𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

THIRTEEN

-Florence-
I wasn't aware of time. I don't know how long I was out for. Hours? Days? Weeks? Did I die? It always swirled around my head.

Was there an afterlife? Would I even be aware that I had died?

I swam in an empty sea of blackness.

Sometimes there were voices. Gally, Newt, and even Nico. It always circled with those three. And it was always the same thing.

They were sorry.

For not being there, for not being strong enough to fight, for creating this whole mess. I felt their tears and if I was able to, I would cry with them. But all I could do was lie motionless as my heart broke.

I was healing. I could feel it. The itchiness as the cuts zipped closed, the dullness of the bruises going through their stages. But I was stuck in an endless loop of the events that led me here. The boys and their faces, taunting me, beating me. I feared that I would never heal from that.

Like the first time that I woke up from my coma, it was bright. But it was quiet around me. I could hear the boys as they worked outside. I peeled my eyes opened and it was like they were glued shut. I raised my arm shakily to rub my eyes and tried to open them again.

I looked around and saw that I was in Gally's hut. Why hadn't I been put in the Med-hut? I tried to sit up and groaned. I was weak, hungry, and thirsty, but I pushed myself to stand. I had to see my friends.

I stumbled out of the hut and raised my hand to shield my eyes from the non-relenting sun. I sagged against the frame of the door, feeling as though any energy I had stored up, had been spent walking to this spot.

I looked around, everyone was minding their business, but then I locked eyes with the person I have been dying to see.

Nico.

He came running as fast as he could, dropping his spade-I had learnt the name of it. I wanted to run to him as well but I knew my legs would only get me so far before I fell to the ground. So I stayed where I was, allowing myself to cry in relief.

He was fine and he was running right to me.

His arms were sure and strong as they wrapped around me and he managed to lift me off the ground. I laughed, despite the soreness in my body. He set me back on the ground but didn't let me go. "You're okay." He mumbled into my hair.

"I'm okay." I rasped out. My throat was dry, but I didn't mind it right now. "I'm glad you're okay too. I didn't know what they did to you-" My voice caught in my throat and I swallowed down a sob.

Nico pulled back, his eyes searching my face. "Nevermind what they did to me. Flor, they almost killed you. I-I wouldn't be able to live with myself if they did."

I heard their mocking laughter and felt every blow as it landed. I pushed back the tears the memories brought and tried to smile. "But I'm okay. Gally got to me in time." As I said his name, I looked around, trying to spot him.
Nico smiled sadly. "He wouldn't leave your side until you woke up. Alby had to drag him out and force him to work." He started pushing me back into the hut. "Listen, you just sit down and wait here. I'll get him, alright?"

I nodded and did as he said, waiting impatiently. I took the time to look over myself. Most of my cuts had healed, leaving only scabs. The bruises were long faded by now, but there was a dull ache where they used to be. I tried to block out the events that caused them, but they pushed through, persistent in reminding me I was somewhat always in danger.

I heard his thundering footsteps before I saw him. He was panting and looked like he hadn't slept a wink, but he was standing in front of me so I didn't mind.

I pushed up from the bed and threw myself in his arms. He didn't say anything as he held me close to him, and he didn't have to. I understood his pain, I had heard as he practically poured his regret out on me when he didn't know I was listening.

I had so much to say to him, but he wouldn't let me get it out. He just wanted to stand in silence. After what felt like five minutes, he let me go and stepped back to look at me. His hands were still on my shoulders, in case I still needed support-which I did. His eyes searched my face, the same way Nico's had. I took in how he grimaced.

"How bad is it?" I tried to keep it light hearted, but it was hard when I knew what his answer would be.

He sighed and looked away. "They really did a number on you. It took you forever to heal."

"How long was I out for?"
"About a month. You missed the new greenie."

I stared at him wide eyed. I had assumed a couple weeks, but no more than that. "What else did I miss?" He made a face. "What?"

"We should get you something to eat first. You haven't eaten properly for a month." He was right, but I was curious and wanted to know what happened while I was gone. I looked up at him expectantly. He let out an exasperated sigh. "Jackson and his goons were banished. Initially, Jackson was going to rot in the Slammers, but then he started attacking everyone. So he had to be thrown out too."

I looked away from him. Banished, gone for good. They could never hurt me again. I nodded and looked back at Gally. "How do you banish four people?"

A grim look came over his face, but in his eyes there was a gleam of satisfaction. "One by one."

Gally decided it would be best if I didn't make the trek to the kitchens for lunch. So he told me to wait in the hut and that he would send Clint over to look me over.

The keeper of the Med-jacks was kind as he examined my healed wounds. He asked if I could lift my top so he could look at my abdomen and only looked at my abdomen. "Looks like you healed just fine. You will have to be put on a bed rest and eat a lot to get your strength back."

"Okay." Gally had come back with the food and Clint dismissed himself. I gratefully took the food from Gally and tried to not inhale it, even if I was starving. "What would I do while I'm on bed rest?"

"We could request books for you." I shrugged. That wasn't too bad of an idea. Gally let me eat in silence and when he noticed I was done, he inhaled sharply. "Flor, there's something I have to tell you."

I set my plate to the side and looked up at him. "Yes." He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. "Gally, what's wrong?"

"Just try to stay calm okay?"

"What. Happened?" I felt my heart picking up speed.

He gulped and looked down. "Newt got hurt out in the Maze."

I looked away from him, out into the Glade. I couldn't see the Med-hut from here, but I knew he was in there. No wonder he hadn't come to visit me. "But he's not a Runner. What was he doing out there?"

"I don't know." He stuttered. "We were all distracted with you being in a coma and then the banishings. I assumed it took a toll on him. I just never thought..."

I hated when they didn't finish their sentences. "Thought what? What happened to Newt out there?"

He shook his head. "He won't tell us, but we all have our theories."

I stood up and this time it didn't hurt as much. Gally protested and even tried to stop me from walking out of the hut. I glared up at him. "I am going to see my friend one way or another. You can help me get there, or I'm going on my own."