[because @bookelit wanted us to!]
Her fingers linger over the world map hung on the history classroom wall and she traces paths across the oceans from country to country– paths she knows she can never follow. She sadly looks down and walks to the classroom door, gripping on the knob; ready to open the door. But she can't.
Her whole body freezes. Behind that door, that one simple block of wood— could be many things. She doesn't know, and that scares the shit out of her.
"Just open the fucking door."
She whimpers and turns around, pushing her body against the door; as as far away as she can from the unknown voice.
"Who-Who's there?" she stutters, curling her hands into a fist, feeling her nails pierce her skin.
From the corner of the room, a person who looks exactly like her stands up and walks in her direction. She feels a tear stream down her cheek as the unknown person heads towards her.
"I'm Ashton Irwin," the person announces, showing her the initials on their wrist. AI.
"Estefania Rodriguez." the girl replies, still scared shitless.
"I'm not gonna hurt you or touch you, so there's no need to be scared," He assures in a soothing voice. It takes seconds for his tone to quickly change to harsher one, "Now, will you open the door or should I?"
"I don't know..." she mumbles.
"Step aside," he commands, stepping closer to her.
"No. Please, don't open the door," Estefania cries, feeling the anxiety and fear take over her.
"We need to get out. Step aside."
Estefania no longer knows what she is more scared of; the oblivion behind the door or the unknown stranger who's stood there, threatening her. Reluctantly, she steps aside. Without hesitation, Ashton opens the door violently and Estefania lets out a cry, immediately holding onto what is closest to her, which happens to be Ashton. He gasps and lunges back when when he feels her touch.
"Estefania, stop! Get off me!" Ashton yells, feeling the panic slowly take over him, "Stop touching me!"
The two cry and wrestle on the ground, their limbs tangled and breaths shaky. Estefania is in complete panic, for she sees nothing but an empty and dark unfamiliar hallway. She is scared of the unknown, of the things she's never seen and never felt.
Ashton is crying and trying to get Estefania off him desperately. Her touch scorches his skin, and he is in just as much panic as the girl, if not more. Ashton Irwin, playboy extraordinaire, is scared of touch, of physical contact. It's ironic, because that's what he's famous for. For passion, for heartbreak, for sex.
Oh, if people would only pay more attention.
"What the fuck is going on here?" A voice exclaims over Ashton's and Estefania's panicked screams, "Guys! I found more people!"
The two young adults stop fighting and Ashton scrambles away, wiping his face and standing as further away as possible from Estefania and the other person.
"Who are you?" Ashton stutters, cleaning his tear stained face with the sleeve of his dark blue sweater.
Estefania plays with the laces of her adidas and tries to even her breaths. All these people, coming out from nowhere scare her. When she hears more footsteps, she feels terrified and whimpers. A hand clasps onto Estefania's shoulder and she looks up, into her own eyes.
"I'm Luke. I'm not gonna hurt you, alright?" he promises, seeing how scared the other two clones of himself are.
"What's going on?" Inês asks, walking towards the strangers. "What are your names?"
"I'm Ashton and that's Estefania." he answers, "Who are you?"
The group tell the new members their names and tell them what they've found out so far.
"We are together on this, alright?" Atiya states, looking around at the youngsters who slowly nod, "Let's get out of this fucking hellhole."
++
"Done." Teresa announces, capping the pen and pushing her hair away from her face. She picks up the notepad, takes a deep breath and starts reading.
"Step one," she says, eyes crinkling to see what's written, "Find a loophole. No plan is perfect. There is always a flaw, no matter how much thought has gone into it. Find it, and that's our way out. Luke." Khadeeja nudges Luke and smiles at him, who awkwardly shrugs because he's not used to sharing his ideas.
"Step two," Tess continues, folding her right leg, "Know our strengths and our weaknesses. Avoid doing anything that makes someone else uncomfortable, because that is not how you earn trust. And most importantly, find the other group. Find a cliff we can jump off to get away from the grievers." Tess pauses, her eyebrows drawn together, "What does that—"
"—it only makes sense if you've read The Maze Runner." Ale says, smiling sheepishly at the group. Inês, Atiya and Michael nod their heads knowingly, while the others just remain impassive.
"Oh. Step three, have an orgy. What the fuck is up with you, Calum—"
"I'm horny!"
"Bullocks," Ashton scoffs, "you just want to see your own dick on someone else."
"Like that's a big deal?" Calum defends, crossing his arms across his chest and sticking his nose up in the air.
"Oh, for fuck's sake."
a/n: short chapter short notice: we do have pre written chapters and they're a wild ride (if i do say so myself) but we have more ideas, so this book will probably taken down for editing and rewritten completely (- 5sos and way more diverse characters, yay!!) so watch out for that :)) enjoy whatever's left of it till then!
YOU ARE READING
hail trials + 5sos
Fanfiction"you find yourself, and you find your way out." except, it's never that easy. // in which a generation woven together with trust issues is given one task; to trust. to run, to jump, to love, and to do anything it takes.
