Hearts and Minds

Screams, Cries, and Sunrises

'How could it get any worse?'

Hours had past. Artemis had done every possible task to stir her mind away from the mindless screaming leaving Ben's mouth. It echoed around the Glade, following her everywhere she went. She had spent the entirety of what was left of the day utterly alone. She had helped the builders before she finally decided to slip away. The girl hid away from the boys, ducking into the woods and curling beside a tree.

She did this. She needs to die. She's dangerous.

No one had spoken to her about the words Ben had said. But she knew everyone had heard them. It was impossible not to, he had been feeling variations of the same thing since they had gotten him in a secluded hut. Artemis had been drawing in the dirt with her finger for what felt like hours when she heard a branch snap behind her. She quickly looked from behind the tree, only to let her shoulders fall in relief when she saw it was Chuck.

"..Artemis?" He asked quietly. His voice was full of hurt. The sound of him being in pain was almost enough to make Artemis herself break into tears. Artemis stood from her spot on the ground, dusting off her legs as she walked towards the curly haired boy. She bent down slightly so she could get closer to him.

"Yeah Chuck?"

"...they're uh..about to banish Ben. I-I don't want to go alone.." Chuck couldn't make words, stumbling as he tried to find what he was trying to say. He didn't need to say it. Artemis understood what he was asking for and she was there to provide it. Artemis once again straightened up, laying a hand on his shoulder as she led him towards the walls.

"It's okay.." she whispered quietly, seeing a group of boys farther off towards the walls. Artemis could feel her chest tighten when she could hear the yells and pleas coming from Ben. When they finally got closer, Thomas was there to meet them. Off in the distance one of the other boys was marching Ben towards them, his arms tied behind his head. Artemis instinctively backed herself away until she was against Thomas, pulling Chuck towards her when Ben had passed them.

"Please. Please! I don't wanna die. Please!" Ben begged, his voice raw and broken. He had screamed for hours, he had sounded like a madman. Yet all Artemis could hear now was a petrified boy who just wanted to live. Artemis watched as Minho, as Newt had called him the other night, basically threw Ben towards the ground. More whines and pitiful attempts at mercy fell from his blood soaked lips. Artemis could feel Chuck shaking in her grasp. She couldn't pull her eyes away from the train wreck that was happening before her.

The large concrete walls creaked and groaned with life, slowly starting to gravitate towards each other. Ben's pleads just grew louder and louder. He was screaming at them to show pity, compassion. Instead each keeper just advanced, stick held out to keep him from moving. He was almost into the maze now, his entire body going rigid and his eyes rolling into the back of his head. He stared directly at Artemis, his eyes dark and almost entirely taken up by his pupils.

"You'll see. You'll all see! She's going to get you all killed! She'll kill you and bring herself down with you! You will die." With that, he took the last step behind the maze walls. Instead of a scream like everyone had expected, a manic laugh echoed through the air once they had slammed shut. Artemis felt her lunch fighting it's way back up as stared blankly at the spot Ben had just stood. In front of her Chuck was sniffling, his entire body shaking as he fought back the sobs. Artemis didn't realize until a few seconds later that Thomas had taken the liberty of grabbing Chuck by the shoulder and Artemis by the hand and dragging them away.