The Defective Soldier || Newt

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟏

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℂ𝕒𝕗𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕒'𝕤 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣

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At the far end of the cafeteria, at least two large tables had been put together to let the entirety of Group A sit together. They were chatting among themselves. No threats to their lives, or newfound worries for the time being.

As if per instinct, William directed himself towards Newt, who was sitting between Chuck and Thomas. Mae gave him a weird look, but said nothing and took her own tray of food to walk towards Flor, who had saved her a spot next to the hooded kid.

Chuck locked eyes with William for half a second, then scooted closer to Frypan, leaving a space between Newt and him. The little boy's grin made William doubt his intentions, though he soon shook his head, reprimanding himself. What could a kid no older than thirteen be planning? His thoughts were absurd, and he knew it.

"Is this seat taken?" He asked Newt and Chuck as a joke.

Newt glanced up at him, smiled, and looked back at the empty seat. "I don't know. The invisible man could be here." He waved his hand in the air, then turned, locking eyes with William. "No, not here. You're good."

The momentary interruption was disregarded as Thomas kept asking questions to two boys that William could not recognise. His attention was on the food for the most part, but he couldn't help to overhear when Newt intervened and asked a couple of questions himself.

"Oh, William, this is Aris." Flor, sitting across from him, pointed at the hooded boy beside her.

Curiosity was greater than his sense of reason, and it soon proved to be dangerous as well. His eyes locked with the hooded boy, Aris, making a memory flash before his eyes. Per usual, they were quick to appear, just like they were quick to disappear. Although, the headache that grew after them was, in William's opinion, ten times easier to ignore.

His eyes. That was all William could think as he stared at the boy with the same intensity as Aris was looking at him.

Aris had the shadow's eyes. The bright blue colour that had stopped haunting him for a couple of weeks. He had to be the shadow. There weren't any noticeable characteristics, but his eyes carried an odd, familiar feeling.

"I sneaked out." the shadow's voice appeared inside his head.

"I never asked you to do that," he said.

There was something strange. His voice wasn't high-pitched, nor did it sound like a young teenager's. William was positive that it was a recent memory.

"William? You OK?" Flor's concerned tone drove him back to reality.

He blinked twice, forcing his attention back to Flor and Aris instead of his memories. He remembered Chancellor Paige's words. Aris remembered everything except him, or at least should, since even Teresa had been robbed of some of her memories.

"Nice to meet you, Aris."

"You, too, William."

Grasping his fork, William focused his eyes back on his plate. He was sure now. The voice was the same. Aris was the shadow. He was the one who had been trying to apologise to him for a reason William didn't know yet.

"Yeah, we have to find out what really happens to those called," he heard Henry mutter.

Forcing himself to take his eyes off his food, William glanced to his left. Henry and George were chatting freely with Thomas about the installations. The other two boys that were sitting before were gone. He knew they were supposed to point out the strange occurrences in the 'Sanctuary', but his friends were clearly taking it two steps too far.