"Wh-whats's going to happen to her?" Rachel asked Harriet, who seemed a bit shaken.

"You remember us talking about creatures called Grievers, right?" Rachel nodded. "Well, they come out when the Maze closes and, well, eat whatever's in their path."

"Marie's going to die?"

"Mhm." Harriet walked away without a "see ya" or a "it's okay". She just walked away.

"Hey," Aris greeted, making  Rachel start. "Oo, sorry. Deep in thought?"

"I guess."

"Don't overthink. That's dangerous." He chuckled a put his arm around her shoulder and lead her to Lunch. They sat alone at a table. Nobody wanted to go near them after that fiasco. They were scared. Although they had nothing to fear. Neither of them remembered anything. Fear controls people. Fear separates. Aris placed a hand on hers and gave her a reassuring smile, like it was going to be okay. She knew it wasn't, but having Aris on her side made her feel safer, more secure. Whatever this kid and her had been through, they'd continue going through it together. So, she smiled back and resumed eating. The food was particularly dry, brittle even, she did not care. Food was food, afterall. She did find it a bit strange that it wasn't gooey.
Rachel walked over to the kitchen to wash her dish when she heard Lise whispering to Sonya.

"We need another shipment soon, or we're all going to starve!"

"Shh, shh. Relax, Lise. We'll have another one tomorrow." Sonya placed her hands on Lise's shoulders.

"Wednesday has already passed, Second! We're gonna die and it's all Rachel and that boy's fault."

"His name is Aris, and you don't know that for a fact."

"Oh, ho, I do. Aris came here with that not just days after Rachel came up in the Cage. You don't think that's evidence enough?"

"We just can't jump to conclusions, okay? Keep this quiet, we don't want to insight a panic."

Rachel knew she had to intervene, but her plate did as it fell into the sink.
Sonya and Lise looked at her in fear, their faces red. Lise came through the doorway, nearly launching herself at her. Sonya held her back.

"Lise, stop it! Remember what happened to Marie?"

"She was right! Marie is right about them!" Lise sobbed. "We're all going to die!"

"Stop that!" Sonya dragged her out and Lise's grunts and sobs faded as she was dragged away and to the Hut where the Leaders slept. Nobody seemed to notice or care, so this might have happened once or twice before. Aris did come in, though. Fear in his eyes.

"What happened?" He asked as Rachel put her plate away on the shelf above the sink.

"The food stopped coming in. She thinks it's our fault," Rachel was deadpanned in her response. "I honestly don't care what they think anymore. I just want to get out of here."

Aris fell backward onto the wall, holding his head with both hands.

"Aris!" Rachel quickly came to his side. "Aris, what's wrong?"

"The Code!"