Cure or curse?

PART ONE ~ CHAPTER FIVE ~

It was dark now, the night creeping over the Glade. Belle hadn't been able to shake what they had said in the gathering about her. Banish. The word spun around in her mind. 

She had spent the day talking to Thomas, explaining to him the working of the Glade, answering all of his questions, even if they were stupid. 

They were now on their way to the pit, being followed by Newt and Alby. 

'The amount of bloody times I've had to walk you to the pit in the last few months is ridiculous, Belle.' Newt complained. 

'I know, I know.' She replied, rolling her eyes, trying to mask the panic eating away at her gut. 

'Clearly you don't know.' He snapped. 'Because now you've gone too far, Belle. They want you banished.' 

'We can discuss that in the morning.' Alby answered before she could. 

'Maybe they should.' Belle muttered, neither of them hearing her, except Thomas who looked up at her, shocked. 

They arrived at the pit and Alby pulled open the doors, 'We'll let you Shanks out in the morning.' 

'Great.' Thomas said as he went inside, followed by Belle who didn't say anything. 

He shut the doors behind them and walked away. Newt turned to follow him but said something before he left. 'Belle.' 

'Mhm?' She replied, looking up at him through the doors. 

'I will try to change their minds, you know I will. But they bloody hate you.' He said.

'I know, thank you.' 

'I can't promise anything, I have got you out of a lot of trouble before but this is different, no matter what I say they're going to do what the majority of them decide.' He explained. 

She didn't say anything because she had no answer, she didn't even know what to think. 

'I'll see you in the morning.' He said as he walked away with a stressed sigh. 

Belle sat back against the wall of the pit, looking up at the dark, empty sky through the doors. 

Thomas sat next to her, following her gaze, neither of them sure of what to say so they just sat in silence for a while. It wasn't an awkward silence, it was comfortable. Belle began to feel relaxed, thinking how if this was her last night here, she was glad she spent it like this. But now the panic was back, thinking about how this could be her last night.

'Do you think they'll go through with it?' Thomas asked, his voice quiet. 

'I hope not, but like Newt said, they hate me.' Belle answered. 'I don't blame them, I've caused quite a bit of trouble.' She smiled, thinking about all the times she had sat in the pit, alone, after breaking the rules. 

'Oh yeah?' He asked, turning to look at her, he had a curious smile on his face. 'Like what?' 

Belle laughed, 'Well, there was the time I raided Frypans kitchen at early hours of the morning and he caught me, I once accidentaly let a chicken loose into the maze,oh and+ that one time I punched Gally but I think they were more mad about the fact that I threw a big rock at him.' 

'Wow.' He laughed, 'You've been busy. I would have loved to have seen all of that.' 

'Yeah, I've spent more nights in the pit than in my hammock.' She smiled. 

They sat for a moment again, both still smiling. 

'You know, even if they do, I think you'll be alright.' He said.