Warnings: Sexual Abuse, Vulgar Language, Pain. Please read at your own risk!
Chapter 4
Weeks had gone by since the whole fight happened with John and Newt. Of course, the older boy wasn't talking to anyone but didn't dare come near Ava or Newt. Since then, everything had gone back to normal. Life in the Glade continued on.
Ava was being taught how to fight. After letting Gally cut her hair to her shoulders, he began teaching her. It started off with simple moves. Learning how to dodge if someone tried to grab her or sidestep if someone lunged. Then came the punches. Gally found it quite amusing at first. Ava didn't want to actually hit him, so her punches were nothing.
"I'm not just going to punch you, Gally. That's not how this is supposed to work." Ava complained, dodging a swipe as he moved.
"Then what are you learning? And why am I here if you don't want to punch me?" He asked, stepping around to her back to throw her off. But she was learning fast and quickly turned.
He scoffed. "Just as I suspected. You fight like a girl. Maybe that's why John thinks you're so easy…" suddenly his head swung to the side after her fist had connected with it. He winced, seeing stars for a moment. He coughed, touching his now throbbing cheek, and turned to look at her.
She was fuming, shaking the hand that just delivered the punch which was now pink. Newt and Frypan had been watching from the side, Winston having joined them. Newt's eyes widened and he took a step just in case she wanted to continue.
"Damn," Frypan spoke and Winston whistled.
"Now that's more like it," Gally spoke, shaking the stars from his eyes. Ava raised an eyebrow, before realizing. He was trying to get her mad to make her react. He grinned and she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Fine. You won that round." She mumbled, shaking her hand as if it would make the pain go away. This was at least a start.
Ava was excelling at her sessions. She was also becoming more skilled with the bow and arrow. Alby let her keep in, in hopes it would help her. It didn't take long to learn after some target practice, and she started using it more. Helped cut down fruit that was too far up the trees or shoot down birds or squirrels for food as well.
Newt had gone out to become a Runner, helping Minho and the others out. She didn't realize how much she missed Newt during his times out there. She was constantly worrying. And even though Minho and Ben tried to keep her calm, it just didn't feel right.
So Gally kept her busy, training or helping with the Builders. If it wasn't Gally, Zart was asking her for help and even Clint and Jeff made her help with the Med Jacks. She knew it was to keep her mind off of Newt. And every night Gally would come to get her and point toward the door where the Runners were returning. Newt was always with them. Ava would sigh in relief, and then go help Gally with whatever he was doing.
"Why are you that high up?"
The crow took flight with a terrified squawk, and the arrow whizzed past it, landing in the field a few feet away.
"Damnit, Gally!" Ava cursed, looking down from her perch in the tree. "That could have been our dinner!" She called down.
"Get down here before you fall!" He scolded like a father to a child. Ava rolled her eyes but relented. It was getting late anyway and they were getting ready for the new Greenie bonfire. She was still the only female in the group. Every month she waited with bated breath for the box to bring a new girl. And every time she was let down. She was getting used to the fact that she was going to be the only girl.
Gally watched as Ava slowly came down, taking the last limb and swinging from it before landing on her feet. "You're getting that arrow for me." She shouted at him.
"Fine. Then you can try this for me." Gally pushed a jar of clear liquid into her hand as he walked away to retrieve the item. She looked at the liquid before cursing. "You know your recipes suck!" She called before relenting and taking a swig, choking at the end. Gally laughed as he jogged back over, handing her the arrow.
"That'll put hair on the Greenie's chest for sure." She mused, handing him the jar back. She never knew why she tried it. She hated the taste. But it made Gally smile.
"Why weren't you with Zart? I thought it was your field day?" He asked as they walked. She shrugged. "Gave me the day off. Already had enough people and the harvest isn't doing so well. Thankfully that rainstorm we had got the plants watered." She explained, slinging her bow over her shoulder.
"You're fitting in well, you know that?" He told her, kicking a rock. She shrugged. "Except for John. Who still won't stop eyeing me like a piece of meat." She mumbled. He wasn't talking to her, but she could always feel his eyes raking her body. And a couple of times she had caught him lurking around her home. When she told Alby, her bodyguards doubled. Now Ben and Minho would be around her if Newt or Gally couldn't. Even Frypan and Winston would take turns. She felt safe around them. They made her feel comfortable like she could live in the Glade even with all boys.
"He's gonna learn the hard way soon. If not you then Alby…" Gally jumped back when Zart slid to a stop in front of them, winded. "What's going on? Where's the fire?"
"Zart?" Ava asked, concerned as the boy took in a few breaths. He looked up at Ava, watching her.
"It's Newt. He's hurt, bad." Ava's eyes widened and her heart dropped. "He's in the med tent. He…." Zart didn't even get to finish. Ava tore off, running straight to the Med-Jacks. Faster than most of them. She knew she had the makings of a Runner, but she didn't want to be in there. Not when they realized they were crawling with Grievers.
The med building came into view quickly, Minho and Ben were standing outside of it. Minho turned as he heard her footsteps. "What the hell happened?" She asked quickly, breathing heavily.
"Griever, in the middle of the day," Ben spoke quickly, arms crossed as he leaned against the supports. Minho sighed. "It went after all three of us. Ben and I managed to lose it but lost Newt in the process. We thought it had gotten him when we came back, but he had managed to climb the ivy on the walks to escape it." Ava couldn't help but smirk. They had been talking about the ivy on the walls for a while. Climbing to see if they could find a way out of the Maze.
"He was climbing down when his foot got caught and he fell the rest of the way." Minho finished, looking at Ava as her eyes widened and her breath hitched. "He was awake when we brought him in, but he did something to his leg. We don't know what."
Ava frowned, before pushing her way into the building. She walked into the separate room to see Newt laid out on one of the beds. "He just passed out, from the pain," Clint reassured the girl as he finished tying the splint. Ava looked down at the splint for a moment.
"To keep him from damaging it more. We don't think it's broken. But he hurt it badly." Jeff spoke, moving some medical supplies around. "I don't know when he'll wake but you can stay with him."
"Thanks, Jeff." She said softly, taking the stool he had been sitting on and seating herself beside his bed. She looked down at the splint. Two pieces of wood on either side of his ankle, tied by some rope they had left. He would need crutches, Ava could tell. There was some bruising on his leg and arm, and Ava reached over to look at the worse one on his shoulder. "Oh, Newt." She whispered, reaching up and brushing sweaty hair from his forehead. She was glad that he had made it. But at what cost? What was going to happen to him now? She ignored the pounding of her heart as she reached down, brushing her hand against his.
She had never really noticed Newt until now. He had been her closest companion since she had gotten here a year ago. And she knew they shared something, but she just never knew what. But now that was sitting here, she was starting to see more.
The way his blonde hair had a little bit of brown in it, enough to always make it look dirty. How defined his muscles were even with how skinny he was. But it wasn't just the looks. He was the nicest of them all. He seemed to know how to talk to her. He didn't treat her like a China doll like she would break at any moment. He was always there to protect her but knew when he needed to step back. She could picture his goofy grin that made his eyes light up.
Ava swallowed thickly and shook her head, trying to ignore her pounding heart. She looked up when she heard footsteps.
"How is he?" Gally asked, worried. She shrugged. "Asleep when I got here. They said it wasn't broken." She said softly, her hand slowly stroking his. Gally sighed, looking at her.
"He'll be okay." He reassured.
"Thank you, Gally. For everything you've done for me and are doing now." She sighed. "I know I haven't been the best since I got here."
"Oh shut up. I'll save you something from the bonfire." He placed his hand on her shoulder. He was genuine. Not mad. She smiled and watched him leave.
Then there was Gally. He was much older than her and built tough. Bright eyes that showed determination and confidence. Muscles they showed how long he had been there, calloused hands from everything he had built in the Glade. She even liked the spray of freckles across his cheeks.
"What the hell," Ava whispered, shaking her head to rid herself of the thoughts. What has gotten into her? She had been with these boys for a year. The only girl. She never once had another girl come up. And she had learned to accept that. She had learned to deal with these boys. Some of them were creeps, and wouldn't leave her alone. But most were her best friends, her brothers.
And Gally. Gally was her best friend through it all. He could have just left her and gone back to his brooding self. But he didn't. He stayed with her. The others said that she changed him. He wasn't always a jerk. Wasn't always brooding or glaring. He had become friendlier. And she was glad that she was a part of his life.
Then there was Newt. And she couldn't figure out where she stood with him. All she knew was she valued their friendship. And she didn't want to change it. But she knew something was changing. Something big was changing.
She stayed with Newt the rest of the afternoon and well into the night. Even when she saw the flames of the bonfire start-up and heard the music, she stayed. She was glad they were having fun. But she couldn't help but worry.
She had been leaning against the back wall, eyes closed as she dozed and listened to the music and chanting. She heard his groan, and almost fell off the stool she was sitting on. She looked quickly as he stirred. His eyes opened slowly and he winced.
"Hey," Ava said quickly, moving to sit beside him once more. He stiffened for a moment, before relaxing once he had noticed it was her. Newt winced, looking down at his leg as he recalled what had actually happened.
"How long have you been here?" He asked quickly, still disoriented.
"Since they brought you in," Ava spoke, helping Newt sit up and placing the pillows in the right position so he could still lean back. "What the hell were you thinking?"
Newt scoffed. "I was trying not to get killed by a Griever, thanks." He joked. She sighed, turning to reach over and grab the stew Frypan had made and brought over. It was still warm. She handed him the bowl, not wanting to do everything for him.
"Seriously, Newt? What happened?" Ava asked again. Newt took the bowl from her, before sighing. "It dropped down on us in the middle of the day. Out of nowhere. It had focused on Minho and Ben who were already running, and I didn't have a chance to think. I just started climbing the ivy, knowing that it would hold me. I got about halfway up and stopped, hoping it would hide me."
He took a spoonful of stew and sighed, not realizing how hungry he was. "Ben and Minho came back and we knew it was gone from there so I went to climb back down." He sighed. "Guess my foot got caught and before I could do anything, the vine I had broke and I fell the rest of the way. All I could remember was the pain in my leg. Minho and Ben dragged me out, and after that nothing." He explained. He kept looking down at it, trying not to think about the pain he was in at the moment.
"Jeff said it wasn't broken, possibly fractured. That's why there's a splint. They were making you some crutches." She explained, trying to stay calm even. "Minho said I had the makings of a Runner…"
"Absolutely not!" Ava stared at him when he blurted it out. "You are not going in there. I draw the line there. I couldn't dare sit here and wait and wonder if you would come back."
"Imagine how I feel. Especially now." Ava snapped, looking at him. "You're hurt Newt. And it could have been so much worse." Her voice cracked and Newt frowned. He had never seen her break before. He had seen her scared but never hurt. And never this worried about anyone.
"I'm sorry." That was all Newt managed to say. He didn't know what else to say. Reaching over, he took her hand into his, connecting their fingers. Ava swallowed, looking at their hands and then his. "You're not going to lose me, love. Not anytime soon." He reassured her. Ava chewed her lip, sighing. She knew he was right. Always had been.
There was cheering outside, rattling them from their stupor. Newt sighed. "How long am I stuck here?" He whined, running a hand through his hair.
"You almost broke your leg! I'm pretty sure you're stuck here for a week if not longer. You can't really walk on it. Plus you ended up with some nasty bruising as well." Ava explained, looking over at him. He was staring outside, listening to the music. She rolled her eyes, before standing up and moving to where he was. "Let's go."
Newt looked at her, confused, before smirking. Ava bent over and helped him slowly move his splinted leg. She tried to move as slow and as soft as possible, but he still winced a bit, trying to hide the pain. Once both feet were on the ground, she moved, taking his arm and slinging it around her shoulder. She wrapped her other around his waist and slowly helped him up. She tried to ignore the flush in her cheeks and the pounding of her heart as she slowly helped him stand up on his good leg. Now was the walk out of the med building.
It took a few good minutes, of Newt leaning heavily on Ava and bouncing on his good foot, but they were finally able to exit. Luckily the tent wasn't too far from the bonfire. She kept him moving until they were closer to the bonfire.
"Yo, Newt!" Both looked up, trying to hide their blush as Minho and the rest walked over. "What the hell, shank!? You trying to die on us?" He joked, reaching over and taking Newt's other arm to help lighten the load on Ava. Ava smiled as they walked over and deposited Newt onto the log.
"That was not the plan. Buggin Grievers." He said, looking up at Ava when she went to move away. He frowned, before taking her wrist and pulling her down. Ava squeaked as she stumbled beside him and sat down, smiling softly.
"Looks like you got yourself a nurse for the next couple of weeks, huh?" Frypan joked, dodging the pebble that Ava threw at him. Newt chuckled, before sighing. "You'll have to find yourself another Runner, Minho. At least for the next few weeks. Sorry, mate." He spoke. Minho shrugged, looking at them.
"I'll take John out, maybe I can beat him into shape. Keep him away from you." He spoke. And Ava smiled. She leaned against Newt, finally feeling comfortable enough. Newt smiled, watching his friends as they moved to sit around the two of them. But having Ava there. There was something different. He couldn't place his finger on it. But it had always been this way. She relied heavily on him if she wasn't around Gally, and it made him smile. She turned to look at him and blushed, before returning to the insult contest that Minho was trying to start up. She was finally comfortable in the Glade.
The next few weeks were hell on Ava. Newt was on bed rest or very little walking with his leg. It ended up being a fracture, so he had to take care of it. And he hated it, not being able to help.
She had to go back to her own duties. Not just looking after Newt, but doing the jobs a Glader was supposed to do. She couldn't just be out just because of Newt. But she didn't have her guards as usual.
Minho and Ben took John out as a new Runner, and they were beating him into shape. It kept him away from Ava, which was all she cared about. He didn't know when to not look at her. All of the boys had gotten used to her, and didn't bother her in any way. But John was another story.
"Ha!" She exclaimed as the chicken fell to the ground. He had somehow escaped the pen and had been wandering the Glade for days. Winston said If they could find it, they'd go ahead and skin it, and Frypan would make chicken stew. They searched before giving up, but she had happened across it.
She jumped from her perch, noting the storm clouds in the sky and the distant rumbles of thunder. She needed to get back soon. She went to grab it from the ground when a twig snapped.
"Gally! That's not funny!" She turned to face the boy and stopped. "John?" She asked. He was standing there, staring at her, breathing heavily. She sighed, not wanting to deal with this right now.
"What are you doing back? Runners don't come back for another hour." She mumbled, turning her back to him to retrieve the dead bird.
"They'll be fine on their own." Ava jumped when a hand suddenly touched her hip. She spun around quickly, taking a step back. John didn't look himself. His eyes were bloodshot. He was breathing heavily. "Get away from me." She growled, forgetting about the chicken. She needed to get out. She turned quickly, heading back up toward the Homestead.
"You know how long it's been? Since any of us had any sort of release? Years." John seethed, following her.
"And that's my problem? You have hands, use them." She had been around the boys way too long.
"And then they just drop a random girl into the middle of the Maze. Just one. And an ugly one at that." He noted the scarring on her cheek that hadn't gone away since she was dumped. She was sensitive regarding the scarring. No one ever made fun of her about it, but she hated when people, especially the Greenies, looked at her. Alby always made it his mission to make sure the newbies knew not to stare.
John growled, before moving quickly and stopping her. He grabbed her by the arm and shoved her. Ava gasped as her back hit the edge of the wall, John pressing her into the wall. "But you're still a girl. You still have everything we need. Everything we can have." She whimpered as he grabbed her wrists, stopping her from throwing any punches. "And yet all these boys make a vow. No one is to touch you. Or even say anything to you. Now that's just not fair." He was inches from her face, pressing his body into hers. She turned her head away and tried to not think about the presence pressed against her leg. She had to move, fast.
"Except for Newt, huh. He got to have the first taste. Got to keep you all to himself. Or maybe he shares you with Gally? Or Frypan? Is that it? Are you actually a little slut and it's a dirty little secret?" His hand snaked under her shirt, under her sports bra, grasping at her breast. Ava whimpered, before bringing her knee up quickly. She didn't make her target, but it was still able to stun him. As he moved, she escaped quickly, making a break for it. One hand was trying to shift her shirt back and the other was making the form she was taught before placing it in her mouth and letting out a loud, shrill whistle.
She screamed as he tackled her to the ground, trying to squirm out of his arms as he pinned her to the ground. Her shoulder ached as it hit the rocks under her. It was then she noticed the blue veins that trailed under his shirt. "I'm gonna enjoy this." He growled, fighting with her as one hand moved toward her pants, pulling at the snaps and practically ripping them as his hand moved further. She kept squirming, trying to escape. Panic had set in, and stars clouded her vision as he knocked her head into the rocks. She didn't want to understand, as his hand slid into her underwear, right across her womanhood before pressing his fingers into her. She whimpered and tried to push against him. "Now I see what they're missing." He pulled back, grabbing at her shirt and ripping it. Her body was letting go, she didn't want to fight anymore. Please. Please no. This can't be happening.
As he started to reach up to release himself, there was a yell, before his weight disappeared off of her. She gasped, holding back air as she lay there. She could hear skin connecting with skin and the yelling. She was dazed and disoriented, and for the first time, she just wanted to cry.
"Ava! Ava!" She almost screamed when Ben's face was suddenly in her vision. He backed up quickly. "Zart! Hand me that blanket, now!" He yelled as two other figures joined him. She could still hear shouting and could see something happening to the side.
"I know it's hot, but please," Ben spoke as Minho took the blanket and wrapped it around her practically bare body. Her clothes were torn, loose on her chest and hips. He helped her sit up once she was ready, still breathing and now coughing as she tried to get air in. "Jeff!"
"There's nothing I can do for shock. And I don't know what he did." She heard Jeff as her eyes focused. It was then she noticed the unconscious boy on the ground. John, as Alby and Winston were trying to pull Gally off of him.
"Get John to the pit, now! Gally! Gally, it's okay!" Alby exclaimed, trying to calm the other boy as two grabbed John and began to drag him to the Pit. The whistle had worked, and it brought every boy she ever trusted to her aid. "Hey. Ava?" Alby was in front of her now. But she could barely say one word. She was trembling against Minho, arms holding the blanket around her. Ben sat beside her, shielding her from the fighting that was going on. "Take her back to her hut. Jeff, find something that will at least take the pain away. James, you're on guard duty. And I don't want to hear a word saying you peeked in. Ben, get Newt? Everyone else, council meeting! Now!"
"Can you stand?" Minho asked softly. Ava nodded, and tried with their help, but as soon as she took two steps she had fallen. "I'm going to carry you, okay?" He quickly slid his hands under her legs and picked her up. Ava clung to his neck, whimpering. "God Ava. I'm so sorry." He whispered as they headed back.
"He did this because I wasn't around! He was just waiting for the opportune moment!"
"No one was around! She went off on her own, did her own thing."
"So you're blaming her?"
Ava whimpered as the yelling grew louder. She tried to hide under the blanket that they had given her but nothing helped. Her body ached from the attack, parts that she knew shouldn't hurt were throbbing. And she felt lightheaded. But she didn't want to get up. She couldn't.
Why? Her mind kept thinking as she swallowed back another sob.
"Of course, I'm not blaming her! Why the hell would you think that?!" There was a breath. "He was stung. Mark said when they were throwing him into the Pit they saw the mark. That's not an excuse either. But Minho and Ben said he came back not acting himself. So it was a domino effect." She could decipher Alby's voice.
"And what are you going to do with him now? Cause if he stays I will kill him." Gally's voice. She could already picture him standing there with his arms crossed.
Alby breathed, before shrugging. "He'll be banished. Not only was he stung, but for what he did. Everyone knows the rules." Ava swallowed as she listened. Even she hated him, but banished? She slowly crawled out of her hiding place, looking toward the door where they were standing. She felt disgusting, she needed a shower, and she was hungry. But she didn't think she could stomach any food or stand for a long time. Her hands went around her stomach as she took a few shaky breaths. The least she could do was change.
So she did, slowly. She pulled on a new pair of underwear and a sports bra, before grabbing a pair of the brown cargo pants they had sent up for her and a green shirt. She didn't want to look at the bruising she had. It would just remind her. She looked at the clothes in a clumsy pile on the floor, holding back another sob. She wanted them burned. She didn't want to see them again.
There was a soft knock at the door and she jumped, spinning around as Newt slowly opened the door. He smiled weakly, still leaning on his crutches. "You're standing." He tried to joke.
"S-so are y-you." Even her words were betraying her. Her legs felt funny and she moved quickly back to her bed, falling into it. Newt frowned, taking his crutches and hobbling over to her. He slowly sat beside her.
"They're gonna banish him?" She finally spoke after a few silent moments. Newt nodded. "I knew something was off. But I didn't know he was stung."
"That didn't give him a right, or an excuse. It just fueled it." Newt spoke, voice hardened in anger. He wasn't there to watch her. To protect her. And he hated it. He looked over at her as she sat there, looking at her hands and picking at the dirt under her nails. It hurt him to see her like this. He reached over slowly, taking one of her hands into his. She looked up at him, swallowing thickly.
"He's not going to hurt you again. You're safe. And I'm sorry that it had to happen this way." He tried to be reassuring, and helpful. But he didn't think it worked.
Ava looked at him, chewing at her quivering bottom lip, before moving. She curled closer to him, burying her face into his shoulder and letting soft sobs out. Newt was a bit taken aback, before slowly wrapping his arms around her, pulling her closer to him as she cried. Even when she first got here she was never like this. It broke his heart. Sure she had been scared out of her mind the first day, but she had learned to prove herself. Worked alongside all of the boys without any issue. Even roughhoused with them a bit. But this. This was not Ava. Not the girl he had been friends with for a year. And he hated John for doing it. He hated his friends for not being there in time.
Most of all he hated WCKD for doing this to her. Bringing her up here and thinking it was a good idea. They did this as a sick joke and were probably getting a good laugh out of it. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, guiding her to lie down as he leaned against the bed frame they had made. He stretched the still splinted leg out as she curled to him, before reaching down and pulling the blanket up around her. She probably felt safer. He let her cry for as long as she needed, her head buried in the crook of his neck.
After a few long moments, he felt her breathing even against his throat. She was asleep. He looked down where she was curled up against him, reaching over to brush her hair from her face. The scars on her face were red across her cheeks. He sighed softly, holding her tightly and pressing his face into her hair, closing his eyes.
"Hey." Newt was stirred from his own sleep, eyes opening slowly and adjusting to the new darkness. Night had fallen over the Glade, and there was a steady rumbling of thunder as a storm rolled through. A lantern was lit in the corner.
"Wake up sleeping beauty." Gally's voice was quiet as he entered the building. Newt rolled his eyes and yawned, looking over at Ava who was still curled up against his neck. Gally chuckled, quietly, putting down the bag of food he had gotten from Frypan on the tablet beside the bed. "How's she doing?" He asked, moving to sit on the ground against the wall. Newt looked at Ava once more, before sighing. "As well as she can I guess." He mumbled, shifting just a bit and watching as she shifted closer to him. Gally frowned, running a hand through his hair.
"I should have killed him when I had the chance," Gally growled.
"We did kill him. He's gone. But that's not going to stop anything. It still happened." Newt explained, leaning back and sighing. "I wish these people that put us here would show their faces. I want to pummel them. What were they thinking, putting her in the middle of all of this? Was it some sick joke!?" He was trying to keep quiet, but it made him angry. That they let this happen to her.
Gally didn't say anything, just sat there, playing with a twig he had grabbed. He didn't know what to say. He was siding with Newt. Why did they do this to her? After everything, they had done. After every day he had trained her, it still wasn't enough. She was still overpowered and if they hadn't been there, it would have been so much worse. He hated it. He hated everything about it. Hated that he couldn't have been there earlier. Everything was changing, and no one could stop it.
Ava shifted, slowly opening her eyes and yawning softly. Newt looked down as she up. Ava looked up slowly, realizing she was still curled up in Newt's arms. And then she remembered, or her body remembered. She trembled slightly, before slowly pushing herself up and off of Newt. Newt didn't move, let her do her own thing. Once she was sitting up, he moved. "You alright?" He asked.
Ava looked up at him and sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Gally's got your dinner. If you want it." He offered. Ava looked up when she noticed Gally sitting there, giving a slight wave. She sighed, wincing and touching her shoulder. Newt frowned, touching her shoulder. "Can I see?" He asked. Ava swallowed thickly, before shifting so she could turn her back to him. He reached up and gently pulled the back of her shirt down to look at her shoulder. He winced. "Just bruised." He said, noting the blue/black splotching across her shoulder. She whimpered, shifting her shoulder.
"Ava." Ava turned to Gally, who was still sitting there. "I'm so sorry about everything." His voice shook. Ava shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry about. You tried. Everyone tried." She pulled her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "It's just the way it happened. The Creators had their fun." She was tired of crying, tired of feeling helpless. She had to be strong. Even if she knew she couldn't be.
However, she found one thing. She had Newt, and she had Gally. And she had Minho, and Ben, and the others. Even though there were one or two, most of the boys had accepted her, and called her their friend or sister. She had a family here. In the hell hole that was called the Glade, she found her family.
"Do you remember that game you made up, Gally? The one you used twigs and stones for?" She asked, stirring Gally from his silence. He nodded. "Can you show us?" Gally looked at her, before shrugging and reaching over the ground to collect his materials. Ava slowly moved off her bed and to the ground, watching as Newt moved as slow as he could with his leg, before sitting next to her. She winced and shifted until she was comfortable.
"Can we join?" Ava looked over to see Minho, Frypan, and a few others poking their head into her little home. Newt and Gally looked over at Ava, who swallowed and nodded. It made her feel safe, made her feel okay. The others clambered into the hut and sat down around them.
"Ava, we're. . ." Minho started, but she shook her head. "I don't want to hear it anymore. You guys were there when I needed you and that's all I want. Can we just get back to normal?" She asked. The boys all looked at her, before each other, and then went back to the game. Gally reached over and patted her on the knee. Ava looked at Gally and smiled, taking the piece of jerky from her pack, and then looking over at Newt. She swallowed and sighed, her face flushed red. Newt turned to look at her and smiled softly. She returned the smile and then looked back at the boys.
She sighed. Even though it turned out bad. She was here. And she was alive. And that's all she needed.