⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

TWELVE ▂ ✫⌒*･ﾟ✲
the 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈

     RIA AWOKE AND dressed, then head straight to the kitchens to eat a small breakfast. It was early, the girl could tell from the lack of noise replaced by a delicate, tranquil atmosphere. She loved mornings like this, when she was awake before everyone else. It made her feel as if she was the only person alive, free.

Today she was working in the Gardens and for some unknown reason she felt alive, fresh. Her mind drifted back to the way Newt held her the previous night, the feeling of his skin against her's. A small sentiment of care and trust fluttered in her stomach at the sudden thought of the blonde boy.

Ria entered the kitchens, breathing in the delectable smell of fresh baking. It was one she had grown to love, and she was sure she would always adore the scent. The girl wondered if before she was sent up to the enclosing walls of the maze if she ever baked, perhaps with her parents.

A chill of longing swept over Ria like a tidal wave and she quickly pushed the thought to one side before it caused a harvey burden of emotion to swim through her, control her. She was in a good mood and don't want anything to  ruin that.

Frypan was busy at work in the kitchen, preparing breakfast as always. He was softly whistling a melody under his breath.

"Morning," Ria greeted, helping herself to a crisp, red apple from the worktop. She let out a slow yawn, stretching as she did so.

"G'morning, Ria." Frypan greeted back, looking up briefly from his preparations to nod at the girl.

"Sleep well?" the blonde questioned, taking a large bite of her apple, relishing the sweet taste of the fruit. It's syrup travelled down her throat, providing her with the perfect taste.

"I did, thanks. What about yourself, eh?"

"It was okay," Ria responded, waving her free hand in the air dismissively.

"Where are you wokin' today, then?" Frypan asked, cracking open two eggs perfectly into a bowl.

"Gardens,"

Frypan's eyes widened all of a sudden, as if he knew something Ria didn't.  

The girl's eyebrows were drawn together in confusion as she watched a small smile dancing of the cook's lips. He tried best to hide it, but Frypan's expression was painted brightly all over his face.

"What?" she interrogated, head cocked to one side as she studied Frypan, waiting for his response so she could retaliate.

"N-nothing — okay, you know Newt's gonna be there." be gabbled excitedly, waiting for her to catch on. Expectancy shone in his deep, coffee brown eyes.

"Uh, yeah?" Ria responded as nonchalantly as she could, hoping her cheeks weren't bright red or she sounded obscurely flustered.

"Okay, I was just wondering if you did . . ." he chirped, the same smile still on his lips.

Ria began to retreat backwards. "Alright, I'm gonna go now, see you later."

"See you then, Ria."

Once in the glade, the blonde girl was hit by the wave of fresh air.

She wondered about Frypan's strange behaviour but brushed it off as she made her way towards the gardens. Her long hair bounced freely as she took each step, adding to the newfound confidence seeping through her body.

The garden was beautifully vibrant, plants blossomed marvellously as their petals and leaves reached high into the cloudless morning sky, desperate for as much effulgent sunlight as possible.

Ria then bent down, stroking the smallest, delicate pink flower softly. It was very pretty, a small slice of heaven within the obscure and terrifying world the Glader's lived in.

Thomas and Newt were already busy at work, with the blonde boy picking fruit from it's roots intertwined within the fences and Thomas stood with a shovel in his hand, talking nonstop to Newt who seemed somewhat disinterested.

"Morning, boys," Ria greeted the two, selecting a shovel from the dirt covered floor.

Newt looked up, nodding at the girl. "Morning, Ria,"

His straw coloured hair fell over his forehead recklessly, indicating he had clearly tossed and turned the night before.

Thomas sent her a small smile which Ria simply returned as she began shovelling her usual patch. It was so a new vegetable square could be installed. She also listened into the boys' conversation, lips pulled into a frown as she did so.

"Has anyone tried climbing to the top?" the brunette asked.

"Tried it," was Newt's short response. His words were in monotone, all emotion seemed to be drained from it. Ria noticed Newt wince slightly at the question, her sharp green eyes drinking in every single expression he pulled.

However, Newt continued. "The ivy doesn't go all the way to the top, and besides, where you gonna go from there?"

Thomas frowned as he considered, but pursued. "But what about the box? How about next time it comes up you jump in—"

"We've tried that . . . the box won't go back down with someone in it." the blonde boy cut Thomas off sharply, his eyes never parting from the plants he was focused on. Ria stopped shovelling and gave Thomas a look.

Does he ever shut up?

"W-what if we—"

Newt now tore his attention from the pants and looked Thomas dead in the eye.

"We've tried it, alright! Twice. Alright, trust me, anything you think of we've already tried . . . the only way out here is through the maze." Newt explained, he then turned his gaze to Ria who nodded at him.

Thomas looked crestfallen.

Newt sighed. "Now look, you wanna be helpful?"

Thomas nodded sheepishly, then Newt tossed him a deep wooden bucket which the brunette caught. Only just caught.

"Go dig us up some more fertiliser," Newt finished. Thomas rolled his eyes and let out a sigh heavy with exasperation before then turning away to do as Newt said.

Once Thomas was gone, venturing deep into the woods to retrieve the fertiliser, Newt performed a mock sigh of relief. Ria let out a laugh, shaking her head at the blonde boy.

"He's curious," she pointed out.

"I can bloody well see that,"

"But he's clever."

"Maybe,"

"Hey, don't be so harsh!" Ria scolded, but was grinning as she did so.

Newt grinned back at the girl, brushing his hair out of his shining brown eyes.

Their gaze met each other's, a comfortable silence forming around them like a solid wall.

After a moment, Newt broke the perfect stillness.

"Ria, there's something I need to tell you."

Her heart pounded relentlessly against her chest, ringing in her ears. All of a sudden Ria's body felt weak with nerves.

"Yes?"

"I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time, so now I think it's time I did." Newt fiddled with his hands anxiously and inhaled. Ria waited. "I think—"

All of a sudden, a shrill yell tore apart the once peaceful silence. A yell full of trepidation, pure consternation.

Thomas.

Ria's chest tightened and she gripped her shovel tightly, the cool metal digging into her palm harshly. Newt also looked up in disbelief, many of the Gladers were drawn to the cry of distress, scattered murmurs of confusion bounced between each boy.

Ria expected the worst — it came naturally.

"HELP!"

Thomas was sprinting, eyes filled with fear. His steps were clumsy, but he was quick and still screaming at the top of his lungs.

It was only until Ria's haze travelled past him when she sighted Ben.

But it was not the same Ben.

His face was a distorted canvas of hatred and cruel appetency. There was something very wrong with him.

Something had turned him.

Thomas' body connected with the floor with a sharp thud as Ben leapt onto his leg like a dirty, savage animal, dragging him unwillingly downwards. More cries. More screams of torment.

By now the Gladers had bolted to the scene of action. Ben's limbs were scratching and clinging onto Thomas, his intense strength forcing the boy down. He was going to hurt him, possibly kill. Panic surged through Ria's bloodstream and she was frozen in fear, her breath caught in her throat.

She then found the strength to run, following the other boys. Ben's profound grip was snaked around Thomas' neck, squeezing the breath out of the boy. Ria let out a sudden cry of dread, her eyes filled with horror at the formidable scene before her.

A low, menacing sentence was then strung together by the insane boy as he pressed further onto Thomas as he struggled for breath.

"I will kill you."

It was Newt who ceased Ben, his metal spade connected with his head. The boy released Thomas, letting out a shrill, blood-curdling cry of agony.

Ria had her first proper look at Ben as the surrounding Gladers pinned him to the ground. He writhed and kicked, screaming in anguish. However, the strength of the boys was too much for him and he lay on his back defeated.

His face was an eerie shade of ashen grey, as if all life had been sucked out of him. Streaks of crimson blood stained his skin, thin rivers of deathly red streaming down his face. Ben's eyes were an obsidian shade of black that screamed death. They blinked rapidly, as if he couldn't believe what he had become. Veins of such dark hues stood out against Ben's pellucid skin, stretched and weaved around cold, angular bone.

It was all to clear, he was a monster.

Ria felt nauseous, the same Ben who had waved to her and spoken to her was gone and possessed by this inhuman spirit.

By now Thomas was off the floor and a new silence now settled. A silence of apprehension and disbelief. It was quiet for a short moment until Alby spoke.

"Alright, lift his shirt."

Ben responded instantaneously by screeching out in protest, spitting and trying to break free out of the Gladers' strong grip.

But, as Gally peeled his torn, ragged and bloodstained shirt away from his skin, it was apparent he had been wounded. Badly wounded.

The veins around the deep puncture in Ben's skin were shades of dark blue and red, spreading like gnarled branches along the surface of his body. They stood out strikingly against Ben's cadaverous stomach. The wound looked alien, as if it could've only been caused by a demon, a bloodthirsty animal.

Ria felt her stomach flip, perturbation pulsated through her. She wanted to squeeze her eyes shut from the revolting sight, shut her ears off from Ben's raspy and broken breaths.

"He's been stung," Gally stated.

Stung.

Newt and Alby shared a look.

"Please - p,please." Ben begged, his eyes were shut. Between panicked breaths he managed to whisper. "Please just help."

The leader of the Glade stood, his eyes never tearing from the monstrous boy that lay beneath him, pleading.

"Put him in the pit," Alby instructed, voice as cold as ice. No emotion fell onto his features.

"NO! NO, NO—"

The Glader's began to move Ben's body, ignoring his cries and beseeches. The boy kicked and thrashed, his distorted screams ripping at his throat, pounding furiously in Ria's head.

"Med-jacks!" Newt called over the audible howls.

"PLEASE DON'T DO IT!"

Ria closed her eyes. She couldn't bear to look anymore. She felt sick. Scarred. Hot tears of utter despair threatened to spill.

She then felt someone's hand grasp tightly onto her's. The girl looked down.

It was Chuck.

She studied at him. His brown eyes were filled with the same disquietude as her's.

"I'm scared." was all he could stammer.

Ria listened to the now distant shouts and howls as Ben was dragged forcefully away towards his prison that was the pit.

She swallowed thickly before replying, hands trembling.

"So am I."

NOTE

guys, i am so so so sorry that
it has taken me this long to
update. i have been going through
a lot lately, but i still have my love
for writing and this book will 100%
be continuing. the story is far from
over, and i will try to update more
frequently for you all. also, a BIG
thank you for 10k, i am so thankful
for all of you lovely readers 💞💕

anyway, this chapter was actually
SO hard to write, but it's here. i'm
shook and so is my baby ria tbh.
but expect more sooonnnnn . . .