Secrets | TMR | One

1:6

During the night, Adeline barely slept a wink, her mind too focused on her plan to find Kenny.

That, and the fact that she slept on the floor of Gally's room.

It was phase one. Tell Gally that her and Nick had an argument - which is true - and she needed somewhere to sleep. Of course, Adeline could have slept outside with the rest of the Gladers.

But it was too risky.

With all those boys around her, there is absolutely no way Adeline could sneak out without being noticed by someone.

Gally would not allow that, anyway. As much as he tries to deny, Adeline knows he carries a soft spot for her. She has always known.

The builder obviously does not know that he was playing a small part of her scheme. If he did, he would surely tell Nick right away, and her plan would be foiled.

Nobody could know about what she was going to do - not even her fellow runners.

Getting out of the room was easy, and preparing a small lunch for herself and Kenny was easier.

Grabbing two bottles of water and walking to the other side of the kitchen, Adeline quickly glances around the Glade, searching for any early risers.

Luckily for her, there are none, and so she rushes away, deciding to take the long way around, past the North and East doors to avoid being anywhere near the Homestead.

Upon finally reaching the South door, the girl raises her arm up to her face. Realising that it is still quite early, she tiptoes over to the edge of the forest and plonks herself down next to the wall.

"And now I wait" she mumbles to herself, tearing a blade of grass from the ground and ripping it apart with her fingers.

It takes about an hour after Adeline sat down for the doors to finally open. The girls head whips to the right, her face scrunching up and hands flying up to protect her ears from the harsh sound of the concrete scraping against the ground.

The girl tries to stand, but the ringing in her ears from the doors opening causes her to tumble back down onto the dirt.

"Fucking hell" she mutters, clutching her head with her left hand while placing her right one against the wall as she hoists herself up.

Adeline steps further into the forest, hiding behind a tree and watching the other runners jogging towards their allocated doors for the day.

Minho takes the East door and, as it was her turn on the West door, she presumes that Newt has gone in through the North.

Leon is nowhere to be found, making Adeline believe that he is either in the slammer, or locked away in the medhut.

Waiting until each runner has disappeared, the girl hops back into the open Glade. Grabbing her backpack and throwing it over her shoulder, she quickly pats down on the right side of her chest, ensuring that her small blade is there as she steps in front of the open doors.

Inhaling a deep breath, she prepares herself to run.

"ADDY!" a booming voice calls out.

Adeline spins on her heel, immediately noticing Nick sprinting towards her. "Shit."

"You're not going out there" the leader announces, trying to grab onto the girls hand.

"Yes I am, Nick" Adeline retorts, pulling her hand away just before he gets a chance to nab her.

She turns her boy around and begins stepping towards the open corridor in front of her, but falters as Nick speaks up once more.

"I'll have to put you in the slammer" he calls out, stretching up onto his tiptoes and tilting his head forward, "if you go out there. You'll be in the slammer tonight."