This Conspiracy

Chapter 20

Author stuff: Well, this chapter marks the end of part 1. And I almost completely forgot Graham. Whoops.

Trigger warning for this chapter! There is blood at the end.

Chapter 20

In Which The Girlie Makes A Good Bet About The New Greenie

Archie wasn't used to dreaming. Well, he had dreams of his days in the Glade – sometimes they'd escaped and other times they did not, nightmares those were called – but he wasn't used to having dreams of a life outside of the Glade. Especially since he couldn't remember that life.

He had several that night.

One was a short scene of him and a man. The pair of them talked – about what, he couldn't recall when he woke up – over a quick meal of food so tasteless it made no mark on his memory. Another was of the Gladers, but they weren't in the Glade. They were in a classroom and much younger. And he wasn't in the lesson with them, he was observing them. It was... odd.

Another was of Flossy and Graham. They were arguing over something. And there was a boy and girl, always watching and observing. They always seemed to be there, lurking in the background.

Everything was shades of white and gray and black and blue, cold and unfeeling. Sterile and hospital scented. Hair was perfectly groomed and pulled away from eyes. Faces freshly washed and tidy. Clothes put together, nothing out of place.

He'd never felt more afraid of that place – that weird dream landscape – than he had ever felt before. He was less afraid of the Maze than that place, whatever it was.

There was one girl, however, that haunted his mind. He couldn't remember her face or any specific features beyond brown eyes, but she felt warm and peaceful. She was a welcoming grace, a spark of fire in the icy place. It would have been nice to know who she was. She made that place seem a little more bearable. A friend, that was what she was.

He was grateful to have woken up in the humidity of the Glade, wrapped in the sarcophagus that served as his hammock. Other Gladers woke with him, stretching and bemoaning the morning. Ben looked around with half-lidded eyes. When they saw him, Ben gave him a sleepy smile.

"Morning," Ben said.

"Morning," he said. He sounded monotonous to his ears, but Ben didn't seem to mind.

"Should we go get breakfast?"

"Think it's ready?"

"Never hurts to go check."

They quickly changed into the cleanest clothes they had and jogged out of the sleeping area.

He could smell whatever Frypan and the Cooks were making – it smelled delicious, as always. He didn't understand why some of the Gladers joked about Fry's cooking. Sure it wasn't some fancy gourmet food, but it was the best of what they had available – which was pretty amazing, all things considered.

It was still early, but he was surprised to see people in the dining area. Most of them were Runners, but a few Track-hoes were there as well. Flossy was back with them after her week-long illness that still bothered him.

"Good to see you up and about," Ben said, setting his plate down next to her as he ruffled her hair. She gave a cry and swiped at him.

"I just got my hair to lie right for once," she said, patting down the strands pitifully.

"Here, let me help," Minho said. He made a move to fix her hair, but he ended up ruffling it as well. She returned the favor, though it did little to actually make him look any less different or unattractive. Flossy seemed to notice this and sagged a little.