Author stuff: Hey, friendlies! How's everyone been? It's been… over a year since I last posted anything. Didn't mean for that to happen, it just did. And, like, smack dab in the middle of what I wrote, too.

I won't expand on much as to why I took a break, just know that depression kinda hit hard but I'm okay.

I do have positive news, though, I left my old job and managed to land an adulting desk job — several months ago now — and I like it, my sister is getting her bigger wedding that she wanted in another month, and I'm in a better mental health space.

These next few chapters are heavy. Please make sure to read the trigger warning below.

Trigger warning: There is sexual assault in this chapter and in the next few. I do not go into great detail, and I have no desire to. Sexual assault is a serious matter. As someone who has been there for friends and family who were victims, I don't take it lightly. Please let me know, at any point, if you feel it was handled terribly.


Chapter 31

In Which Nothing Particularly Interesting Happens (Again). Actually, That's A Lie. Something Does Happen. And It's Not Good.

Clint and Jeff stood on the other side of a privacy curtain they had quickly hung up so that she could examine the unconscious girl. She found quite a few bruises on her arms and shins that could easily be brushed off as bumping into things, and plenty of old scars that had long since healed. The most jarring thing was her tongue. It had been cut out.

She fixed the girl's clothes and then adjusted the blankets over her, brushing her pretty hair out of her round face.

"She's okay?" Clint said through the curtain.

"Yeah," she said, pushing it back so that they could view her now as well. "I didn't see anything that we need to worry about. Her tongue was removed, but that's been healed for quite a while. Maybe she just… fainted."

"In the Maze?" Jeff said. "Well that's a bad place to fall asleep. Don't know who in their right mind would want to wake up there."

"So, she just sort of… ended up in our Maze, unconscious," Clint said. "I'm going to need the whole story from Archie. Something isn't right."

"For now she's fine," Flossy said. "If you want to interrupt him and Nick, Jeff and I can keep an eye on her. I don't think she'll be waking up anytime soon."

"Good that." Clint reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "If you need anything, I have a couple of shanks standing guard outside. Only a handful of people can get in and out."

"Okay."

He nodded and was gone.

Jeff sat down on the bed next to the unconscious girl, studying her. He didn't say anything, he just looked at her blankly, blinking slowly.

"So," Jeff said, "her tongue was cut out. Any idea who could have done that?"

"The Creators?" she said, trying to smile. It came out looking more like a wince. "No idea, to be honest. She must know something, and someone wants to keep her quiet."

"Can't imagine not having a tongue. It's got to suck not to talk to anyone."

"Yeah, you are the talkative type. Can't imagine you shutting up."

"Oi!"

They were brought dinner by one of the Baggers standing outside. Together, they ate in silence while they waited for something from the girl. She remained relatively motionless, save her soft breathing.

Clint eventually re-joined them, looking weary.

"Archie's no help," he said, collapsing on the bed they'd commandeered. He laid his head on her lap. "Justin wasn't much help either."

"They just found her out there?" Jeff said.

"Yeah, Archie spotted her. Justin looked right past her. Said he didn't even see her. And they found this with her. Looks like it came from the Glade."

Flossy gasped when he held the object out. She immediately took it from him. It felt… off. Something wasn't quite right with it, but it still fit comfortably in her grip.

"My sickle!"

"Knew it looked familiar."

"Thought a Beetle Blade took it," Jeff said, looking over her shoulder at it.

"Yeah," she said.

"So, why did she have it?"

"She was down a dead end, right?" Flossy said. "What if the exit to the Maze is there? What if the door is hidden there and no one's ever spotted it."

"We wouldn't be able to get back to the spot for thirty more weeks. The Maze moves around too much and doesn't repeat the same pattern every week. It's why the Runners haven't figured out the Maze before now."

"I knew the Maze moved, but thirty weeks?"

"Yeah, they don't get to see the same Maze for quite a while. It sucks. We would have been out of here ages ago if it stayed the same. Think the only path that remains fairly regular is that to the Cliff."

"Where did he say they found her?"

"I missed that part, sorry."

They lapsed into silence after that. She noted how the stars and moon lit up the Glade outside the small window above their work counter. It was so late.

"If you want to head to bed, Flossy," Clint said, "Jeff and I will be fine."

She shook her head.

"Think I'll pop by the showers real quick and then come back," she said. "I know I'd feel a lot safer if I woke up with another girl around."

"Do you need one of us to guard the door for you?"

"No, I should be alright. The only ones still awake right now are the Baggers and you two. And I'm fairly certain Jackson would bury them alive if they tried anything. I'll be back shortly."

She waved at them as she left, and she nodded to the two Baggers at the door. She quickly walked to the front of the Homestead and inside, tiptoeing to her room so as not to wake anyone who might be sleeping.

She had the oddest feeling that she was being watched, but by who she had no idea. She looked about and didn't see anyone. Maybe she should ask someone to guard the shower doors.

She looked around to see if anyone might possibly be awake, but there was no light under any doors. And she didn't want to wake anyone up. Oh well. She would just have to be vigilant.

Gathering her things without waking Adne, she headed to the showers. The water was bound to be cold by now, so she had to be much more quick than normal. Especially since it was the first time she was bathing without anyone to watch the door.

She was in and out in no more than three minutes, shivering as she dried herself off and slipping into her pajamas. She really didn't care if Clint or Jeff or any of the Baggers saw her. It was nothing new by now. Pajamas were pajamas.

She wrapped her towel around her hair, hoping to absorb a lot of the water and to keep her from freezing as she made her way back. She dropped her things off just inside the Homestead – hoping Newt or Gally or Nick or someone would be kind enough to take it up to her room when they saw it – and started back to the Med-hut.

Just as she entered the Homestead, she caught sight of a shadow moving down the hall away from her room. She ducked out of the moonlight and waited. She didn't dare to move, to blink, to breathe until she saw who it was.

He opened the door and she caught sight of mousy hair and dark eyes. He looked paler, but that was because of the lighting. She only just happened to recognize him – Ash.

She waited until he was gone to move to her room. She didn't care who heard her clunking along or that she'd slammed the door open. She wanted to wake everyone up, if what she suspected was true.

"Adne?" she said softly, calling out to the girl who slept across from her.

A quiet sound – a sob or the other girl calling her name, she wasn't sure which – alerted her to where Adne was hiding. She opened the windows for some light, finding the girl where she'd heard the sound. Just one look at the crumpled figure in the corner confirmed everything she thought.

"What's going on?"

She turned to see Minho in the doorway. His hair was messed up, for the first time. Behind him, Newt, Gally, and Nick appeared. Someone lit a candle, nearly blinding all of them. She shushed the boys, returning her attention to Adne.

She cooed soft words, approaching slowly. Adne allowed herself to be embraced, tucking her head into the crook of Flossy's neck. Flossy, on her end, stroked her hair and held her close, ignoring the wet seeping through the collar of her shirt.

"Newt," she said quietly, "can you tell Clint and Jeff I might not make it back tonight. Tell them, tell them that Adne needs me. Don't go into a whole lot of detail. Please."

Newt nodded and left, jogging to the Med-hut.

"Flossy," Minho said, slowly making his way over, "did you see who it was?"

She bit the inside of her cheek, looking Adne over again.

"Yeah," she said after a moment. Seeing their curious stares, she continued. "It was Ash."

Minho's back went rigid and he whipped around, marching towards the door. When he spoke, his voice was a growl.

"I'm going to kill him."

"Hold on," Gally said, grabbing him by the shoulders. The two struggled against one another for just a brief moment, but they exchanged a short conversation with just a glance.

Minho clenched his fists and puffed out some air. He was still ready to spring into action, like a bolt of lightning, at any second, but he focused his energy on pacing the small room.

In the dim lighting, Gally was just as tense and about to join Minho in hunting Ash down. "Do you think it's smart going after him tonight?"

"We can go into more detail tomorrow," Nick said, looking down at the watch on his wrist, "later today. Do you think she'll be able to talk?"

Flossy shook her head, pulling Adne closer.

"And don't do anything yet," she said. "He doesn't know that I know who he is and shoving him in the Slammer right now won't be safe. It would just cause more distress."

"Want me to guard the door?" Gally said. He kept looking back at the door, like he wanted to bolt and go after Ash.

She shook her head.

"He'd be stupid to come back tonight," she said. "Tomorrow though? Maybe. Tonight, we'll just –"

"Med-hut?" Adne said, pulling her head up to look at her. Her eyes were red and her eyelashes clumped together.

"You want Clint and Jeff to make sure you're okay?"

Adne shook her head.

"No," she said. "Feel safe there."

"Okay. We'll go to the Med-hut. Do you think you can stand?"

Adne nodded, pulling away completely. She wiped her eyes with her long sleeves. She wasn't exactly steady on her feet, but she managed. And, at that moment, that was all that mattered.


Author stuff cont'd.: I… didn't want to get into too many details, but y'all already know what happened. Be prepared for the next few chapters.

If anyone feels like I handled this poorly at any point, please let me know. I know I've said this before, but please message me at any point. I have anonymous comments turned on on ffnet, ao3, and tumblr. I'm not quick to take offense, and I always appreciate when someone calls me out on something.

Again, please reach out if you're ever triggered because you weren't expecting something.