Alby immediately called a gathering. All of the keepers met in the homestead, and I was somehow dragged along. I'm still trying to figure out if it was Gally or Newt that pulled me. I was next to the slammer one moment, and in the homestead the next.
"Okay shanks, what're we gonna do now?" Alby stated the question. "Leo just attacked another glader, then threw herself in the slammer telling me to kill her…"
"Well, clearly the best punishment is to keep her alive, but that's against the rules," Gally came to a solution, or rather puzzled one.
"Wow, Gally, wow," I started, "torture is the first thing that comes to your mind every time?"
"Well, we gotta figure out what to do with her, since she wants to kill herself…"Alby stated. In unison, almost every head turned to Newt.
"Hey, what do you want me to do?" He questioned. The silence was so erie that it crept around the room, whooshing and swooping.
"OKAY! Well, I'm gonna change the subject. Why am I here exactly?" I asked, still pondering who brought me here.
"I don't know, Gree-Shank," Gally started, stumbling on his words.
"Im gonna go check on Leone…" I sat up slowly.
"How do we know she's not gonna attack you again? Or that you're not plotting something?" Alby questioned heatedly.
"Ill go with her then," Newt argued.
"Are you plotting, too?" Gally asked.
"NO!" Newt screamed, angry after being accused. The whole homestead almost burst into uproar.
"EVERYBODY!" I screamed to get their attention, "there are only THREE things you can plot in this place: suicide, homicide, and escape. And theres a girl traumatized in the slammer because she just attacked me! ME! I don't know 'bout you shanks, but life isn't something that can be given and taken without a fight!" I stormed out of the homestead, followed closely by Newt.
"Well, that wasn't at all random!" he said, "you totally just erupted! She doesn't need anyone to check up on her! She's fine by herself!"
"You're one to talk," I said slyly.
"So? I stood up for you because you're the greenie!"
"Not talking about that! If she doesn't need to be saved, then you didn't need to be either! Then she probably wouldn't be here right now! She got through because of you, ya know!" Newt looked at me, eyes blank.
"I wouldn't have made it without her."
"You thought, as you attempted suicide,"I responded promptly. "Thank goodness that Alby…. or whoever saved you was there."
"Thank goodness? You've been here for two days, you know nothing about me!"
"Nothing? I know everything that happens to you for the rest of life."
"The rest of my life? How long do those books go on for?" He questioned.
How was I gonna tell him this? That he won't even live for 3 more months. "No comment," I put off the subject. It was a relief knowing that he didn't know he only had months to live, maybe less.
"Long or short?"
"No comment."
"Over a year?"
"No comment."
"Do I at least get out of this bloody maze?"
"Comment of nothingness."
"Ok well then… wait, what?" he asked before we both started laughing.
The laughing quickly subsided as we reached the slammer. Any sign of the slightest happiness was completely gone without a trace. "Great," Leone weeped, "So I'm guessing that Im gonna be banished to the maze? And by my best friends? What a treat," she said between sniffles, sarcasm in her throat at her last comment.
"OR!" I suggested quickly, "We could just be here to check on you."
"I don't need you to check on me! Im fine!" she wailed, clearly wanting to be alone.
"SEE? I told you!" Newt proved me.
"Not an 'I told you so' moment, Newt." I breathed with a sigh. My head turned to face Leone, after I was done quietly scolding Newt. "Thats probably what Mr. Limp over here said. Acting all mopey, trying not to interact with people 'I don't need you to check on me! I'm fine!' And then you find him in the middle of the maze with a broken leg, just after attempting suicide! So yeah, that phrase usually isn't correct."
"Wow, you're good at this…" Newt trailed off.
"It's an educated guess." I smirked. "But honestly though, the book didn't go into much detail about you're attempted suicide."
"Wait, a book?" Leone questioned, she looked pale and her eyes were deep in her brain. They were once again the color of darkness, all vibrant color was gone. They radiated tiredness.
"That's what I said too, but it wasn't really about anything specific," Newt added, failing to lighten the mood.
We sat next to each other in silence for what seemed like hours. My thoughts wondered around and I could feel that the same was happening to the blond next to me. We stared into the cage until our thoughts took our eyes with them, prancing around together. Leone had stiffened and sat curled up in the back of the cage, hugging her knees. Suddenly, she got extremely tight and her eyes that began to look over her knees became the color of coal. Newt looked behind himself, his jaw stiffening. I followed and unintentionally did the same. Alby, followed by Gally closely, many other keepers far behind, came striding towards us. They walked with purpose, giving off a serious aura. I knew they were coming for Leone. They were probably going to banish her. Either that, or keep her in the slammer. But I know they won't do that.
"At the gathering," Alby started, "we were faced with a very tough decision of what to do with you, Leo. But, many keepers agree that you have broken the rule of attacking other gladers and are to be banished to the maze tonight." My eyes widened. I knew that he was going to say this, I prepared myself, but it hit me hard. I felt a fire extinguisher* had just been used on my lungs. I couldn't breath, couldn't see. My mind went completely numb. That is, until, my eyes flicked toward the tall boy next to me who stood up abruptly.
"And I get no say in this?" he started to hyperventilate, "but… But I'm like some sort of second in command! This can't be! Surely I get a vote?" He spoke, trying not to yell.
Alby's eyes were distressed, but his posture and voice remained calm. "Newt, it wouldn't have mattered anyway," he stated. Newts complexion calmed but his soul was still in chaos. "The vote was unanimous."
The blond's eyes widened. "Unanimous?" he questioned, "how's that possible," his voice cracked as it faded.
The time that felt like forever earlier now only felt like seconds. Seconds more to see my friend, seconds for her to live. Only seconds until she was locked outside the walls for good.
Alby and Newt came back hours later, collar in hand. Newt's nose was red and his eyes were watery. I hadn't moved from my position outside of the slammer. Alby gestured for me to move to one side or the other, and I did as per instruction, standing up and moving simply inches. It was the first time I had moved in hours and I was stiff but I didn't notice.
Newt started to tie the collar onto Leone's neck. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" she screeched in her cracking voice, grabbing the collar and tying it around herself. She gave the loose string to Newt as Alby held the pole, his face showing that he was in shock. But the boy snapped out of it quickly as he tied the loose end of the rope to the pole. Despite having tied it herself, Leone tied the rope tight around her neck. It almost choked her when they walked towards the maze wall.
…
Moments later, everybody was gathered around the East Wall. Keepers in the front, Leone tied to a pole, next to Alby. I was somehow in the front too. Newt's eyes were glass and looked as though they could shatter and burst into tear at any moment. Gally stood next to Alby his face looking slightly smug. Alby however, showed no emotion what-so-ever. Frypan looked as though he wanted to hug Leone and say something, but he kept quiet. Leone said absolutely nothing. Nothing since Alby announced that she was going to be banished. Her breaths were quiet and her mouth never opened. Her eyes looked straight ahead, not anywhere else in the slightest. She stood straight and kept her hands at her sides. But her head drooped slightly. She knew her fate; everyone did.
A/N:
MWAHAHAHA! I feel so evil! Okay, so it came out 2 days late… Sorry guys, it was Christmas Eve. I cannot wait for what's coming in the next chappie! Ohh yeah, by the time I post this it will probably be three days late… Changing the subject, I've decided to respond to my reviews!
Horsecrazierthanyou: Thank you so much, most enthusiastic review ever! None of them probably have good breath, I agree. Also, I too get a "tingly feeling" when I'm writing this!
StarRunner1: Thank you, very useful info. And about what you said about chapter four, I completely agree. Especially the Gally part…. lol.
Remember that all reviews, follows and favorites are appreciated!
m. junepepper