~Notes~

"Sorry about that... I'm Aris" he sheepishly answered. There was a sudden commotion outside that Minho had to step out to explain what had happened.

Thomas stood in front of him "Well Aris, what happened to the girl that used to be in this room?" Aris' expression suddenly changed.

"As you can clearly see, there isn't any girl here besides Lana over here." He wasn't sarcastic but was much more serious. But unfortunately, Thomas wasn't happy with that answer.

He pointed to the direction of the door and shouted "That plate outside says Teresa Agnes! Not some shank named Aris!"

Newt scowled "Thomas! Calm the bloody hell down." He turned to Aris "There's a lot more of us outside and only one of you. Now tell us how you got here." Aris crossed his arms across his chest and furrowed his brows.

He looked confused for a moment, I poked out from behind Newt, still hand in hand and asked him "Can you please tell us how you got here?" in the sweetest voice that I could do.

Aris looked at me with a smile, Newt tightened his grip on my hand, Aria sighed "Look guys, I don't know what you're talking about. They brought me to this room last night and slept, I woke up a few minutes ago to take a piss. I've never heard of Teresa Agnes in my life, sorry."

Minho opened the bathroom door and asked "Who placed you here?" Aris shrugged "Some soldiers that rescued us"

We all looked at each other before I finally asked, "Rescued you from what?" Aris frowned and faced the floor, he spoke in a broken tone, "From the maze"

The silence was unbearable. They moved from the bathroom to the main room where everyone else was seated, Aris was a bit taken aback but eventually adapted.

Frypan, Jack and Clint came back with frowns on their faces as soon as they exited the bathroom. Minho "We're you able to find her room?" the three shook their heads. Apparently, Minho sent the three to look for food and supplies while they were talking to Aris earlier.

Thomas stood up from his seat and confronted the four, "Did you check the other rooms!?" Frypan sighed "There aren't any other rooms" Clint frowned "There isn't even an entrance or an exit"

Thomas punched the wall and shouted "THEN HOW THE SHUCK DID WE GET HERE?!" Minho placed a hand on his shoulder, "Calm down. You won't be able to find Teresa if you're angry"

He didn't even listen to Minho as he raced out of the room into the common room. Newt already knew what he was doing, he was checking the bodies for Teresa, because that's exactly what Newt did a couple of moments ago.

Everyone was seated in the small room, whispering, not making too much noise. Minho and Newt had a small gathering with Frypan, Jack and Clint; Aris sat on a chair at the corner of the room, watching them as they moved; While Lana roamed around.

The first thing she noticed was that, like her room, there were no windows. Only a vent for the air to come in. Why didn't both of their rooms have windows while the boys' room had a gigantic one?

She wondered as she sat back down beside Newt. They were cut off when Thomas came back into the room, slamming the door as he sighed. He then slowly sat down and faced Aris. "In the maze, you were the only boy surrounded by girls"

Aris' eyes widened and nodded, "Ye-Yeah" Thomas continued as everyone listened, "You were brought up in the maze with a note that said you were the last one" Aris nodded again "Wait, how did you-"

"They called you the Trigger" Aris stood up in shock, "Why do you know all this?!" Newt commented "Its the same as us" Thomas continued.

"Did another boy come up to the maze after you did?" Aris furrowed his brows "No, why? Did another girl come up to yours?" Everyone was silent until Lana spoke "Yeah, me."

As soon as Lana spoke, a loud beeping sound made everyone's eyes widen, it was the alarm when they were in the Glade but this one was different, the lights flickered on and off as the ground started to shake. "Earthquake!" Everyone panicked, Thomas tried to open the door but it didn't budge, "It's locked!" "How in the bloody hell can that be locked?! We just broke it!"

"How the shuck should I know!?" "Quiet the two of you!" Minho shouted, "Everyone! Cover your heads, move to the walls and get down!" Everyone followed, Newt pulled Lana towards the door and hugged her in his arms, shielding her head with his hands.

The shaking got stronger, you could hear the cries and the swears of the glades "We're gonna die!" "Oh Shuck!", "Nobody move! Wait until it stops!" Newt shouted when he saw that Winston was about to run try the door again. Lana placed her hands on Newt's head, trying to cover him too.

Minutes passed as the shaking stopped and the alarm ended. Everyone sighed and relaxed, Newt and Lana heard a click sound coming from the door. Lana reached up and turned the knob, the door's open.

An earthquake. It never occurred to me that we could experience that here. When I turned the knob and opened the door, Newt and I couldn't help but not move. "What's wrong?" I heard Thomas ask, I exited the room for the others to see. The common room, which earlier had the hanging bodies of the people that saved us, was now clean. How clean? The bodies aren't here anymore.

No smell, no marks, no ropes, no bodies, nothing. It was like it never happened. "Wait. What the shuck is going on here?" Frypan exclaimed as we looked around the room. "Hey guys! I found something!" Jeff shouted, we all gathered around him as he pointed to the singular plate on the table with a folded note on it.

"Oh great, what is it this time?" Minho picked up the letter and read it aloud, "Nothing is as it seems"

I looked around the room, "The people here... They weren't real" The Gladers stared at me like I was crazy. Jack shook his head "Impossible, they felt and looked real" I knitted my brows

"Then they weren't dead at the very least" Thomas rubbed his chin, Clint disagreed "I checked their pulses, if they were real, their pulses didn't show any sign of life."

"You guys don't understand! That earthquake probably wasn't real either!" I tried to explain "Nothing is as it seems" Newt and Minho stayed quiet and listened to the theory. Thomas muttered "Lana's idea makes sense. How do you expect them to disappear in less than five minutes if they were dead during that earthquake?"

Newt nodded "I see, so the earthquake was a diversion for them to leave?" I nodded "But something seems off" "What?" I sit on the chair and sighed "Why would the soldiers that saved us from WICKED, do something like this?" "Another test" I looked up at Aris as he spoke, he was silent ever since the earthquake started but I needed him to talk.

"A test?" Gradually, the Gladers, including Aris, took chairs and formed a circle. We started a Gathering. Thomas furrowed his brows "Why would they test us?" Minho chimed in "Yeah, I thought that we were done with WICKED and tests"

Aris shrugged "Well, it's only just a guess like Lana's." Newt leaned forward "The question is. Why would they put a warning note if they wanted to test us?"

"True, because of it, we concluded that they're testing us." I tapped my foot and mumbled the first thing that came to mind "Maybe they wanted to see how we adapted to the situation" no one spoke, everyone was busy thinking.

Frypan suddenly said, "Hey guys... Those Cranks stopped screaming" I listened carefully, he's right. We all decided to check the big room and found out that the barred window was now solid glass. No bars. "No way" Minho tapped the glass, Newt rubbed his temples "There's no way they could have taken away more than 20 bars and replaced it with solid glass in just five minutes"

Thomas nodded "Nothing is as it seems". We all decided to return to the common room to continue the gathering.

"What the hell is going on?" "I don't know either man!" I could hear some of the boys panicking, they have every right to. Minho noticed something and called Thomas, apparently, it was about Teresa's name plate in front of her door.

It changed to "Aris Jones, GroupB, Subject B1-The Partner" the two returned back to their seats.

I saw Minho clap his hands once to call our attention, "Leave that topic for later. We have a serious problem, there is no way in or out. That's good to keep out the Cranks outside. We also don't have any food, we can drink the tap water but we don't know how long we're stuck here and if there are going to be more trials, then we have to be prepared"

Newt nodded "Since we have no idea when the trials would start, we need to be ready at any time. Okay Shanks, time for bed. It's only 1AM, get some sleep." When Aris was about to return to his room, Thomas told him to grab his mattress and sleep in the big room.

Newt understood why, "Lana" I looked up at him, he was standing right in front of me as the others left. "Sleep with me" I almost fell out of my chair; Thomas, Aris and Jack heard him too. Jack whistled, Aris said to Thomas "What kind of relationship do they have?" I didn't hear Thomas because Newt's face was right in front of mine.

I couldn't help but blush, "Newt... Wha-" Newt's face suddenly turns red as his eyes grew. "Oh shuck. I didn't mean it like that!" He panicked, he was so cute, "I mean... I mean, sleep beside me! Cuz who knows what would happen to you if you were in a separate room"

I smiled and kissed his cheek "Sure" he rubbed the back of his neck nervously with a small grin on his face, "Alright" by the time we noticed our surroundings, the Gladers were already smiling at the two from the door way. Minho snickered "Show's over! Get some sleep you shanks!"

Newt and Jack shared a bunk and Jack didn't mind that I would sleep beside Newt.

After Aris brought in his mattress and positioned it near the window, and Newt grabbed my pillow and blanket, Minho turned off the light.

It was dark. I could hear the sounds of the Gladers sleeping, I couldn't sleep. Mainly its because Newt was beside me. He positioned himself to sleep on his side, not facing me. While I faced him.

I suddenly recalled what had just happened, everything was happening too fast and there wasn't any time to let it sink in. I sighed, "What's wrong?" I heard him whisper.

"I can't sleep" I whispered back. It took him a couple of seconds until he decided to face me. I couldn't see his face in the dark, but I knew he was frowning. "What are you thinking about?" He asked as he grabbed my left hand and started playing with my fingers.

"Everything" I sighed once more. I felt his hands wrap around me and pull me closer to him. If the lights were on, you'd probably say that I'm as red as a tomato. My heart felt like it would jump out of my chest as he held me close.

"Sleep love, we can worry about this tomorrow. Just rest here with me" I nodded my head and tried to relax, I started listening to his heart beat as my head positioned on his chest. I felt his hand softy run through my hair.

"Goodnight Lana" he whispered in a tired tone, "Goodnight Newt... I-" the sound of his soft snore made me stop. Was I about to confess to him? Oh shuck. Sleep Lana! Sleep! I told myself as I tightly closed my eyes. And eventually fell asleep.

"That's wonderful! So small and beautiful" the woman praised the very first tiny beetle bug that I made. It wasn't like the others. It was silver. "You get to use it when the Trials have started" I nodded and smiled to the young blonde in front of me. Newt smiled back.

I woke up by the sound of Newt and Thomas talking. It wasn't enough to wake the others, just loud enough for them to hear each other.

I only heard "If it wasn't for her... i probably wouldn't be here" I gripped my pillow, I felt Newt lay down beside me, I immediately wrapped my arms around him and buried my head in his chest.

Newt didn't argue or push me away, he too wrapped his arms around me and again, pulled me closer, kissing the top of my head. "I love you" i said in a really soft voice.

His body jerked away, "Lana? How long have you been awake" I moved slightly to face him "Since you and Thomas were talking" I took a sharp breath "About what I said... I mean it. I really do love you Newt"

He moved a bit closer to my face and slowly kissed me. Not like a passionate or a peck. It was our first kiss, his soft lips pressed against mine as neither if us pulled away. I swear I could hear fireworks in the shocking background.

We separated for air, his face inches from mine, "I love you too"

"FINALLY!" I heard Minho, Thomas and some others exclaim. Newt hugged and pressed me to his chest as he hissed at the other boys "Get back to sleep you bloody shanks!" I could hear them chuckling like a bunch of school boys, Newt and I started giggling as well.

When the laughter died down, Newt pecked my lips with a grin "Goodnight love" "Goodnight" but that was it. I couldn't sleep anymore. Everything would have been fine until I heard it, the sound of water.

It was too dark to see, I couldn't tell where the sound of water was coming from. I shook Newt awake, when he did, he heard it too. I could hear Aris cry out "Cold! Cold! What the Stick?!"

Newt stood up and gasped "Bloody hell!" I sat up "What's wrong?" He turned on the light, I noticed that the room was flooded and the water wasn't going to stop any time soon. Newt noticed a letter on the door "Care for a little swim?" "WAKE UP! WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"

By the time he shouted, the water had already reached the bottom bunk level. I could see Aris climbing on top of a bed beside Clint. When I noticed how high the water was, the sudden coldness made me jump, Newt grabbed my hand "Climb up to Jack!"

The boys were woken up by the cold water, making them yelp. The boys in the top bunk woke up from the noise. "Jack, take Lana!" Jack nodded and pulled me up, landing beside him "Thanks" he just nodded "No problem"

Thomas and Newt tried the door once more but it was stuck. The water was high enough to reach the top bunk, luckily the ceiling was high enough. Minho shouted "The window! Break the window!" Aris was the closest one so he swam and started banging on the window.

The others, including me, joined as well. There were two boys that couldn't swim, Frypan and Jack decided to help them. The freezing cold water made me shiver but my mind was in a state of panic to think about it. After a lot of pounds, we could hear the glass start to crack.

The water reached a level to where only our heads could get out before hitting the ceiling above. We would take turns hitting the window and going up for air, we we're running out of time.

Every time I punched the window, it felt like my hand would fall of from both the pain and the numbness effect from the cold water. I held my breath for as long as I could before heading up.

Newt appeared beside me, his face flushed red from holding his breath in, there was only less than five inches of air left before we reached the ceiling. "You okay?" He asked as soon as he saw me. I nodded before we both dived back in.

As soon as I got down, I noticed that Aris had been holding his breath for a really long time now. He looked as if he was struggling. I quickly grabbed him by the arm and dragged him above.

Once he was up, he started breathing heavily, "What did you do that for? I was so close!" I almost hit him but instead said "So you'd rather die from lack of oxygen then?" Before taking a deep breath and diving back down without listening to his response.

When we noticed that there wasn't any space left between the ceiling and the water, we didn't give up and kept on hitting the glass, not wanting to die without a fight as our last resolve.

With all the small glass particles chipping off the window, our knuckles bled, mine as well. The window finally cracked, causing the window to break into pieces and the water flow out.

The only problem was, the water would suck us out too. Before I knew it, someone grabbed my hand, I noticed that it was Aris. I saw that Frypan and the others had made a human chain.

I grabbed on to Newt and he grabbed Minho. Before Minho could grab Thomas, the current got stronger as it was leaving the room, Thomas missed Minho's hand.

The water was now at the center of the room, still reducing at a fast pace. "THOMAS!" We all shouted. But luckily he grabbed on to the side of the window frame, half of his body still out of the window.

We quickly tried to make the line longer, stretching our arms so that Minho could reach Thomas. "Grab my hand!" Minho shouted.

Thomas quickly grabbed Minho's hand as we pulled them back to safety. The water was now the same length as the bottom frame of the window, our bottom halves still submerged.

We looked at each other before cheering in delight. Newt immediately hugged me and sighed in relief "Thank God" I hugged him back. I looked around and noticed that everyone was soaking wet then I suddenly remembered "Is the door open?" I shouted.

Jack was the closest one, he managed to turn the knob and open the door, allowing all the left over water to escape the room. We noticed on one of the tables, another note.

"Remember, your actions will have consequences in the near and distant future"

"I'm starting to hate the person making these notes" Newt mumbled. Minho raised a brow "Just now?! I've been pissed at them since the first note. Seriously. Talk about vague as shu- no, screw it. Vague as fuck"

Newt turned to look at me, his expression turned from shock to embarrassment as he quickly took off his shirt and handed it to me "Wear it." I couldn't help but look at his body, sure he wasn't as muscular as the others were but his body showed all his hard work at the Glade.

I shook my head "You'll catch a cold" I saw the boys go back to the room, avoiding my gaze. Newt avoided my gaze as well "Please Lana. Wear. It" I looked down and noticed that my tank top was now see through and my bra was showing.

I blushed a bright red and wore Newt's shirt above mine. It was bigger than me so it hung around me. Newt sighed and smiled "Thank you" he nodded "Can't let those shanks see you like that now can I?"

He then sneezed. Newt avoided my piercing gaze "See." He started grinning, how could a person look so hot yet at so adorable at the same freaking time?!

Newt brought me to my old room, the clinic "You should rest, it's been a long morning for us"

It was only 4AM. Geez, we only had a few hours of sleep before getting thrown into a death trap. I furrowed my brows and bit my lip, "Newt, what do you think the next one is?" He shrugged, we were both on the bed and he leaned on the wall as I lay down on his lap.

"Dunno, set fire to the building maybe?" I shook my head "Everything's too wet for fire to spread in the room" he placed his hand on top of my eyes "Dont stress, think about it tomorrow, you need the rest"

I remembered him saying that to me before back in the maze. I smiled "Okay... I love you" Newt withdrew his hand and kissed the top of my nose "I love you too"

Hello lovelies! I don't know how, but I made this longer than I had intended this to be, honestly, this was supposed to be longer but I decided to put it in the next chapter instead.

I love you guys! See you in the next chapter!

Next chapter:

"The Sacrifice"

When we read the next note, we didn't know what to expect or what to do.
"Sacrifice the one who doesn't belong and the others would be spared"
The one who doesn't belong. Was it Aris, for being in a different group? Was it Thomas, for being the variable that was supposed to die? Or... was it me?