Chapter 21
After the Gathering, Rachel walked up to Amy. "Hey, Amelia. Thanks."
Amy turned around. "Hmm?"
"For defending me."
She smiled faintly. "Well, you did save our bloody lives out there, Rachel. I'd be dead or stung if you hadn't thought of using the Cliff as a weapon. And Michelle-well-" Her face darkened. "She'd be dead too."
"No. It was your idea to trick the Grievers into jumping of the Cliff. I just helped."
"Remember that you thought of hoisting Michelle up on the walls with the vines. And...I probably would have panicked if you weren't there. When I'm on my own, the only thing I can think about is how to get out of here. If you hadn't been there, I would probably...probably have done something stupid. Hung myself using the vines on the walls. Jumped off the Cliff. I don't know." Amelia looked at Rachel with a haunted look that spooked her. Rachel knew she'd never forget that look. "So...thank you."
"Well, you're smart. You would have figured out a way to survive the night."
Any trace of that haunted look had vanished. "Maybe, Greenie." She yawned. Rachel registered the reuse of her nickname.
"Stop calling me that. Remember, the boy's the Greenie now. Not me."
Amy grinned."Whatever, Greenie. Well, I'm going to check on Michelle and get some sleep now. Just remember, I always pay back my debts. I owe you two. Well, one now. Got, it-no, I'm fine, Esther! It's just a bloody broken nose. I'll be fine. Yeah, okay. Anyways, I'll talk to you later, Greenie. Okay?" Rachel nodded, and she and Esther left together, leaving Rachel standing alone.
