Fervency

CHAPTER: T W E L V E

"You alright?" Newt queried. Elodie gave him a quick nod and then softly thanked Clint and Jeff for fixing her up. On the other side of the room she spotted Alby, tossing and turning with sweat dosing his body. A frown tugged her lips downward at the sight.

"Will he be okay?" she worried.

"It's too soon to see." Clint replied with a frown.

"Okay" She murmured, while climbing to her feet.

"Hey, why are you leaving?" Thomas asked.

"I need some air" she replied, her voice toneless.

"Wait! Don't do that yet." Jeff cautioned.

"You have to finish the rest of your antibiotics, otherwise you'll risk infection." Clint explained, pointing to the IV bag of medicine. Elodie clenched her jaw tightly and then plopped back down to the bed in defeat.

"Look," Newt gave her a tap on her shoulder, and then pointed at the medicine. "It's almost gone" They met eyes and for a moment hers softened. She swiftly looked away, and muttered ok.

"What happened out there? How did you chop off your fingers?" Minho wondered, his eyes glistening with a hint of morbid curiosity.

"I was a second too late and the maze crushed them." she explained. Her eyes fell to her lap as the memories marred her mind. Just the thought of it made her shiver. She could remember what it felt like easier than she wanted to.

"I had to pull what was left my hand out of the maze." she finished. The entire group of them cringed and then grimaced upon hearing what she said.

"Looks like you're done" Clint walked over to her side and took the needle out of her hand. Jeff took care of the IV bag while the another medjack placed a band aid over her now bleeding skin.

"You can do whatever you like now, just make sure you're not alone for too long. You lost a lot of blood because of those missing fingers. To top it off, you're also recovering from a concussion. It would make things worse if you passed out on us and hit your head again."

"We'll make sure she's alright" Minho volunteered. Before he could get up, Elodie was out the door. Minho left the tent after her, bringing Thomas and Newt with him. They watched from a distance as she walked all the way to the tree house where she had been sleeping.

The three of them followed her and then stopped at a fair distance beneath the treehouse so she couldn't hear their conversation.

"Maybe we should give her space" Thomas suggested.

"Thomas" Minho stopped him, "girls are complicated."

"Your point?" Newt chimed in.

"She doesn't want to be left alone." Minho hypothesized.

"I don't think that's how it works, Minho." Newt shook his head. Thomas released a small laugh.

"I don't think so either, man."

"Fine, I'll prove it to you. Rock-paper-scissors and the loser has to go up there."

The three of them played the game until it led to Newt's loss.

"Course" Newt sighed in defeat. Next, he placed a finger to Minho's chest and warned, "Mate, if she gets mad at me it's your fault."

"I'll take the blame" he shrugged, "but I'm right"