Fervency

CHAPTER: E L E V E N

Elodie looked up to see Minho, who's jaw dropped to the floor.

"You're alive!"

Another shriek bellowed from afar. They looked to their right to find Thomas running from a Griever.

"Over here!!" they both shouted.

"Get Alby!" he said in between breaths.

"C'mon let's get him. He's at the entrance." Minho instructed, "you're coming with us this time!"

They ran for what seemed like miles. Elodie had just about lost hope, until finally, they arrived at the entrance. She let out a few huffs of breath while Minho leaned against the wall, struggling to catch his breath as well.

"We tied him up there." he pointed up to the top of the vines. There, her eyes found an unconscious Alby. He did not look well, either. She frowned.

"Help me bring him down."

"I'll try my best" she showed him her lack of fingers.

"Never mind, I'll do it." His face scrunched up at the sight and then he leapt forward to release their friend.

As soon as they had retrieved Alby, footsteps echoed from up ahead. They spotted Thomas in the distance but for some reason, he stopped.

"Is he crazy?" Elle gasped.

"THOMAS-DONT LOOK BACK! RUN!!" Minho yelled. He waited until the gates just barely missed him, causing the griever to be smashed flat like a pancake.

"What the hell!" Elle shouted as he joined them.

"Let's just get out of this hell hole" Minho sighed loudly and then tugged Alby forward.

"Hey, look what I found" Elodie showed them the beetle.

"What is it?" Thomas stopped to study it.

"It's some kind of beetle...but I think it has a camera inside"

"I'm glad you're both not dead but let's just get back to the entrance, okay?" Minho grumbled. "You two are impossible..."

"Wait- THEY'RE ALIVE!" Chuck cheered.

"Hey! The girl's back!" one of the gladers chimed in, causing the entire group to cheer simultaneously.

"Guess they don't care about us." Thomas looked at Minho, who in turn rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure if you were the only pair of boobs here, they'd feel the same about you" Minho joked.

"Don't take it personal." Elle enjoined, and then slugged Minho in the shoulder.

"What was that for!?" he yelped. "I'm more than just a pair of boobs, you shank!"

"Plus, I barely touched you" She rolled her eyes. But something was off... As Minho studied her face, her eyes stayed back a little too long. Then, she collapsed forward.

"Woah!" Minho picked her up, "Where's Clint, you guys?" There was no response, as he scanned the crowd in search for a medjack.

"I'll take Alby" Clint pushed his way through the crowd.

"I'll get his feet" Thomas offered.

"There's something wrong with Elly." Minho announced. Jeff weaved through the crowd and then moved forward to help carry her. 

"I have her" Minho picked her up with both arms, "let's just get to the tent."

***

Hours passed. They placed Elodie inside the medjack tent where they kept her and Alby under close observation. While asleep, the only thing close to a dream she had was nightmares-lots of them.

There was a man sitting in a chair. He had dark brown hair, blue eyes and a beard. He was restrained against his will, with several metal cuffs to keep him still. He was sitting behind what looked like a double-sided mirror. A man in a white lab coat entered the room, pushing a tray of various medical instruments.

There was no light behind his gaze, only eyes devoid of emotion. Then, the man reached for a pair of clippers in an almost mechanical looking fashion. He proceeded to clip off one finger after the other while the man shrieked in pain. Next, he grabbed a pick. He steadied it closer and closer to the man's eye, all while he struggled within his restraints.

Without a flinch, he jammed it though his eye.

Elodie's lashes flew open. For a moment she laid there in a daze, as the talking around her seemed to fade out.

"Look who's awake!" Clint exclaimed. His voice was too loud for comfort. Everything around her was. A group of people encircled her while her vision was still focusing. She shoved the sheets from her body and shot up in bed. Her brows cinched together as she stared straight past the boys, struggling to process what had gone down in her dream. It felt so real, she could still feel her heart racing.

Was it a memory?