have any wood to celebrate the new Greenie. "

" I'm sorry, slacking off? Where do you think I've been? " I say, my voice going up an octave.

" Working, just less hard? " He looks confused, sharing a glance with Zart.

" I've been in a fucking coma, Newt! And.. you didn't even notice. You didn't notice I haven't been here for a whole week ? "

Uncomfortable silence answers me.

" Well? " I ask, anger flooding me like a red tidal wave.

" I'm really sorry, Tina. Really, I am. But-, Minho's been pretty upset, and you're probably the cause, although I don't know what happen' between you. He's all closed up now, not smiling or anything. And we've all been eating with him, trying to cheer him up, you know."

I feel numb as the truth comes crashing down on me, like an avalanche of nothingness. I have no friends. I have nobody I can talk to, nobody who will assure me they were worried about me. Nobody likes me. Everybody thinks I'm a rude brat who sleeps in. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill. I haven't cried in front of anybody, and I won't start now.

" Yeah, that's my fault. I'll apologize. And I apologize for snapping at you. I shouldn't haven't expected anyone to realize I was sick."

" I didn't mean it like that, Tina." Newt looks guilty, his arm extending onto my shoulder, concern flickering through his gaze, like a faulty lightbulb.

" So you're telling me I should have expected someone to visit me? That's funny, because no one did, except for a creep who wanted to watch me sleep. Should I have expected him to come? Worn my nicest clothes for him? Put some makeup on before I literally lost all control of my body? "

They're both speechless, because they know I'm genuinely upset, and I'm not trying to hide it with sass or quick remarks.

I leave before they can say anything more. Before they can hurt me any more.

My head is down as I shove past people doing their jobs. I don't dare to look up, and just hope I'll be able to find my hut by the grass patterns.

I think I recognise a particular rock when I come face to face with a wall. That's the final straw. I explode, tears coming down hot and fast. I bang my fists against the wall over and over again, I scream as much as I can. I can't take it anymore, I just can't.

" Woah, Tina. Stop trying to beat me up. Hey, it's okay, uhm- calm down, it's okay. Come on, I'll take you to my room in the Homestead. What the hell are you doing in the woods? "

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a/n

this part is not edited, so excuse the typos and what not. on another note, guys, waking up to your comments actually bring me life, i can't explain it.

also, who do you think found Valentina?...

+ what vibes does Dr. Hendrix give off

++ what's Valentina's best nickname ?

take care,

stay safe

xoxo

- claire