The Third Clearing || Outsiders SMP DISCONTINUED

Chapter 6: The Threat

⚠️TW: Swearing, Blood, Fighting, Arguing⚠️
Italics=Memories/Flashbacks

The sun lit up the sky with it's vibrant shades of orange while it started to disappear and stars started to show themselves shortly after.

I thought about if I should go back to the dock to sleep or if I should continue working on the house I was making. It's probably not good to stay up late, especially after all the carrying I did, but I am determined to get this house done so I have a place to live in.

"Goodnight Brielle!" I heard Claire call from somewhere behind me, probably on her way to wherever she's staying.

"Goodnight!" I called back as I started to climb the little hill that the waterfall was on. I've been thinking about making my house somewhat attached to the stone hill so that there can be a balcony overlooking the lake.

I quickly climbed back down the hill and made my way back over to the piles of logs.

It was now fully nighttime, the gate was closed, the stars were shining, and the sky was a calming dark blue.

I thought the night was going to be peaceful and I'd actually have to time to get stuff done, but that all changed when I saw Liam out of the corner of my eye on his way over here.

I tried to ignore him by picking up some logs and making my way to the waterfall hill, but he clearly had other plans.

"We need to talk," I heard him say. He sounded closer than I originally thought he was.

"What's there to talk about?" I asked, continuing my trail to the hill side.

"You know what."

I stopped and turned around to face him. He stood a few feet away from me with his arms crossed.

"I told them your plan because I don't want you to get hurt," I said softly.

"I don't need a babysitter!"

"Then tell me, and be honest, if you went into that maze tomorrow and found the way out, what would you do?" I asked setting down the logs that were in my hands and rolling them off to the side.

He was silent for a moment. "I would escape and look for help," He finally said, though he sounded uncertain.

"You know you wouldn't do that," I said. "You would leave and barely even think about trying to get help because you think we don't care about you. I still have yet to figure out why you still think that since I broke a rule just to make sure you don't fucking die in the Maze today! What would've happened if I wasn't there and you got hurt?!" I exclaimed raising my voice just a little.

"Then I would've died and that's on me! I want to go in there so I can find a way out! I risk my own life by going in there, not your life or anybody else's!" Liam stated taking a step forwards.

"Except you do! What if you press a button and it triggers something that effects how we live in the Clearing! You're being reckless!" I declared.

"Don't you dare call me reckless!" Liam stated as he took a few more steps forwards.

"Go back to bed, Liam." I said as I started to turn away.

Quick, loud footsteps filled my ears and the next thing I know, I'm dodging a knife swing.

An iron blade cut the air as I dodged another attack from somebody I couldn't exactly see. "Good job," a man's voice said. "Remember to keep an eye on the knife. If it hits you, you're dead."

What the hell just happened?! I heard something—no I saw something! The surroundings were green—very green— with a little bit of color every now and then. Maybe a field? No, definitely a forest. With flowers scattered within the grass. Someone was standing next to me. I could see their shadow towering over me like the maze walls towered above the whole Clearing. It was a man! My father maybe? No, I don't think it was. It's...fading—I can't think of anymore of the details. They keep disappearing, almost like it was a memory I can't hold onto.

A sudden burst of pain erupted throughout my left arm, causing me to come back into focus on where I was. I cried out and quickly held my arm. My hand was immediately met with warm red liquid oozing out from the fresh wound Liam had made on my arm.

"What the hell is your problem?" I asked still holding onto my injured arm.

Another swing came my way, and I quickly ducked down to dodge it.

Think, Brielle, think! Where the hell is the Javelin Tanner gave me earlier today! I desperately looked around for the weapon. I spotted it leaned over against a tree not too far away.

I quickly ran over to it and grabbed the handle with my good arm. I turned around and hastily held up the weapon horizontally, blocking the next metal knife slash from Liam. I pushed forwards until he didn't have a choice but to pull away.

"Good block!" The same male voice from before said. "That's only the first few steps. You need to learn a lot more if you want to fight them," he said as I lowered the weapon in my hands.

This time, I didn't focus on the memory. I learned my lesson from last time. My arm still aches as I tightened my grip on the Javelin handle just in case Liam wanted to keep going.

"Not too bad for someone who only arrived here two or three days ago,"  He said lowering his knife back down to his sides.

I dropped my Javelin back onto the ground as I grasped back onto my arm. As much as it hurt, I kept pressure on the wound to try and stop the blood flow.

"Look, you have to understand that I meant what I said when I said I would cut you," Liam stated.

"I know you did, but I stand by my decision. I'd tell them again and again," I responded looking down at my arm.

"Hope you can get that fixed up tomorrow. I may dislike you, but I don't want dead. You're smart, Brielle. Whether I like it or not, I need your smartness." He said as he started to walk back towards the forest. He always does that. He always leaves right after saying something, doesn't even bother to stick around.

Also, he always goes into the forest. A few people do, actually. Maybe there are more homes in their than I can see.

The building can wait. I need rest, and I need to find a bandage of some sorts.

Getting into a fight in the first few days in this place was not exactly how I thought this would go. Although, who really knows how it will go in this place?

Word count: 1174