Author's Note: Helloooooo! I am so sorry for dropping off the earth for a while! But I have officially finished my first year of college so that stress is gone! Thank you guys so much for sticking in there with me! I figured today would be a good day to begin writing again because I was really inspired by the Scorch Trial trailer dropping. I can't wait for September! Well anyways this chapter was partially inspired by a fabulous anon who left me a sweet review. Sorry if it feels a bit rushed but I couldn't wait to get back into everything again! Thank you so much! Can't wait to start hearing from yall again soon!
I blew some wisps of hair out of my face as finished scrubbing the table of the last desk clean. It had taken almost all day, but the boys and I had finally gotten the medical hut clean and organized. Well by the boys and I, I really mean Clint and I. We had sent Jeff to go get us lunch, mainly because I felt bad about his injured wrist still and there still was a lot of cleaning and organizing left. I figured he could use a break. But my sympathy had left when he never made his way back. It was almost dinner time now and we were starving and Clint was quite grumpy. "I swear we are almost done! We're on the last drawer!" I whined looking back at him. Clint was sprawled out on the cot, grabbing his stomach.
"My body is digesting itself. And it's all your fault." He groaned. I rolled my eyes.
"Actually its Jeff's fault soooo…" I turned back putting down the towel I was using to wipe.
"Well you wouldn't let me go find him…" Clint grumbled.
"Because I need your help Clint, please. And I did kind of hurt him. I feel bad!" I added and moved to open the last drawer to examine its contents. I reached for the knob but heard Clint jump up from the cot behind me. I turned back slightly, but Clint ran over and grabbed my wrist before I could grab the drawer. "What are you doing?" I gasped surprised at how quickly he had acted.
"Not that drawer. Not yet." He pushed my hand down to my side but didn't let go, knowing I would probably try for it again.
"What do you mean? It's a drawer. What could possibly be in there that I can't know about yet?" I exclaimed at him, taking my wrist back. I crossed my arms angrily. Then the door to hut opened.
"Wow. This place looks…" Newt started but paused and walked in cautiously, glancing between the two of us. "Everything okay?" he quirked his eyebrow looking at Clint. I just nodded and looked harshly towards Clint letting his take the reins on this one.
"We have been cleaning. And organizing the whole hut. And she… she wanted to open that drawer." Clint pointed back to the desk, Newts eyes followed. He nodded seeming to understand. "And I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how much you had told her. I didn't want to get in trouble. "Clint sighed and sat down. I felt bad, seeing that I had caused him stress but I was still curious. I looked up to Newt, who had a smile on his face.
"It's fine Clint, she knows about the grievers." Newt laughed at the boy.
"She…. Already?" Clint sighed and threw himself back on the cot, feet still touching the ground.
"The monsters?" I asked Newt confused. He nodded. "What do they have to do with a drawer?" I asked getting really frustrated. Newt breathed out and moved to the desk. Clint propped himself up on his elbows.
"Is she allowed to know about this yet?" Clint asked. Newt shrugged in response so Clint dropped back down. "I am not a part of this. I am not going to be held responsible if Alby gets mad."
"He won't. She is a medjack, she might as well know." Newt shrugged and opened the drawer. He grabbed something and turned, trying to hand it to me. I was staring Newt down, wondering what else the boy has yet to tell me. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand and put something in it. I looked down to see a small silver vial, containing a bright blue liquid. My eyes got big. The cold metal triggered something.
"Newt…" I gasped and looked up but I wasn't in the med hut any more.
I was in a small dark room. The only light came from five large silver pods. They had a glass window towards the top of them, revealing the glowing blue liquid. Except the last pod on the farthest side of the room. It was empty with the tank's door left wide open.
"It'll be okay. Just keep quiet Danielle. Please." A voice whispered right in my ear. I got goose bumps and slowly looked to my side. I recognized the tall boy immediately despite.
"Thomas…" I breathed out. He didn't glance back at me though. His eyes were locked straight forward. Beside him was a thin girl with stunning blue eyes. They were locked on Thomas in the most admiring way. There was a pit in my stomach, I was jealous of her, although I was not sure why. I had an overwhelming rush of questions come to me, but they stayed stuck on the tip of my tongue. I felt frozen in place. Bang! The noise made me jump. I looked back towards the pods. A blonde middle age woman stood beaming next to one. She was dressed in all white wrinkle free top and pencil skirt. Her hair was styled flawlessly. She was perfect, almost too perfect.
"These pods are designed to hold the subjects while they are completely swiped. Bulletproof and locked from the outside, so there is no chance of escape. The liquid, our special serum created specifically for WICKED, lets us control exactly what information is retained in the subject's brain. And more specifically, what they forget. By placing the subjects in the pods we are able to completely immerse them, guaranteeing a successful swipe. We wouldn't want there to be any information left in their brains that they could possibly link while in the trials." The woman smirked looking back at the pods. She seemed so happy and proud of them. I felt overwhelmingly nauseous and was consumed with the feeling of dread, like I was seeing something I knew I was not supposed to. It makes sense now that I was not completely wiped. Why would they let me see and remember this?
"So what? They're going to drown them then?" I whispered back towards Thomas who sent me a hard look. The doors opened behind us, and two guards came in with tight grip on a boy's forearms. I tried to see his face, but he stayed turned away from me. The boy tried to struggle but one of the guards hit him on the back of the head disorientating him quickly. He slumped a little against the two men but still attempted to fight. I gasped at the contact and wanted to step forward but I felt Thomas grab my elbow, stopping me. "This isn't right Tommy." I said to him, so softly I questioned if he had even heard me. Thomas's hand moved from my elbow to my hand, squeezing it tight before he let go completely. I looked back over at the girl who was now staring down at Thomas's hand, clearly upset with our interactions. By the time I looked back they had placed the boy in the metal container and were shutting it. The blue liquid filled the tank fast, and the small window on the tank allowed us to see the boy flailing around inside. I felt panic rise in my throat, I needed to help him.
"It won't be long now. Come on, take a look." The older woman motioned us to move closer to the pod. I moved cautiously towards it until I stood right in front of it. I glanced back at Thomas, whose dark eyes were watching me carefully. I took a few more steps forward until I could see in the tank. The pod was full and the poor boys hands kept banging on the window. When he finally took his hands away from the glass, my stomach dropped.
"Gally?" I gasped, seeing the boy scream and hit the glass with all his might. His eyes bore into mine as he slowed his movement. My mouth dropped, I held my breath, stomach turning. He was dying right in front of me, bright blue orbs locked with mine. Before I even realized it my hand was reaching up towards the window shaking slightly.
"Dani? Dani are you okay?" Newt's voice brought me back to reality. I blinked a few more times, staring down at the small metal tube.
"Yeah sorry I was just looking at it." I said handing it back to Newt. He gave me a skeptical look, before glancing back towards Clint to see if he had noticed. The boy was still sprawled on the small cot, so I was guessing not. "What does it do then?" I asked crossing my arms. I felt Newt's eyes staring me down, so I purposely tried to avoid eye contact with him. Clint sat up a little then and took the vial from Newt.
"The grievers, they have a long tail kind of arm thing. There's a stinger at the end. If they get you, and if you're lucky enough to make it back here fast enough, this-"Clint held the small vial up in the light, "this is your only hope. The serum saves you. But uh…." He glanced over at the blonde. My eyes followed, meeting Newt's chocolate ones.
"We call it the changing. It's nasty. When people are going through the changing they have to be restrained on a cot. They seem like they are in extreme amounts of pain. And they talk nonsense the whole time. Most of the boys have died during or before the changing. But the ones who make it…. They... remember some things... Or at least we think they do." That really caught my attention.
"They remember?" I whispered quietly in shock. Newt just nodded a response. If the boys could remember things about their past does that mean they could possibly remember more about me? Maybe their experience could help me make sense of the flashes I've been having.
"Not everything. Just little flashes I guess. I don't know for certain I never was stung. And the people who were stung… they don't really like to talk about it." Newt trailed off looking towards the floor.
"They? So there has been more than one person stung then?" I asked looking between the boys.
"Yeah, there has been a couple shanks stung, but only one person has been stung and managed to survive this far." Clint said shaking his head. "And he's changed. Like his personality or something. He's not been the same since."
"Who was it?" I questioned cautiously.
"Gally." Newt answered.
I followed Newt and Clint silently as we went to the food hut for dinner, thinking over everything that I had just found out. Gally had been stung and had flashes of the past. He maybe my only hope to understanding the flashes I have been having. Whether I liked it or not I needed Gally's help. Newt was still sending glances back my way but continued to divulge on Clint's rant about Jeff. When we finally arrived I went and got a bowl of stew from Fry and thanked him before turning around to search for a spot to sit. I scanned the room quickly but locked eyes with one person. Gally. He was staring at me from his table in the back. For once he didn't actually seem angry; he just seemed to be watching me. I swallowed hard looking away.
"Dani!" Chucked called from a table by the door. Relief rushed over me at the sight of the boy and his empty table. They boy seemed excited to see me again and was willing to talk, which was fine with me. I hoped he could get my mind off of everything.
"What have you been doing all day Chuck I have hardly seen you!" I told him making the boy grin down at his soup.
"I had to wash some of the runner's clothes this morning and then I was cleaning out the bathrooms and showers. They were full of nasty klunk so it took a while." Chuck said.
"Slim it Chuck, were all trying to eat." Newt said under his breath as he sat next to me. I sent him a glare but didn't say anything. I could feel Newt looking towards me, curious eyes wondering what was going on in my head right now. "So how was your first day as a medjack Dani? Clint seems quite happy with you even though you did reorganize his whole hut." Newt added, trying to make conversation.
"We didn't even do anything or help anyone. I wasn't just going to sit there and wait." I stated plainly, not wanting to look up to Newt.
"Well maybe one of the runners will have something for you to do. They should be getting back… right about now." Newt said looking towards the breaks in the walls. Right on cue, the runners ran into the glade and straight to the runners quarters. Minho and Ben were the last ones back, running casually to the hut. It seemed like they weren't even tired. I honestly was impressed with the runners, and my interest about them was defiantly growing.
"Right. Well I think I am going to head back to the medjack hut and double check all the supplies and do some more cleaning before they come. Just in case." I spoke quickly and grabbed my bowl to take with me.
"But you just finished cleaning and organizing with Clint." Newt looked towards me confused, but I could see some concern lacing his eyes.
"Yeah but I just want to double check stuff." I shrugged trying to play it off. I ruffled Chuck's hair up and gave him a smile. "See you later Chuck!"
I closed the door to the med hut and took a second to take a few deep breaths. Everything seemed to be happening quickly but so slow at the same time. These flashes were beyond confusing to me and I really wanted to tell Newt but I was also afraid of what he would say. They clearly were not normal for people in the glade and if they were memories they could be a good tool for us. Maybe they would eventually reveal something that could help us get out of the glade. But if I told him Newt would have to tell Alby of course. I groaned and walked across the room to put my bowl on a desk. I wonder what Alby would do then. Yell at me? Not trust me again? Throw me in the slammer? Banish me? I shuddered at the thought. I could probably tell Minho but… I really didn't know what he would do. Minho was a real wild card. And I also wanted to talk to him about being a runner but that would have to wait. I sighed and sat down on the cot throwing my head in my hands.
"Greenie?" I heard someone open the door slightly. I groaned slightly figuring it was someone Newt sent to check on me. I looked up and my jaw dropped in surprise.
"Gally?" I sat up a little. He nodded and shut the door quickly behind him before glancing around the hut.
"Are you by yourself?" He asked quietly avoiding the look of shock on my face. I nodded in response. Gally took a few steps forward, standing in the center of the room before he crossed his arms. "I saw you get food but you didn't eat. I was…I wondered where you went." He said looking over at my full bowl of stew steaming on the desk.
"Yeah, I just came back to organize and clean some more. In case one of the runners needed help or anything." I spoke carefully. He clearly wasn't here because he noticed I hadn't eaten. Any shank could figure that one out. But Gally didn't seem angry or as harsh as he usually was towards me. "Is there something I could help you with Gally?" I asked after a few seconds of silence. Gally raised his hand and rubbed the back of his head before speaking.
"I was rude to you earlier. And I didn't mean to be, it just kind of came out." He seemed to struggle to put his words together.
"Oh its fine, really I don't take things too personally. Plus I don't blame you after what I had done-"I started to speak but he stopped me.
"That doesn't justify it. You're new. I shouldn't have done that. It was out of line. I don't know why I did that." He spoke looking at the ground. He seemed very flustered and I felt sorry for him. I stood up and moved next to him. "I was actually hoping to maybe eventually become…acquaintances…" He muttered. My jaw dropped from shock but I quickly tried to pull it back together.
"Really Gally. I promise you I'm fine!" I tried to reassure him. I had never seen Gally this way before. Part of me wondered if his mood swing was a symptom of the changing. Gally seemed to know what I was thinking.
"You know about the changing right?" Gally asked walking over to the desk that contains the vial of serum. He pulled out the drawer and carefully picked one up, examining it closely. "That I was…stung…." He sighed and finally looked at me for the first time. And I mean really looked at me, to the point where I shifted under his gaze.
"Uh… yeah. Newt told me…" I said unsure of what to do now or say now. Gally just nodded and put the vial back.
"You're a quick one Dani, and I don't know how else to say this or approach this." Gally stepped a little bit closer. "You know that because of the changing I remember somethings. I had these flashes during the changes. They're engrained in my mind. I can never forget. And I have gone over them again and again." Gally spoke quieter, his voice breaking. "And the last one, one of the flashes that I never understood until now was… well I felt like I was dying. I couldn't breathe, and everything was becoming dark. And I just remember… seeing brown eyes…. a girls face…. A hand reaching up towards me." Gally said looking at the ground. My mouth dropped and I found myself unable to breathe. "It was you Dani. I saw you." I felt panic rise through me and the blood leave my body, my hands started shaking. He remembered being wiped. He could remember me. I took a step back. "And I know how weird this sounds. Trust me I know, but I didn't know how else to go about this. When I saw you yesterday I was so confused I had to get closer to you to make sure. But when you…we had an altercation, it brought back the panic and pure dread I felt in the flash. But you have to believe me Dani." I turned away and sat down on the cot.
"I believe you." I spoke softly finally finding my voice. Gally sighed and sat next to me, making sure to leave enough room between us.
"I know it sounds stupid. But I am the only one that has ever been through this that's still alive and, well I know it has changed me. I can't help it. I don't even really understand what happened to me." Gally looked towards me. "But you know the craziest thing is that… I used to think that maybe you… you were like an angel or something... I don't know I just thought… you had saved me from wherever else we came from. Whatever place we came from is worse than where we are now. And you knew that it was going to happen so you took me and…." He stuttered looking at his feet. My head shot up. He thought I was saving him, not killing him- or at least allowing someone else to…. I feel bad for saying a sense of relief came over me but it did.
"Hey." I said putting my hand on his arm. "It's okay Gally. I understand. I mean I think I do. I…it's just a little surprising that's all. I mean I'm sorry but I…I don't really have any memories of you…" I mumbled a bit, trying to play it off. Lying to Gally like this after he just shared something so personal was making my stomach hurt.
"I figured you would say something like that. And that's okay. I didn't think you would remember anything. But I don't know, it just made me wonder if you and I used to know each other or something. Before this. I felt like you had the right to know though." Gally nodded looking at me for some kind of approval. I smiled as whole heartedly as I could.
"Maybe we did. And thank you for telling me. I know it probably was hard to do and I truly appreciate it. Any kind of insight to my past is… well it's just great to know." I put my hand gently on his shoulder making him stiffen and look at over at it. Although he seemed a little freaked out about the physical contact he still managed to smile.
"Well I best be getting back to work now. Never know what kind of mess those shanks could be getting into without any supervision." Gally stood and moved for the door. I nodded and watched biting my lip. "I'm glad I got the chance to talk to you Dani. And I am sorry about how I acted. Truly. And if there is anything I could do for you just let me know anytime. I promise I'll be there." Gally gave me a small earnest grin. I couldn't help but smile back; I was so used to the permanent look of displeasure and anger on his face. But it was nice just being friendly with him for once.
"Oh actually Gally there is one thing I could use your help with!" I called to him as he began to slip out the door. His head peeped back around one of his eyebrows raised. "Could you possibly come back here a little after dark, when everyone's headed to bed? I am dying for a shower and I was hoping you would possibly guard the door for me?" I spoke quickly and did my best please baby face. Gally sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Really?" He almost seemed to laugh. I nodded and mouthed please multiple times. "Ugh fine…." He said and began to leave again but popped back up. "I am going to regret this whole peace offering trying to be friendly thing aren't I?" he asked openly.
"100%." I nodded to him. Gally groaned again and finally shut the door behind him. I closed my eyes and took a slow deep breath in, and began to collect my thoughts.
"You seriously take the longest showers. Like the longest shower ever Greenie. Out of anyone in the glade. You defiantly take the longest shower." Gally grunted. He crossed his arms and leaned against the door, staring out across the now darkened glade.
"Well I just really got started. Sooooo…" I trailed off hearing Gally grunt again. "Hey this water feels amazing right now. So shush!" I laughed over at him before moving my face back under the warm water. Feeling the heat of the water pounding down on my muscles was like heaven.
"You're welcome… it really sucked to make," He mumbled over the drops of water. I smiled and began to rub the soap he had given me through my hair looking around the wooden building. The bathrooms and showers were connected by a little hallway. There were four showers total enclosed by large wooden boards that left my shoulders and up exposed as well as my calves and feet. The soapy water pooled and drained in between the smooth rocks used as the flooring. The area was lit surprisingly well by a few torches scattered around the room. It was quite impressive all considering. "But seriously, why am I doing this? You could have easily found someone else to do this." He said looking back at me slightly, but not enough to actually see me. I smirked thinking of how I was possibly making him uncomfortable.
"Because Gally you owed me for being mean. Plus I know you won't try anything stupid because you already know I can beat the klunk out of you with little clothing on. And besides I thought you said you wanted to be friends?" I cooed a little at him, running the soap out of my hair. It was amazing how my hair instantly felt silkier after.
"Acquaintances. I said acquaintances actually. And don't you have other friends?" Gally asked.
"Uhhh nope!" I tried not to laugh.
"Yeah sure. What about Frypan? Or Clint? Or Jeff? Or Winston? Or Zart even?" Gally desperately listed off names.
"Nope sorry! That would be awkward, I may end up working for or with them. I don't want them thinking about me showering!" I replied.
"You could work for me!" He yelled making me giggle.
"Yeahhh. But most likely no… sorry I'm really not much of a builder." I chuckled at him.
"What about Chuck? He seems to have taken a liking to you." Gally said.
"You are really observant aren't you? But no, he is way too young. He would probably become curious or something. I don't' want to deal with teaching him the birds and the bees." I turned towards him before grabbing some more soap to wash the dirt and grime off my body.
"I just like to know what is going on okay? But fine, makes sense." He groaned a little. "What about Newt? He would have volunteered for sure." Gally started again before holding up his hand. "Wait don't say it. He would defiantly try to sneak some peaks, I know. Shuck I think everyone knows by the way he looks at you." I rolled my eyes and cupped my hands letting water get caught in them before tossing it Gally's way. He yelped as the warm water hit his back and shot off the door frame.
"I know he would have." I said, "But you don't have to be such a shank about it. I mean I just got here anyways. I don't know who I could really trust and who I couldn't. So I guess you should consider yourself lucky!" I teased him before turning back and finally began to wash the soap off my body.
"Lucky? Really? I don't' consider missing sleep to play body guard for you lucky." Gally started but he paused a little. "Minho?" I heard him question, making me laugh out loud.
"Oh god. We all know Minho would look. Shuck, he would probably try to join me in here!" I laughed again.
"Well you're not wrong princess." Minho's voice rang out across the room. I squealed startled, and whipped around managing to slip a little on the soap in the process. Minho laughed at me from where he stood by the door. I wrapped my arms around my top half, knowing everything else was surely covered by the stall. Gally was staring him down. "Careful, don't make me have to go in there and save you." Minho shook his head and threw a towel he had in his hand over his shoulder.