‧₊˚✧ ⁝ 𝑪18  ❪ 忘却 ❫ ‧₊˚✧

wrath of 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 ...

     RIA WATCHED WITH a pained expression as the Gladers sprinted towards the doors of the maze. They were wide open, as if they were laughing menacingly.

     She broke into a sprint after the other boys and Teresa towards the stone labyrinth, her heart pounding in perfect time with her heavy footsteps. The haunting emptiness of the maze corridor loomed before Ria as she approached the door, fear wrenching at her heart. Nobody spoke. An eerie silence lingered in the air.

     Abruptly, a piercing, rumbling screech bellowed from deep within the maze and Ria covered her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. Another audible grinding sound echoed from behind her. Fearfully, she turned around only to be met with a site of horror.

     The other doors were opening.

The distressed screeching of birds filled the atmosphere and rung in Ria's head as she frantically jumped at the awful sound of the other sets of doors opening. Something was definitely wrong. Her breaths became more frequent as she stared at the sights before her in disbelief.

Was whoever controlled the maze trying to kill them?

"Okay, Chuck, I want you to go to the Council Hall, okay? Start barricading the doors." Thomas muttered urgently to Chuck who nodded obediently.

"Winston, you go with him." Newt commanded.

"Got it," the boy replied.

Gally spoke up, panic and authority evident in his tone. "Get the others! Tell them go hide. Now!"

Winston and Chuck took off in the opposite direction without hesitation. Ria watched them go, hoping this was all a nightmare she would wake up from.

"Minho, I want you to grab every weapon you can find. I'll meet you at Council Hall." Thomas ordered the boy. The Keeper of the runners responded immediately, sprinting away along with Frypan. Thomas then turned to Teresa, muttering an instruction hurriedly in her ear.

Ria felt Newt tug at her sleeve softly. "Stay by me. Okay? I'm not losing you again Ria." The girl nodded gravely, swallowing. Then, before anyone could act, distant yells of trepidation and panic arose from the direction of the forest.

"Grievers! Go back! Go back!"

     An ominous screeching bellow erupted from the maze where Ria stood and she felt the familiar sentiment of pure fear inhabit her body. Her mind flipped back to the revolting and monstrous sight of the griever and as soon as she caught sight of the creatures crawling and scratching their way minaciously towards the Glade, she panicked.

"Alright, everybody hide!" Thomas roared. Ria didn't question it. She broke into a sprint away from the maze as fast as possible, following Thomas. Her vision was blurred with darkness as she navigated blindly. She pushed large crops away from her as she entered the corn—field, heart pounding relentlessly.

"Stay down!" Thomas yelled and she crouched, grabbing onto Newt in trepidation. Her breaths were ragged and sweat descended from her forehead, glistening. She felt the thick leaves of the crop fan against her face and she stayed as still as possible. Thomas pressed a finger to his lips, his tan skin illuminated with an amber hue from one of the torches.

An eldritch silence settled like a thick film of suspense over the group of Gladers. Nobody moved.

Then, a sound shattered the quietude like glass. It was the horrifying growling of a griever followed by a terror—filled scream of helplessness. Ria jumped, then felt Newt's hand close around her's. When her gaze fell upon him, his eyes were wide with dread.

Subsequently, one of the long tentacles of the griever snaked silently downwards in a flash of metal and clawed onto Zart who screamed in agony. Ria lunged towards the boy, a yell escaping her own lips as she attempted to reach towards him, but it was too late. His body was pulled viciously from the ground, leaving nothing behind but his shrieks of torment. Then, the monster arrogantly swept Vince off his feet, his scream cutting through the night sky like a knife.

Too many dead already. Who knew how many more would follow?

Ria watched, silent in terror. Misery swept over her frame and she trembled. Vince and Zara were gone. She was pulled out of her trance by Newt as he tugged at her arm. "Ria, let's go!"

She finally ripped her intense gaze from the ground and followed Newt and the others, sprinting faster than she had before. Screams and cries paired with the victorious groans and shrieks of the grievers pounded in Ria's head as she tore through the corn plants. Finally, they made it back into the Glade.

"Alby! Are you okay?" Ria caught sight of Jeff and another boy supporting the boy.

"What's going on?" Jeff asked, alarm lacing his words.

"They're here." Thomas answered.

"Grievers?" Jeff stammered in disbelief, a sudden look of trepidation flashing over his countenance. It was a hollow scream that answered his question.

     A griever was stood so close. Too close. Ria wanted to vomit at the sight of it's malformed body, she could almost hear the grotesque sound of it grinding it's grimy teeth.

     "Thomas, what do we do?" someone questioned fearfully.

     "It's got me!" a shriek of agony came from a boy as she was dragged mercilessly across the floor, his limbs thrashing helplessly as he was brought closer and closer to his death. Ria backed against Newt, too stunned to scream. They were surrounded, in every direction that Ria turned boys were yelling in distress, the caliginous shadows of the grievers rising from the dirt. Nowhere was safe anymore.

"Everybody run! Run, run! Jeff, come on!"

They sprinted through a hut, flames produced by torches flashed in front of Ria's vision, casting eerie silhouettes against the ground. Just as they exited the structure, an ear—splitting crash commenced in front of them. A griever came colliding forcefully with a wooden building, sending pieces of wood flying in every direction.

     "Oh, shit!" Thomas yelled, as he fell to the ground along with the rest of the group. Ria hit the floor hard, rocks digging into her arched back. She winced in pain as she pulled her body upwards as fast as she could. On doing so, she was met by a sight of horror.

     The griever emerged in front of them, letting a blood—curdling shriek fly from it's repellent mouth. Newt, beside Ria, gasped in hysteria as it's long tentacle from the back of it's body soared into the air, deadly claws glimmering perilously. Much to Ria's surprise, she watched Teresa reach out and grab a lantern, then fling it with a cry of hatred towards the monster. It screeched in pain, it's body setting alight in a display of brilliant flame. Ria caught the girl's eye and sent her a quick smile. Teresa returned the action, breathlessly sweeping her long hair from her face.

     As the griever struggled in agony, Thomas took charge. "All right everyone. Go, go, go, go, go!" The griever had become more agitated and aggressive by the second, it's thrashing transitioning into enraged and furious screeches.

"Keep going! Keep moving!" Thomas bellowed. Ria's legs burned with fatigue from all of the running, but she kept going. She never broke her stride for she knew what her fate would be if she did.

"Go, go, go, go!" The griever was now free, rolling it's burnt and bulky body across the dirt. It cried out in rage, thundering towards the fleeting Gladers cholericly.

"He's gaining, he's gaining!" someone cried out, adding to the swelling terror in Ria's chest. She tried to focus on the structure of safety ahead of her, cold wind pulling at her clothes in an attempt to slow her down. The sound of metallic legs grinding into the earth resounded around the Glade, obliterating any other noise.

     Adrenaline pumped through Ria's blood as heard the resonance of flesh tearing and a griever's satisfied cry. She tried not to think of the tragic deaths that were occurring all around her — she could become one of them.

     "Keep moving! Oh, shit!" Thomas shouted as Alby fell to the ground. Ria stopped running, lungs screaming for air as she glanced over to the boy.

     "Go. Just go." he grunted in pain. Jeff ignored him, yelling his name as he helped him to his feet once more. A griever was so close now that Ria could smell it. A wave of nausea swept through her.

     "Get behind me! Get behind me!" Thomas instructed, a spear wielded in his profound grip. Newt pulled Ria behind him and she watched fearfully as the creature lunged at Thomas, it's lethal claws and spikes raised. Ria waited for another fatality, wishing Thomas would stop being so brave.

     "Come on!" Thomas roared, inviting death towards him. Just as the monster was rearing itself to attack, spears coming from another direction plunged into it's putrid skin. Ria turned in surprise towards Minho, Frypan and a few other boys, an array of weapons in their grips.

     "Come on!" the runner barked as he took off in a sprint towards the Council Hall. Everyone followed quickly.

     "Woah, woah!"

     "Get to cover!"

     Ria perceived from the midst of darkness Chuck's face peeking out of the doorway, a lantern clutched in his closed fist. "Over here, come on!" he encouraged. The group of Gladers finally reached the structure, pounding down the concrete steps and into the safety of the walls.

"Get Alby inside. Chuck, get in!" Thomas yelled audibly, ushering everybody into the Council Hall. As soon as the last Glader collapsed into safety, Thomas slammed the door shut forcefully. "Lock down the doors!"

Ria crouched slightly, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. In the darkness, she found Newt's hand and squeezed it in fear. He moved closer to her, his eyes bright with apprehension. Thumping and wailing bounced menacingly off the walls, taunting them. Ria watched the ceiling in trepidation, ready for a griever to suddenly crash through. Every noise from the outside sent shivers snaking down Ria's spine. A loud crash averted everyone's attention.

     "Careful," Teresa whispered so quietly that Ria barely heard.

     All of a sudden, a atrocious screech louder than the rest demolished the silence. A griever was on the roof, pounding incandescently onto the wood. The Gladers gasped in horror and Ria flinched in disturbance.

"Stay back, guys." Newt murmured sombrely. Ria shuddered, goosebumps rising on the surface of her skin. They followed the griever's monstrous shadow, mirroring the creature's movements in order to stay clear of it. They huddled into a corner together, trembling bodies pressed fearfully against each—other.

"Shh," Frypan whispered shakily. Dust descended from the roof as a result of pressure on it. It fell like a curtain of rain noiselessly to the floor.

Everything was silent apart from the low, persistent growling of the griever. Then, it came. A tentacle burst through the roof like a bullet, eradicating the whole section of the ceiling. The Gladers gasped and screamed in shock and fear as the tentacle searched for something to coil inside it's deathly grip. It yanked off a pole supporting the roof and the whole ceiling collapsed. Ria felt wood crash onto her helpless body and she coughed up the dust she had inhaled. Pain shot through her body and she screamed in agony.

"Ria!" Newt yelled in despair as he pulled the wood off her limp body and lifting the girl into his arms. She coughed some more, her throat burning.

"I'm okay," she croaked, each word a struggle to put together. Newt didn't question further, but concern washed over his countenance.

"Is everyone all right?" the blonde boy asked into the darkness of the room.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Jeff answered.

"Help!" they were too late again. As soon as Thomas had reached out an arm to pull the boy back to safety, his body was hauled away in an instant. His screams followed.

More deafening screeches from the griever didn't allow Ria to feel the grief she should. She backed against the walls as Thomas instructed, disquietude flowing through her veins. A high pitched scream escaped Teresa's lungs as another tentacle pierced through the wood. This time, Ria's heart dropped.

"Chuck!" Jeff shouted in panic. Ria didn't have to think about her actions. She lunged for the boy, ready to wrap her arms around him and pull him away from the malignant claws of the griever. Chuck yelled in horror and Ria was too late.

"Chuck!" Ria screamed in distress as the claw coiled it's deadly metal fingers around the boy's body. It began to tug him out of the building and Ria leapt forwards and grabbed onto his hands. When he looked into her eyes, Ria had never seen such a profound look of fear before. It tore her heart to pieces.

"Grab him!"

The rest of the group joined Ria and everyone was holding onto the boy, pulling with all the strength and energy left in their bodies. Ria gritted her teeth, tugging even harder. Chuck's terrified screams rung in her ears. It was a game of tug—of—war, and Ria was not giving up. Then, something happened which startled her. Alby let out a bellow of rage as he flung himself onto the griever, smashing the metal with a long shard of wood. He growled in anger and strain as he repeatedly hacked away at the tentacle. Chuck's body dropped to the floor and Ria scrambled to the boy immediately who flung himself into her arms, heavy sobs rattling in his chest.

"I've got you, I've got you," she whispered gently, soothing the boy. His body was quivering, his chest rising and falling in an inconstant pattern. The tentacle was severely damaged and it recoiled back out of the gap it had created. Alby let out an inhuman bellow of wrath and Ria stared at the boy in incredulity.

     "Thanks Alby," Chuck turned to nod at the boy. Ria only just noticed he had picked up one of the lethal instruments from the griever's tentacle. It looked like a long spike, as if it injected some kind of fluid. She wondered what it really did.

     Thomas's cry pulled Ria back to reality. "Alby! Watch out!" But it was a fraction too late. Ria yelled in horror along with the rest of the petrified group as Alby's body was lifted effortlessly from the ground and pulled into the tenebrosity of the night. Thomas attempted to pull the boy back, but it was a lost cause. He slipped away. Ria felt a hollow emptiness as she listened to his shrieks of agony.

     "Thomas! Thomas!"

     "Don't go out there!"

     "Thomas wait!" Ria shouted after the boy as he ran out of the near—demolished structure. She followed him out and what lay before her caused a sentiment of loss and sadness so deep she had to shut her eyes to banish it. The Glade — their home, was destroyed. The blazing bodies of roaring fires shimmered in the places where structures and buildings used to be. A few dead bodies littered the floor — a reminder of the nightmarish events of the night. Ria felt empty, numb.

     "Where is everybody?" Frypan asked. "Who's that over there?"

     Ria turned to sight the approaching silhouettes of the figures storming towards them. The leader was Gally. His countenance was a picture of rage, his lips twisted into a nasty scowl and his eyes were darkened with burning hatred. He marched right up to Thomas, then without warning threw a punch at the boy. His fist connected with Thomas' cheek and he fell to the ground.

     "Woah, woah, come on!"

     "Hey!" Teresa shot in surprise.

     "Gally, what the hell?" Ria shouted at the boy, stepping towards him. She heard Newt call her name, telling her to calm down but she ignored him. He sent her such a cold look it sent fresh shivers through Ria's body. He was about to say something to her when the Gladers pulled him away from her and Thomas who lay on the ground, curled up in pain.

     "This is all you, Thomas, huh?" Gally yelled, spit flying everywhere. "Look around."

     "Back up, Gally. Back up. It's not Thomas' fault."

     "You heard what Alby said, he's one of them and they sent him here to destroy everything and now he has!" Gally struggled against the boys attempting to pull him away. "Look around Thomas. Look around. This is your fault." The words Gally spat were full of venom and Ria had no idea what had come over the boy. He was acting mad — crazy.

     "This is not Thomas' fault," Newt argued. "Calm down." Gally continued to yell furiously whilst Frypan and a few other remaining Gladers dragged him away.

     Ria turned her attention to Thomas, then froze. In his hand was the instrument Chuck had been holding — the deadly looking weapon. "T-Thomas?" she murmured in confusion as the boy studied the metal with a look of realisation captured within his eyes.

     "Maybe he's right." Thomas stated. His voice was drained of emotion. Ria stepped towards the boy, worried he would do something stupid. "I need to remember, Teresa."

     Ria had no time to stop him as he plunged the instrument into his leg. He screamed in agony, his trembling frame dropping to the floor with a heavy thud. His body convulsed as the other Gladers rushed to his side, panic suddenly returning to haunt the atmosphere. Ria was stared in shock, her green eyes clinging to the scene that played out in front of her. His words reverberated in her mind.

     He needed to remember.

‧₊˚✧ ⁝ 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒂'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆  ❪ 忘却 ❫

oo. this is another very long & detailed chapter but i really hope u enjoyed as always my loves. pls do continue to comment & vote bc it means the world to me. as this book is nearing the end, i want to thank every reader. you are amazing and your comments and feedback really make my day! poor ria has a lot more coming for her, and the end is very near...