Edge of Insanity

Chapter Twelve

I woke up screaming. 

Not like a scared or terrified scream.  No- the kind of scream that tears itself from your throat because it hurts so bad.  Because the pain is just too much.

I flung my eyes open but everything was blurry.  I could vaguely see shapes moving around and hear muffled voices. 

"Shit, she's awake."

"We can't put her under again- we have to finish."

"Clint, she'll feel everything."

"Just do it quickly, Winston. It's the only way to staunch the blood flow.  She's lost too much already."

I tried to move, but hands gripped me, forcing me to stay down. 

"Winston-"

"I'm going, I'm going."  Shuffling.   "Okay ready?  Three, two one..."

It took a second for my mind to register the pain my body was feeling.  One minute it wasn't there and the next it was as if the Griever was tearing my flesh from my bone all over again.  I cried out again, this time my voice hoarser.  The pain just kept coming in waves of burning fire.  I squeezed my eyes closed, tears leaking out and running down my face. 

"Okay- it's done." 

The pain lessened- but only slightly.  I opened my eyes again and found the fog to be clearer.  Clint was peering over me.  "Ari?"  He said softly.  "Can you hear me?"

I blinked slowly and opened my mouth to answer but my throat felt like sandpaper.  All I could do was nod.

"Water, Winston.  Hurry." 

Suddenly there were voices outside the door.  A scuffling sound.   

"I shucking swear,Gally, if you try to stop me I'm going to break your fucking face."  The door was flung open and Minho practically threw himself into the room. 

His gaze fastened on me and he started forward. 

"Wait! Wait."  Clint held out a hand and Minho surprisingly halted. 

Winston handed me the water and I took a small sip, wincing as it went down.

"That's good," he instructed.  "Slowly- there you go."  He took the cup from me and Minho came forward again, more hesitantly this time.  He sank into the chair beside my bed and I subtly reached my good hand towards him.  I'm okay.

He glanced at it and I could see him visibly relaxed as he understood the message I was giving him. 

"I'll let Alby and Newt in, now that you're awake.  I know they'll want to talk to you." Clint told me.  "The anti-pain medicine we gave you should be kicking in shortly." 

"Thanks," I managed to force out the word out and then swallowed several times.  Winston and Clint left and Minho didn't have time to say anything before Newt and Alby entered the room. 

"How are you feeling?"  Alby said, dragging a chair across the floor to sit down in.

"Like I just spent 12 hours running in circles around a stone maze with mechanical spiders chasing after me."

Minho let out a breathy laugh from beside me and Alby just shook his head with a small smile.  "Glad to see you haven't lost your humor."

"How bad off am I?"  I asked them, growing serious then.

"Cracked three ribs and shattered most of the bones in your hand."  Newt answered leaning against the wall.  "Most of the flesh from your calf was missing and the tendons were severed.  The cut went down to the bone."

"Well damn." I leaned my head back against the pillows.  I wouldn't be running again anytime soon.  Then I frowned.  "I wasn't stung?"

The three Gladers exchanged glances.  "No,"  Alby finally answered me.  "They thought for sure you would be but there was no evidence of anything like that."

"Why?  How could I have not been stung?"

"We don't know," Newt shrugged his shoulders.  "But don't complain about that- or you could be way worse off."

I nodded slowly, gripping the sheets with my good hand.

"Ari, " Minho leaned forward.  "We searched for Ben after we got you out but-"

"You won't find him,"  I cut him off.  "The Grievers killed him and then they-" I broke off, images ripping through my mind, followed by echoes of the horrific sounds before continuing, ". . . they ate his corpse." I shoved away the memories.

Silence rippled through the small room before Newt muttered, "Bloody hell. What kept you guys from heading back in time?"

So I told them everything.  About finding the new section of the Maze and about the black hole.  About the Grievers and Ben being attacked.  I told them how I'd passed out when I tried to leave and that when I came to, it was too late and the Doors were closing. 

I stopped there, making it clear I wasn't going to tell them the details of my encounter with the Grievers or my injuries. 

"Do you think that new section could have anything to do with the tube you and Minho found a while ago?"  Newt shifted his weight from right to left.

"I don't know.  I didn't get a close enough look."

"Alright."  Alby stood from his chair.  "Tell Clint about the dizziness and headache.  You passing out in the Maze nearly killed you and was what kept you from returning on time."  He started for the door.  "I'm glad you're okay, Ari."

"Yeah.  Same here,"  Newt placed a hand on my shoulder.  "Gave us all quiet the bloody scare but if anyone could have survived, it'd have been you."

I offered them both a small smile in return.

"I'm going to stay to see if we could figure out what section of the Maze that hole was in,"  Minho said, not moving from his chair by my bedside.

"Alright."  Alby responded and bid us both good night as he and Newt left the infirmary. 

They minute they were gone Minho grasped my good hand and squeezed it tightly.  "I thought you were dead- had died-"

"I know," I swallowed, taking in every detail of his face.  "Minho, I'd never been more terrified in my entire life.  It was so dark and I was alone and there was nowhere to run-"  My voice broke off at the end.

"Shhh, shhh, hey it's okay.  You're here now.  The important thing is you survived, Ari."  Minho looked at me, eyes determined.  "You survived a night in the Maze.  You did more than any of us have ever done." 

I sucked in a deep breath, absorbing his words. 

"You came back.  You came back to me."  His thumb brushed soothing strokes over my hand. 

I nodded slowly.

"You need to rest, okay?  Try and sleep." 

I gripped his hand.  "Minho, don't leave."

He pushed back a strand of hair from my face.  "I won't leave, Ari.  Not ever again."