‧₊˚✧ ⁝ 𝑪8  ❪ 忘却 ❫ ‧₊˚✧

fire and 𝒊𝒄𝒆 ...

IT IS RAINING. The girl feels the cool droplets against her bare arms and she shivers, examining the goosebumps that form on the surface of her skin. She is young, perhaps six years old. The sky is grey and dull, a thick cluster of clouds stretching cross the bleakness and eclipsing the sun.

Her hair is pulled into a hopelessly messy braid, unruly wet ribbons framing her face. The girl's cheeks are stained red from the biting cold. She struggles to keep up with the rest of the children she's with, all forced into an orderly line as they scuffle forwards.

Then, a strangled scream shakes her bones as it rips through the air. It is eerily inhuman and seems far too close. Gunfire rattles in her ears. She cries out in fear at the crescendo of noise, breaking from the line and stumbling blindly into the sea of bodies. She's quickly swallowed up into the thick mass of people surging forwards to their final destination and she looses her sense of direction, twisting helplessly as she is barged and battered. The world shifts into a confused blur.

She hears dogs barking and she snaps her head in the direction of the sound. They are attached to metal chains, grinding and bearing their teeth in a threatening manner. Their ears twitch, sensitive to even the smallest breath she dares to intake. The girl tries to avoid eye-contact and shivers in discomfort. Their barks and snarls reverberate in her ears and ring in her head.

Safety is abandoned. She doesn't feel comforted, even with the endless rows of enclosing metal barriers that separate the roaring crowd from the outsiders. As heavy beads of rain fall upon her paled face, they wash away any hope she holds onto. She has no idea where she's going but she is being shoved and pushed even more now, her vulnerable frame repeatedly struck by random bodies as they scream and protest. Their voices are muffled by the masks they wear over their mouths and she wonders if she should have one.

She presses her nails into her palm and grits her teeth, determined to force her way through the thick crowd. But, the first step is unbalanced and clumsy and she falls.

The ground is hard, mud and dirt speckling her clothes and face on impact. She feels the sting of a cut above her left eyebrow and hot tears spring from her eyes. She tries to stand, clawing at the floor desperately as people barge their way past her, completely oblivious. Terror shakes her like she's never felt before.

Suddenly she feels strong arms coil around her, pulling her up from the dirt. In shock she kicks and screams but her protests only last for a second. She freezes.

She feels cold, heavy armour against her skin.

She hears the gun rattling at the figure's waist.

She sees the thud of the combat boots battling against the uneven ground.

For a split second, she imagines herself in her mother's arms. She can feel the light weight of her mother's brown locks against her cheeks, feel her warm arms wrapping around her waist comfortingly, see the glimmer in her hazel eyes. The girl can almost hear her mother whispering softly in her ear for her to be brave, always.

She is snapped instantaneously out of her thoughts as she is flung onto a seat. Darkness dominates her line of vision and she can only just make out the terrified and tear-stained faces of the dozens of other children sitting in the vehicle. Their sobs and murmurs bounce off the echoing walls. She presses her lips together tightly, fear and confusion seething thought her bloodstream.

Be brave, be brave, be brave.

"Hello there."

The haughty voice of an older man forces her mind back to the present. She looks up, trying to observe his sharp features veiled by the darkness.

"Who are you and where am I going?" she asks, her voice timid and weary. She shrinks into her seat, curling her legs against her chest as she cradles herself.

"My name is Doctor Janson. What about you?" he asks and leans forwards, intense gaze never leaving the startled young girl. His smile doesn't reach his eyes and it isn't kind. She glances at his badge that glints in the dark.

WCKD.

"Harper." she whispers. "Where are we going?"

Doctor Janson clears his throat. "Well, Harper. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise. We're taking you to a safe place ... away from the monsters." Then he is gone, consumed by the twilight that lies densely inside the vehicle. She doesn't understand.

A sudden longing for her mother and father closes around her throat. She shuts her eyes for the rest of the journey and she knows if she opens them the nightmare of outside world will force her into more panic. She is so scared.

The vehicle comes to an abrupt halt after what seems like forever and she is forced backwards in her seat from the heavy impact. The back doors swing open, allowing light to flood into the van. It paints the children's faces in a ghastly glow. The girl squints, blinking rapidly.

People. They are dressed in black overalls and gas-masks cling to their faces which makes them look strangely alien. They all wear the same heavy combat boots. Muffled voices ricochet between them and she can't catch a word they're saying.

Then, the children are being hauled out of the vehicle. A wall of cold slams against her chest and she tumbles backwards, choking out a rasping cough. Above her, a huge building towers like a giant. It's glass windows weep silently with rain, walls ascending high into the air. Clusters of trees surround the compound like an army of protection, their thick branches obscuring the distant horizon.

"Follow along!" she is shoved back into line by rough hands. Doctor Janson lied.

This place isn't safe at all.

━━━━━

"RIA, WAKE UP!"

Ria's eyes shot open as she gasped for air. Her gaze was met with Chuck's deep brown eyes, brows pinched together and face shadowed with worry as he stood above her.

"Are you okay, you were screaming? Like, a quiet screaming. I came to wake you up but I could hear it from outside your door." Chuck questioned, taking a step back. He hugged his arms to his chest anxiously.

Ria pulled herself from the tangled blankets, slowing her shallow breaths. The images she'd seen burned within her mind, the names, the sounds, the smells. They were slipping away already, retreating from the shores of her mind in cold, arcing waves. She didn't have the strength to salvage them. "I'm fine, Chuck. Just a nightmare, just a nightmare."

"I can go get Clint if you w—"

"Hey, look at me." Ria reached out, resting a hand on Chuck's shoulder as she cut him off mid-sentence. "I'm fine, I promise. Like I said, just a nightmare. A stupid nightmare."

Chuck nodded, silent relief washing over his features and relaxing them. "I get them a lot, too. My brain's all jacked up. Sometimes I can't get back to sleep it's that bad."

Ria smiled sadly as she pulled her boots back on. She was sure that his nightmares were nowhere near as realistic as her's, layers of truths and untruths climbing into the soaring heights of panic within her chest only to collapse into the dark abyss of her mind. It was chilling, not having the time to breathe before the emptiness retuned.

     "They won't last forever. Besides, they're not even real." she reassured Chuck.

The boy shrugged. "Yeah, I really hope so. Anyway, we've gotta hurry or we'll be late!"

"Late? Where?"

Chuck didn't look back as he motioned her to follow him and she did, a newfound curiosity overcoming her previous disquietude. The sun had sunk low in the sky, in turn inviting the moon to rise in it's pale lustre. An earthy scent of woodsmoke pulled her attention to the heart of the Glade. Wispy, grey tendrils of smoke spiralled from roaring scarlet flames into the atmosphere, climbing towards the heavens in a slow, twisting dance. The bonfire blazed like a beacon, emitting hot breaths of embers in it's brilliance. The Gladers were gathered around it, laughing and eating with a hearty spirit so profound it seemed to revoke any possible sense of misery.

"What's happening?" she asked, turning her attention to Chuck who wore a grin so boyish and excited Ria couldn't help but smile too.

"We have a bonfire every time a new Greenie comes up. Kinda like a celebration." he explained, tugging her arm and leading her towards the commotion.

Ria's heart swelled with gratitude. "So it's for me?"

The younger boy nodded eagerly and Ria fell into step beside him as he explained further his experience of it when he arrived. She wasn't really listening, mind strangely drifting back to her obscure dream. For a fraction of a second, Ria could almost feel the icy cool beads of rain upon the surface of her skin. Hastily, she brushed the unusual feeling aside — now wasn't the time to think about it.

When the pair reached the bonfire, the sense of togetherness and unity entranced Ria. Boys were drinking from jars, chewing on kebab skewers and joking back and forth in groups. Voices filled the atmosphere, along with the sparks of glowing amber that parted from the large body of the fire like tiny fireflies. Ria felt her shoulders relax, a calm elation cloaking her body. This was it — her welcoming initiation into her new home. She decided to embrace it, to try and let go of her worries even if it was just for tonight.

Chuck tapped her arm. "I'm gonna get us some food from Fry. Don't move, I'll be right back!"

"Thanks, Chuck." Ria smiled warmly as he disappeared into the crowd of bodies.

She spotted a vacant log that lay closest to the fire and took a seat. Almost immediately, Ria was bathed in the comforting warmth from the fames. The noises seemed to drain from the ambience as she watched the fire for a while. It danced and leapt before her eyes and she rested her head in her cradled palms. It reminded Ria of the feeling of hope but wasn't quite sure why, as if the fire resembled a fragment of a distant memory.

"Hey, Greenie,"

Vince was grinning above her, a skewer of meat waving in his hand. In the other, a glass jar of amber coloured liquid. He seemed to sway on his feet a little and Ria guessed that the drink was a little alcoholic.

"Hey Vince. You okay?"

He handed her the skewer with an elaborate bow. "'Course I am. I love a good bonfire. Chuck made me his messenger, that little shank. Told me to tell you that he'll be right with ya."

Ria took the skewer and took a bite into the hot, smoky meat. It was better than anything she'd ever tasted and once she'd swallowed the first mouthful, she had to stop herself from devouring the rest in one go. "Oh, no worries then. Tell him I say thanks for this delicious meal,"

Vince took a long swig of his drink, a few droplets staining the cotton material of his buttoned shirt. "Will do, Greenie. Oh look — mister second-in-command has arrived. I'll leave you to it." He stepped out of the way of Newt, waving as he stumbled back into the crowd of boys. Ria raised a brow as the blonde took a seat beside her.

"What was that all about?" he mused with the faintest of grins. Newt's face was illuminated by the subdued radiance of the fire, tousled hair a shade of auburn as a result of the lighting. As he looked at her, the hues within his eyes seemed to resemble warm honey.

Ria found her cheeks flush with an odd warmth under his gaze and she tore her's away, clearing her throat.

"I'm pretty sure he's drunk." she laughed lightly. "Anyway, this is the best thing I've ever eaten, I don't know how Fry does it."

Newt shifted slightly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, bloody glad he's the one cookin' our meals and nobody else. Can't imagine the Glade without him."

"Yeah. Neither, actually."

They sat quietly for a while, listening to the sounds that echoed in their surroundings. It was comfortable and Ria felt strangely safe. Then, a whole congregation of questions pervaded her mind and she couldn't stop herself from asking them.

"Did anyone tell us any reason for why we're actually here, like a note or something from whoever sent us up?"

Newt seemed mildly surprised by her question. "Wish I could tell ya, Greenbean. All I know is that we've gotta solve the buggin' Maze and get back home, wherever that is." he answered, shaking his head almost sadly.

"Are we ever going to solve it, you know, the Maze?" she persisted. She looked to the eerie walls, their defensive front watching silently from the shadowed darkness. It seemed impossible to ever discover an ending as it seemed to stretch on for miles.

Newt's pulled his gaze from the fire to Ria's face, pausing before he spoke. "I don't know, we just can't lose hope. Ever. That's what keeps this whole place goin', hope. If one of us loses it, we have no chance at all." For a brief moment, she could clearly make out the disparity of fear and sadness that hardened the look in his eyes.

"Hope, yeah. Guess you're right."

He laughed, a sound that Ria liked very much. "I'm always right, Greenbean."

A snigger from above them broke the conversation and Ria peered upwards to sight Minho, standing with his eyebrows raised mockingly. "What's up, love-shanks?" he laughed, glass jar in his hand. Newt shifted out of the way reluctantly as Minho sat between them.

"You know, just having a nice peaceful conversation," Newt muttered, taking the glass from Minho to take a long sip.

"What is that stuff?" Ria eyed the drink quizzically, trying to discern what it was made of. Minho took it back from Newt, an amused smirk settled on his lips.

"You're tellin' me you haven't tried Gally's secret recipe, yet?" he asked, extending his arm so the strange beverage churned unpleasantly under Ria's nose. "You practically haven't lived."

She immediately cringed at the foul stench of it and pushed the glass away, shaking her head. "You know what, I take it back."

"Coward," Minho challenged with a nonchalant shrug. Newt grinned. The Runner's smug expression was enough to make Ria snatch the jar out of his hand and send him a hard glare.

"That's the spirit, blondie."

Tentatively, Ria bought the glass to her lips. It smelt positively repulsive, like sweat mixed with rotting fruits. Get it over with. She hesitated, contemplating her decision, then took a big swig of the yellow liquid. As soon as the foul drink traveled down her throat, she spat the rest of her mouthful onto the grass beneath her, coughing and spluttering as she did so. It tasted a lot worse than it smelt. Ria dragged a hand across her lips harshly, grimacing at the aftertaste.

Newt and Minho were doubled over with laughter. Ria shoved the glass back into Minho's hands and he took a huge gulp of the drink.

"So, I take it you don't like it?" Minho smirked.

Ria rolled her eyes at his sarcasm, a trait she'd noticed he had in abundance. "If I die tomorrow, I'm blaming you," she muttered, pushing the hair back from her face.

"You'll get used to it," Newt took another swig after taking it from Minho.

"You'd have to pay me to drink that again," Ria shuddered, eyeing the glass.

By now, most of the Gladers had gathered in one big circle around the fire and Minho climbed to his feet. "'C'mon, you're gonna miss the best part."

The bonfire continued to blaze mightily, the noises of the boys subsiding ever so slightly as each minute passed by. Ria followed Minho and Newt towards Alby, who was deep in convocation with a boy named Winston. She felt someone next to her and softened when she registered it was Chuck. He was beaming, cheeks a rosy shade of red.

"What're we doing?" Ria questioned.

Before Chuck could answer, Alby caught her eye and gestured for her to stand beside him. Once she did, he raised his glass which seemed to silence the rest of the boys. Ria, confused by this, sent Alby a puzzled look. He just nodded at her, a ghost of a smile lingering on his lips. She could see the reflection of the fire within his dark eyes.

"I know she ain't what we'd expected for a Newbie, but she's one of us!" the leader exclaimed, voice cutting above the crackling of the bonfire. Ria felt every pair of eyes upon her, some boys smiling and others still peering at her in disbelief. Nevertheless, she felt a strangely faint with exhilaration. She's one of us.

"To the Greenie!" Alby shouted. The boys raised their glasses to the sky, repeating his words with fervent enthusiasm. It felt as if Ria was floating outside of her body, looking down on herself. Newt grinned, patting her on the back and she smiled back.

It all came crashing down in a matter of seconds.

     She hadn't registered Jem moving towards her, but before he brushed past, he stopped.

"You don't remember, do you?"

‧₊˚✧ ⁝ 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒂'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆  ❪ 忘却 ❫

oo. i have a love / hate relationship with this whole chapter &. i have no idea why. however, ria had another dream!! what did you think of it? also, i'm v sorry i keep ending these chapters on negative notes🥺 ... but ria's story is about to get complicated!! as always, thank you so much for reading &. being patient with me <3