"We never met, but I swear that you know who I am."
—NF, Therapy Session
CONTROL,
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
"THIS IS YOUR fault", Ruby grumbled with a pout, staring out the tiny little window. The Slammer rested between the Homestead and the northern Glade wall behind a bunch of untrimmed, thorny bushes. It was a giant clock of wood with one tiny little window and a wooden door with a rusty lock. Ruby was well acquainted with it by now.
Newt had come and opened it with his key, told them they placed an extra chair inside, and then ushered them inside. The chairs looked uncomfortable, but Ruby wasted no time in snatching up the best one. Thomas shot her a dirty look, to which she only smiled at him. "Have fun", Newt had chuckled as he locked them in. "Nice reward TGIF breaking the rules. Ya saved some lives, but you still need to learn—"
"Yeah, order, we know", Thomas had grumbled.
"You're not half bad", Newt grinned. "But, friends, or not, I've gotta run things properly, keep us buggers alive. Especially while Alby's out. You two should think about that while ya sit here and stare at the bloody walls." And then he had left. Like the child she was, Ruby had stuck her tongue out at him behind his retreating his back. She noticed that she did that a lot, and wondered if if had always been a habit of hers or if she only just picked that one up here in the Glade. She had no memories of doing it before. Must've been new.
The first hour had passed by now. Boredom was starting to settle in on the both of them. "No one told you to follow me in here", Thomas pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah", Ruby grumbled.
Thomas took a seat on his rickety chair, which had one leg shorter than the rest. "Can you tell me about us? I mean, not us us... Just whatever you remember that could be helpful", he asked.
Ruby leaned back, the front legs of her chair lifting off the ground for a brief moment. Well, if they were going to be locked up all day together, they may as well talk about something, right? It would certainly help the time pass faster than sitting around in silence all day, right?
Ruby rapped her fingers against her thighs for a second. Eventually, she nodded. "Sure. I can't tell you much about this place though", she shrugged. "Me, you, and Teresa, and..." She furrowed her brows. Why was that fourth name escaping her? "Someone else were smarter than the rest. I don't know how smart, but it must have been a pretty big deal, because they treated us like gold. They made us do this. Teresa always had a higher appreciation than we did though, I think it's because she saw her mom go through The Flare."
"Hold on, The Flare? What's that?"
Ruby shrugged. "No idea. Some kind of disease. Anyway, it must be pretty traumatizing. But you and Teresa, you were insanely special. Can't explain it. Guess I don't remember that much, but I think you had a different way of communicating— you have to be close though, at least in the same area. The three of us and some other people designed the Maze, buuut my mother must have known we were getting close because suddenly she pulled me from the project. My job was then to work on the Grievers, and that was it. We tried keeping things a secret then." Ruby didn't say anything more, drawing her knees up to her chest.
"So that's what she meant by 'we did this'..." Thomas trailed off, seemingly deep in thought.
They didn't speak again. Two more hours passed. Thomas remained deep in thought while Ruby watched the thorn bushes. It's like she expected them to suddenly do something.
Eventually, Chuck and Leo came and brought them lunch. A few pieces of chicken and two glasses of water. "How're you holding up, champ?", Leo asked with a grin.
"I'm losing it, Leo, I really am", Ruby whispered. "I'm going crazy in here."
Leo laughed. "I'm sorry, kiddo. At least the day is half over. Things are getting back to normal out here too, finally. Everyone's working like they should, the Runners are out doing their thing. We have a chance at surviving yet."
"Good, I'm glad", Ruby nodded, smiling a little. "Any updates on Gally?"
Leo frowned, unusual on his pretty face. "Not a peep. No one's seen him. Newt told the Runners to come back quick if they find his body. Oh! You'll be happy to know that Alby's up and about now. He seems alright. Newt is glad he doesn't have to be in charge anymore. Can't blame him."
"And you?", Ruby asked, raising a brow.
Leo grinned. "I'm just fine, babe, I swear."
"And Minho?"
"He's good, I think. He's a little too busy for me lately", Leo explained with a shrug. "I get it though. With everything that's going on... Well, his job is critical." Ruby reached through the bars and touched his arm. Leo leaned into the touch appreciatively. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm going a little crazy too. I wanna get out of here, but there's nowhere to go. Don't know where I would go." He moved his arm to grab her hand.
Ruby gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry about it, Leo. I promise I'll get you out of here. And, whatever's out there, we'll face it together, yeah?"
"Good that", Leo agreed, squeezing her hand in return. "Don't leave me behind, okay?"
Ruby smiled. "I would never. You, sir, are one of the best parts of my world. Without you, I'd probably be a lost soul."
Leo snickered. "Without me, you'd have starved your first few days here."
"Hardy-har-har", Ruby said sarcastically. "Thank you, my wonderful savior, Leonardo, for continuing to feed me and look after me like the good puppy that I am."
Leo snickered, glancing over at Chuck. He and Thomas seemed to be having a much deeper conversation than Leo and Ruby were. Part of him wondered if he should get Ruby to plug her ears so that the boys could have a nice, quiet moment together. But then he looked at Ruby. In her eyes, he saw everything and nothing at once. She was tired and broken down and sad. Leo knew that a vast majority of these emotions stemmed from the boy locked up next to her. His heart ached for Ruby. He couldn't imagine what he would do if Minho woke up one day and no longer loved him. Leo drifted off into deep thoughts.
Suddenly, Ruby was snapping her fingers in his face. "Hello? Yoo-hoo? Earth to Leo." Leo shook his head. He was trying to shake himself out of his daze, turning his pretty green eyes towards her.
"Huh?", he asked dumbly.
Ruby giggled a little. He'd never heard her do that before. It made him smile. "Where'd you go, dude?"
Leo shook his head, still smiling. "Just thinking. Nothing for you to worry about, babe. Sorry, I won't disappear again. Pinky promise." Ruby smiled, wrapping her pinky around his. Leo looked behind him, where one of the other Builders was calling his name. He turned back to her with a sigh. "I guess I better get going. Those slintheads'll skin me alive if I even think about slacking off too long." Leo backed away, and his fingers slipped out of Ruby's own.
She turned around to see a pacing Thomas. "What's got you all worked up now?"
Thomas's eyes were red, glistening with unshed tears. "We have to get them out. Promise me we'll get them out, Ruby", Thomas pleaded.
Ruby was slightly shocked. Her lips parted. She opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to find the right words. How could she promise that? Neither of them knew exactly what they needed to do. Not yet. Still though... Ruby swallowed thickly. She nodded her head. "I promise", she whispered. "We'll get them all home. As many as we can." She hoped so, anyway.
DECEMBER 14, 2019
in case y'all were wondering, yes: the end of
chapter 31 is horrifically sad when you're re
reading the book. 😭