I sit in the Glade, pulling at blades of grass as the fresh air tickles my skin. No one has told me whether Alby is alright yet, or if the girl is awake yet, and the worry is eating away at me. I lay down on the soft grass, stare up at the crystal blue sky, and let my mind begin to wonder.

Property of WICKED. Group A, Subject A6, The Deceiver.

That's what Newt claims the tattoo says. And Thomas says I'm a variable in the Trials, whatever that means. There's a link there. There has to be. Nothing ever seems to happen by accident in this place.

The boys mill around the Glade, all doing their separate jobs. Speaking of which, I should actually get to mine.

I stand off of the soft ground, and pat off my pants, shaking the blades of grass I had pulled out.

As I walk towards the Homestead, I notice that I'm getting a few strange looks thrown my way. Do they think I'm behind what's happened? Another girl showing up? Grievers attacking more often?

Does Newt truly believe it is the girl who has caused this, and not me? But what about Thomas? He arrived after me, but before the girl; that doesn't seem very coincidental. Some of the boys must be thinking the same.

I arrive at the Homestead, and begin to walk slowly up the stairs, hoping not to have a repeat of when I fell.

I search the rooms, until I find Jeff and Clint tending to patients. The boys lay in beds, injuries ranging from small cuts to large gashes.

"Good to have you back shank" Clint greets as I walk further into the room.

"Hey, guys. Sorry I haven't really been helping around here lately, everything's just been so hectic" I reply, unrave;ling some gauze before walking over to one of the injured boys. I roll out the gauze until it reaches an appropriate length, and cut it off.

The Glader whose bed I stand next to is about sixteen, maybe seventeen years old, and has shredded skin all up his left arm. The cuts stretch across his skin, blood and pus from the tears festering around the wound as he groans in pain.

"How did this happen?" I ask the boy as I apply some antibacterial ointment to the injury.

"The Maze. I tripped in the Maze and landed on some pretty sharp rocks" he groans. The boy squirms a little as I begin to wrap the rough gauze around the ghastly looking arm.

"Hey, it's okay, I just need to wrap it up. You need to stay still or it won't hold properly" I instruct the boy, with all the calmness I can muster.

"I'm trying, it just burns so bad" he groans.

"Just keep talking to me, what's your name?"

"My name- my name is Ben"

"Okay Ben, you need to keep still for me please." He nods in reply, biting his lip to stop the pained noises slipping through his lips.

I quickly finish wrapping the gauze, and tie a knot to hold it in place so that it doesn't slip off of his arm.

"Okay, you're done. You should try to get some sleep now, Ben" I whisper with a smile, pushing his hair away from his face with my hand.

I stand up and begin to walk over to another Glader, finally getting a chance to actually do my part in the Glade, instead of always being a nuisance.

///////////////

I helped at least five Gladers before dinner, and that felt absolutely amazing. Thankfully, not many of them got injured today. I had been trying to coax Clint and Jeff into telling me about Alby all afternoon, but I ended up with more questions than answers.

By the way they're acting, he was stung. They keep mentioning something called the Changing when I listened in, but they never went into detail.

I stand in line for dinner, waiting to receive my meal. The wind whistles through the trees of the Glade, as if signalling that the doors will be closing soon. I hope all the Runners are back.

As if he had read my thoughts and worries, Minho appears by my side, his signature smirk plastered across his face.

"Long time, no see shank" he laughs.

"It has been a while I guess"

"Bet not seeing my beautiful face every day was killing ya" he winks.

I laugh at the comment as we move forward in line "Yes, Minho, it's been the worst thing about the last couple of days" I giggle.

"Well, I'm sure Newt's been there to make you feel better" Minho smirks. I almost drop the tray I'm holding to the ground, turning my full attention to the boy smiling besides me.

"Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?" I scoff.

"Just though you two had gotten friendly while little old me was off trying to find a way out of here and saving the lives of many" he over-dramatizes.

Rolling my eyes, I reply "You two are unbelievable. Newt thinks I'm with you, and you think I'm with Newt. Why do I have to be with anyone?" I say a bit too loudly.

"Shuck woman, I was just playing with ya. Something I tend to do often, according to, well, everyone."

I scoff once more, reaching the front of the line.

"Evening Lori. Heard you finally worked with the Med-Jacks today" Frypan says kindly.

I nod "Yeah, I did. It was great. Well, not everyone being hurt obviously. Helping people, was great."

Frypan places a bowl of soup on my tray, along with a slice of bread, and an apple for dessert I guess. I nod in thanks, and walk towards a vacant table. Five minutes after I sit down, the table is almost full, with Minho, Chuck, Newt, and Thomas taking the remaining seats.

I look up and notice the Thomas is in Runner gear, and I can't stop myself from grinning. "They made you a Runner. After you broke the number one rule? I'm surprised Gally didn't break your neck shank"

"Yeah me too, I thought he would, but he stormed off after everyone went against him"

A small silence blankets the table for a few minutes, before I work up the courage to ask my question.

"So, how's Alby?" I start the conversation with a smile. No one says anything, so my smile droops. "Come on" I whine "No one is telling me anything."

"Look, he's going through the Changing. That's all" Newt answers with a sigh.

"But, how is he taking it? Will he survive?"

Everyone nods, and Minho begins to speak, "The Griever serum is pretty strong; it's helped everyone who's been stung. Don't you remember? It's the same as what happened to Newt?" He asks me, adding a sly wink on the end that only I saw.

It hits me like a brick, how could I have forgotten? Newt went through the exact same thing you daft shank!

I nod before continuing to eat my warm soup.

The boys talk among themselves for the remainder of dinner, when finally, the doors begin to close. The noise feels louder for some reason, as if I am standing right next to it as it closes. I see short images flash before my eyes, and feel a bit dizzy.

Standing up, I decide to go back to the homestead after saying good bye to my friends, trying not to show how lightheaded I felt at the moment.

The walk is uneventful, but I keep seeing images like a strobe light. A pale girl with dark hair standing with a boy. Thomas. Another image, a brunette young girl holding hands with a boy with olive skin and short dark hair. Rachel. The girl is definitely the one I saw in those memories.

The sound of yelling breaks my train of thought, pulling me away from Thomas, Rachel, and the two unknown people.

I follow the sounds to the Med-Jack room, where a girl lay on the bed. Asleep.

No one was screaming, it was all in my head.

Or maybe it wasn't, I think to myself. Thomas was able to speak to me telepathically, so why not her? We're the only girls, so maybe there's a connection.

She has raven black hair, pale skin and a fairly fit figure. It's the girl from those fragments I was seeing.

"I'm going mad" I mutter to myself.

I decide to visit Alby while I was here. Clint and Jeff aren't here at this time, so seeing him should be a snap.

I walk down the hall, finding his room. Quietly, I open the door, to see him strapped down to his bed just like Newt was. The poor guy is sweating and thrashing around, sleeping restlessly. His veins are bulging all over his exposed skin, thick and green like the vines hanging on the stone walls.

"Alby?" I whisper "Alby, are you by any chance awake?"

"We're all doomed" he mutters under his breath.

"Well, that's enlightening" I frown, walking out of the room. At least he's still alive.

I make my way back to my room, to find Newt sitting on my bed, his head in his hands.

"Newt? Are you okay?"

He shakes his head, "Can we talk?" I simply nod, closing the door and joining him on the bed.

"During the Changing, I had memories. I didn't want to tell anyone about them, but it's eating me up inside."

"Why? They're your memories" I point out.

"That's the thing; they're not just mine. You're there too Lori."

I feel my eyes widen to the size of saucepans, my disbelief clearly evident.

"Can- can you tell me what happened in them?" I stutter. He sits quietly, thinking to himself I suppose.

"I won't tell anyone about it if you don't want me to. I swear" I trace an 'X' over where my heart would be, signifying that he can trust me.

"Well, we were in a field or something, talking and laughing with some other people. I couldn't work out who they were, their face were too blurred. But I know you were there. I know it was you" Newt spits out.

I decide it's time to own up to my own secrets, "I remember things too. You're not really in them much, but I'm pretty sure you're mentioned in them. I was too afraid to tell anyone." I look up at Newt, to see him listening intently, taking in everything I say.

"I believe you" He states, his eyes searching mine. Just looking at him is causing butterflies to create a ruckus within my stomach, trying to escape. My eyes don't leave his, and I'm pretty sure all thoughts of anything other than him and his beautiful eyes have been snatched.

I know that I know him, and I know I cared a lot for him when I had my memories. But I don't want to ruin our friendship we have now.

He looks as if he is about to look away, when a switch in my mind flips. Screw this, I'm making new memories and have new friends. I convince myself to do something I've wanted to do subconsciously for days now.

I push myself forward, pressing my lips to Newt's.

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