Chapter 6: An attack and an end

AN: What's up, my Gladers and readers? I'm back way later than I planned because I GRADUATED and now I'm starting to look for work! Five years of university, 18 years of academy done and done with honours! Naturally, I crashed afterwards, catching up on all of those insensible all-nighters I had to pull and recovering from the stress. So I barely touched my computer, but I'm fresh and back now.

This will be a chapter that will feel more familiar where I finally make good on the promise that it will be more like the original and have some recognizable action.

However, I want to make sure to put up some trigger warnings for blood, violence and a near-drowning! This chapter is going to be more gruesome than the ones before. I will put the warnings before and after the respective paragraphs so you can skip them if you want.

We remember: Stephanie is enjoying her new calling as a Medjack and discovering all she can about her new home, but strange memories of the pre-solar flare world are chipping away at the idyllic life she's settled into. And after an unfortunate accident, she discovers that W.I.C.K.E.D hasn't just tinkered with her mind, but also her body…

X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-X

"You're infertile…"

It had been a few days since Stephanie had gotten the news from Jeff that she had been operated on before coming to the Glade. She was surprised to have taken it rather well… Aside from initial tears and a few hours of shock, the teen hadn't been too unsettled. After a pampering meal and an extra-large piece of apple pie from Frypan and the order from Clint to sort herbs, she had gone about the day in peace. Of course it was a strange feeling, knowing that a part of her womanhood had been taken from her, but her rational side recognized it had been a necessary sacrifice. The fact was that she had been working harder than ever since she had learned about it. She was taking on patients quicker than usual, poured long hours into medical research, helped other Gladers whenever she had time to spare. Newt was getting concerned and Jeff suspected that it was Stephanie's way of dealing with the trauma, to keep it off her mind.

However, he approached her as she was sitting happily among some lambs, feeding them. "Hey, Steph," he greeted her gently, "I see you've been busy as a bee these last few days." The girl replied: "Hiya, Jeff! Yes, I've been feeling generous with my energy. Why?" Her friend sat down beside her and picked up a lamb. For a while, Jeff traced his fingers through its fluffy wool, looking at Stephanie with his kind dark eyes. Then he sighed quickly and firmly said: "Because I know you've been doing this to run away from your thoughts. Trust me, we've all been there, especially when we first arrived at the Glade. We worked our shucky butts off because if we had stopped, we would have gone crazy from fear. So now, as your doctor and your friend, I order you to take today off, do what you like, just relax. Let your mind heal from the trauma. I've already talked with Alby about it, he agrees with me."

After quietly listening to him, Stephanie smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, Jeff. I'll try to relax. I know you just want my best. You won't see a trace of me today," she promised. The boy grinned and returned the hug. Then he put down the lamb and stating that Clint was already waiting for him, he jogged out of the Bloodhouse. Stephanie stayed behind a little longer to finish feeding the animals, then thanked Winston for letting her help. The teen looked around, trying to figure out what to do next. Her eyes fell upon the little forest containing the Deadheads and an artificial lake which she used to bathe sometimes when the showers were full. "A nice day at my lake. It's settled then…" she thought to herself and broke into a run.

Two minutes later the refreshing shade of the trees and the common musty smells of the Deadheads hit Stephanie. Ever since she had worked with the Baggers, she made a point of bringing the dead boys flowers from time to time. The teen was about to place some daisies on George's grave when the same silver glint caught her eye that she had seen in the apple tree days ago. This time, she could recognize that it was indeed a silver beetle, made of metal, its eyes blinking red. "You little beast almost killed me a few days ago, you know?" Stephanie jokingly accused it, "That was not nice…"

The beetle clicked and chirped, cocking its head to one side in an almost disturbingly human motion as if saying 'What do you want me to do about that?'. Then it spread its metallic wings and buzzed away in the direction of the lake. "Ey, I'm not done with you yet!" the girl called after it before jumping up and following the creature. Minutes later, the lake appeared in front of her. It was not especially big, but deep and of an intense azure. An oasis of peace in the hustle and bustle of the Glade. Sighing contently, Stephanie stripped off shoes and socks and dipped her legs into the cool water.

Leisurely, she observed how her new object of attention landed on a rock behind her. Without anything better to do and noticing that it had no intention of flying away, she pulled her trusted notebook out of her bag and started sketching it. A few minutes into the drawing, Stephanie heard a twig break to the side of her and looked up. A Glader had joined her. It was not one she knew but who she recognized. It was a tall blond boy with a muscular build… and black veins running all across his face. When she had arrived at the Glade, she had often heard screams from the quarantine wing of the Homestead and Chuck had mentioned one of the kids had been 'stung'. His name had been… "You must be Ben, right? Are you feeling better? I'm Ste-" the teen asked, but a hateful glare shut her up.

"I know who you are. I saw you. I know what you did, you're with them," the boy named Ben growled, a deep evil, animalistic sound, "All of this is your fault! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!" Before the words had even reached Stephanie's mind, he screamed wildly and threw himself at her. For a few heartbeats she was frozen, then adrenaline finally kicked in and she jumped out of reach. What was wrong with this shank?! What was her fault? Why did he want to kill her?! But she didn't have time to think, for Ben was already charging at her like a raging bull.

The girl picked up a sturdy branch, relieved to have something to defend herself with. She swung it like a bat once he was near. A sickening crunch told her that the hit had broken his nose. Ben howled in pain and clutched his crushed appendage. Stephanie used the distraction to run away from him. Her instinct led her towards a tree. As she recalled, Ben was a Runner, he would catch up to her easily if she tried running back to the Glade. But in the tree, she might just have the high ground… The teen grabbed onto the trunk. Her feet and hands ripped open on the rough bark, but she held on. If she could make it to the first branch…

*** TRIGGER! *** But she was too slow… A hand shot up and ripped at the back of her dress. Stephanie lost her grip and fell to the ground. Ben forcefully dragged the girl to the lake edge and slammed her onto the rock she had sat on before bending over her. Breathless from the impact and fear, she gazed through tears at her enemy. He was grinning maliciously; black blood was running from his broken nose onto her face. "What have I done to you?" Stephanie sobbed, terrified. She had been caught and couldn't fight back. "W.I.C.K.E.D will never be good," Ben just whispered before grabbing a pointed stone and a fistful of her dress. Immediately, Stephanie could only think of two things he could possibly plan on doing and all her fear manifested in one mighty, blood-curdling scream.

"Alby! Newt! Jeff! Baggers! Please, somebody help!" she yelled on top of her lungs while tears blinded her vision and she tried to kick out, but Ben didn't seem to notice. He had lifted the hem of the dress up to her waist when he stopped. "Wait a second… Now that's interesting," the crazed boy muttered, looking at her and then the stone. Oh no… It dawned on Stephanie that she had forgotten about a third option to injure or even kill her. She started screaming with renewed vigour when Ben ripped off the bandage that Jeff had put over the stitches on her underbelly and sliced into the wound with the stone, tearing the stitches apart.

The pain knocked the breath right out of her. The girl sank limply onto the stone, looking almost in a trance at the crimson blood now flowing out of her fresh wound. She didn't even have the strength to scream anymore when Ben started to drag her further to the water. The boy picked up a big rock as his other hand held Stephanie by her collar, dangling her above the lake. "W.I.C.K.E.D will not ruin the Glade. Say goodbye, bitch!" She gathered the power for one last cry before Ben let her go and threw the rock after her as ballast. The girl felt the cold waters close over her and barely had enough time to breathe in before the stone on her pulled her deeper under.

Stephanie felt paralyzed. From the pain in her body, the coolness of the lake and the shock over Ben's words. Had he actually said that she was the reason they were all here? And what in the nine circles of Hell did W.I.C.K.E.D mean?! What had caused the boy to act like a rabid animal? Would she… die here without ever figuring a way out of the Maze? Questions upon questions flooded her brain as her eyes only took in blurry blue. Stephanie felt her breath slowly run out and silently panicked. Had anyone managed to hear her before Ben had overwhelmed her? The blue was fading to black around the edges and she started to pray to anyone who would listen to at least make it quick… *** TRIGGER OVER! ***

Just when she was about to lose consciousness, she distantly heard someone break through the lake's surface and seconds later, two strong arms grabbed her under the armpits. They had heard her! The ascend was mercifully quick and soon leaves coated her wet cheeks as someone laid her on her back. A voice was yelling her name and then Stephanie felt a sharp pain in her chest as the water was pushed out of her lungs. She rolled over and coughed up the liquid, gasping to draw in air instead. After her breathing and heartbeat had normalized and her vision had sharpened again, the girl found the strength to sit up and look around.

There was a boy at her side that she didn't recognize immediately in her daze, his slanted eyes huge and raven hair plastered to his forehead from the water. But then Stephanie remembered. It was Minho, Keeper of the Runners. Although she hadn't expected him, he was evidently the one who had saved her from drowning. The other sight she was met with sent shivers down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. Ben was on the floor howling, his arms being restrained by Newt. An arrow was sticking out of his cheek, making more black blood flow down his face. And Alby was a meter away from him, his hand still on the string of a bow as big as Stephanie's arm.

The water in her ears prevented the girl from hearing everything clearly, but Ben was screaming at Newt to let him go and that they were making a big mistake. The blonde only screamed back at him to shut up and that he was out of his mind because of the Griever sting. Alby said nothing, but the look he threw Ben was just as chilling and hateful as the one the injured boy was throwing him. With Newt's help, he dragged him out of the Deadheads and soon it was only Stephanie and Minho that remained. "Well, at least I can skip the shower later…" he tried to joke, but upon seeing Steph's deathly pale face, he fell silent again. "I never do this, but… um, can I carry you?" Minho asked cautiously, "You need to get to the Medjacks asap.

Too dazed to get her mouth to work, Stephanie gave an almost unperceivable nod. Smiling encouragingly, the Runner put one arm around her shoulders and the other under her legs, then lifted her up carefully. "Try to keep pressure on that wound, I can't have you bleeding out halfway," Minho advised her. Stephanie looked down. The cold water had slowed down the bleeding, but she could still feel it flow too strongly for her liking. So she scrunched up part of her dress and pressed down as hard as she dared. Stephanie's head dropped on Minho's shoulder as she slowly felt the adrenaline drain.

By the time they arrived at the Medjacks' building, she was shaking like a leaf, though the Runner held her tight. As soon as they appeared, Clint jumped up to meet them. He was pale from anxiety and his hands shook slightly as he instructed Minho to lay the girl down. "You have seriously back luck on you, Steph…" Clint sighed, "First you fall from a tree, then you almost drown. Geez." "I- I'm sorry I'm giving you so much trouble, I'm really not doing it on purpose. Look at me, how worthless… A Medjack having to be fixed by another Medjack," Stephanie whispered, her voice breaking and fresh tears falling. The shock finally caught up with her. She felt ice-cold, pain was wracking her body and not even talking about the trauma…

Clint left her side for a minute to fetch a big wooly blanket, a medicine kit and a glass of water, depositing the things in front of her before giving her a strong hug. "You are not worthless, Steph, anything but that. It's just unfortunate accidents. You're in shock," he shushed, trying to calm her, "Now I'm going to stitch you up again and then I suggest you get out of these wet clothes. Don't want you getting sick, ok?" With deft movements, the boy closed the wound on her underbelly once again, this time using stronger stitches and an extra-strong bandage to let the wound heal untouched. Then he helped Stephanie out of her sopping wet dress and tightly wrap herself in the blanket, with Minho politely turning away.

After the girl had warmed and dried up enough, the Medjack gave her two pills with the glass of water. "Hopefully these can help you rest a bit. It'll take time to recover from that one," he muttered. "But before Morpheus kisses me," Stephanie inquired, "What happened before I arrived here? What will happen to Ben?" Clint nervously raked his fingers through his hair and explained: "Alby and Newt were so eager to throw that shank into the Slammer that Jeff had to treat him inside. Alby also wants to gather the Keepers to decide Ben's fate. It should start in a few minutes. Now drink up. I'll come check on you later." Still curious but obedient, Stephanie swallowed the pills and laid back as the boys ran outside to attend the meeting. Just a minute later, fog filled her brain and she fell into a mercifully dreamless sleep.

When she woke up, the sun was about to disappear and Chuck was bending over her. "Hey, little man…" Stephanie quietly said. "Welcome back to the living, you shucky shank, you. Try to stay with us for a change, ok? Who else am I supposed to prank Gally with?" Chuck snarked back, but from the way he gripped her hand, it was clear that her near-fatal experiences had left him shaken. "I swear I will try to be more careful. Can't have Gally beat you up without me around," the teen promised, "Speaking of Gally, do you know what was discussed about Ben? What's going to happen to him?"

The boy grew quiet and a large smile spread on his face which would have relieved Stephanie if it weren't for the words that followed: "Every Keeper unanimously voted for it. Ben broke one of the three most important rules in the Glad, to never hurt another Glader. He almost killed you. Ben is going to be banished into the Maze, never to return. It should start in less than ten minutes now when the walls start to close. Come on, get up and watch with us, Steph!" The girl almost felt sick. Banishment into the Maze? The Maze no one had ever found the exit of? Where monsters lurked that needed 10-meter-thick walls to keep out?

She just wanted to protest that banishment was akin to murder, but Chuck looked at her with frighteningly sweet puppy eyes and threw Stephanie her dress that had managed to dry. The girl really didn't feel like going, but she knew Chuck would never let it go. So she just sighed deeply, made the boy turn away so she could slip into her dress and shoes and followed him outside. On their way, they encountered other Gladers who threw her a variety of looks. Some were of compassion, others of mistrust or outright anger and again others of plain bewilderment. Then they arrived at the gates, where the vast majority of the boys were already present, including all the Keepers.

When they were all gathered, Alby stepped forward and declared with a booming voice: "Tonight we get here together to banish Ben. If anyone of you hasn't been updated, Ben tried to kill Stephanie today under the influence of the Griever sting! This goes against one of our most important rules; to NEVER harm another Glader on purpose. Gally, Zart, bring forth the accused!" The two boys ran to the Slammer, their prison, and pushed out Ben. Stephanie's hand flew to her mouth. Half of Ben's face was wrapped in thick bandages, but black blood still oozed through them. His hands were tied behind his back.

The boy's head, hair plastered with sweat and dried blood, hung low with exhaustion and shock until he realized where they were taking him. He let out a howl and flailed his limbs, trying to wriggle himself free, but Gally and Zart held tight. Finally, Ben gave up, his body going limp and he burst into tears. When the three had arrived in front of Alby, the dark-skinned boy grabbed his chin and loudly accused him: "Ben of the Runners, you have almost killed Stephanie today. You know the rules of the Glade and therefore the consequences. You will be banished into the Maze and will never be allowed to return."

The blonde started crying harder, tears flowing out of his one good eye. He sank fully to the ground at the pitiless Alby's feet like a sinner begging before an unmoving statue. "Alby, come on, man! You know I'd never do this, I was hallucinating, it was the Griever venom. Don't send me out there, man, please!" he pleaded. "SILENCE, you pathetic shuckface! It's been decided that your crime deserves nothing less, Griever or not!" Alby roared, "Newt! You know what to do! I've got him." Newt grabbed a contraption a few feet away that Stephanie hadn't noticed before- a leather loop attached to several sturdy poles pushed into each other. An urge to retch grew in her throat when she realized that it was a detachable collar.

Alby's second-in-command wrapped it around Ben's neck, checked that it could come loose and cut off the rope around his wrists. Then Alby nodded grimly and barked: "Keepers, take your places!" The respective boys stepped forward and grabbed a part of the poles. Ben's lips silently pleaded for help when he looked at Minho, but the Runner's face remained impassive. Stephanie admired him for keeping his feelings in check like that, he was losing a friend after all. All of a sudden, a hatred for Ben almost overwhelmed her. She hated Ben for coming so close to drowning her, for plunging that stone into her stomach like a piece of meat, for attacking her when she didn't even know him.

But then the feeling subsided and sadness took its place. How selfish was she? She had been there for only a few weeks, he had been a Glader for years. He was a Runner, essential to try and find a way out of that damn labyrinth, she was just a Medjack who ended up on the sick bed more often than she wanted. However, before she could wallow in self-pity, the crunching of the stone doors closing slowly tore Stephanie from her thoughts. "Keepers, push NOW!" Alby bellowed. The boys started to push the bamboo poles, forcing Ben into the entrance of the Maze.

Ben roared, a sound of desperation and rage, and tried forcing himself free with all his might, but the leather collar wouldn't budge. The walls were half closed already and the former Runner quite a distance into the labyrinth. It would be impossible for him to run back into the Glade before they would fully shut. Then gave a nod and Newt pulled hard enough to snap open the collar. Three quarters… The Keepers retrieved the poles hastily, the walls were probably less than half a minute away from closing. Ben screamed one last time, then it was drowned out by the loud BAM! of the doors cutting him off the Glade for good.

For a minute, nobody moved. Some of the Gladers stared intently at the wall, others turned away. The first one to move was Gally, who gave a salute and headed to the Homestead. Next was Frypan, mumbling something about making dinner. Minho feigned tiredness to rub at his eyes and get rid of the tears gathering in them. Another Runner slung his arm around his shoulder and both slowly walked into a room adjacent to the Homestead. Slowly, the boys went their separate ways until Stephanie was the only one left by the wall.

She leaned her forehead against the cold stone and suddenly her throat constricted painfully as tears made their way down her cheeks. Stephanie cried out all her pain and rage about her attack and the shame that she was such a burden to her fellow Gladers, that unfortunate loss of life, as well as the general injustice that they were being stuck in that shucky Maze in general. After standing there for about five minutes, her tears dried and a bone-deep tiredness overcame her. Even after all the drama, the girl didn't feel hungry, so she just crept into the kitchens for a cup of tea and then laid down to sleep. After a while, she was awakened by Chuck who cuddled up to her. But Stephanie just smiled gently and hugged him back. They surely all needed comfort tonight…

When the two woke up the next morning, the sun was shining so warmly and brightly as if the horrors of the last day had never happened. There was a slight wind to cool their skin and a serenade of birds, lambs and dogs accompanied their breakfast. Stephanie popped her last piece of pancake into her mouth when she saw Gally passing by. She quickly jumped up and jogged the few meters separating them. "Hey, Gally! Wait up!" the teen called and the boy stopped to turn around. "Hey, Steph," he greeted back, "How are you doing?" "I'm fine, but… I've been thinking and I need to ask you something. I wonder if you- "

But Gally didn't get to hear what he was needed for, as at that moment, an alarm went off that drowned out every word. It lasted ten seconds, then everyone collectively jumped up. The Builder cursed. "What happened?!" Stephanie asked through the ringing in her ears. "That was the Box!" Frypan informed her, "We already got the supplies for this week and the new Greenie isn't due for weeks!" They arrived at the Box in time to see it settle and seconds later, Alby and Newt came to a halt beside them, one looking angry, the other confused. "Another Greenie? It's way too early!" the blonde echoed the cook's words. "They better have a shucking good explanation for this," Alby growled before bending down and ripping open the Box's hinged doors.

No one could have foreseen what was inside. No crates or animals filled the bottom. Instead, there was only one girl and she wasn't moving. Stephanie thought for some terrifying heartbeats that she was dead, but then she saw the tiniest of movements of her chest which told her she was still breathing. Newt, recovering first from the shock, jumped down into the Box and put a finger on her neck. "That gal's not dead," he announced, his accent thickening from worry, "She's still alive, but barely." Then his gaze fell on her still, manicured hand, balled into a fist. A folded paper was inside. After tugging it gently from her fingers, and reading its content, a gasp escaped him. "What's it saying?" Frypan anxiously asked upon seeing his pale face. "It says 'She's the last one. EVER.'"

END OF CHAPTER 6

EN: Sooo, that would conclude the incredibly stubborn Chapter 6, plus I forgot entirely when Theresa shows up. I'm not entirely happy with it, but it's alright enough. I know it looks more chaotic, but next chapter, I'll have read the correspondent chapters of the original story and know what to work with. But I hope you like it anyway.

If you liked it, a little comment would be appreciated as always.

Have a wonderful day and I'll see you next time!

Kisses and cake,

Yuna McHill