Seperation // Gally x Reader

Chapter Fifteen - The Kip

Gally's POV

We leave the previous room behind and spill into another hallway. Through one of the small, stained-glass windows, I peered at the sky. The sun was making its descent, painting the sky in hues of oranges and pinks. It was a sight I'd never truly appreciated before. From the Glade, the sky was usually just a flat, indifferent blue.

I remember how it would transform into this vibrant aurora just at the tip of nightfall. A final burst of sunlight before it pivoted into darkness. I remember how Y/n used to fawn over it. I'd sat atop the tower with her many times to view it, but she seemed to always preoccupy my gaze. I'd give anything to go back there, to be able to view the sunset with my arm draped around her shoulder.

The smile on my face from my recent victory drops as I think of her. I'm snapped from my thoughts when Minx grabs my arm, breaking us into a light jog. They lead me through connecting rooms and down staircases until we break into open land. Being outside feels... strange. It's unfamiliar. Everywhere I've ever been was either caged or indoors.

Instead of fresh grass, the floor is covered with cracked, dehydrated rock and specks of sand. A large sand dune stands ahead, and we race up it. Of course, I lose.

The sight was spectacular. Here, atop the massive dune, the sunset was a breathtaking spectacle.

It's light refracted through a veil of ethereal pink clouds, casting an otherworldly glow on the otherwise uniform terrain. There was a sense of raw, untamed beauty that I longed to explore.

Minx and Valentino were sprawled out beside me, their faces turned towards the setting sun. I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. I wasn't used to this kind of quiet, nor to sharing moments of peace with people, who not so long ago, I'd considered strangers.

For once, there was no tension, no underlying current of competition or distrust. Just three people sharing a moment of unexpected tranquillity. I found myself wondering if this is what it felt like to be normal.

"You did good out there today, Gale," Valentino said, breaking the silence. His voice was softer than usual. I shrugged, trying to seem humble, but a surge of pride warmed my chest. "It was just a game." But the truth was, it felt like more than that. The fact that I'd won, after never having trained, was slight proof that I wasn't a complete failure. That I wasn't just a replacement for their last 'recruit'.

Minx nudged me with his elbow. "Don't be so modest. You kicked our asses." He grinned, and for a moment, he looked almost like a regular kid- not a hardened survivor. His smile was infectious. I managed a small one in return.

It was strange how quickly things could change. When I was back in the Glade, I really didn't understand how good I had it. I'd never have realised how much I would crave to return. To be surrounded by the faces of my friends and the comforting monotony of our daily routine. Now, laying on this pile of sand, watching the world burn with the setting sun, I felt a sense of desiderium I hadn't known existed.

As the last vestiges of daylight faded, leaving behind a sky ablaze with stars, I found myself reluctant to leave. This was a place of escape, of peace, a sanctuary from the chaos that had defined my life.

The wind whispered through the dunes, carrying with it the promise of adventure. Then, with a shared look, Minx and Valentino were on their feet, their hands outstretched. "Come on," Minx urged, his voice defiant and demanding. "We're going to the kip."

Reluctantly, I stood up, the sand warm beneath my feet. My curiosity blossomed at the thought of a party.

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The 'kip' was a mess of bodies and noise. I hate crowds, except for when they're cheering for me, but I also hate being left out. So here I am, trying to blend in, trying not to be seen, trying to enjoy myself.

It was held in an unfamiliar courtyard, rough cobble beneath our feet. The dim inferno of fire lit the scene. Bodies were swaying, lifting bottles to their lips, and resting against one another. Upbeat, bass-blasting music shook the floor, adding to the chaos.

Minx and Valentino disappeared into the throng, leaving me to fend for myself. I found a spot near the edge of the 'dance floor', watching as the others writhed and moved with the music. Their bodies were a blur of colour and movement, a mesmerising spectacle that both fascinated and repelled me. I wanted to be a part of it, to lose myself in the rhythm, but I was also afraid of what I might find.

The noise was pounding in my head, the embers were too bright. I needed a drink.

As the night wore on, the music grew louder, the bodies more entangled. I found myself drawn to the vortex, losing all sense of myself. I'd drank too much, danced too wildly, and laughed too loudly.

There were moments of brief clarity, when the music faded in between songs and the world seemed to slow down. In these moments, I thought of Y/n. Her laughter, her touch. The pain was a constant companion, a dull ache that never truly subsided. But tonight, it was muffled by the noise, by the alcohol, by the relentless pursuit of oblivion.

The entire function refreshed me, reminded me of the first bonfire we'd shared. The one where my arrogance dominated my conscious, and I foolishly challenged her to a fight, thinking it would be an easy victory.

I should've known by her movements, by the way she studied me, by the determined glint in her eye, that it would be anything but easy. It took her far too long to beat me, I'm certain she could've done it quicker. I still don't understand how she forgave me for what I did after that. I felt awful. She was unconscious for days. Each morning I'd think about visiting. I'd even pluck flowers from Newt's garden and take them to the med-jack's hut, peeking through the curtain-covered window just in case she was awake. I wish I'd had the chance to give her them.

Then, I saw Reece, and with him, Vella. She caught my eye and smiled, a predatory glint in her gaze. I felt a surge of unease. "You look lost," she said, her voice barely audible over the music. I managed a weak smile. "Just taking it all in," I slurred. Vella laughed, a sound that was both inviting and intimidating. Her auburn hair shone with the hue of the fire.

"You should let loose," she said, her hand brushing against my arm. I shivered, not from the cold, but from the unfamiliar sting of her touch. I wasn't sure how to feel. Did I enjoy it? It was hard to tell.

Vella was all over me, her body heat and her scent a constant presence. I was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame, but there was a part of me screaming to get away. I tried to be polite, to distance myself, but it was like talking to a brick wall.

"I think I need some air," I managed to croak out, trying to escape her grasp. She pouted, but let go. "Fine, but don't disappear," she said, her voice laced with a warning.

I pushed through a pair of double doors with a fizzing fire escape sign. Opening it, I escaped to the relative quiet of the balcony. The night air was refreshing, and it helped clear my head. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in too deep. I had to go back inside, there was no other option except sleeping on this rickety platform.

When I re-entered the building, Vella was waiting for me. Her expression was different, colder. It was like I'd crossed a line.

"Look," she said, trying to sound gentle. "I can tell you're not feeling this, at least not right now. It's obvious you still have something, or someone, on your mind. If you don't want to tell me about it, that's fine. But tell someone."

I was taken aback. "That's not it at all," I protested. She just looked at me, her eyes sympathetic. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away, back to Reece. I watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. Maybe I had dodged a bullet, but it still hurt.

I was completely ready to retire for the night. I stumbled through the crowd until I eventually found Valentino passed out next to a pot plant. I shook him until his eyes burst open. "Shit, Gale, you scared me."

"Sorry. Mind showing me how to get back to my room?" He nodded and stood up, using the plant as a stabiliser. With a yawn, he lead me back to my bolted door.

"So... what'd you think?" He asks, eyes drooping. "Yeah, it was, uhm, great. I think I just need some rest though," I replied. He smiled at me as I stepped inside. As soon as I heard the lock click shut, I collapsed on my bed.