Nepenthe (TMR FF) UNDER EDITING

Chapter 25

"Hey Emma, how're ya doing?" Chuck asked, walking over to the Slammer which Thomas and I were currently in. I glanced at my brother, who was currently asleep, little snores coming out of his mouth. I smiled fondly, before turning back to the relatively younger boy in front of me. He had two plates of food in his hand, and I reached out and took both of them, putting one beside the sleeping boy.

"I've been better, Chuckie. Do you know when they're letting us out?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. Chuck shifted awkwardly, his nose scrunching up in thought.

"Nah. There's a gathering happening now." He told me, shrugging. "It's weird though. I heard that Gally didn't even show up."

"What?" I asked, a little shocked. "Gally never misses a gathering."

Chuck shrugged again, sitting down on the grass in front of the slammer.

"No one has seen him since he locked you guys in here. Maybe he feels guilty or something."

I shook my head. He wouldn't have just disappeared. We've been in here for two days. Someone has had to saw him in that time.

"Hey Chuck, can you give me a minute?" I asked, turning away.

"Are you going to try to talk to him telepathically? That's so cool that you can do that!" Chuck announced. I rolled my eyes playfully. As much as I loved the kid, he could get somewhat annoying. He was the only one who has come to visit us since we were locked in here though, so I shouldn't be complaining. Not even Newt has come to visit.

"Yeah. You can stay there if you want. Just don't talk, okay?" I said. Chuck giggled, nodding his head up and down. I smiled fondly, before turning my head and facing the wall. I pictured Gally's face in my mind, and thought of what I was going to say. Might as well keep it simple.

Gally? Can you hear me?

A moment passed and there was no reply, but I could sense that he was there. I sighed loudly.

Come on Gally.

Something's wrong, Emma.

I froze, sensing the fear in his thoughts.

What are you talking about? Where are you? What's going on, Gally?

I don't know, Emma. I'm definitely not in the Glade anymore.

What do you mean? Are you in the Maze?

Emma...I think I'm with the creators.

Gally, we need to get you out of there!

Emma, promise me something.

Gally!

Just shut up! I want you to promise me something.

Tears came to my eyes and my bottom lip trembled. A chocked sound came out of my throat, and Chuck let out a noise, before I heard the pounding of his feet leaving in the distance. Thomas stirred beside me until his eyes finally opened, a soft groan escaping his lips.

"Emma? Are you okay?" He asked, instantly awakening when he saw my tears. I shook my head, turning away from him. I needed to concentrate on Gally.

Okay. If I had said that out loud, then there was no doubt that my voice would have cracked.

I need you to protect them, Emma.

But what if I can't? What if I'm a bad guy?

That question had been playing through my head ever since the first voice had started to talk to me. I was apparently going to kill my friends. How was I supposed to protect them?

Please stop crying. You're going to make me cry.

How do you know I'm crying?

You're always crying.

Oh.

I need you to be strong, Emma. Help them find a way out.

We'll find you, Gally. I promise.

Emma, I need to go. They're back.

Who's back? Gally!

Don't kill anyone, alright?

Gally, stop joking around! Talk to me!

I'm sorry.

Gally?

And then it was like a piece of my soul had been ripped out of my chest, and I no longer felt the presence that I had known to be Gally. It wasn't like when Aris left. It was forced. As if someone had phsycially removed the ability to comminute by brute force. As if it was dissected from our brains.

"Emma, what's wrong?" Thomas asked worriedly, rushing to my side.

A sob racked my body as I curled myself into a ball, wrapping my arms around my legs. I buried my face into my knees in an attempt to muffle my cries, but I'm sure half of the Glade had heard by now. Thomas crouched down beside me, wrapping his arms around my small body.

"Shhh, Emma. Whatever happened, it's gonna be okay. You're going to be okay." Thomas cooed, rocking us back and forth slightly. My eyes blurred as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"He's gone, Tommy." I cried, unwrapping myself from my current position and launching myself into Thomas's open arms. He sighed quietly, holding me close as I sobbed into his chest. I gripped the front of his t-shirt in my hands, my tears staining the light coloured fabric.

"Who's gone?" He asked, his voice soft.

"I can't feel him anymore." I whimpered. "Gally's gone."

Saying his name felt like an arrow was shot straight into my heart. It hurt.

"What? Emma, where's Gally?" A new voice asked. I didn't have to lift my head up to tell that it was Newt. I shook my head, a choked noise coming from my mouth instead of a simple 'I don't know'. Newt hadn't spoken to me in two days, and now that I'm emotionally unstable, he thinks it's a great time to speak to his girlfriend.

"I think she needs some time to herself." Thomas said, gently letting go of me and gesturing for Newt to move out of the way. Thomas stepped onto the green grass of the Glade and ushered Newt and Chuck away from me. The blonde boy hestitated, looking conflicted. My bottom lip trembled as I looked at him. I didn't need some time to myself. When I was alone all I could do was think, and it was thoughts that truly killed me. I wanted someone to hold me and tell me that everything was going to be okay. I wanted to my brother. I wanted my boyfriend. I wanted Chuck. I wanted someone to reassure me that Gally was still alive, and that he'd be back soon. I want Minho and Gally to jump out from behind the corner and scream 'surprise'. I wanted all of this to be a joke.

But none of that happened. Newt sighed, looking away from me. Soon the three boys walked away, but not before Newt locked the Slammer back up again, a regretful look in his eyes. I curled myself back into a ball, wanting nothing more than to just sleep and forget everything. I would rather spend another night in the Maze then sit here and think about everything bad that has happened to me.

Gally told me to protect the Gladers, but how can I do that when apparently I'm destined to kill them? Obviously it wouldn't be done by my own free will, but the creators could control me. They said that I would watch them die, one by one. Just thinking about it made me consider jumping off a wall of the Maze. Maybe I'd actually be able to succeed. Maybe it'd be better and safer for everyone.

"Hey." A voice muttered. I flinched, looking up to see Minho. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at me awkwardly.

"Need a shoulder to cry on?" Before I could stop it, or deny for that matter, a sob escaped my throat, and Minho was beside me in an instant. His arms wrapped around me, drawing my body close to his. Soft whispers came out of his mouth as he tried to comfort me, humming quietly to a tune I didn't recognise.

"You'll be happy again one day, Emmy. I promise."