𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

[~cнapтer тwo~]

ғreya'ѕ pov

I was awoken by the breakfast bell, its insistent clang echoing through the Glade and pulling me from the depths of sleep. With a grunt, I rubbed my eyes and squinted against the bright morning light filtering through the leaves above.

As I sat up, a sense of disorientation washed over me, and it took a moment for my surroundings to come into focus. And then, with a jolt, I realized where I was: my favorite spot by the lake, nestled beneath the sprawling branches of the old oak tree.

A sheepish smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I glanced around, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the Glade waking up around me. How many times had I fallen asleep here, lost in the tranquility of the moment?

But as the realization dawned on me that I had overslept, a pang of guilt twisted in my stomach. I had abandoned my duties as a med-jack, succumbing to the lure of the peaceful solitude by the lake. What would the others think when they discovered my absence from the morning meal?

With a sigh, I pushed myself to my feet and brushed the dirt from my clothes, steeling myself for the inevitable repercussions of my actions. There was no use dwelling on my mistakes now; all I could do was face the consequences and make amends where I could.

As I made my way towards the breakfast area, the sound of laughter and chatter grew louder, mingling with the tantalizing aroma of food wafting through the air. With each step, my resolve hardened, and by the time I reached the table, I was ready to face whatever came my way.

As Frypan filled my plate with food and exchanged pleasantries with those around me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at the edges of my mind. But for now, all I could do was try to make things right and hope that my moment of weakness would soon be forgotten.

As I took my seat at the table, I found myself surrounded by the familiar faces of my fellow Gladers. Their smiles were warm, their greetings friendly, but I couldn't shake the feeling that they knew, that they could see right through my facade.

I forced myself to eat, each bite sticking in my throat as I struggled to swallow past the knot of guilt that had formed there. The food tasted bland, the flavors dulled by the weight of my conscience.

But despite my inner turmoil, I knew that I couldn't hide away forever. With a determined set to my jaw, I pushed aside my doubts and resolved to face the day head-on.

As breakfast drew to a close and the Gladers began to disperse, I lingered at the table for a moment longer, steeling myself for the inevitable conversation that lay ahead. I knew that I would have to explain myself, to make amends for my lapse in judgment.

With a deep breath, I rose from my seat and made my way towards the med-hut, my footsteps heavy with the weight of my guilt. But as I stepped through the door, ready to face the consequences of my actions, a small voice whispered in the back of my mind: redemption was possible, if only I had the courage to seek it.

As Jeff laughed at my disheveled appearance, his words cut through the haze of my fatigue like a knife. "Damn, you look like klunk," he remarked, his tone teasing but not unkind.

I rolled my eyes in response, my irritation simmering just beneath the surface. "Oh, fuck off," I muttered under my breath, pulling the hair tie out of my tangled locks and running my fingers through them in a futile attempt to tame the unruly mess.

But despite my annoyance, I knew that Jeff was right. I did look like klunk, and there was no denying it. With a resigned sigh, I focused my attention on the task at hand, determined to put my grumpy mood aside and do what needed to be done.