58 Dawn

Everyone is gone. I don't mean everyone, of course, since Frypan sits around the fire with Dave and Frankie. A bunch of the Builders and Track-hoes are mingling and talking too.

Although all I really wanted to do was talk to Minho. He isn't anywhere to be found though. I never saw him come through the Doors but I assume he did at some point or another, given that no one was waiting at the Doors for him to come back.

Clint is peeking over at me, from where he stands. Jeff is rambling on to him about something or another unimportant. Ignoring this, Clint continues to look at me as if he is analysing me.

I stand up, walking away from where I sit. If Clint wants to talk to me, he can. I have no need to let him stare at me over and over.

The further I walk, the further I move away from the Slammer. It bothers me, that place. I mean, it bugged me when I was in there and I saw Michelle's blood all over the walls. Now, all I can think about is Ben.

He didn't touch me. He didn't kiss me, and he didn't get what he wanted. Maybe that's why I'm not as upset as I should be. Maybe I saw it coming. What was I expecting, being here? Did I think he was just walking around at night trying to have a chat with me?

I feel my fist tightening into a ball. I'm angry. Mostly at myself, but also at him and at everyone else here who keeps staring at me.

"I got the message," I turn around.

There he is, standing behind me. His nose is swelling dark purple, not just around the bite marks. His skin, a terrible colour which stains the skin above his lip a deep red, is puffy, and his eyes seem to be blackening in bags. His chin is a deeper purple as well, dark and horrible.

I don't know what he is talking about. "Get away from me." My voice trembles in ways I do not expect. He makes me feel so very small.

"Sending people to beat me up isn't really going to do you much help anyway." He looks straight at me, eyes burning. "I could tell Alby, and then you'll all be shucking banished for sure."

"So will you," at this he stiffens.

I may not know him, but he is easy to figure out. Ben is self-centered. A preservationist at his core, he is not going to die just to spite me and Minho. His threat was not idle, since he thought there'd be no proof he had done something wrong. Now, you can clearly see on his nose I left my mark.

There is a difference between what is wrong and what is punishable. It is wrong to yell terrible slurs at others, but I hear Gally do it everyday to the boys who work for him without repercussions. Ben attempting to hurt me is both wrong and banish able. Minho and I, though we are breaking the rules, have done nothing wrong. It can never be wrong to care for someone else.

I would not rat on Ben as both he and I have done punishable offenses, even though I have done nothing wrong.

"Just shucking call off your dog," he turns to walk away, although he calls over his shoulder, "or I'll call on mine."

When he is gone, I can breathe lighter. Why is it so hard to exist when he is around?

Where is Minho and what did he do?

I move forward, towards the map room. The Runners have been out of there for a while, which means if Minho's in there he's been in there for a shucking long time. It also means no one will see me sneak in.

The door is locked, as it normally is. I peek inside, through the cracks in the wood (the room is poorly built since its only purpose is housing the maps) and see no one. Where could Minho be?

"I said I didn't need your help," Michelle's voice distracts me, and I turn to see her shoving off Leo as they both exit the Deadheads.

What are they doing together?

Leo stands still as Michelle brushes her off. When Michelle runs away, I'm not surprised that Leo doesn't follow. Slowly moving behind her, Minho and Newt whisper in hushed voices. What the Hell were they all doing in there? And what did Minho shucking do to Ben?

I storm closer, my feet guiding me. It almost feels like I am out of body. Did Minho hit Ben? What was he thinking? He could've gotten us both killed.

Leo is the first one notices me coming, and she lightly taps Newt's shoulder. In turn, Newt flicks Minho. He doesn't take notice, or if he does he doesn't care since he is so busy talking.

I grab his arm, forcing him to spin around and see me. When he does, I see his face fall, piece by piece. He knows I've found him out.

"What were you shucking thinking?" I demand, and though I wish to sound angry I sound scared. I can't tell if it is my hands that tremble or my fingertips.

"It's not what you think," it's Newt who pipes in, and my glare silences the boy mid-thought.

Minho tries to clear his throat, but it only tightens when he faces me. I am burning. Doesn't he realise the position he has put himself in. That he has put me in? What happens when people start asking why Ben has a bruised face?

His gaze doesn't leave me though he talks to the two next to him. "Maybe give us a second..."

"He has a shucking broken nose." I cut them off, trying to sound serious. Trying to sound in control of the panic. I'm not some deranged girl who needs to be hidden. Besides, I don't care what I sound like to them. I only care for my own sake.

"You did what?" Newt jumps in. "How are we going to play that off? I thought you roughed him up a bit."

"You both knew?" I turn to stare at Newt and Leo.

While she looks frozen, stuck knowing she has been caught doing something bad, Newt just looks exasperated. He isn't apologising to me, but joins me in my frustration against Minho.

Minho freezes, turning to face me. He shrugs, exasperated. "I didn't even hit him in the face."

"Alby's going to launch an investigation Min," Newt throws his hands up in anger. "I didn't sign up for this much trouble. You're lucky I don't have tell him."

"Honestly why would you hit him at all?" I ask. "Why couldn't you leave well enough alone? He was going to back off."

"He attacked Michelle," finally Leo pipes in.

I look at her. Of course, she can't lie, so I know she is being honest.

"Did..." I can't form a sentence. "Did he..."

"You know Michelle," Leo's voice is low, and there is almost a tinge of laughter.

Of course he didn't. Michelle doesn't give a damn about the consequences, and she is very violent. Was it her that broke Ben's nose? That would make so much more sense than Minho having any part in this.

"I pulled him off her before he could even touch her," Minho looks down at the ground, almost ashamed of his heroism.

Of shucking course he did. "Oh for shuck's sake Min."

Everyone is quiet. No one can find words, or at least I can't. Too much is happening. Am I angry at Minho for fighting Ben? Am I mad that Ben attacked Michelle? Am I upset no one told me klunk?

The only thing that could make this worse is if the Cooks were in on it too. Then I really would've been betrayed by everyone.

"Now what?" Newt asks it, looking to Leo for an answer.

Leo shrugs, confused. "I mean, I don't know if I can convince Clint to let him in the Maze now, but I can try."

"Why do you want him running?" I demand. "So what, we reward him for what he's done?"

"Would you rather get banished?" Minho's voice is low and steady. he isn't trying to challenge me or start an argument. Simply, he wants to convince me.

"No," obviously not. "Still though. There's got to be something we can do."

"We wait," Newt says it plainly. "I'm sure someone is going to snitch to Alby today. We'll probably have a Gathering at night, or something. I don't know. I would've if Min hadn't told me the whole story."

"We've got to play it safe," Leo looks at Minho and I plainly. "You two can't be in contact for the next little bit. Same goes for Michelle."

"I doubt that'll be a problem." I roll my eyes.

"We're serious," Newt continues.

Klunk. Someone must've told him. Although I don't know who, nor when that could've happened. This isn't the moment to ask, I don't think. I don't particularly care who knows, so long as we aren't about to be banished.

In my ideal world, everyone would know.

"Sure," I agree even though I'm already ready to break that promise. Looking at Minho, I can see his shock in my complicity. I don't want to get Leo wrapped up in this, and though I barely know Newt, I don't want him to go down for me and Minho. It's best if for now, I tell them I won't see Minho.

Leo waits for Minho's response, staring at him with her head cocked to the side. Minho nods up and down, looking at me then back at newt and Leo.

"Yeah, gotcha shank."

Neither of them are mad at us anymore. It's odd, since Leo was less than happy when she found out Minho and I were together. Now, she doesn't blame me. She doesn't even seem resigned to the reality of the situation. She is accepting it for what it is, and moving forward.

I can't help but thinking this is Newt's doing. Like I said, I barely know the guy, but he has a handle on situations. He is emotional and vulnerable, unlike Alby, but he seems to always be able to come up with an answer. He has a plan that might work.

My plan would've been to do nothing. I guess Minho didn't have plan either, and he just got caught up in the moment. Michelle might've hurt Ben, maybe even brought him to his death. Alby would want to vote, and follow the rules since he loves them so much. Prior to talking to Newt, I imagine Leo's plan would've been to play it safe; keep quiet and feign ignorance.

Now though, she seems confident in asserting herself.

"To recap," she pauses as she tries to sort through the thoughts in her head. "Dawn fell off the wall while climbing four nights ago and Michelle saw her?"

I nod. We're sticking to that part of the story. If we don't rat on Ben he can't rat on us.

"Minho was with me last night," Newt looks over at Leo.

"That only works if no one knows where you were," Minho cuts her off.

"He was with me," Leo cuts in. "We were discussing Ella's condition. She was making a good recovery..."

Was? "What happened?"

Leo shakes her head. She doesn't need to speak for me to get that it is a long story. One I shouldn't ask her tonight if I want her to keep it all together. Newt looks over at Leo, closing his mouth. The way he squints makes it look like he's wincing for her.

Ella can't be dead; I'd have heard by now. I don't know why I care, I barely know her. It's not like Newt who I barely know though. There is a feeling attaching the two of us that I can't describe or remember. I need to make sure she is okay.

I'll have to visit her soon. Or, at least, find a way to find her.

"Doesn't matter," Minho cuts in, since no one else can seem to talk. "I was with Newt last night. Michelle can find her own alibi."

Will she? She doesn't seem to have many friends. "I can say I was with Michelle, if push comes to shove. I was free."

"Don't get yourself tangled up in this anymore than you need to," it comes from a place of concern, but I shrug Minho off.

"If we are in this, we are in this together. Right?"

He doesn't nod, but he doesn't disagree either. Minho only breathes. Leo does nod though, glancing up at me and Newt, though she still angles her head towards the ground. Newt can't seem to take his eyes off her, but he answers me.

"As long as we stick together, we will be good."

I can't help but think he might be wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welp, this is good.

I'll see you soon in Michelle and Please Stop This Madness