Secrets | TMR | One

6:7

It has only been a couple of hours since Nick begged her for a second chance, and in that time, Adeline's mind has whirled with the prospect of giving in. Of allowing the boy the luxury of getting what he so craves.

But each time she begins to feel even a sliver of hope that, perhaps, he could fix this one, that together, they could stop the creators from raining down their terror of shit, she remembers them.

She remembers the ones that have died by her hand.

She remembers George.

And it all comes tumbling back down again.

Not in a wave of tears, however, like it previously had done. But rather, in a wave of realisation that, no matter what Nick may say or what promises he may make, Adeline simply cannot continue hide away in the Glade.

She needs to leave, and that is exactly what she is going to do.

That is why she finds herself, sat on the edge of the bed mere hours after Nick had told her they needed some rest, with a tiny sheet of paper resting on the dresser to the right of her, and a pen in hand. With her trusty lamp sat beside her, Adeline scribbles down a note to the leader. Writing it, scoring it out, then re-writing it. Trying to come up with the perfect farewell.

Nick deserves that much from her.

It is a selfish thing she is about to do, Adeline knows that all too well. The leaders proclamation did not go unnoticed by her, and she is sure that her inability to respond to his words did not go unnoticed by him. However, it is not because she does not love him. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Nick is the reason she has made it so far and, regardless of the title of their relationship, she will always treasure the time they shared.

So, although it is selfish of her to break Nick's heart by leaving, she also knows it would be selfish of her to stay and watch as boys kept dying.

The girl just wishes she could take him with her.

But, there is only one person she plans on offering that to, and he is currently locked up in the slammer, facing banishment for killing her friend.

After another few minutes of trying to write the most flawless goodbye note, Adeline decides that enough is enough, and that it is time for her to depart. Quickly scribbling down four words and folding the piece of paper, the girl lays it down on the dresser, lifting the lamp a few inches and stuffing the corner of the note underneath it to prevent it being blown away by the breeze fluttering through the window.

Twisting the upper half of her body around, she smiles sweetly down to the boy laying next to her as his soft snores vibrate against her eardrums. It is a sound she once thought she could never get used too. But, over time, Adeline had realised that it was something she found comfort in, and she could not possibly sleep without it.

Complete silence during the night is not something that appeals to her anymore.

Adeline slowly leans over the boy, her right hand holding the hair from her face, while her left one curves tightly around the edge of the bed, keeping her from falling on top of him. Her tear stained lips press, ever so delicately, against his, and her eyes stay glued shut as she tries to block any tears from dripping down.

In his tipsy state of exhaustion, the girl feels him beginning to kiss her back, followed by his hands gently clutching on to each side of her face, his fingers curving around towards the back of her neck while his thumbs stay firmly planted on her cheeks.

She feels Nick smiling into the kiss, and this causes her heart to crumble even more so than before.

As she pulls away from him, Adeline can faintly see his brows furrow through her clouded vision. ''Why are you crying?'' he mumbles sweetly, trailing the pads of his thumbs along the river and absorbing her tears into his skin. The boys sleepy voice is laced with concern, but the sound itself is hoarse and groggy. He looks to her with a distant gaze, and, just the look alone tells Adeline all she needs to know.