Trapped - Gally x Reader - TMR

"Get up."

My neck started to burn. It was deep and twisting, like something was under my skin, digging into my spine.

I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping it would go away. It didn't work.

"Come on, you lazy shank, get the fuck up."

Ben crouched in front of me, arms resting on his knees, staring at me like I was being ridiculous.

No. No, that wasn't possible.

"You're dead," I whispered. My voice was hoarse, barely audible. "Ben, you..." I swallowed. "You survived?"

He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

"Come on, (Y/n)," he said instead, ignoring me. "You wanted to be a runner, right? This is what runners do. They run. They move."

A wave of nausea hit me. "No, I didn't want to be a runner. But... but Ben how?" I repeated, more desperate this time.

Ben pushed himself to his feet, staring down at me. He looked... different. His skin was clean, his hair free of sweat and dirt, his clothes fresh like they had just been washed. Not like someone who had been ripped apart in the maze.

The pain in my neck burned again, sharp and hot.

I gasped, gripping it, my fingers trembling.

Ben crouched back down. "Listen to me." His voice was softer now, almost gentle. "You don't have time to sit here and cry. It's already afternoon. If you don't move, you're gonna die here. You wanna die?"

I didn't answer.

He shook his head. "Didn't think so. Now get the hell up."

I tried. God, I tried. My arms shook as I pushed myself up, every muscle in my body screaming.

"I can't," I whispered, my throat tight. "Ben, I can't..."

"Yes, you can." His voice was firm again. "I see a big ivy just below you. Cling to it and slide down. You can do that, can't you?"

I turned my head, forcing my vision to focus. The vine was thick, strong enough to hold me.

I nodded weakly.

"Then go," he said.

I moved, my fingers curling around the ivy, my arms barely strong enough to hold my weight. It's so high. I'm so high up. No.. don't look down. Inch by inch, I slid down, the ivy digging into my palms.

Then... maybe seven feet before the ground, my grip slipped.

I crashed down, hard. Again. Fuck me.

My vision blackened. My head hurt. I wanted to stay there and just sleep.

The pain in my neck was suddenly gone.

I blinked up at the sky, accepting my fate. Ben was gone.

But then the pain in my neck returned. "Aaaaah!" I screamed turning to my side.

"Get up," he said again. Ben was back.

I let out a shaky breath, my entire body trembling. "No.."

"Now."

I groaned, biting down on my lip as I forced myself up, using the wall for support. My knees shook.

Ben started walking. "Just around this corner."

I limped after him, my breaths shallow, my body barely holding together. "Ben, wait..." My voice shook. "Tell me...tell me the truth."

He didn't look back.