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thefinal𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 ...
SHE COULD NOT sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes she envisioned the bulk of Jem's body on top of her, merciless hands coiled around her throat. An endless spectrum of the torturous punishments that could've been inflicted on the boy plagued her thoughts. Ria was the sheep and he was the wolf ... but he'd painted her out to be a monster with the cruel words that dripped from his lips like blood. Perhaps she was different after all -- a sheep in wolfskin. Either way, Ria hated the fact that she blamed herself more than him. Murderer. That's what he'd called her.
Ria believed it.
The day wasn't much better. She couldn't force herself to concentrate whilst working with the Gardeners, so much so that even planting tomato seeds felt like the most laborious task. Zart couldn't quite meet her gaze, guilt and despondency flooding the his deep blue eyes. Ria didn't even try to ask the Keeper about Jem, reading the way his shoulders seemed so slump with an unknown yet profound emotion. After what seemed like hours, the cloudless sky finally transfigured into a rolling ocean of fiery hues and Ria decided on skipping dinner to take a walk around the Glade.
It was the only thing she could think of that could clear her mind, letting the summer--like breeze carry her problems up towards the heavens. If they even existed. Sometimes the girl wondered if there was some sort of divine being looking down on them, appalled at what's become of the spirited youths of the fractured world it's created. Ria couldn't find anywhere to put her trust, searching in the midst of her heart to find something to believe in. Anything but herself. She breezed past the Slicers Hut. The hum of the animals were presents as they grazed lazily in their pens, chewing on buttercups and grass as their strong jaws worked eagerly. Frypan's savoury cooking scents lingered in the atmosphere, boys milling towards picnic benches with steaming plates in their hands. Their laughter seemed to ridicule her disquietude.
Just as Ria was nearing the East doors, she spotted Thomas. The boy was walking towards the entrance of the Maze, inquisitiveness painted on his face as he neared the entrance. Her gaze then swung to Chuck who was stumbling after him to catch up.
"Dude, where are you going?" the younger Glader asked, a slightly panicked tinge sharpening his words. He adjusted his pace to match Thomas', who barely spared him a glance. Ria's frowned in confusion, refusing to stand by and watch the scene play out in front of her eyes. So much for a walk, she mused to herself before jogging to unite with the boys.
