Fog In the Memory • TMR Book 1

Chapter 12

I finally reach the Deadheads, somewhere I hardly ever come, and scale a nearby tree. Making sure I wasn't followed, all of my bottled up emotions are released. I begin questioning everything as I cry my heart out. Why am I even here? After all this time, I finally get another girl but she's practically dead. Why out of all people did I end up being the single girl in the Glade? It's not like any of the boys care about me, maybe I'm better off dead.

Another voice pops into my head. You're the reason some of these idiots are still alive; you're a light that they can rely on to keep them going Eliza. Don't give up now. Stay strong. I know- I hear a twig snap, cutting the encouraging voice off.  Scanning the area around me however, I see nothing.

"Who's there?" a familiar voices calls out.

Thomas- I really don't want to talk right now. I shrink back against the tree trunk as he walks around aimlessly in my direction.

"Well, it's me Thomas- the new guy, or second newest."

My eyes follow Thomas with dislike as he disappears from my line of sight, heading towards the graves. All I can think about are the voices in my head. Which voice do I listen to? Wait. Why am I trying to figure this out alone? I know Minho has always been there for me, I can ask him.

Snapping me out of my thoughts once again is Thomas; this time however, it's him screaming. I roll my eyes, and climb down the tree to make sure he doesn't get himself killed, because I know Alby wouldn't be happy. Although I don't like Thomas, what I arrive to shocks me. Thomas is being attacked by Ben, who has sickly veins around him. I'm about go over to pry Ben off of the Greenbean when something is said from the other side of the fight.

"Ben! Ben, stop right now or you ain't gonna see tomorrow," Alby's voice declares as he points an arrow at Ben's head.

The two talk more, but I can't pay attention since my mind is racing at a million miles per hour. Why in the world does Ben want to kill Thomas? I mean, I don't really blame him. But like, what will happen to Ben afterwards? Or even, where's the Ben I used to know before he got stung? Multiple snapping sounds bring me back to reality, and I realize I have tears trickling down my face. I peek over at the trio, but I immediately wish that I hadn't; a long arrow is sticking out from Ben's cheek and his body is at an awkward angle while his pinky finger twitches. My eyes squeeze shut in attempt to erase the image from my mind; I feel should've done something to help Ben not get killed, but I didn't. Alby and Thomas head towards the open Glade, and I come out from hiding.

"I'm sorry. I should've and could've helped," I whisper to Ben's body as my voice cracks.

Looking around the Glade to make sure no one's around, I sprint to the bathroom. The cold water from the sink that I splash onto myself cools me off; I take a look in the mirror, and notice that my eyes are red from crying and my bun is falling out with strands of hair everywhere. I take about half an hour in the bathroom to try and make myself look presentable and somewhat normal then sneak back to my shack unnoticed. I eventually manage to fall asleep after Ben's death playing on repeat.

*****

I groggily rub my head from not having slept well last night, quite literally fall onto the floor with a loud thump. My brain is nowhere close to functioning properly this morning, and everything is a blur up until I get to the Gardens. And of course, I begin to get a major headache.

"Hey Zart, would you care if I go see the Medjacks? I've got a major headache," I moan walking towards the Keeper.

He looks me up and down, eventually saying, ""Sure. I don't see why not. Hope you feel better Eliza."

Thanking him, I trudge off to find Clint or Jeff to find something that will help my headache. I eventually find Jeff, and explain to him my situation. He hands me some pills and tells me I can stay as long as I'd like. My legs carry me to a room on the far end of the hallway where I crawl into a bed and fall asleep.