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books-broke-my-heart · 4 years

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The Pariah

Chapter Six

<< Third Person POV >>

Its been two days. Two days since Caroline sobbed in a twelve year old’s arms, two days since she saw an innocent boy turn into a monster. Two days since she was blamed of such a terrible, sickening, horrifying deed. Two days since she’s started avoiding Gally, Newt, and Alby. Caroline had hung out with anyone, everyone else.

Caroline just couldn’t handle it. She get why they took precautions at first, but she’s been there for at least a week and a half. In all honesty, she lost count. But either way, she should’ve earned their trust by now. Caroline thought that she had earned the Gladers trust just as they had earned hers. She should’ve earned answers by now.

Caroline tried for Med-Jack and Track-Hoe. She was amazingly great at Track-Hoe, which had suprised her greatly. They were having a Council Meeting about who her Keeper would be and her job at that exact moment. Caroline hated every minute of every day since that they told her the truth. She knew why they wouldn’t give her answers, and knew why nobody would bother explaining anything. And the answer was worse than not knowing.

“I hate you! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you,” she bursted out screaming, her voice hoarse and scratchy as it cracks. She was pounding her fists against the tree. Caroline did that almost every spare minute she had for the past two days. Her hands were bloody, muddy, raw, beaten, bruised, and scratched. It was like she had sticked them into a dirt filled blender.

Caroline couldn’t help the way she was acting, but everything was so hard. She felt as if she had been betrayed, like someone had lied to her. She felt hopeless, devastated since she figured out that the boys were keeping everything from her. She was sick of it, she wanted it all to end.

Finally, she turned her back to the tree. The boys wouldn’t let her anywhere near the Council Room, and they barely leave her alone anymore. The only time she’s truly alone anymore is showering, bed time, and the moments like this when she went as deep into the woods as she dared. Her back scraped against the bark, giving her back new scratches as she sunk to the dirty, muddy forest floor.

“What did I do, why am I here? Why? Why am I different, why?! Huh?!” She started shouting, staring at the sky. Angry tears began to fall as she watching a metal looking bug crawl on the tree across from her.

“Kill me! It’s hopeless, I’m already done with it! Out of the picture! So, whatever the hell this place is, I want no part in it! Just kill me!” She shrieked, pulling her knees to her chest. She sobbed, her mind running in circles. Caroline knee she didn’t have much time until the council meeting was over and the boys would come out.

The blonde girl stared at the tree in front of her as her tears started to slow down and her whines, pleas, and whimpers died down. She stared at the bug-looking gadget on the tree, and in a way it stared back at her. It’s metallic-like legs moved every few seconds but it never left it’s spot.

The longer she stared, the more her head started to ache.

Caroline suddenly remembered somewhere in the back of her mind that this metal contraption was called a bettle blade, Chuck had accidentally let that information slip and told her that these metal contraptions served as a sort of spy for the people who put them in this hell.

Her mind wandered back to the other day in the showers when she had that weird episode. Caroline knew that it was definitely a memory that had come back to her, what else could it be? The emotions she felt were too real to have been a vision made up by her mind. Why had that specific memory come back to her? Who was that women? What were they talking about? What are the 'trials'? And, those two teenagers thomas and Teresa she felt like she knew them, why had their names come back to her?

Caroline had some many questions questions so few answers. Each passing day she felt more and more frustrated. These people called her their friend but refused to trust her with any information.

Caroline felt a wave of despair and anger inside her. Caroline knew she was reaching her patience limit, and if they kept hiding things from it wouldn't take long before she burst and did something that she would later regret.

She was filled to the brim conflicting emotions, she couldn't take it anymore.

No one trusted her she knew she wouldn't get any answers if she waited, she would keep waiting forever. It was time Caroline took matters into her own hands. She would do something to get answers on her own. Caroline stood up, as she wiped her tears away and brushed the dirt off her clothes. Her face was full of grim determination as a plan started to formulated in her mind. She knew what she had to do.

Caroline was going to find out what was past those walls. She had made up her mind and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. It was time...time for Caroline’s plan. And she was ready.

****

Caroline came stalking out of the woods, just as the Council Hall door open. She had grabbed her backpack from the spot she had shucked it when she was running. Caroline made sure to wrap bandages she had in her bag around her bruised and battered hands and her shirt was pulled over all her scratches.

Caroline trudged towards them, her backpack bouncing slightly behind her. Most of them were smiling, but it was easy to tell they were forced. Winston and Zart both gave her a thumbs up, their smiles a ghost of their real ones. She stopped, standing there as she waited for Alby, who was to tell her what they decided.

She desperately wished they would let her talk to the few people she knew trusted her, they were just scared of what the consequences would be if they told her. But no, she was forced to wait and talk to the leader. Gally and Newt walked out last and she stood there, her arms crossed. She knew that they didn’t make the rule, but it still stung that they hid it from her. The at least could’ve told her sooner.

“Hey, Greenbean,” Alby greeted when he finally reached her. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Her mind was far away, going over her plan. She had to, she just had to make sure it work. Alby apparently didn’t notice or didn’t care about how she ignored him.

“It’s been decided that you will be a Track-Hoe and you’re assigned to-...well we decided to assign you to all the Keepers. But your main Keeper is Zart,” Alby stated, causing her fist to clench. It burned, the way her nails dug through the bandages and scratched at her already raw skin. Caroline simply nodded, before it hit her.

“Alby, can I say something?” She asked, even though if he said no she was gonna say it anyways. The eldest boy thought for a minute, before nodding stiffly and grumbling a ‘Go ahead’.

“Okay, so since I’ve been here I learned there is ten Keepers. And you don’t try out for Slopper, that’s where you’re put if you don’t fit the other jobs, right?” Caroline asked, piecing together a small piece of a infinite puzzle. The Leader grunted and nodded, wondering if he should stop her now. Caroline continued quickly, knowing that he didn’t have much patience left. “And so then I’d have to try out for nine jobs, because each Keeper is technically the boss of each job. And I only tried out for eight.”

Alby looked looked as if he saw a ghost, and was ready to kill somebody at the same time. She knew she didn’t have long before he just turned around and walked away from her. So, she hurried to get her words out, stumbling over them.

“So, if I may....what’s the last job? What type of job are you boys hiding?” She asked, her fists clenching and unclenching. Alby just stared at her, his face not really a glare yet not straight. Caroline cocked her eyebrow, jutting her hip out.

“Nothing, Greenbean. You’ll know soon enough,” he replied plainly, before turning around and walking away. Caroline felt like she was about to go insane, like she was about to kill somebody. Like she was going to destroy everyone and everything in this damned place.

But, she knew that if she lost it here then they would assign somebody with her everywhere. Caroline tried to calm down, her breath hitching when the pain in her plan finally registered. Tears filled her eyes, but she ignored it. Dinner was in a hour, which meant in three hours her plan would be in action.

***

Caroline wiped the sweat from her brow as she worked silently. Sweat poured down her body, her clothes soaked, clung to her skin, and dirt coated her body making her look like she had been buried alive. Caroline hadn’t talked to anyone since Alby.

“Hey, you okay?” Zart finally asked when he tried to strike a conversation for the hundredth time. Chuck looked up from his spot on the ground, his hands stilling with the carving and knife in them.

“No...why am I different?” She asked quietly and the boy sighed, shrugging. Caroline knew that he didn’t have an answer, she just couldn’t stop herself from asking.

“Okay, we can go. Dinner time,” Zart stated, sticking the shovel in the dirt. Caroline took deep breaths, knowing only an hour left. Caroline watched the other Track-Hoes walk towards the Homestead, Chuck following until he noticed she wasn’t following.

“You coming?” He asked, turning back to look at her. She shook her head, faking a smile. Caroline bent down, grabbing her backpack and tossing it over her shoulder.

“I’m not hungry. I think I’m going to walk around, clear my mind,” she stated, causing Chuck to nod and smile at her. The boy wasn’t as observant as others were, which is why he didn’t notice when she was lying or when she was faking a smile. At least, not all the time.

“Okay. See you tonight,” he replied, jogging towards the Homestead to get food before others. Caroline sighed, watching him as his curly hair bobbed with each step.

“No...you won’t. It might be you never see me again...but I have to try,” she mumbled to herself, stuffing her hands in her pockets. Caroline dusted her hands off slightly, before collecting the tools. She decided she would help Zart, putting the tools up so he didn’t have to after dinner.

When she stood back up-half the tools in her arms- she noticed a boy leaning against the Homestead, staring at her. She hadn’t said anything other than ‘I’m so sorry’ to him-long story short she was walking through the crowed Homestead and spilt food all over him-but she knew his name.

His name was Tyler, from what she had heard. He was the Keeper of the Med-Jacks, but he helped with other jobs. Which is the reason he hadn’t been there when she tried out for Med-Jacks. When he realized she noticed him staring, they locked eyes.

Caroline felt something inside of her click, as if she had been connected to something. Or as if a flip inside of her had been flipped. Caroline quickly looked away, feeling like if she looked at him any longer he would read her mind and know everything.

Caroling walked towards the took shed, which rested a couple of yards away from the garden. Her mind roamed as she walked towards the tool shed. After she got all the tools up, she had to go to the look-out. That’s where she hid the bow and arrows she had crafted. She’s barely gotten any sleep, so to be productive she made herself a weapon.

She had managed to make sixty arrows over the past week, which shocked her. She didn’t even know she had the knowledge to do that. To be honest, she didn’t even remember learning how to use one. It just...came naturally.

Caroline kicked the badly built, but still working door open, putting the tools where they seemed to go. She knew that time was ticking, getting closer and closer to the time she dreaded.

She didn’t know what was out there, she just knew that it was dangerous. Caroline knee there was a big chance she wouldn’t come back, that whatever out there would kill her. But, if it didn’t, she would get answers. That’s all she could think about, and the only reasons he was about to risk her life. To get the answers she deserves.

Caroline looked up, just then noticing that she had already walked back to the garden. She picked up the last of the tools, looking over them. She started walking back the other way, her backpack bouncing.

If Caroline was being honest, she hasn’t looked through the backpack. Not completely. The only thing she’s done is take out the soap and clothes on the top, and throw small things in there. And, of course the three pocket knifes on the right side pocket and the carving knife on the left side pocket.

She knew she had to look though it at some point, but in all honesty Caroline was scared of what she would find. What if there was some type of weapon that would kill her and the boys? Or something that labeled her as the bad guy? Or what if there was a note that gave her answers? Answers she didn’t want. Even if the Gladers wouldn’t give her answers, she didn’t want them to die. And she wanted answers that she knew wouldn’t tell her all this is her fault or something like that.

Caroline’s thoughts were pulled away from the backpack when she felt somebody’s stare boring into the back of her head. She turned, seeing Tyler again. His hair was now covering one eye, but he could still see. She quickly turned back around, walking into the shed once again.

She put the tools up quickly, looking at the sky. The sun was just barely sinking past the so called ‘walls’ that trapped them inside. Caroline knew she had around thirty, maybe forty minutes. She quickly walked out of the old, rickety looking hut and started making a beeline to the look-out.

She walked to the ladder, gripping the hand-made yet sturdy rung, lifting herself up. She climbed, heading towards the second floor up. Caroline knew that the top floor, and the floor-floor was used the most. There was three floors that weren’t touching the ground, so she hid it on the ‘middle’ floor technically.

She picked herself up, standing on the second floor up. Caroline walked towards the crates filled with food, tools, and rocks-for a reason she did not know, they kept rocks in a box- and pulled them apart. Caroline picked the bow up, and then pulled the arrows. She had found a holster for them, which was quite lucky.

Caroline decided to go through the backpack, seeing as she had at least twenty minutes. She pulled out a radio, notebook, holster, pencils, markers, pencil sharpener, a book, another knife, ponytails, and a brush. She sighed, taking everything out and hiding them behind the crates. She wrapped the holster around her waist, and put all the knifes in one side.

Caroline crawled out, landing on the ground. She walked towards the doors, standing behind the closest tree. She noticed how Tyler wasn’t at the Homestead, but didn’t over think it. She sat there for a minute before the weirdest thing happened.

Wait for me, I’m coming. The weird thing was that she heard it in her head. She whipped her head around, looking around everywhere. She didn’t see anybody, not until Tyler popped up.

“I’m coming,” he stated simply. Her jaw dropped, her face contorted with confusion. Did he know? How did he know?! And how in the hell did he talk in her mind?! She started to open her to talk, but he held a hand up to stop her.

“I will explain later, right now we have only a few minutes. I would just tell you everything, but that could result in me getting banished. So, instead I’m going to help you get through this,” he stated quickly, causing her to nod. Caroline was so confused, more so than ever. What the hell?! She didn’t understand anything, but she knew he was right.

Caroline sighed, pulling out the real knife sliding it in her sheath and sticking the pocket knife in her pocket. She threw her back pack down, slipping the arrows over her head. She grabbed the bow, looking at him.

“Fine. But I expect an explanation as soon as possible,” she grumbled, as he nodded. Caroline knew deep down, that she could trust him but still she was skeptical. She always had been when it came to trust. They waited, watching as the last Runner, Minho, came running back in.

They watched the doors, until they heard the crack signaling they were about to close. Caroline walked out first, but slowly so nobody noticed. When she and Tyler were halfway there, Minho came out of the Map Room a yard or two away.

“HEY!” He screamed, and everybody in the Homestead heard. Suddenly, there was a crowd of people running towards them. Caroline and Tyler looked at each other before dashing towards the doors. Minho was hot on their trial, and if he caught them before they got there Caroline knew she’d never get a chance again.

“CAROLINE!” Chuck shrieked, and she grimaced. She felt terrible, knowing the boy would be crushed. But she needed answers. Her friends screamed her name, Tyler’s name mixed in too as they got closer. The doors were about to shut, as Tyler and Caroline ran in.

Minho reaches out, grabbing Caroline’s wrist. She jerked forward, surprising him and yanking him too far in. The doors were about to crush them, and Minho has no choice but to stumble into the Maze. The last thing Caroline saw before the doors locked them in was the group of boys screaming, reaching the doors with a crying Chuck.

“Great. You slintheads, you just sealed our death,” Minho growled. As if backing up what he said, the cackle of the doors shutting echoed and somewhere off int he distance they heard groans and clicks.

That’s when it hit her.

I’ve just sealed our fate. We’re going to die.

And it’s all my fault~

Tags: @ayeayecaptaingally @randomfriends @ritzfentton @werenotinhawkinsanymore @xxcatnissxx

(This one is slightly forced seeming, and sucky but I’ll make up for it in the next chapter! I promise!)