How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Sixty-one

- stung in broad daylight -

"Hey!" I hear Thomas yell just as I walk up to Tyrell in the stables. "You've got to be kidding me..." I mutter under my breath, spinning around to see what's going on. "Help!" Thomas screams, his voice filled with panic, and I immediately feel a rush of concern. I exchange a quick glance with Tyrell before he starts running toward the sound of the yelling. My heart races as I sprint to catch up with him, my legs pushing harder, knowing something's not right.

As we approach the gardens, I spot Thomas bursting out of the woods, looking terrified. Ben is right behind him, almost on his heels, and it looks like he's chasing Thomas. My blood runs cold. "Oh, shit!" I exclaim as the realization hits me—Ben really is chasing him, and Thomas is scared out of his mind. Without thinking, I pick up my pace, running faster, with Tyrell hot on my heels. Other Gladers start to notice too and rush toward the scene, drawn by the commotion.

"SHIT!" I shout as Ben finally lunges at Thomas, knocking him to the ground. Thomas struggles beneath him, trying to escape, but Ben is too strong, pinning him down. I can hear Ben's enraged voice yelling, "I'll kill you!" as he grips Thomas by the neck, choking him. I feel a surge of panic in my chest.

"Hey!" Newt's voice cuts through the chaos, and before I can process it, Newt swings a shovel down, smashing it into Ben's head. Ben's body goes limp for a moment, and he falls off Thomas, landing heavily on his back.

"Hold him down!" Gally orders as he, Fry, and Newt jump into action, each grabbing one of Ben's limbs to pin him down. I run up beside Thomas, who's scrambling to his feet, visibly shaken but otherwise okay.

"Hey, are you alright?" I ask, my voice soft but urgent, looking over him for any injuries. Thomas gives me a quick nod, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," he says, though his voice doesn't fully hide the tremor of fear.

I glance back over at Ben, who's still thrashing around, and I can hear Gally trying to get him under control. "Calm down," Gally says sharply, holding one of Ben's arms, while Newt grabs the other. They both sound frustrated, their gritted teeth showing the strain of holding him down."What the hell happened?" Fry asks, his voice rising with confusion and anger. "Why the hell did he just attack you, Thomas?"

"He just attacked me," Thomas explains, his voice hoarse from the struggle. Chuck walks up beside Thomas, his expression concerned but calm.

"You okay?" Chuck asks, his voice gentle, and Thomas gives him a small nod, still trying to catch his breath.

"Calm down, Ben," Gally repeats, this time with a little more authority, as Alby walks up to the scene. His eyes quickly scan the situation, and I can see the worry starting to show on his face.

"Wait," I speak up suddenly, my eyes narrowing as I notice something—blood on Ben's shirt. 

"What happened to his shirt?" I point to the stain, my stomach dropping.

"No. No. No!" Ben starts to panic, his voice rising in desperation as he struggles even harder. 

Alby's eyes widen as he spots the blood too, and his voice turns sharp. "Alright, lift his shirt," he orders. One of the Gladers near them hesitates for a moment before complying, lifting Ben's shirt with quick, practiced movements.

Ben's body stiffens, and I hear him screaming, "I didn't mean it! I didn't mean it!" His words are frantic, his fear palpable.

"Lift the shirt," Alby repeats, his voice firm but calm, trying to maintain control of the situation. 

Ben starts shouting even louder now, his voice panicked and broken. "No! No! I don't want to!"

Theo quickly kneels down beside them, his movements swift, and lifts Ben's shirt. My breath catches in my throat as I see the deep, ugly sting mark from a Griever on Ben's side.

"Oh, God..." I mutter, feeling a chill run down my spine. The sight is almost too much to process. I raise my hand to my mouth in shock, my mind struggling to comprehend what's happening. Ben's body trembles with panic as he pleads, "No, no, please... Please!" The boys around him take a few steps back, their faces a mix of fear and confusion.

"He's been stung," Gally points out the obvious, his tone grim. "In the middle of the day?" he asks, turning to Alby, as if looking for an explanation.
"Help me, please!" Ben cries, his voice breaking. "Please... just help!" I feel my heart clench for him, but I can't shake the fear that this situation is spiraling out of control.

Before anyone can respond, I feel a hand on mine, and I turn to see Chuck standing next to me. His face is tense, his eyes wide with concern, but he squeezes my hand in reassurance. "It's going to be okay," he says quietly, though I can hear the uncertainty in his voice. I squeeze his hand back, grateful for the support, but I can't tear my eyes away from Ben.

Alby's voice cuts through the tension. "Put him in the pit," he says with finality, his expression unreadable. "Come on, everybody help. Take him to the pit." Duke steps forward, helping the others as they start to pull Ben up from the ground. Ben fights them every step of the way, yelling and twisting in their grip.

"No! No!" Ben screams, desperate to get free. "Please, don't do this!" He's shaking uncontrollably now, and the words are barely coherent. "Please, just let me go!"

"Medjack!" Newt yells urgently, calling for Jeff and Clint to come help. The two of them rush over quickly, ready to assist in any way they can.

"Get off of me! Get off of me!" Ben screams, his voice raw. He struggles with all his strength as they try to pull him up, and my chest tightens with sympathy for him, even though I know they're just trying to keep him contained for his own safety.

"Calm down," Newt says again, though his voice has softened slightly. They carry Ben toward the pit, and he continues to scream, his cries echoing in the still air. "Please, no! You don't understand!" Ben shouts, his words growing fainter as they move further away from us.

Theo, sensing my shock, gently pulls me away from the scene, guiding me back toward the others. "It's going to be alright," he murmurs, but I can tell he's unsure as well.

I hear Ben's voice one last time, screaming for them to let him go, and something in my chest cracks. We walk away in silence, the weight of what just happened hanging heavily in the air. The boys slowly begin to disperse, returning to their routines, but everything feels different now. The reality of the Maze, its dangers, and the Grievers is far too real, and for a moment, it feels like we're all just waiting for the next disaster to strike.