To Forget The Unforgettable

Chapter 9

A/N: Thought I'd do a relatively speedy update to make up for the two months it took for the last one (...sorry again). ALSO, I realised I completely forgot to mention the Wattys in my last author's note. I MADE IT TO THE LONGLIST!! I'm SUPER excited, I didn't think I'd make it so thanks to everyone that reads this fic, I really appreciate it!

Just a quick reminder before you read the chapter: Mary was the first to arrive in Group B via the Box, I introduced her at the end of Chapter 7. Enjoy! :)  

Chapter 9

Month fourteen of Maze Trials.

Any news? Dr Buren enquired for the billionth time.

No, Ruth said irritably as she walked through the corridors. Not since you asked me last night.

She'd been trying constantly to create a telepathic link between herself and Newt. So far, she had been unsuccessful. Dr Buren was as impatient as she was for things to move forward. The woman badgered her whenever she had the chance. Each time Ruth felt like more of a disappointment. This was the one thing she could do to help, and she was failing miserably.

Not only did Newt not respond to her attempts at communicating, he made no indication of hearing her either.

Ruth shoved open the door to the Group B observation room, Dr Buren's presence sweeping from her mind.

Rachel was perched by the main display and a couple of Psychs were scattered around the room, making note of various readings.

"Aris not in here today?" Ruth asked as she plopped down beside by Rachel.

The girl shrugged, "he said he might be along later, but I have a feeling he'll get caught up in the labs."

Ruth nodded. She soon found herself scrolling through the beetle blade cameras when Rachel spoke up.

"She's in the Gardens."

Ruth clicked onto the camera showing the one of the fields. Beth was crouched by a sniffling girl as she wrapped her ankle in bandages.

"It's okay," Beth soothed the young blonde, "the pain should fade soon."

"What have you done now, Ros?" Mary called as she jogged over.

Since arriving in the Glade, Mary's faded ginger hair had grown significantly, which had resulted in her cropped curls becoming an untameable frizz. The nervous girl she had been quickly vanished as she befriended Beth, the two girls becoming as close as the twins had once been. Ruth understood that Beth couldn't remember her, and was glad her sister had someone, but the knowledge that she'd been replaced still twanged at her heart.

Mary looked down at Ros who was trying to hide her tear-stained face with her hair.

"Rolled over on her ankle," Beth answered, shooting Mary a smile, "nothing too bad, just need to wait for the swelling to go down."

"Do you need some help getting her back to the Huts?" The redhead offered.

"You not needed here?"

"Nah, not much left to do for the day," Mary assured, "besides, my back is killing. You've got to save me."

Beth laughed as she taped the end of the bandage.

"Come on then," she said to Ros, "can't have you sitting here all night."

Mary and Beth helped Ros stand and the girl stifled a whimper. Looping each of Ros's arms over their necks, the three of them awkwardly hobbled back to the Huts- small shacks where the Group B Gladers slept, as opposed to the large Homestead that Group A had built.