Chapter 9
Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln
Running helped a lot. The Glade was falling apart without Nick, Newt and Alby rarely spoke and both looked like they gone through hell and back, and worst of all was the despair. It hung in the air, like fog, but it wasn't visible. You couldn't see it or touch it. You could only feel it.
It was two nights after they'd created a makeshift gravestone for Nick when the first Glader tried to leave. Minho and Tessa had just come back from the Maze and out through the doors when a Glader ran towards them. It was only after they'd chased him down and restrained him when Tessa finally figured out his name. It was Chris. He was sobbing, horrible heart breaking sobs, as he was tied down.
"Sorry, pal," Minho muttered, knotting the ropes together nimbly. "It's for your own good."
"We're all going to die!" he wailed, desperately tugging at his bonds. "It's just better we die sooner!"
"Chris," she bent down in front of him and gave him her best smile. "It's going to be okay. Minho and I are still running the Maze. We'll find a way out." He kept sobbing, ignoring her words, until finally Minho and her left to go to the Runner's hut. As they were walking, they passed Frypan and Clint, two of the only Gladers who kept at it, who hadn't given up yet.
The boy was tall, well built, with blonde hair and sad blue eyes. She nudged Minho before sitting down next to the Greenie, who was staring blankly into space as Frypan and Clint did their best to cheer the boy up.
"Come on," Clint patted the boy on the shoulder. "It'll get better."
Frypan nodded in agreement, "It was hard for all of us at first, Lincoln."
The boy shuddered and put his head on his knees and started to rock back and forth. Tessa heard him as she sat down, "No…no…this is just a dream."
"It's not a dream, kid," Tessa growled. Clint shot a warning look at her but she ignored it. It was time the Gladers picked themselves up, got back to work, and stopped crying. Nick was gone; crying and pouting wouldn't change that.
"We've all been where you are!" she yelled. "We've been through more than you have. So get your shit together and help us, or I'll personally throw you into the Maze."
"I didn't know you had that in you," Minho grinned for what seemed like the first time in days. The two picked up their dinner from Frypan and walked outside to eat with Gally and Lincoln. She rolled her eyes and sat down next to her brother. The only people that knew they were siblings were Minho and Newt.
"Come on, Tessa. We're family. It's not like this news isn't going to do anything bad," Gally said, rubbing his forehead. He was sweaty after the day's work and clearly tired; he and Nick had been closer than brothers. She guessed they all had.
"I know, Gally," she sighed, "But there's something wrong. I can feel it. It's like ever since Nick died, there's been something nagging at me to keep my secrets, well secret. I can't explain it."
"Okay, and maybe you're just being a little paranoid," Gally snapped.
Tessa raised her eyebrows at him before sighing again and saying, "It's not just that. What if people start to think we know something they don't? What if they blame us? They could try and separate us and I won't lose my only family."
"The Gladers are my brothers, Tessa! They are family! I've known them for months," Gally yelled in her face before pulling back and putting his head in his hands. She winced; Tessa knew exactly what he meant. They may have shared the same blood, but it was clear who Gally would chose to save if it ever came down to it.
"Alright. Tell them, but if anything bad happens, it's on you," she said quietly before storming out.
Her brother completely ignored her when she sat down next to him. Minho shrugged and gobbled down his sandwich. The other two, well just Gally, were talking about Greenie parties.
"Wait, how come I didn't get one?" Lincoln asked.
"Our leader just died, dumbass. We deserved some time to griever," she growled.
"Don't listen to her, Link," Gally patted the Greenie on the shoulder.
"Link?" she scoffed, rolling her eyes, finishing her food and stomping towards the Runner's hut, Minho trailing behind her. The Runner was clearly exhausted; bags were under his eyes and his once playful smile hadn't been seen in days.
"Look, I know there's something going on between you and Gally, but you should both be lucky you know something. You have one more bit of information; everything we discover in this Glade and the Maze could be part of the key to getting out. And plus, I wish I had family. The rest of us don't, Tessa," Minho lectured her after she'd thrown herself down into a chair.
Tessa glanced up at the boy who was now her best friend and said, "Yes. You're right, Min. Except for one thing, Gally doesn't even think I'm his sister. He'd rather be with the new kid, Lincoln, then talk to me, even though we share the same blood." Tessa groaned and cast her eyes down to the ground.
Minho leaned against the large table that still had a partially finished Maze model and strips of paper and scraps scattered all over it and folded his arms. He stared at her before saying, "Don't give up, Tessa. I know that's you're feeling inside." Before she could protest, Minho went on. "I know that you want to feel safe, to have Newt and Nick back at your side, but I'm sorry to say you don't. Newt needs to focus on himself, and so do you."
"What do you suggest?" Tessa whispered, finally raising her eyes and meeting Minho's brown ones.
"Give them hope. Give the Gladers a reason for staying alive."
"How am I supposed to do that?" Tessa whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She recalled the time when Nick was still alive and Newt had told her that she'd never win the fight with Gally. And when, of course, she'd proved all of them wrong, Newt walked towards her and smiled, like he had really known she could do it all along.
"I don't know," Minho said, and then leaned down so his face was right in front of hers. "But I'll be here whenever you need me. Alright, princess?"
With Minho, Clint, and Frypan's help, Tessa managed to get all of the boys into the Homestead right after Minho and her had finished their Runner's work for the day. Newt still hadn't joined them, but Tessa could see him sulking in the back with two other boys who'd also been fairly close to Nick.
"Hello, everyone," Tessa said before coughing and then turning to Minho for reassurance. He gave her a small smile before nodding. She continued, "It's been a week, a week since we lost our leader. But we've still got so much work we need to do. Frypan is struggling with the cooking and Zart need's more help in the Gardens. For us to survive, we must work as a team and as a family." Tessa glanced at Gally, who was again sitting with Lincoln. He turned his face to stare up at her and for the first time in a while, her brother seemed to have forgiven her. For what, she had no clue, but she wasn't going to ignore it. She needed everyone.
"Minho and I need more help in the Maze. Newt," Tessa choked out. "I need your help in there. You're the only other Runner we've got. And the rest of you, pull yourselves together. We can't just lie around, waiting for death. I won't have it. Nick wouldn't have wanted this for us."
The one person she hadn't expected to say something stood up, "Why are you deciding what's best for us?" Lincoln said, his eyes narrowing into slits and his mouth forming into an ugly frown. Tessa turned to him, walked forward and gazed up at him. Normally, she could match most of the guy's level, except for Newt and Minho, but Lincoln was again an exception.
"Because we need a leader. I'm not trying to take Nick's place, not even close. But if we don't have someone in charge, we'll all die. And I'm not ready for that yet," she whispered.
"Maybe I should be the leader. I'm not moping for Nick, I didn't even know him," Lincoln replied right after she'd turn around and started walking back to Minho.
"Excuse me?" Tessa spun around. "You have done nothing since you got here, okay? The only thing you should be doing right now is finding something you're okay it so you can be useful!" Tessa was enraged, her fists were clenched and her eyes burned. Every part of her wanted to beat Lincoln to a pulp; she couldn't explain it. Something about the Greenie made her furious.
The Gladers tensed; everyone knew that Tessa was a bit prone to the occasionally punch/jab but what shocked everyone was that she wasn't the one who threw the first punch. In one swift motion, Lincoln punched her in the cheek and then pushed her, sending her flying and hitting the wall with a sickening crack.
Pain flew through her body, but Tessa forced herself to her feet, wrapped her arms around Lincoln's neck and kneed him repeatedly until he fell over. "Stop!" Gally cried, stepping in front of her as if he wanted to protect Lincoln.
Minho reached for her as she felt her knees buckle, her back and spine crackling like wood and her eyes closed. The last thing she remembered was the sound of the Gladers yelling and Minho's arms wrapped around her, begging for her to hang on.
Sorry this is kinda late. I've had a lot of school stuff going on and piano. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review, fav, and follow. Again, please comment what your ships are, it really means a lot when I read your reviews.
Oh and a big thanks to all who have reviewed and Embers to Ashes for the ship name Teminho.
Quote: "We must all face the choice of what is right and what is easy." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)
