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“They should be back by now.” Thomas paced back and forth, worry clouding over his thoughts.
“They’ll make it.” Newt stood near him. His gaze was focused on the large maze doors.
“But-“
“They’ll make it. They will get back.” Newt glanced at Thomas was a stern look which immediately made the boy shut his mouth. They stood in silence and watched the doors as if something could spring out at any moment.
“No way…” Another glader by the name of Zart mumbled. He walked forwards a few steps then spun around to face the others.
“They’re back!” He turned and ran. Chuck was on his heels in an instant. Newt and Thomas shared a look which was full of hope before they followed.
A group of boys gathered around the doors as two figures stumbled down the dark passage. Minho was dragging Alby along the ground and grunting heavily.
“Come on Minho!” Winston yelled. The other boys followed suit, with Gally and Chuck gesturing for Minho to run. Time was running out and Thomas felt uneasy. He jumped up and down on the spot whilst shouting.
“Minho come on man!” Frypan was trying to encourage everyone with chants. Suddenly, a loud boom echoed across the glade. It was followed by a grating sound and the amplified voices of the gladers.
“Minho you have to leave him! Run!”
Newt balled his fists and grated his teeth, he knew this wasn’t going to end well either way. The walls started closing and Thomas couldn’t stop himself.
Without thinking, he threw himself forwards. Newt clocked it quickly but it was too late. He reached his arm out but Thomas slipped out of his grasp. He watched in horror as the greenie shoved through the walls and disappeared from sight. Another boom sealed the deal. Newt had just lost the three most important people in his life. Chuck looked up at him and his face said it all.
“They won’t return, I’m sorry.” He said sadly. Chuck looked back towards the wall, hurt across his face.
All of the boys ceased their shouting and looked at each other nervously. Was that it? Were they all just gone now? Unrest spread and even Gally had lost his composure, kicking the wall angrily before storming off. Newt knew he had to act fast to keep spirits up.
“Alright, alright. I know that what we just witnessed was very unfortunate but we have to keep up with routines, Alby’s command.”
At the mention of their leaders name, the boys sadly huddled in groups and walked off. Being the second in command, Newt wanted to go back and work like the others to make a good impression but Zart looked at him and nodded, a signal for Newt to take a break. He tuned to the wall and slumped to the ground in defeat. No one had ever survived a night in the maze before. He had no hope to get snuffed out when morning came. Chuck hadn’t moved.
“Will they be okay?” He said in a quiet voice. Newt almost cried then but he had to be strong for the young boy. Carefully, he considered his words. He didn’t want to give Chuck false hope but at the same time, he didn’t want to crush the boy.
“I’m not sure…” Chuck faced him and tears were welling up in his eyes. Newt patted the ground beside him.
“But if there’s one thing I know, it is that those three slint-heads are the toughest group we have in the glade. If anyone was to not go down without a fight, it’s them.”
Chuck just nodded and curled into a ball. Newt felt sorry for the guy. It had been his job to look after Thomas and the pair had grown a brotherly bond in such a short time. He himself was also heartbroken by the loss of Thomas. Even with the memory swipe, Newt felt a strong connection to the new boy, as if they had been friends before the maze. He had spent a lot of time with him and had grown fond of his caring and funny attitude. For him to vanish hurt deeply.
He also was destroyed by the losses of Minho and Alby. They were his first real friends at the glade and they were almost like Newt’s brothers. They had also saved his life before. Guilt filled his heart as the realisation slapped him. He hadn’t been able to pay back the favour, he had just stood there while their fate was set in place.
Then again, in the maze he wasn’t much help- just a dead weight. He sighed and put his head in his hands. Eventually, meal time came around and despite the gloomy atmosphere of the glade, everyone gathered and talked together like normal. Newt sent Chuck away to get food and go to bed. Chuck reluctantly agreed and as soon as Newt was alone, he cried. He cried, and cried, and cried. Only quietly so no one disturbed him, but he needed it.
If he was to go through another uncertain day, he would need his emotions stable. His shoulders shook as tears cascaded down his face. He made an effort to try and wipe them away and looked up at the walls. An image flashed across his mind, he had almost stopped Thomas. His arm had been just there. He felt the skin under his fingertips and then it was gone, swallowed by the menacing jaws of the maze. Newt wiped his face on his shirt and stood up shakily. He couldn’t sit there all night, it would worry the other boys too much. Instead, he made his way to the forest.
It was completely silent, except for one or two beetle blades scuttling past his feet and disappearing. A tree with a blanket below it on the floor stood tall in the gloomy night. Thomas’s favoured sleeping place. A smile tugged at Newt’s lips as he recalled seeing Thomas napping there after a long day. He had acted as ‘Glade mother’, giving him a blanket and warning the other boys to leave him be. Now, the spot Thomas would usually be curled up in was bare. The blanket strewn on the ground. Newt picked the cover up and sat down at the bottom of the tree.
Out of sight from any prying eyes, he wrapped the blanket around him and curled up on the floor. He let out a quiet sob and let tears fall until sleep took over.
The next day, Newt was up before the sun. He tossed the blanket to the side and ran out of the woods. Chuck was already by the doors and Newt could see him from across the glade. Calmly, he walked over and stood beside the boy.
“Chuck…”
“Thomas is going to be there, just you wait.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
Chuck grimaced and mumbled, “They will.” Gally and Jeff were the first of the other gladers to join them. Many of the other boys had gone off to work as usual, not hopeful at all. Newt reminded everyone not to be overly excited but his mind was racing. Had they survived? Silently, he begged whoever had put them there to let them be alive.
“Please,” he thought,
“Please not them. Not Alby, not Minho. Not Tommy…” A loud boom signalled the answers to their questions. This was it. Grating sounds screeched and the walls opened.
A hushed nervousness descended upon the group. After a few moments, there was nothing.
The boys weren’t there.
Newt could’ve cried. He could’ve screamed. He could’ve collapsed. He didn’t. He had to be strong, he had to be the leader the glade needed now Alby was absent.
“I told you, they’re not coming.” Grumbles and sad sighs filled the air as the boys turned to go. Newt turned to leave having had his closure, but he looked back to the maze again. He took a step towards the homestead when a loud voice rattled his nerves.
“Look!” Chuck yelled and happiness was evident in his voice. Newt spun back around and saw Minho and Thomas holding Alby between them.
“They’re back. They made it!” Chuck’s cries had startled the other gladers and many of them rushed back to the doors.
“You can do it Minho!”
“C’mon Thomas!” Voices screamed and shouted as the three staggered down the corridor. As soon as they were in front of Newt, he dashed forwards and pulled them out of the maze.
Everyone quieted down as the boys slunk to the floor, panting heavily and looking dishevelled. Alby was laid out on the ground and Jeff was there in an instant, inspecting his wounds.
“Stung…” he muttered. There was no time to be sad about that though, Alby was still alive. That in itself was a miracle. Then, all attention turned to the conscious pair.
“Did you see a griever?” Chuck blurted out. Thomas looked up at him, still catching his breath.
“Yeah, I saw one.”
“No, no, he didn’t just see one,” Minho grabbed everyone’s focus now, “he killed it.”
Whispers and chatter erupted with the gladers. Newt took charge again.
“Okay. They’re safe now. Back to work stations- and you three need medical attention. Now.” The gladers dispersed and some med jacks carried Alby away. Minho got to his feet and stumbled, but kept his balance and followed the doctors. Chuck hugged Thomas briefly before returning to his job.
Newt smiled at their interaction. He had been so worried about both of them. As soon as Chuck was out of sight, Thomas stood up. He swayed a little and Newt watched him intently.
Frypan was still there and he put a hand out, “You okay greenie?” Thomas took a few steps but he grunted and grasped onto his stomach. He staggered forwards and fell into Newt. Newt quickly grabbed him and held him off of the ground awkwardly.
“Tommy?” Thomas wasn’t conscious anymore. Newt grumbled and nodded to Frypan.
“Little help here?”
Newt hoisted Thomas up and the boy was lighter than he had thought. Frypan helped Thomas onto Newt’s back and they walked to the homestead. Inside of the building, Alby had been put on a bed and Jeff was fumbling around with medicines. Another room held Minho who was sat up as another kid bandaged up his arm. In the next room, the girl was still sleeping in her coma.
Newt quickly passed her room, something about her made him feel uneasy. Frypan let them into the next available room and Newt let Thomas slide off of his back and onto the bed.
“Greenie’s a little crazy don’cha think?” Frypan put his hands on his hips and shook his head.
Newt smiled, “Yeah.” He laid Thomas on to the bed and stood up, “You can return to your kitchen now Fry.” Frypan nodded and left, leaving Newt with his sleeping friend. He didn’t know the first thing about medicine, but he had been taught about wounds and plasters by Jeff a while back.
Carefully, he seized a roll of bandages and studied Thomas’s body. He had grazes and cuts over his arms and Newt dreaded to see what the rest of him looked like. He had literally been through hell out there in his first month alone. He was patching up Thomas’s arm when Jeff entered.
“Good work Newt, but I can take it from here.”
“Thanks Jeff.” Newt headed out and went to Minho’s room. The runner looked tired and angry, but that wasn’t too far from how he was usually. Newt leant on the doorframe and crossed his arms.
“Greenie hold up good?”
Minho looked startled but returned to frowning, “Very.”
Newt noticed Minho’s unusual demeanour, “What’s wrong?”
“He shucking saved Alby whilst I ran like a coward!” Minho threw his hands up in the air and looked at the floor.
“Huh?”
“It’s exactly how it sounds. The shank was determined to save Alby but I was ready to bolt any minute. As soon as I heard a griever, I was out of there-“ Minho paused and slicked his hair back, “b..but he managed to get Alby up in that ivy, somehow. He ran to follow me after and the slint-head decided ‘why not eh? Let’s trick a griever while I’m here’ then guess what he shucking did? He got a griever crushed between walls.”
“Woah, calm it mate. You’re bloody exhausted.” Newt sat down beside his friend and Minho slowed his breathing.
“Sorry. It was just madness out there though. You couldn’t fathom my confusion when lo and behold, we found Alby up there in the morning,” Minho took a breath and looked Newt dead in the eyes, “I don’t know if that shuck face is brave or stupid, but we need more of it.”
Newt patted Minho’s back, “You both bloody did it. Remember that. Both of you survived the night. Both of you saved Alby. You didn’t leave him behind either.” Minho smiled slightly and nodded. “Good. Now get some rest you bloody idiot.” Newt smiled and left the room. The med jacks had fixed everyone up by the afternoon and Newt found himself sitting at Alby’s bedside.
“Hey Alby.” Newt didn’t really know what to say, but he swallowed his nerves.
“Those two shanks saved your bloody arse today so when you wake up, you better be grateful.” Newt grinned, then his smile fell.
“I’m not sure if you can hear me in your state, but I need you to know that there is something special about Tom- Thomas. The guy has klunk for brains yet he always has a plan of action. He might be our way out of the maze. Gally would be fuming right now but he can think whatever he wants, I don’t give a shuck. Sorry if I’m rambling. I just want you to know that we have hope. Please pull through, being a leader isn’t really my style.” Newt chuckled and squeezed Alby’s hand.
“Hold tight mate.” He left the room slowly and returned to the gardens to work. A couple of hours passed but there was only one thing on Newt’s mind the whole time, Thomas. He couldn’t focus at all and wanted to go to the homestead to see him again but Minho, who had refused to lie in bed all day, dragged him to get some food.
“You haven’t eaten anything for ages, I know it.” He yanked Newt by his wrist as the other tried to pull away.
“It’s not that big of a deal! I’ll be fine-“
“We’re getting food, then you can see you shuck-faced boyfriend.”
Newt paused and felt his face flush, “What?”
Minho rolled his eyes and grinned, “Cat got your tongue huh? C’mon, eat something.” Newt wasn’t in the mood to fight Minho anymore so he let himself be pulled down to Frypan’s kitchen. A few minutes later, they both had large bowls of Fry’s special stew.
“Eat up.” Minho was guzzling down his plate. Newt ignored him and took a few small bites. His mind was elsewhere. What Minho had said had really resonated in his head. “Boyfriend”. Why did it bother him so much? Then yet again, it made him feel happy. It was weird.
“Earth to Newt?” A face popped up in front of him.
“Oh… hi Clint.” The boy smiled and pointed to his plate.
“You eating that?”
“Go away shank.” Minho batted Clint’s hand away from Newt’s plate.
“Aww shucks.” The guy walked away and Newt forced himself to eat.
“Everyone is bothering me today.” Minho grumbled as he finished his meal.
“Everyone always bothers you. You’re just a brat.”
Minho kicked him under the table and the boys laughed playfully.
As soon as Minho left to go to sleep, Newt rushed as fast as he could to the homestead. He made his way up to Thomas’s room and stood awkwardly outside of the door. Why had he wanted to go there again? Thomas’s peaceful face was enough of a reason. Newt opened the door and it creaked loudly. He crept inside, only to see Chuck in the chair beside Thomas.
“Hey Newt!” He said happily.
“Chuck,” Newt nodded, “Is he any better?”
Chuck put his thumbs up, “A med jack told me he should wake up tomorrow and his injuries are only minor. Exhaustion was the worst thing but he’s recovering.”
“Good that.” Newt crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, “Shouldn’t you be in bed mister? It’s dark outside.”
Chuck sighed, “I’m not a baby, I don’t need a bedtime!”
“Minhos already sleeping.” Newt saw a gleam in Chuck’s eyes. The kid didn’t like being babied but he always liked getting compared to Minho, probably because he looked up to the runner a lot.
“Minho’s in bed already?”
“Yep and you saying it’s a baby thing to do…”
“Oh no no! If Minho’s sleeping, I’ll sleep too.” The boy jumped up and bounded out of the room.
“Night Newt!”
“Sleep well Chuck.” Once the kid left, Newt sat beside Thomas and smiled at him. He didn’t know why he felt such a strong connection to him, but he did and that was all that mattered.
Another thing played in Newt’s mind. In those few moments where Thomas ran into the maze, Newt realised something. From that moment Thomas ran into the maze, Newt knew he would follow him anywhere. And he hoped he did. He hoped they all did. Thomas was full of surprises and hopefully, one of them was their freedom. Maybe, one day, everyone could be safe and happy, without constant confusion and the ominous feeling they were trapped.
Outside, it was silent except from the occasional screech of a griever. Newt stood up and turned the light off, but he heard a noise as he left the room.
“Newt..?” Newt turned the lights on again and leant on the doorframe.
“Well, sleeping beauty is awake at last.”
Thomas sat up and rubbed his eyes, “Jeez, how long was I out for?”
“Uhh, bout a day?”
“Good. I could sleep for weeks.” Then, Thomas looked at Newt and frowned.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
Newt shrugged, “Sending Chuck to bed. Was also about to check up on Jeff, poor guys been busy with you lot.” Newt lied straight to Thomas’s face. He just couldn’t admit that he was only there to see him.
Surprisingly, Thomas looked disappointed but he quickly put on a grin.
“Right… so do I have to sleep here or what?”
“Do you prefer sleeping with nature over a bed? You’re one strange man Tommy.”
Thomas sniggered, “Maybe ‘cause I get a nice goodnight and a cosy blanket when I’m out there.” Newt immediately turned red and turned off the lights so Thomas couldn’t see him
“You, sleep. Now.” He joked lightheartedly, but his pulse was through the roof. Was he… flustered?
“Aww…” Thomas whined, “Can’t you stay?”
“Why?”
“I don’t like being lonely.” He pouted and Newt rolled his eyes.
“They need to cut off whatever medicine they’re giving you. You’re delirious.” He chuckled and shut the door, walking into the dark room.
“I’m nottt.” Thomas laid back down and turned to face the wall, “But I am shucking tired. Don’t snore and keep me awake.”
“I can just go-“
“No. No please stay.” Thomas almost sounded sad. Newt sat in the chair next to the bed and closed his eyes.
“Did Jeff give you some of Gally’s drink?”
“Maybe? I have a horrible taste in my mouth so yeah, probably.”
“No wonder. You were probably in pain due to your injuries and that stuffs strong. Alcohol I believe.”
“Hmph.”
“Night Tommy.”
Thomas was already gone. Newt knew that he probably wouldn’t remember this conversation when he woke up.
Tired but content, he shut his eyes and let sleep take him.
In the morning, he woke up with a blanket drooped over him. His eyes flickered a few times until they readjusted to the light. Thomas was curled up on his bed asleep. Had Thomas given him his blanket? Newt felt pleased and smiled. He wanted to savour the moment but Minho burst through the door.
“Wake up slint-heads. Gally called a keepers meeting and he is pissed.” Newt jumped up and Thomas groaned groggily.
“C’mon Tommy.” Newt grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the bed, “Wake up a bit. I think this bloody meeting is about you.”
That woke Thomas right up.
The three walked down to the meeting hut where they were met with the sour faces of Gally’s gang. One guy stepped in between Newt and Thomas and forced Thomas to the front where he was sat in front of a large crowd. Newt walked to the centre and met Gally.
“Why are we here?” Frypan asked. Him, Winston, Zart and a couple of other guys were sat in a semicircle. The keepers.
“Because we need order. This shank is being a slint-head and breaking our rules but keeps getting out Scott free.”
Murmurs filled the room but Newt made everyone quiet.
“I see.”
“No you don’t. You’re letting him walk all over us. The other day, he broke the rules. He left the glade despite not being a runner. He needs to be punished.”
“Gally I see your point, and I agree.” Over at the side, Thomas felt his heart break a little. Wasn’t Newt going to defend him? Maybe even Minho?
Newt faced Thomas, then the crowd.
“Thank you Newt.” Gally huffed and crossed his arms proudly.
“Keepers, what do you think?” The guys stayed silent until Zart spoke up.
“He saved Minho and Alby though. Doesn’t he deserve some praise?” Newt hushed the crowds, the turned to Winston.
“Uhm, I don’t know. I mean, rules are rules.”
Then Frypan, “He’s a total shuck up but he saved those guys. A punishment is a little overboard.”
“No, I say we banish him.” Gally grumbled and kicked the ground. Newt ignored him.
“Minho?”
The runner looked exhausted but defiant, “I have said this before, look, I don’t know whether he’s brave or stupid. But we need more of it. I say we make him a runner. Not only that, but he is considerably better than me. We should make him keeper of the runners.”
An outbreak of gasps and talking burst out and Gally’s shouts were lost in the ruckus. Newt raised his hands and yelled at everyone to be quiet.
“I have decided he needs to be punished a bit, he broke our rules. One night in the pit and no food.”
“What? Oh come on Newt!” Gally glared at him. “Do you think that’s going to stop him from going into the maze?”
Newt frowned, “No. And we can’t just have non runners running into the maze whenever they feel like it, so from now, Thomas. You’re a runner.” Voices erupted from everywhere but Thomas was just looking at Newt with awe. This was it! He was going to be a runner. Frypan had to bang some pots together to quiet everyone down. Newt turned to Thomas and spoke to him directly.
“Tom-Thomas. You will spend today in the pit, then tomorrow you can go into the maze.”
Thomas nodded happily. Two of Gally’s friends seized Thomas and dragged him to the pit. Newt watched him sadly. He had wanted to spend the day with Thomas but he guessed it would have to wait. Newt didn’t dare leave the meeting hall until everyone had cleared out. Quickly, he made his way over to the pit.
“Tommy?”
The boy’s head popped up and he smiled. “Hi Newt. I was getting kinda lonely in here.” He stuck his hands out of the small bars to pull himself up and he rested them there.
“Already? You’ve got a long way to go then.” He sat down outside and smiled.
“I guess… but thank you for standing up for me in there.”
“Nah, it was only right.”
“But seriously, thanks.” Newt nodded and kept his gaze focused on Thomas.
“Feeling better?”
Thomas rubbed the back of his neck, “Honestly, I can’t even remember anything past getting out of the maze and touching grass.”
“Well, Jeff gave you some alcohol and I think you got pissed.”
“Huh?”
“Gally’s stuff.”
“Eugh. Not good.”
“Mhm, I was talking to you last night and you seemed drunk which was funny.”
“Wait, you were with me last night?”
Newt paused and broke his gaze, “Uh, yeah. I sent Chuck to bed, then you woke up and begged me to stay with you. Sweet.” He winked and he swore that Thomas went red. The boy looked away, embarrassed .
“Uhuh.”
“ Tommy?” Newt looked back into Thomas’s eyes, “You’re a runner now, but please promise me you’ll be safe. I was worried about you shuck-faces all day. And… I was so upset that you ran like that. I mean, I am glad you saved those shanks but…”
Thomas picked up on what Newt was trying to say.”
“I’ll be careful, but now we have a dead griever on our hands! Even Minho was shocked. Don’t you understand? This just might be pivotal-“
“No, you don’t understand Tommy,” Newt balled his fists and grated his teeth, “Barely a day ago, I almost bloody lost the three people closest to me-“ Thomas tried to interrupt but Newt raised a hand, silencing him, “and now you’re so desperate to escape into the maze again, which means throwing yourself into danger and leaving me? What if you go for good this time? I was so worried about you slint-heads!”
Newt expected Thomas to counter his argument but he didn’t, he just looked at Newt with a surprised softness in his eyes.
“I’m one of the three people closest to you?” Of course that was the one thing that Thomas picked up from Newt’s rant.
Newt sighed and relaxed his nerves, “Yeah I suppose.” Thomas’s shoulders fell and he looked up at Newt sadly.
“Newt, I’m curious about what’s in the maze, believe me, but a part of me doesn’t want to know. Right now, I’d happily stay just here with you for the rest of my life. Honest.” Newt was taken aback. Had he just heard Thomas correctly? Newt looked down at him and saw his embarrassed face.
“Sorry if that sounded weird I-“
Newt placed his hand on top of one of Thomas’s and stared into his eyes, “Just please be safe. Please always come home to me.” Thomas gawked for a moment before grinning and nodding profusely.
“Every time.”
Newt squeezed his hand, then let go and stood up.
“Seeya around greenie.” He turned on his heel and left a very flustered Thomas to dwell in the pit.