Author stuff: What's this? Two updates in one week? Mostly as an apology for getting the last chapter up so late. There really wasn't a whole lot of time Monday afternoon — a big project changed its testing date, which is getting pushed back because of other projects. So I busted my behind getting the binders and paperwork all set for it for nothing.

Anyway, we're getting back on track.

Again, trigger warning for sexual assault. There's only one more chapter of this, I promise, and then the story moves along.

There is some other triggers here, as well: Violence and blood

Chapter 34

In Which Flossy Gets Angry

She only allowed certain boys – boys she hand picked – to help Adne and the other girl up. She embraced Adne the moment she could.

The other girl climbed up on her own, ignoring the rope and helping hands. She was arrested the moment she joined them. She fought and thrashed as she tried to get free — breaking someone's nose. They carried her out of the Deadheads and into the sunlight, depositing her on the green grass of the Glade.

Flossy sucked in a breath as she looked the girl over.

Her coppery hair was wild, tangled with leaves and twigs. It was a nest, ready for a bird. How she had managed it in her short time out there, she couldn't describe the feat. Wide, brown eyes glared up at the group. Her lovely face was tucked down to the collar of her white shirt. She was barefoot – though Flossy was sure she'd been found with shoes on – and she clawed her hands, ready for an attack. Her legs were poised, ready to fight for her life or flee.

There was something wholly feral about the girl in front of her.

"Easy now," she said softly. She offered up her hands, reaching out. The girl flinched back. Flossy looked between her and her hands, unsure.

"We don't have time for this," someone – she thought it was a Slicer named Frankie – said. A second later, a shovel was hefted up and slammed into the girl's temple with the flat side.

She gave out a yelp when the girl collapsed onto the ground in a puddle of coppery hair and splayed limbs. The girl was hauled up and carried in the direction of the Slammer.

"We'll have to let Nick know that she woke up," Graham said, his voice nasally. She winced when she saw the blood dripping down his nose. He hadn't gotten it to stop.

Everyone agreed and started to disperse, most seeming to have forgotten why they had gathered in the first place.

She turned to Adne, taking her hand.

"Do you think you can go back?" she said quietly.

Adne shook her head. She could easily see the memories of what had transpired flicker through her mind, as easily as they did her own. There had been lots of yelling – there still was, from what she could tell – as the boys decided what they should do.

Ash had been there. He'd had to be dragged by several Baggers and Builders – who'd all been so confused – as they tried to keep him from running off into the Maze. He'd been forced to sit and listen to Adne tell her story, as halting and jumbled as it had been. He'd even given his own testimony.

What frightened Flossy was that it hadn't been the first time. Adne didn't say it and neither did Ash. It was best that, perhaps, they didn't know. It was no wonder Adne had been so happy and ready to run in the Maze. It got her out and away from him.

She didn't blame her friend any more than the rest of the Keepers. She hated the looks that they gave Adne. Pity did not suit them.

"I can't go back in there," Adne said, crossing her arms and pulling them tightly to her body. Her shoulders hunched up to her ears, and her eyes flicked about nervously. She was looking for a way out again.

"It's alright," she said. "I won't make you go back. Is there anyone you trust to take you back to our room? A few boys who can guard the door until I get back?"

Adne's eyes looked over everyone was still gathered around. There weren't many, just some Runners and Track-hoes.

"Archie," Adne said, looking at the boy. He blinked at her, a dopey look on his blood streaked and bruising face – one that Flossy was used to seeing.

"Anyone else?"

"Do you trust anyone in the Gardens?"

Flossy looked to her fellow Track-hoes. Chris and Doug she knew well enough. Chris usually sat with them for their meals, whereas Doug was closer with the Slicers than her friend group. It wasn't much of a decision.

The group headed back to the Homestead – her, Adne, Archie, and Chris. When they entered, Flossy turned to go to the Gathering room whilst they moved upstairs to their bedroom. She waited until she knew they'd reached the room and the door was safely bolted. Even over the voices of the boys inside, she could hear the faint click of the deadbolt.

The Gathering was a mess. The Keepers were at each other's throats, at Ash's throat, and ready for blood and vengeance. They all looked up when she closed the door behind her, silencing any protests that could be said.

"Hope that you're happy," she said, folding her arms in front of her and threatening to tap her foot. She felt like a mother ready to scold her children. "You scared off the most important person in this case."

"Without her," Ash said, a sneer growing on his lips, "you don't have anything against me."

"We still have an eye witness," Nick said, cleaning his glasses with his shirt. She didn't think it'd actually do much help to get any spots off.

Ash paled at his words. His eyes flicked around the room, trying to decide who the witness was. The other Keepers who didn't know did so as well. Really, it was quite obvious if they thought about it.

"Flossy," Alby said, gesturing to the room, "you have the floor."

A solemn expression crossed the room as she strode forward with slow, even steps as she tried to control her breathing and rapidly beating heart. They all knew her. She was their friend. But so was Ash, and he had been here longer.

She met each of their eyes before she spoke, and she continued to do so as she told her story. They listened with rapt attention, something she wasn't quite sure if she was thankful for or not.

"I was going to take a quick shower after having watched the new girl all day," she said, fighting to keep the tremor from her voice. "I got my things and started to head down –"

"Hold on," Gally said, standing up, he looked her over for… she wasn't sure what, but an uncomfortable feeling settled over her shoulders. "You didn't think of waking me or anybody? Flossy –"

She tossed a glare his way, quickly silencing him. Now wasn't the time to be scolding her. She knew how easily it could have been her.

"As I was saying. I got my things and started to head down. I thought I felt someone watching me, but I thought it was just my paranoia. I wanted to get back to the Med-hut in case the new girl woke up. And it was a good thing I didn't wake anyone up. If I had, I might have stayed in the showers a little longer and completely missed Ash leaving our room."

"How did you know it was him?" Zart said, leaning forward and templing his fingers with his elbows resting on his knees.

"I didn't. At least, not right away. I got a good look at him when he opened the door of the Homestead though. Moonlight doesn't hide much."

"You little liar!" Ash said. He was there in an instant, his fist colliding with her cheek. Icy heat erupted from the spot he hit. She didn't even recognize that she was lying on the ground until Newt and Clint were at her side helping her to sit up, gently tugging her out from under the trampling feet and legs of the others.

Alby was holding back Ash. It took Frypan, Hank, and Billy to hold back Minho. Eric, Zart, and Winston were almost failing to hold back Gally. Nick was trying, and failing, to call order.

The Gathering was a mess once again.

She got to her feet, accepting Newt's help to keep her steady. Clint had finished checking to see if she had any broken bones or any important arteries busted. She would be fine, according to him, just a little bruised for a while.

Gally was forced back into his seat, as was Ash – though he had to be held down. Eventually, Nick called for her to speak again.

"And after you saw Ash," he said, "what did you do?"

"I went upstairs," she said, trying not to wince as she felt her cheek start to swell and throb. It was made worse by her speaking. "Our room was left unlocked because I was still out of it. Adne won't lock it on me. And with the way he was sneaking about, it just… made sense to me. No one who was just swinging by to visit a friend would feel the need to creep about."

"How do you know it wasn't anyone else? How can you be absolutely certain?"

"I know what I saw, Nick."

"And how can we trust your word over his? How do we know you and Adne aren't conspiring?"

"Are you calling me a liar? Nick –" Her words were growing tight and high and accusing as they struggled to leave her throat. She had to calm down.

"I'm not calling you a liar, Flossy. I just want to make sure that we all get the truth before making any judgements. This is very serious and in direct violation of our rules."

"Good that," she said, her lips tightly pursed.

"Now, how can we trust you?" She hated how easy and calm and low his voice was.

"Have I ever lied to anyone before? What reason would I have to lie? All of you are my friends –"

"So is Ash."

"– which means that you know that I'm terrible at hiding my feelings. I'm not Adne. I can't put on a brave face and pretend everything is okay, and I can't not tell you guys everything." She could hear a tremor pick up in her voice as her eyes grew hot and her vision started to blur. Do not cry, she told herself. Do not cry. "And I know that Adne hasn't been here as long as I have, and I know she has annoyed the shuck out of all you shanks, but she's never been anything but honest with all of you. Day one she told you exactly what she thought of you. And you might not have liked it, but she told you the truth.

"And why would the two of us have any reason to conspire? What do we have against you? Any of you? You've been nothing but kind and nice and everything we needed in our time here. Why would we start lying? Why would we do anything to hurt anyone? To get anyone else hurt?"

"For kicks?" Nick said lightly. "For laughs? Because you were bored?"

"Anyone who honestly thinks that," she said, practically spitting fire as her cheeks grew wet and hot, "is sick. They're sick in the head. It's not funny. It will never be funny. And there's no way anyone could justify doing that because they were bored."

"Thank you, Flossy." Nick's voice was soft as he placed gentle hands on her shoulders and led her to a seat next to Clint. She felt herself trembling. Everything was shaking, and she could feel a fire broiling in her belly. She needed to scream, to hit, to… to act violently.

That was a strange, new feeling for her. And she didn't like it.

She wanted to be held and comforted. She needed help holding in the fire before it consumed her and hurt everyone around her. She felt fear prickle at the thought about not being able to contain it.

She didn't hear what Nick said next, her mind too muffled by her emotions. She didn't know what the vote even was. All she knew was that Clint had placed his hands over hers and got her to breathe in sync with him.

She felt more relaxed. She only wanted to go to bed and lie there for a hundred years. Maybe Adne would let her curl up in bed with her, and they could take solace in one another's company. She didn't want to be alone at the moment.

"You okay?" Clint said once she had calmed down.

"I…" she said, licking her lips, "I think so. What happened? What was the final decision?"

He smiled at her and gripped her wrists.

"Don't worry about that right now. Let's go to the Med-hut and see how the sleeping Girlie's doing, yeah?"

"I almost forgot! She woke up."

"Wait, seriously?"

Author stuff cont'd.: You ever been so angry and passionate about something, you've cried? Yeah.