Dawn 70

She wakes up slowly.

Second by second I watch her eyes peel open, fluttering softly, and I can't help but feel like a klunk friend for being too busy waiting for Minho in the Deadheads to notice her screaming in the Homestead.

Literally, every single other Glader had jammed himself into that hallway as she screamed, except for me. Including all the Runners. Including Minho, and I hadn't even noticed.

She has, from what I can tell, first degree burns on her legs and stomach, and second degree burns on her hands (though Jeff and Clint argued to that point, so they are very mild). Though most of her body should heal before the next Greenie comes, her hands are going to be burned forever. Although currently they are red and blistering, Clint believes eventually they will become white flecks along her hands, not unlike freckles.

Leo will have the stars in her skin.

Frypan excused me for the day, which doesn't quite make sense to me. It's not like I have first degree burns up and down my body. I am perfectly fine, but still. He said if he were me, and Leo any of the other original Gladers, he'd want to be here waiting. I don't think he understands the complicated relationship the four of us have.

"You're here," her eyes are slits when she opens them, staring up at me. She tries to pull herself up, but winces.

"Jeff!" I call out over my shoulder, and the boy comes rushing in.

He sits down next to me, taking Leo by her elbows and helping her sit up. He quickly explains to her in flashy medical terminology which I don't understand exactly what happened to her, her upcoming treatment, and her perspective recovery time. He ignores her every time she begins to speak, and when he is finally done she races in.

"Where is Newt?" Leo asks. "Is he hurt? I've got to go thank him."

"It'll just go to his head," Clint calls out from in the doorway. "Besides, the shank is dead asleep. Has been all night."

"Is he hurt?" She pulls her feet over the edge of the bed, placing her feet on the ground. She can't manage to pull herself up though, since I imagine she is aching all over.

"Slinthead got a few burns," Jeff mutters under his breath, almost like he's ashamed. From what I understand, although I don't know what Leo remembers, Newt was the only one who went in to save her. Apparently, a few is an understatement; his hands, knees, and all up his left side are covered in first degree. At least it doesn't get much worse than that for him.

"He's fine," while Jeff is sugar-coating, a soft and nice nature, Clint cuts in, firm and direct. Although, he too lies. "He'll come see you when I tell him he can. I haven't even decided if I'm letting Alby in here yet."

"I sure feel lucky," I mutter, glancing up at Jeff.

He smiles at me, finishing adjusting the bandages on Leo's hand.

"You didn't seem keen on interrogating her," Clint remarks, adjusting his shirt. "Of course, Alby is."

"Why?" Leo seems to be honestly asking.

Jeff gives her a puzzled look, before he starts rambling, as is typical with Jeff. "So, you see, you started screaming, and Clint and I were both butt-shucking naked-"

"Jeff," Clint warns, although he doesn't protest much.

"Please, the whole shucking Glade knows exactly what we get up to, for shucks sakes almost half of them have walked in on us and if Leo hasn't noticed by now she's a shucking idiot." He snaps back, turning his attention away from Clint and back to Leo. "Anyway, you were wailing for a solid few minutes. Michelle had burns on her hands that needed tending too, consistent with trying to lift the stuff off you, but she's in the Slammer until you can corroborate her story, which I am sure you can-"

"I'm not," Clint adds again, although Jeff simply rolls his eyes.

"Anyway," Jeff continues, "Alby wants to know who did it to you."

"Sorry?" She asks, "did what?"

"Well, we know damned well you didn't drop that shucking shelf on yourself, and Clint's got it in his and Alby's heads that most of the bleach was spilt before you went down, which begs the question: how did it fall? On top of that, he's thinking this is part of that whole pattern of klunk that happened with Ben getting his face smashed in, and Dawn too (although you have recovered well)," he turns his attention for me for just a second, before he continues rambling.

Shuck, I've got no idea how Lee puts up with this all day.

"Anyway, we've got Dawn here for moral support, since she's already been interrogated." He adds, looking over at Clint. "How long do we tell Alby he's got to wait?"

Clint shrugs, glancing down at his watch. "Five more minutes. They are talking about electing a new Runner."

A new Runner? Minho hadn't mentioned electing a new one since Ben sprained his ankle. I guess Alby wants more than a temporary replacement now. Frankie has been vying for the spot for six months, and I can't help but hope the Creators have mercy on us if Frankie manages to get it.

It makes sense though, considering today is Minho's first day off in a few weeks. He hates them from what I can tell, can't stand missing the action. I plan to at least eat lunch with him for once, when the interrogations over.

Clint leaves the room, gesturing for Jeff to follow. The rambunctious boy calls good luck over his shoulder as the door is shut.

"Newt was asking for you," Minho and I are trying to set Leo and Newt up, but it isn't working well. I have half a mind to think neither of them is interested in the opposite gender. Minho doesn't agree though, so I guess I'm trying to help wingman Newt now? "You should've seen the way he carried you up the stairs. Got himself nasty burns, the shank."

I am straight up lying to her face, although I doubt she can tell. She just shakes her head, muttering something under her breath that I don't catch. I should just give up on this whole, setting her up thing. I'd have a better job with trying to get Michelle and Ella together.

"They said I'm going to look like this forever," she glances down at her red hands. The sight makes me feel a bit queasy, but I stomach it for her.

I lean down, putting a hand on her shoulder, and drawing her attention away from her hands. "Not quite. It'll be white dots, not red blisters."

The tech they have here is pretty neat. They found some cream straight from the closet, and rubbed in on her hands. Jeff mentioned something similar happened to Nick, the old first-in-command, before the shank got murdered. They put the cream on and his hands just bleached in spots.

"Still," due to the heat, both her and I have wicked tans. Michelle's skin is pretty pale, so the spots might not have even shown up on her skin. "I mean," she begins to correct herself, "I guess it could be worse. Like, they could not have the medication, and I could have legit burn scars. Like way long ago."

I don't know the name of the guy who invented the technology, but if anyone did it'd be her.

"Well, we're lucky then," as long as she is happy, I've done my part. The sooner I can get out of here the better. Nothing against Leo, just everything against being stuck in the Med room all day. It's boring as shuck.

There is a knock at the door, but Alby doesn't wait for an answer before he barges in.

"Dawn?" He asks, curious. "Aren't you supposed to be in the Kitchen?"

I see Minho over his shoulder, looking at me just as puzzled. I hadn't told Minho I would be here with Leo. Didn't think it really mattered, considering he normally is gone all day. Minho smiles when he sees me, although me attempts to hide the grin by pressing his lips together.

"I start back up again after lunch." I blatantly lie in his face, but I get away with it because Alby has no reason to doubt me. The kitchen staff have both weird and inconsistent hours, which is why some of them double up on other jobs.

"Can Leo and I have the room?" Alby asks, carefully. "We need to talk for a few minutes."

He doesn't need to talk to me like I'm some child. I have half a mind to snap at him, but I don't. Some part of me knows that it isn't going to be productive. For a second, I wish I had the guts of Michelle, since I really want to smash him in the face. Instead, I give him a nod and walk out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

I sit down on the ground, pressing my back against the wall next to the door. My ear goes firmly against the crack, as I listen to Alby mumbling to Leo. Its difficult to hear.

"We spyin'?" Minho sits down next to me, and laces his fingers in mine. Out of the corner of my eye I see him carefully checking the hallway for anyone. "Shuck shank, didn't think you're that interested in Leo."

I don't know that I am. "They're talking about Ben.

They are. The pair of voices are muffled through the door, but I can make out their voices. Leo's better than Alby's. When he speaks, his low tones stretch and sink into each other. "You know, I thought I could trust you more than any of those other girl Greenies you got. Apparently, I ain't right about that, huh?"

"I don't know who hurt Ben," Leo is a klunk liar, so you can completely see through her words. "Nor do I know who hurt Dawn. I thought you decided she fell?"

"You're the one who called that out as klunk," I can hear his voice rising as it clambers over hers. His one bites back, almost like he is asking a question. I didn't realize Leo and Alby knew each other well enough to cause the other confusion. He stops lowering his voice. "You were the one who wanted to pursue into it when I dropped it, so what changed."

"You arrested Michelle," Leo seems like she is going to argue, but instead she sighs. "I mean, I wanted an investigation, not a witch-hunt. I told you both Michelle didn't do it."

"You have been distant before that. Ever since Ben got beat. In fact, you've been avoiding me every chance you've gotten." I can hear him dragging something across the floor. Is that a chair?

I almost expect Minho to speak to me, or even to wince, knowing what trouble we've gotten Leo into, but he doesn't say anything. He kneels quietly, listening.

Leo just keeps her mouth shut. Maybe she realises she is a terrible liar.

"Now," Alby begins, although he sighs. "You want to tell me who threw those supplies on you? Or are you going to lie to my face about it?"

Leo pauses, thinking. I wait for her to crack, to say it was Ben. It had to be him, right? I didn't get a chance to ask but I'm certain it had to be. Who else would it have been?

"We should get Newt," Minho offers to me in a quiet voice but I shake my head. "He'll know what to do, Dee."

I out a finger to my lips, and he quiets down. I offer him a faint smile, squeezing his hand. Minho kiss my forehead in return. Albeit reluctantly, he gets up and moves himself away from the door.

"I was trying to get supplies, and they fell on me," she says it so quietly for a second I can't hear her voice. "Not everything is some conspiracy Alby."

"That's a load of klunk I ain't buying." He drags the thing away again. His feet move along the ground quietly and calmly. He is moving towards the door. "Now, tomorrow you and I are going to eat lunch together. We're going to be discussing what happens when the Greenbean shows up, if any shank asks. What is going to happen, is you are going to tell me what shank needs to be banished for this."

"Seriously Alby?" Her voice rings out, almost quavering.

"Don't get upset," I can hear Alby sighing. The worst part of this is that we've made him out to be the villain this isn't his fault. I started this mess by getting with Minho, and then not telling anyone about Ben, and this whole thing has just spiralled out of control. He's just trying to fix this mess. "If not, I wish I didn't, but I'm going to have to banish Michelle."

"She didn't do it," Leo interjects. She groans as she tries to stand up.

"Really?" Alby asks, his voice incredulous. "She found Dawn, which is suspicious enough. I overheard her talking to Gally about getting her and a couple other people banished, and how Ben's givin' her dirty looks. Never mind the fact that she has chemical burns on her hands just like yours. Listen, I don't have klunk out for her or you, but we've got shucking rules for a reason. I can't let violence break out, or the Glade will shuckin' go down in flames, and if you don't tell me what, it'll be her sleepin' with 'em Grievers instead of the person who really is responsible."

I can feel his hand on the doorknob, and I move away from it as quickly as possible.

~~~~

Oh shite. I mean, I know this is over soon, but this isn't good. Really bad. Here comes the finale. And, trust me when I say, I'm getting ready to crack a few skulls. You feel me?

What are you most worried about? Ben's violence? Alby's threat? What about Gally and Dave, since they could come to heads at any point? What will Dawn do? Will she cause more harm than good? What is happening with Ella?

I'm promise I will try to resolve the tensions in the next few chapters, but I make no promises.

I'll see you soon, in Michelle and Another Confrontation.