Author stuff: So, repercussions time.

Again, trigger warning for sexual assault for this chapter and the next few chapters. I don't go into too much detail, but it is present.

In case anyone is wondering, I've been posting directly from my phone at work, because it's just easier and I don't have to bring my laptop in and post from there. Also, a third screen would just be distracting.

Chapter 32

In Which There Is a Break For The Runners

Archie knew he wouldn't be seeing Flossy in the morning, but he was surprised not to see Adne. And he was even more surprised to hear that Nick and Minho wouldn't be running with them that day.

"Wonder what's going on," Justin said, watching as they all headed into the Homestead. Minho jogged over to them, looking none too happy. "I mean, I know it's a Gathering, but what do you think it's about? Hey, Minho, what's going on?"

"Orders from the top," Minho said, hands on his hips. His fingers tapped out an irregular rhythm against his belt. His eyes flicked about the group, but they never focused on anyone in particular. "You shanks will only be running for a couple of hours today. No going too far in. We need everyone back this afternoon."

"What's going on?" Alfred – a skinny shank with orange hair – said.

"Something happened last night. You'll hear about it later, but Nick called a Gathering, and I'm needed for this. It's too bad I can't join your sorry behinds. You'll have to manage without me."

"Oh no," Derek said, flatly, "what ever shall we do without you, Minho?"

"Probably be Griever bait. Now, remember, only a couple of hours out today." He gave them a smirk, his cheek dimpling, but it was a halfhearted gesture.

The Runners saluted as the doors started to open, each heading to a cardinal direction from their meeting place at the Box.

Archie followed Justin again. The pair of them didn't go too far in. Justin decided they should loiter about three turns away from the entrance. He slid down the side of the wall, letting his legs splay out.

"Aren't we going to do anything today?" Archie said.

"No," Justin said. "It's sort of a break day for us. Shuck, wonder what's going on that they need Minho there. It's got to be serious if he was called out of the Maze."

"What do you think is going on?"

"Can't really say. It had to be serious. Did you see how angry Gally looked before we left? I mean, I know he has a bit of a temper, but geez. Whatever happened has got to be really serious. Shuck, what if something happened to the Girlie?"

Archie snapped his head in Justin's direction, mouth open. He knew how Gally felt about Flossy – and he was fairly certain that her crush had developed far beyond just a crush, though he hadn't gotten the chance to speak with her on it. If something happened to Flossy, there would be hell to pay.

From a lot of different people.

"We've got to go back and find out what happened," he said, shooting back to his feet.

"Can't. At least, not yet. We have to make everyone believe it's another normal day in the Glade, just for the time being. The orders came directly from Nick, so no use disobeying them. Don't want to end up in the Slammer, do you?"

Archie huffed and plopped back down. It was going to be a very long couple of hours.

He watched as the shadows shortened as the sun drew higher in the sky. It was almost time to head back to the Glade. It was almost time to learn what had happened last night.

Archie felt his stomach tangle into knots, his heart rising to his throat and lodging itself there. Bile and acid burned the back of his throat. He'd paced the length of the corridor numerous times before being told to sit back down. He'd then made a game of seeing how many times he could hit the Beetle Blade watching them with little pebbles. Eventually, Justin got back onto his feet and looked at him.

"You ready?" he said.

Archie hesitated. He wanted to nod, but something was holding him back – anxiety, fear? – from answering. After a moment, he managed a vocal affirmation.

They started back to the Glade. With each step, his feet weighed heavier and heavier. It became more difficult to breathe. The world started to tilt and sway. He needed to stop.

Justin heard his footfalls cease and turned back to look at him, leaning against the wall with his fingers tangled in his hair. He tried to drink in the air deeply and calmly, but it all came in sharp, shallow gasps.

"Slim it nice and calm now," Justin said, helping him to sit down. "Shuck, you're having a panic attack. Okay. Okay. Just sit here for a moment. Lean against the wall like, yeah like that. Breathe with me now, good that?"

Archie listened to Justin's voice, closing his eyes and trying to take longer breaths. They came in and out shakily at first. After a few minutes, they were even.

He ran his hands over his face, finding his cheeks wet. When had he started crying? Why hadn't he noticed?

He gave a few manic laughs, poor attempts to calm himself down – they only made him seem mad in Justin's eyes, by the worried look he gave him. When he felt normal – when he stopped shaking, and he could breathe fine, and his legs wouldn't buckle under him – he got back to his feet.

"You good now?" He handed Archie his water bottle, which he drank greedily from

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Thanks." He wiped his mouth with his arm.

"Geez, you slinthead, scared me half to death there. What was that laugh for?"

"Nervous? Anxious? I don't know. I felt like I had to. Sorry."

"Don't think I've ever had anyone do that before."

"What, a panic attack?"

"No, you shuck-face," Justin said, punching his arm playfully. "The laughing after the panic attack. Almost made me klunk my pants."

Archie gave a hoarse laugh, hanging his head.

"Come on," he said. "I'm feeling better now. Let's go see what's going on in the Glade."

Justin nodded and helped his running partner to his feet. Together, they made it back in a fair amount of time. Only a handful of other Runners had made it back yet. As they passed by, the Bagger guarding the entrance looked up.

"You shanks know what's going on?" he said.

"Only what we were told by Minho," Justin said. "You?"

"We weren't told much either. Just that there'll be a Gathering for all of us later. Wonder what happened."

They all jumped at the sound of the door to the Homestead slamming open. Adne strode out. She looked around and took off towards the Deadheads. She was half way there by the time Flossy joined her outside. The door closed behind her, much more softly.

Archie looked at Justin and the Bagger. Both of them were confused.

"I'm going to go see what that was about," he said.

Before either of them could say anything, he was running towards Flossy, who had already started to the Deadheads. He met her before she entered.

"Hey," he said, "what's going on?"

"You'll hear about it later," she said. "Now, out of my way. I need to find Adne. She needs to finish giving her testimony."

"Testimony? Flossy, what –"

"Sorry, Archie, I can't. It's… Nick's orders. No one beyond who was involved and the Keepers can know right now. And they're all as pissed as I am. Please, let me go find her."

She pushed past him and started her path into the forest.

"Let me help," he said, gripping her arm to stop her. "I won't stick around once you get her, but the Deadheads aren't meant for wandering alone in. You'll get lost."

"I'm still in the Glade."

"Flossy."

"Archie." She kept her eyes locked with his. Neither willing to look away. After a moment, she sighed. "Fine. But, once we find her, you head back out. I can handle her."

"You sure about that?"

"Archie, I'm the only one who can even comprehend what happened. Now, please. I need to find her."

He nodded, letting her go. By that time, Justin had caught up with them, as well as a few others.

"No," Flossy said. "No more people. You're only going to – Look, Adne can't stand to be around too many people right now. Archie and I can handle this."

"We'll just follow you in," Justin said, folding his arms across his chest. "You wouldn't be able to stop us. Besides, she's one of us now. If something's wrong, we'll be here to help."

Archie arched his brows up as he watched Flossy rise to the very tips of her toes, holding herself there for a moment before deflating. It was almost comical, the way she tried to threaten the others. And it would have been, too, if she hadn't been so serious about the whole thing.

"Fine," she said, her voice a harsh snap. "But the second you see her, call me over. She can't handle being around too many people right now."

"Flossy!"

The group turned to see Jeff jogging up to them. When he reached them, he was breathing hard. He looked around at the familiar faces.

"Have you seen her?" he said.

"Who, Adne?" she said. "She ran into the Deadheads. We're about to go find her."

Before she even finished speaking, he was shaking his head.

"No, not her. The other girl. She woke up about a minute ago and ran out of the Med-hut. I don't know where she went."

Author stuff cont'd.: Things are happening. I'm rereading this before I post everything and I'm going "Wow, this isn't half bad. I'm actually a pretty decent writer."

Rereading this also reminded me that I recently had a panic attack and touched that up a bit. It was mostly due to my new job and how terrified I was that they were going to find something on me. I have legitimately never done anything illegal in my life, but the brain is funny like that.