Secrets | TMR | One

1:9

Hours after her chat with Dan, Adeline finds herself locked away in her room, in the company of her two closest friends.

The trio have been chatting the night away, gossiping about anything and everything. Not a thing has happened in the Glade that they have not discussed at length.

It is times like these that they cherish. The small moments in their confusing lives where they can kick back and act exactly how teenagers are meant to act. Because that is all they are.

Teenagers.

They deserve a bit of simplicity, right?

"So apparently they've been sneaking around for months! And nobody knew!" Adeline states, chucking a grape in her mouth as she throws herself back against the side of her bed.

"Nah" Alby starts, leaning forward to grab a piece of fruit for himself, "I don't believe you."

"I'm being serious!" the girl responds, although the sound is muffled due to the food that is gathered in the right-hand side of her mouth.

Nick, who has been sitting back with his legs crossed, leans his elbow on his knee while he taps his chin with his index finger. "No, it does make sense, actually."

"How?"

"Well" the leader starts, tilting his head slightly, "you ever noticed how, when Kenny isn't about, neither is Dan?"

"That's because Kenny runs!"

"Nae everyday!" Adeline shouts, but quickly hunches back and covers her mouth once she realises how loud she was.

Nick raises his index finger to his lips, signalling for the girl to quieten down.

However, instead of following his leaders actions, Alby opts for a more violent approach. Lifting his pillow from behind his back, he quickly flings it around, smacking Adeline on the side of the head and causing her to tumble onto her side.

The girl squeals in shock as the side of her head whacks against Nick's right thigh. Which, in turn, causes him to flinch to the side and hit his head off the wall.

The sound of a door slamming closed immediately catches their attention, each of them twisting their heads around to look at the doorway with their eyes widened.

"What was that?" Adeline whispers, pushing herself off Nick and sitting up straight again.

"I've got no idea" the leader whispers back, rubbing the side of his head in the hopes that it will relieve some of the pain.

Adeline twists her legs on the floor, only stopping once her knees are resting on the wood so she can push herself up. Taking a few short steps to the door, she opens it just enough for her head to reach out and glance up the hallway.

Realising that nobody is there, she opens the door further, stepping onto the threshold and crossing her arms over her chest. "What the fuck" she mutters to herself.

"What is it?" Alby whispers, leaning his body forward and trying to look through around the girls legs into the dark corridor.

"No got a fucking scooby, but it sounded like it came from outside." Adeline says as she turns her upper body around slightly, "I'm going out to check."

"Hold on then" Nick chimes in, using the side of his bed to hoist himself up. "If you're going out then so are we."

Adeline merely shrugs her shoulders in response, watching as Nick lifts the lamp and hands it to her.

The three Gladers swiftly exit the Homestead, stopping just as the door closes behind them.

"Okay" Nick starts pointing to the left, "it sounded like it came from over there. I'll go that way. Alby, you go straight, and Adeline, you go right. Okay?"