CH. THIRTY - EIGHT
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It took two weeks, at least ten visits to the lake, plenty of interactions with the Griever, and a lot of notes for her to figure things out.
A lot of things. Not just why she can control the Grievers.
Apparently, her younger self never trusted the Creators, who are called WCKD, and after they took her from the place she was originally located, she created something in their lab, put it in the Grievers' tanks, and has helped her future self a lot with that.
What did she create? No idea. It doesn't really matter either, unless she feels like she wants to control more things.
Then the thing with feeling Gally's feelings. It's not always them controlling it. It's the state of their relationship on which it depends.
Another correct theory.
So when they strongly feel things for each other, they're connected. And when those strong feelings are good, unlike hatred, they get less hallucinations.
Meaning that someone wants them to love each other.
She doesn't have an explanation to that, but so far, she thinks she did pretty well with figuring this all out.
Oh, and she saw herself insert a syringe in her own body. Just like that, the black veins on her arms had disappeared.
Not immune but definitely a help to the cure, they had said.
In the memory, she had used her own blood to create the serum she gave herself.
So... is she cured now? Immune to that virus, which she also figured out is called the Flare?
She'll make sure she'll figure that out, too.
With a sigh, she finishes making her planning. It's midnight, meaning that about two hours ago, she convinced Gally to just go to bed as she continued working. He only agreed when she assured she was alright, then urged she joined him once she's done, if she was okay with that, too.
Obviously, she was.
So she changes into pajamas (his shirt), brushes her teeth and washes her face, then makes her way to his hut.
Expecting him to be dozed off, she lies down beside him. Except her expectations aren't correct; he immediately wraps an arm around her.
"Hey," he murmurs, half-asleep. "Finished everything off?"
She hums. "Yeah. Thought you'd be asleep."
"Waited for you."
"You didn't have to—"
Joan can sense the smile on his face as he places a kiss on her forehead. "Yet I did. Good night."
"G'Night." She buries herself in his arms as deeply as possible. "I love you."
"I love you."
Joan lets out a sigh in relief. After all, it's nice to end the day in such a comfortable position.
❀
Panting, she runs back into the Glade. Her face is full of panic as she continues sprinting towards the Map Room.
"Minho!" Joan slams the door open.
Alarmed, all the Runners look up. "You're hella late."
"Yes," she pants. The girl presses a hand to her chest. "Section three... a Griever has shown up every single time. Like the time we ran there together, Minho."
He gets up with a frown. "That's strange. Always section three?"
"Yes." She nods. "I'm not sure if it's safe to run in anymore."
The Keeper shares a glance with the other Runners. "Okay. I'll check it out with you next week, yeah? Anyone else noticed anything strange?"
Carefully, Ben raises his hand. "Jim and I have been running away from quite some Grievers in section six lately."
Minho's face falls. "Shit— eh, Dan? You?"
"Section seven's been rough. I didn't want to tense anyone, but as we're speaking..."
"Oh." He runs a hand down his forehead. Looks around, swallowing. "Well, make sure you're extra careful. If it continues like this, we might have to give up."
Jim's eyebrows scrunch. "What about the Gladers? They'll know there's no way out."
"Then that's like that. We can't risk our lives likes this to keep their hopes up," Minho says. "Just keep it up, guys. We'll start teaming up from now on. In case the Grievers decide to harm more."
Their nods confirm they agree.
Joan turns around to hide the grin on her face, then searches for Alfred and Joe. She finds them at a picnic table, calmly eating dinner.
While her mind is full of darker thoughts, she still manages a real smile at them. "Hey, boys. Mind if I join?"
They shake their heads.
"So... anything up lately? Got everything under control as I'm in the Maze?" She wonders.
"I finished sharpening knives and axes," Joe says proudly.
Alfred gives him an encouraging nod. "Yeah, he did. I restocked the serums."
"Awesome!" She compliments. "Just let me know if it gets too much or y'all feel like I'm not doing enough."
"No, it's fine," they assure. "You're doing great."
The corners of her lips curve up. "Glad to hear that."
Then, the boys share a glance, both grinning.
Immediately, she's suspicious. "What?"
They look at each other again. "Well..."
"You know how Camil and Fry like to gossip about you and Gally?"
"Yeah, they're our best friends—"
"And we kind of overheard them."
"On accident!" Joe adds, blushing. "We were just getting our food."
"...and then we heard Camil tell Fry—"
"—that interesting things happened." Fry suddenly slides next to her, a big grin of his face.
Her mouth hangs open. "He wasn't supposed to tell you that!" She peeps.
"It's true?" They all gasp in unison.
"What? No. What would be true, anyways?"
"That you and Gally shucked," Alfred blurts out.
Frypan nudges him in the side. "Man, now Camil is dead."
Her mouth is still half open as she stares at them. "Yeah, he is. And so are you three."
"But it's true?"
Before she can even deny, someone sits down next to them.
"Gally! Good you're here. Now you can confirm if it's true what Camil told me."
Unbothered, the boy takes a bite off his food, resting his hand on Joan's leg. "Hm?"
"Did you and Joan happen to have any... fun lately?"
He stops chewing for a second, then continues. "Depends on what you mean with fun."
"You know what we mean."
"I'm not sure if I do. Explain."
"You know— intense moments."
He raises an eyebrow. "More context, perhaps?"
"How dumb can you be?" Alfred mutters, then raises his voice, "We mean if you did things."
"I still don't understand, unfortunately. There's this saying, though. That Builders aren't good with their heads, but they are with their hands?" He shrugs as if he didn't just confirm a lot. "Guess that's why I don't understand."
Fry claps in his hands. "It's true!"
"That happy, Fry?" She pulls a face. "Jealous?"
"Never," he decides.
Then Gally adds, "If you tease her or bother her with this one time, I swear to god I will—"
"It's alright," Joan assures fast. Her stomach twists all the way around at the thought of this protectiveness, yet she continues, "I'll handle them myself."
Gally nods in agreement, but shoots the three boys a warning glare after all.
❀
A/n: Do we mind if there's a few time skips so husband #25000 will arrive soonerrr?? (You know who I mean)
Sorry this is short again