Secrets | TMR | One

2:8

A/N there is no death, but there is mention of it. There is also a small mention of mental health.
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The funeral for Hank was a solemn affair. Not just for the builders because they lost one of their own, but for the other Gladers who had to bare witness to Hank's bleeding body on the grass, and for the leader, because he felt as though he had failed them.

It was, after all, his suggestion that they build such a tower in the first place.

He wholeheartedly blames himself for the builders death, regardless of how many times Alby and Adeline try to convince him otherwise.

It was just an accident.

You were never to know.

It could have happened to anyone.

You cannot blame yourself.

Sentences like these seem to spill from his two friends' mouths on a daily basis. Yet, none of them seem to seep far enough into his mind to stick. Instead, they float on the surface, melting together until they are nothing but a puddle of words he no longer can recognise.

In the months that passed since the boys death, Nick had become somewhat of a recluse. Rarely leaving the confines of his bedroom, resulting in the Glade almost falling to ruin from the absence of the leader.

There are, however, two specific Gladers who would do anything for the boy, and so, they have elected themselves as the new leaders, until such time that Nick feels as though he is well enough to return.

Alby has been taking care of the day-to-day occurrences. Such as organising and hosting meetings when any rules were broken, to making sure each Glader was happy by taking time out of his day to listen to every moan, groan and complaint - no matter how small or irrelevant they may be.

Even though he grudges having to listen to all the boys bitching in his ears every day.

Adeline also played a major part in the running of the Glade. She had created a system. A stock list of all their supplies, ensuring that each keeper informed her of what they have used and when they have used it, in order to keep track of every single thing they have.

It sounds a rather dull job, but the girl loves nothing more than to keep things organised, and as it is for Nick, she would do anything that was required of her.

It has been a tough time for them, but they would both say that they would do it a hundred times over if it meant their home was taken care of, and Nick was allowed the time to look after himself without having to worry about the prospect of losing his title as leader.

He is, after all, just a kid, and he deserves time to heal, just like the rest of them.

Adeline is currently stood in the kitchen, chatting with Frypan about everything he has and needs. She takes notes down on paper, which is stuck to a makeshift clipboard that Henry so kindly made for her.

It is not the builders greatest achievement, it is merely just a small plank of wood, with a nail sticking out of the top so that the girl can attach her paper, and a tiny wooden square wedged on the top of it to avoid her accidentally stabbing her hand on the pin.

"So you said you need more flour... if it doesn't come up in the box next time I can send a note down to the creators" the girl starts, keeping her eyes trained on her list with the end of her pencil hanging from the side of her mouth. She quickly jots down the cooks request before looking up to him. "If there isn't any, do you have enough to last?"

Frypan stands at the other side of the counter, with one hand tucked in the waistband of his apron and the other one rested on the bunker, his fingers curled so that the edges of his knuckles are digging into the wooden surface. "If I cut down on the cupcakes then, yea, should do."