AN: I am moved into my house, but my life is still in boxes. So I'm sorry for the slow updates. I didn't want to make you guys wait much longer so this is probably just another short chapter to keep your interest. =) Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited and followed. I love you all.
The Maze Runner Series
And The Stars Have Fallen
Chapter 4: Come What May
"Mia, Mia – it's time to wake up." A voice called her name as she let out a groan. "Five more minutes Shuck face." She mumbled into her arm. A chuckle of a laugh caused her eyes to snap open. "I mean it Minho." She growled at him, playfully. The boy grabbed her blanket before she could secure it to her body and took off running. "MINHO!" She growled, rolling out of bed but making no attempt to go after the boy. "Damn runners."
She looked around the Glade and frowned, the sun hadn't risen yet but some of the boys were already starting their day. The girl contemplated sneaking to someone else's empty bed and sleeping for an extra hour but she knew that it wouldn't work; Alby was already making his rounds. She rolled her shoulders and stretched before heading over to the kitchen. Her job assigned to her was an easy one; she was to report to Frypan (though she preferred to call him by his name, Siggy) and receive the list of ingredients needed for lunch and dinner. After visiting him she was to head over to the gardens and requests those items from Zart, who would also give her food for the animals at the Slaughterhouse.
Her job then was to feed the animals and look them over for any signs of illness. Once done she would return to Siggy and give him the supplies for the day's meals. He didn't always want help in the kitchen so then she was free to do whatever she wanted for the rest of the day. "Morning Green bean!" Frypan greeted her as she entered his area of camp. "Good morning Sig. What's on the menu today?" He smiled at her eagerness to get started. "I'll need some potatoes, carrots and raspberries from the gardens. I know you hate doing it but I'll also need some meat from Winston." He watched her frown and nodded her head. Winston gave her the creeps, probably because he seemed to take a joy in slicing up her animal friends.
"Yes, sir." She turned around and started for the gardens before a certain sandy-haired boy caught her attention. She started to jog over to him; his back to her as he talked to Minho. Once she was close enough she jumped up and onto his back, latching her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. "Morning Newt." She giggled as she felt him stagger at her sudden weight. He was quick though moving his arms to under her thighs to support her up on his back. "Morning Love. Cheerful as ever I see." She nodded her face into his neck before she playfully glared at Minho. "Even though I was rudely woken up this morning."
The other boy laughed. "Should have gotten up with everyone else and then I wouldn't have to be so mean." This comment resulted in her sticking her tongue out at him. "Oi, you two shanks better fight nice."
Mia slide off the boys back as the walls of the Maze started to crack open. "I guess I should let you boys get to work." She gave Minho a hug. "Make sure you're back in time for dinner, Siggy is making a good meal." Minho took off jogging as she turned to Newt and hugged him as well. "Be safe." He held her close and she breathed in his scent, allowing her to relax. "Always am. Have a good day darling." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled back to smile at her.
With that he was off with the other runners following close behind. She found herself still staring at the Maze doors long after all the boys disappeared. The girl decided it would be best to get back to her duties before Alby found her loitering around the Glade. She greeted Zart with the smile and he returned one back. "Morning Greenie." She frowned immediately at the name. "It's only until a new Glader comes along, don't be so serious." She sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "Or so you say." She started walking around the gardens looking for what she needed for Siggy. "Got anything for the animals?" She asked. "There is a basket of bruised goods at the post." Zart stated before getting back to work.
Mia gathered her needed items and went over to the Slaughterhouse. Before entering the building she took a deep breath and forced a natural smile on her face. "Morning Winston." She greeted the boy. He looked surprised to see her at first but then made the connection that meat was needed. "What will it be today?" She frowned as she realized that Siggy didn't specify what kind of meat he wanted. "He didn't say – just said he needed meat." Winston looked her up and down. "I'll send something over in a little bit. Can you check on the female goat? She seems off." Mia nodded her head and scurried out of the building – glad to have something to do.
After feeding the other animals she stopped at the goat's pen; the doe looked fine, eyes clear, temperature felt fine to the touch, teeth were fine, belly large – maybe a little larger than normal. The girl walked back into the Slaughterhouse at the wrong time; Winston had just cut the head off of a chicken causing her to jump and go pale. Blood covered the front of the boy's shirt as he turned to look at her after hearing her gasp loudly. "It's your own fault for coming back in Slinthead." He stated gruffly at her. She didn't speak for a moment, just taking in the blood all over his torso. It made him impatient. "What do you want?" He barked the question at her causing her to jump again to look at his face. "Uh, the goat… I don't think she's sick." She tore her eyes away from his and looked at door frame. "I think she might be pregnant. I'll keep an eye on her and let you know when I'm positive on that." She then took her leave. It wasn't that she had a problem with meat or eating it; she just felt bad because they were her animal friends.
Siggy relieved her of her duties when she came back with some of the supplies that he asked for. She told him that Winston would send the meat over later. Now with her freedom she decided to lie under her tree and think about things. Her tree wasn't really much, just one that provided shade and sometimes Gally and her would have lunch there. She took a spot and closed her eyes; it was normally during her day naps that she had visions of before the Glade. Gally filled most of her memories, followed by a close second of Newt. In fact she had tiny visions of every Glader but they didn't know that. She confined in Gally and Newt. Mia curled onto her side and smiled as she felt the sun warm her exposed legs as she allowed herself to sleep.
"Gally, I don't like this at all." She whimpered into his chest, a fistful of his shirt was in her hand. She could feel his fingers running through her hair in a soothing gesture. "I know kitten." He pulled back to look her in the face. "You know I will do whatever I have to in order to keep you safe, right?" He asked her. She nodded her head as tears filled her eyes. "We all have to protect each other. I'm sure these tests won't be too hard and then we can continue to stay here." He brushed a tear with his thumb. "I know, it's just… what if they don't like the results?" Gally pulled her close again. "Everything will be fine." He whispered into her hair as the door to their room opened.
"Oi, not you too Love." The voice caused her to pull away from Gally. "Bloody hell, Elle's in _'s room crying over the same thing." The name was blocked from her memory for the time being. The door opened again to reveal a woman in a white jacket. "Gally, it's your testing time."
"I'll be back in half and hour Mia." He kissed the top of her head and released her from his grip before following the woman. Mia sat on the bed, fresh tears surfacing in her eyes. "Oh, sweet heart, come here." The other boy held his arms open for her and she quickly crossed the room to him. "What are you so afraid of love?" He asked her as she clung to him. "What if they don't like the results? What if he fails? We can't survive out there Newt." He kissed her forehead and pulled her back to her bed. "Gally is smart and will do fine. Try not to worry about it. Will you lay with me?" He questioned as he sat on the bed first. She nodded her head as she wiped her tears away. She crawled into the bed with him; tangling her legs with his as she hid her face in his neck.
A kick to her shoe caused her to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was green and she remembered she was in the Glade. "What didn't get enough sleep last night kitten?" Gally's voice caused her to roll over onto her back and stare at him. "Don't be such a Shuck-face." She grumbled at him. He took a seat next to her. "Ya alright?" He asked watching as she stared at the leaves above them on the tree. "I wonder what tests they were preforming." She spoke out load. "Tests?" Gally questioned her.
She pulled herself up into a sitting position and looked at him. "I had another flash." She stated before telling him what she had just seen. Gally listened carefully, in hopes that something she saw would trigger something in him; but once again he didn't remember anything. "I worry if my 'memories' are real or if I've just dreamt them up." Mia stated as she looked at Gally's hands before taking them into hers. She absent mindedly traces the scars and callouses from him working with his hands daily. "Don't think like that Kitty Cat." He frowned at her. "I hope they're real." She whispered. "I cared about you all so much."
"Are you saying you don't care now?" Gally asked her in a teasing voice. She playfully shoved his hands from hers. "Nope." She answered as she popped the 'p'. He ruffled her hair and stood up. "Come to the builders, we're a lot more fun than you sitting her by yourself." She fixed her hair and nodded her head. "Okay." She sat with the builders for lunch, laughing at the jokes the boys shared around the area. Once they finished their meals she helped pass tools to Gally when he needed them. She wanted to talk more about her flash that she had that afternoon but she didn't really like anyone else knowing about her memories.
There were a few times that she went back into the kitchen to see if Frypan wanted any help but he kept just shooing her away. So she sat in the middle of the field, a good distance from the Maze doors while she waited for the runners to return. She could feel Gally's watchful eye from time to time while she braided the grass around her. A few times she saw a Beetle Blade skitter through the grass pass her and head toward the wooded area. She highly disliked the creepy metal bugs and avoided any eye contact with them.
As she sat there thinking about all the memories she remembered she felt a jolt to her head as a new memory entered her mind. She closed her eyes to concentrate on it before it could leave her again.
A extremely loud bang echoed in the building, the sound on metal scraping against metal caused her to grind her teeth as the sound echoed in her ears. "Newt, I'm scared." She whispered as the lights in the building flickered. "I've got you. You're safe darling." He held her protectively from behind, securing her to his chest; his breath tickling across her neck.
She snapped back to reality and opened her eyes to see the first runners entering the Glade. She greeted each of them back home by name and even got a few high fives. Minho jogged over to her and without stopping scooped her up, spinning her around a few times causing her to shriek a laugh and cling to his shoulders. "Miiiiiiinhooooo, stoooooop iittt!" He placed her firmly back on the ground and smiled at her. "It's so nice to be greeted home by such a pretty face. We used to be greeted by Alby and well let's just say he isn't as lovely as you." She rolled her eyes at him. "Get washed up Shuck, dinner is soon."
Newt and Ben came running in as Minho left her, both boys stopped in front of her to greet her. "How was your day Greenie?" Ben smiled at her, knowing she hated the nickname "Fine. How was your run Benny?" She grinned back knowing he hated that nickname as well. "Touché my lady. It was alright." She turned her attention to Newt. "How was your run Newt?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "The same as always. I'll see you at dinner; I'm going to go wash up." He stated before jogging off causing her to frown. It must have been a rough day in the Maze; he wasn't usually short with her. "Don't mind him, he will be fine." Ben stated as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The act alone caused her to pause as another flash jumped into her head.
"So you'll talk to her for me?" Ben asked excitedly. "Of course; you're a nice guy Ben, she'd be crazy to not like you." Mia smiled at the boy. "You're the best." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I will give you my dessert tonight for doing this."
"Mia? You alright?" Ben asked looking concerned. She shook her head and took in a deep breath. "Yeah, sorry – got lost in thought there." She'd have to talk to Gally about all these frequent memories today. "Alright, well I'll see you at dinner Shank." With that Ben was off leaving her alone in the middle of the Glade.
Mia didn't go to dinner; in fact she went back to her tree to be away from everyone. She never had this many flashes in a day. It was breaking pattern; normally she'd have a dream or a flash every other day and she had been here for two weeks now.
"Newt, what's happening?" She asked as she entered his room after getting his note for her to see him. "Sweetheart…" He trailed off. "They need to do more tests; longer tests." He stated. "What do you mean?" She asked. "I'm being put in the trial." He stated and she froze. "N-no." She couldn't believe him. Alby had gone to the trial and a few others had already gone into trial. None of them have returned. "I have no choice." He stated. "Why? Why you?" She started breathing quickly. "I passed the first tests." She felt herself shatter. She had failed the test but Gally passed, letting them remain in the compound. "Oh god." She whispered. "What about Gally?... Newt, I can't have you both leave me. Actually, neither one of you can leave me. Please… Newt don't leave."
His arms were around her in an instant. "I don't want to." They held each other for a long time when the door opened to his room and the scientists were there. "It is time Newt." One of the men stated. Mia's grip tightened on the boy and he squeezed her back. She felt a kiss to the side of her neck and a whisper to her ear. "I love you." Her eyes widened as he slipped from her arms and started for the door. "Wait!" She spun around and looked at the boy but a scientist pulled him from the room. "Newt!" She cried out.
"NEWT!" She yelled as she sat up gasping for air, her chest shuddering with every breath. The boy in question sat next to her, eyes wide from her sudden outburst. "Darling?" He called out to her, causing her eyes to snap to his. "You alright?" He asked. "You're here." She whispered as if she didn't believe it. "Of course I am. I was worried when you didn't show for dinner. Gally is worried sick as well." He stated as he looked over her features. She was obviously upset; her body shaking, she had small bags under her eyes – signifying a lack of good rest. It was strange; she seemed fine this morning and he hadn't been visiting his bed at night with her nightmares. He assumed that she was getting better with her night terrors; clearly he was missing something. "What's wrong sweetheart?" He eyes softened at her. "You were leaving me." She stated. He shook his head. "Did I upset you that much with my bloody foul mood this afternoon that you're having nightmares about me leaving?" She shook her head in a negative manner. "No, it wasn't a dream." She whispered.
That got his attention. "Was it a memory?" He got a nod as a reply. "Do you want to talk about it?" This time he received a negative head shake. "What can I do?" She looked up at him. "Hold me?" She suggested and he didn't think twice as he pulled her into his lap, her head resting against his collarbone.
They sat in silence as she calmed her breaths. After a few minutes she pulled back to look him in the face taking in every detail. He was older now than he was in her memory, his hair longer. Her fingers trailed over his cheeks and neck; his pulse beating steady under her fingertips. There was a cut above his eye brow that wasn't in her memory; he must have gotten it in the Maze this morning. Her finger gently brushed over the scab there. Her hands then trailed down his arms to his hands where she studied his fingers; his were cut like Gally's but not as calloused.
He watched her closely trying to find out what was running through her head at the moment. Her brows were furrowed in deep thought. He couldn't help but reach up and caress her face as she released his hands to drag her hands back up his arms. He couldn't deny that her hands gliding over his skin felt good, he didn't want her to stop. She took in a shaky breathe and closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. "You told me that they were taking you away." She opened her eyes and looked at him. He just stared at her, his silent encouragement to keep going. "I didn't want you to go but you said there was no choice. You passed the tests and so they needed you." She looked down at his arm as his hand rested on the side on her neck. "Gally had passed the same test and I was worried that I'd be alone. Then they came and they took you away. I called out for you but they wouldn't let you go."
He noticed her breathing hitched with sadness. "Well, I'm with you now. I don't plan on leaving you again, and they can't make me." He leaned forward and his hand wove into her hair dragging her face toward his. Their foreheads touched and she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Newt."
"No problem darling." He whispered. "Let's get something for you to eat and you and I are calling it a night." He stated before pressing his lips to her forehead. She nodded in agreement and slowly removed herself from his lap. "I'd like that."
A/N: So once again sorry for the long wait. Please let me know what you think of the chapter. I hope to update again sooner this time!