Another chapter? Finally!
I know it's taken my a while, but I finally popped one out, one I especially like. It was a pretty good chapter, but I felt like it was missing something, so I added a lot more, which basically doubled the chapter in size, so.. Sorry if you don't like long chapters!
I'm graduating Thursday (does happy dance at computer*) so I should be able to write more. Don't quote me on that, though.
Get reading, you're gonna like it!
I only own Sutton, but Newt would be nice.
Guest 1; Thank you so much! I love hearing how much people love Sutton, I work hard to keep her relatable yet realistic. Your thoughts aren't weird at all! Trust me, I've gotten much stranger scenarios! I love the whole 'finding their way back to each other' thing. Very cute and very true to this story.(: I hope you enjoy the next chapter! (Your English was great, by the way). (:
Annabelle; I'm sorry, Thomas doesn't mean to! Wow, that's one heck of a squeal, which is great! I'm glad you loved the chapter, I try so hard to fit everything in each chapter, but sometimes it just doesn't flow well. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!(:
FireXX; Thank you! If I had to make a guess, I would say..3-5? Don't quote me though, could be more, could be less depending on the flow of the chapters! Enjoy the next part.(:
SugarSpice824; Yay, I'm glad you did! i love The Cab. Adore them. They're great for writing inspiration! No I haven't, I'll have to check the song out! Hope you enjoy the chapter, quesadilla! (..Did I do that right?)(:
Guest2; Thanks for the vote!(:
Guest3; Thanks for the vote, and so far that's what winning!(:
AllThingWeird35; Newtton is pretty cute, aren't they? Yeah, they're pretty cute. Enjoy the chapter!(:
Guest4; Thank you so much! Glad to hear that you're loving it. Enjoy the next chapter!(:
Morgenstern18; haha, I don't think so! There are so many Team Newttons, I'm surprised! Enjoy the chapter.(:
Guest5; Thank you so much! I'm glad you love it just as much as I do, I work so hard on it. Enjoy the next chapter!(:
Guest6; Thank you so much! Throwing in an OC and making it realistic can be hard, so I'm glad it's working. Sorry the wait was so long, enjoy the next chapter!(:
EllaOfFrell; Woot woot! I like to follow the original plot while adding in my own little twists, so I thought the note would be something cool to throw in. Not discussed in this chapter, but it will definitely blow up later on. Enjoy the chapter!(:
AnimalLover95; Thank you so much, enjoy the update!(:
FandomRandom; I'm sorry it took me so long! Yeah, I think most can tell that there's feelings for Sutton from both guys, but Thomas is definitely trying to give her space, even though he doesn't like it. I thought the memory would be a cool addition, so no worries, we'll be getting more! Enjoy.(:
LostGirl97; Yay, a Thomton fan! There are so few of you, there needs to be more! I have a feeling that you'll be seeing more Thomton... In this chapter, maybe?(: Enjoy the chapter!(:
Guest7; I'm going to update this.. Now! Enjoy the chapter.(:
Clxndestine; Sorry it takes me so long to update, I wish I have more time to write.): There should be plenty of scenes between them coming up, especially when we move into Scorch Trials territory, so have no fear! Enjoy the chapter.(:
Blueblood Prince; Wow, thank you so much! That means so much. And I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty jealous of Sutton, too.. Life's tough when she has the two cutest guys ever pining after her, right? My updates normally come in 2-4 week intervals, simply because I'm just so busy. Keep checking in, you never know! Enjoy the chapter.(:
Hannah; Yaaaaaas, another chapter! Looks like M will be the winner, but we'll see. Enjoy the chapter!(:
LakenAlexander; I'm glad to see that someone is seeing what Thomas is seeing! Newt and Sutton fight 24/7, but think it's rainbows and unicorns, which, obviously, it's not. You're catching onnnnn! The note will definitely become super important later on, so don't forget about it! Thank you so much for the great review, it means so much to me. Enjoy the chapter!(:
Hi; I'm sorrrrry! Here's the update, I hope it doesn't disappoint! Enjoy.(:
**Thank you all SO much for the amazing reviews. Because of you guys, Save Me From Myself is the most reviewed, favorited, subscribed, etc. on the Maze Runner page, and that still baffles me to this day. Thank you to my PMs and Twitter friends who always yell at me to update, y'all are just as crazy!(:
Inglorious soldier I stand 'til the end
A golden revolver I hold in my hand
The trigger that I never squeeze
The war that brings me to my knees
I'm tired of fighting for peace
When I am alone on the front line
I need you to stand next to me
Favorite chapter quote:
"If I'm going down, I'm taking you down with me,".
"You heard them, let's get moving!" a Keeper shouted, sending even more chaos throughout the Homestead.
A long line of boys milled about, stashing nonperishable foods throughout the rickety house, flashlights were passed out. We all knew things were getting serious when Minho and Newt stepped out of the basement, weapons in hand. I couldn't help but cringe at the sight of Newt's battered face—the boy was sporting a slight black eye, despite her insistence that he was hit over the head, not directly across the face. Med-Jacks still haven't had time to check him out, so the idea of a concussion is still highly possible. The corner of his lip was split, something I hadn't noticed before. After a while, Newt caught me staring from across the room and shot me a small smile. I smiled back, wanting to laugh despite our current situation. A Glader had just died and Newt had been conned, but he was still smiling. If Newt could smile at a time like this, so could I. My feet began to carry me over to Minho and Newt when an argument broke out at the top of the stairs.
"So what, you're just going to lock her up like you did me?" It was Thomas, snarling through his words.
"It's the best for the group, Thomas. She's dangerous, don't you see that?" Alby snarled right back, crossing his arms across his chest.
"She's not! That's like saying I'm dangerous, or Sutton's dangerous!".
"Hey," Newt snapped, jumping in at the sound of my name leaving Thomas' mouth defensively.
"She started all of this Thomas, she even said so. In fact, Theresa has agreed to spend the night in the Slammer," Alby smirked nodding toward the girl's room.
"She'll probably be safer in there, anyway, mate," Newt suggested, making both Thomas and I look at him in surprise.
Newt was trying to make Thomas feel better?
Thomas looked back and forth between Newt and Alby for what felt like forever before finally saying, "Fine. But as soon as that sun is up, she is out of there, got it?".
Alby raised an eyebrow at Thomas' tone, his voice matching Thomas' tone.
"I suggest if you want her spending just the night you keep quiet,".
Everyone was silent now, watching the stare-off between the two boys. Newt was finally upstairs to break the two up, pushing Alby lightly out of the way.
"I'd do it, Thommy Boy," Newt muttered, glancing over at Thomas under his long hair.
When Thomas didn't answer, Alby nodded happily before heading over to Theresa's room to bring her to the Slammer. I'm pretty sure nobody else caught it, but I did. Theresa didn't even look at Thomas, but he nodded as she walked by him, following her with his eyes. Alby, Theresa, and a Keeper bolted out of the Homestead and towards the Slammer in fear of another Griever entering the Glade. When I turned back to face the stairs, Thomas was gone, leaving Newt alone. Newt looked perplexed, but not for the same reasons as I was. Quickly (and quietly), I made my way over to him, pulling him down the hall by the hand.
"Something is up between them," I whispered, leaning my forehead into his.
"Who? Albs and Thomas? Yeah, obviously," he snorted, shrugging.
"No, Newt. I mean Thomas and Theresa. They either know something or are just incredibly weird," I sighed, leaning up against the wall.
"I'd go with the latter,".
"Newt,".
"Fine, fine, I'll stop," Newt chuckled, shaking long strands of blonde hair out of his face.
We relished in each other's company for minutes before Newt finally spoke again. When he did, his demeanor had changed.
"So if they both know something that we don't...".
"We need to find out what it is that they're hiding," I nodded, finishing Newt's thoughts.
My body jumped when I felt Newt's fingertips grade my arm, to which he apologized.
"I should've known you would be jumpy. But Sutton... If Thomas knows something, he's not going to tell any of us," he struggled to say, nails scratching against my arm.
"Why such a big emphasis on the word us?" I asked, wondering where he was going with this.
"As in, he won't tell Alby or I,".
"But he'll tell me," I let out a deep sigh at the approving look Newt gave me. "That's not fair to him, Newt,".
"I know, but it's also not fair that he's choosing not to share what is probably crucial information with us," Newt countered my argument.
I shot him a look of disapproval, pulling my arm away from his grasp. Newt let out a loud sigh that had matched mine before running a hand through his long hair.
"Please, Sutton. Trust me when I say that I don't want you to have to do this, either," Newt murmured, reaching out again for my hand.
I let him take it this time as I thought over my answer.
"Fine. But I'm not taking my top off," I joked, breaking into a small smile.
Newt didn't find it so funny, however.
"If you do, I'll feed you to the shuck Grievers myself,".
Leaning up on my toes, I pecked him on the lips.
"I chose you; if I'm going down, I'm taking you down with me,".
"Knock, knock," my knuckles rapped against Alby's door, where Thomas was supposedly hiding.
The boy mumbled something, so I just opened the door and stepped in. No more words were exchanged, only Thomas' head looked up to see who it was. Shooting him the smallest smile, I sat down next to him, where he was shuffling through the numerous pages of the Maze.
In silence, I watched him work, examining him closely. Thomas' eyebrows would furrow whenever he flipped to a new page. Thomas' tongue would poke out between his lips when he was really trying to concentrate. For the second time that day, I was caught staring, something that made me blush.
"Sorry,".
"It's not a problem, dear, I know I'm gorgeous," Thomas joked.
Laughing around him was an easy thing, so that was what I did.
"Thomas, are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine," he replied, just a little too quickly.
He flipped another page and circled a part of the diagram.
"Thomas, don't lie to me. What's up?" I said, nudging him in the shoulder.
Finally, he glanced up from his paperwork and look at me out of the corner of his eye.
"I can trust you, right, Sutton?" the boy asked, voice filled with uncertainty.
"Of course,".
"I'll just come out with it then. Theresa and I can talk to each other through our minds,".
I wanted so badly to laugh, so badly to stare at him like he was crazy, but I knew I couldn't. Newt and I had a deal, after all.
"Okay," I responded shortly, pursing my lips.
"You don't believe me," Thomas sighed.
"You can read me that well?" I chuckled, shooting him a thumbs down.
"It's fine if you don't, Sutton, but I'm serious. How do you think she knew you were coming to get her before? Even if she's not here, we're talking," Thomas explained, spinning around to face me fully.
"That's... Weird," I reply.
"You think? I was so freaked out the first time I heard her in my head. The minute she woke up here, she was communicating with me,".
"So wait, does that mean that she remembers you from before?" I asked, my shoulders jumping up in excitement. He shook his head in defeat.
"No idea. We just.. Know each other somehow. Kind of like how we felt when we first met, just more somehow,".
So.. Thomas and Theresa talk to each other with their minds? Something hit me at that, but I couldn't put a finger on what it was.
"Thomas, that's great and all, but.. What does talking to some creepy chick with your mind—,".
"She's not creepy," Thomas cut in, his voice on edge.
"What does it have to do with you drawing all over Alby's work like a mad man?" I continued, ignoring his defending of Theresa.
"She said there's some kind of code in the Maze that will help us escape. Don't ask me what it is, though, especially since the walls rotate," Thomas shrugged, letting the pencil fall to the fall.
"Wait, what do you mean they rotate?" I asked, confused.
Thomas shot me a look of surprise and something of a smirk before answering.
"You mean Newt didn't tell you? The walls on the inside of the Maze rotate. Every couple of klunk hours, or something like that,".
"I don't think you used 'klunk' right," was all I could manage to say.
My mind was busy processing the fact that not only do the Maze walls close at night, but the walls on the inside move. No wonder the Runners have to write down so much!
"So what's this code she's talking about?".
"No shuck clue, Sutton. No clue,".
"Love, you're telling me that we have two crazy people living with us that think they can read each other's minds and that there's apparently a code inside of the Maze that our best Runners haven't found yet? Sweetheart, have you been stung by a Griever or something?" Newt laughed later that night as we both got ready for bed.
When Newt started laughing, I picked up one of my discarded shoes and threw it across the room, just grazing Newt's torso.
"Be nice! I think he was being serious,".
"Yeah, okay. Have you ever heard of someone who can read bloody minds?".
"Well, no..." I mumbled, shrugging my shoulders.
"My point exactly, Sutton. This is why I told you to stick with me," Newt smiled, puffing out his chest.
I snorted at this show of manly pride; it was so Newt.
"No, I think you told me to stick with you because you think I'm pretty," I suggested, mocking Newt's pose by puffing my chest out ridiculously.
"Don't do that, it's attractive," Newt winked, throwing the blanket back so he could lay down on the mattress.
Tossing the hairbrush down onto the desk, I turned to face Newt, who was laying down with his arm outstretched towards me. My foot tapped his hand lightly, making him move so I could lay down beside him. Rolling over onto my side to face him, I examined his cuts and bruises up close.
"Did the Med-Jacks get a hold of your busy self?".
"They tried, but I told them I'm fine. What? I am!" Newt scoffed when he saw I didn't believe him.
"Newt.. Love. You took a blow to the face,".
"Head," Newt corrected me, but we all knew the truth.
Shaking my head, I allowed my fingers to make their way across Newt's bruised face. The pads of my fingertips grazed over his cheeks, his nose, his lips. When Newt knew I wasn't planning on saying anything anytime soon, he took hold my hand and held it tightly in his.
"Sleep. You're going to need all of your energy for tomorrow,".
"But what if the Grievers come back?" I asked, inching closer towards Newt's warm body.
He shrugged, leaving a kiss on the peak of my head.
"Someone'll wake us up. I won't let them get you, don't worry. Sleep,".
"Promise?" I whispered as Newt ran his fingers through my hair, lulling me to sleep.
"Always,".
The Glade doesn't have a sun anymore. That doesn't mean that we don't have the same ridiculous heat. I leaned up against a mossy Maze wall as Newt squinted at the wall opposite, mumbling to himself.
"Not gonna lie, I thought watching you work would be hot. I was wrong," I said, plopping down onto the ground, shutting my eyes.
Newt barely broke concentration to answer me, just a slight eye movement to glance over as I moved.
"Would it be better if I posed while I worked?" he asked, tapping his index finger against his mouth as he studied one of the many W.I.C.K.E.D. nameplates.
"Better, but not by much," I sighed, fanning my face with my hand.
"You know that only makes you hotter," Newt told me, trying to sound smart.
"I'm hot, sue me," I groaned as the heat loomed over our bodies.
"That you are..." Newt mumbled while running fingers along the metal plate.
"Can we get doused in water when you're done? I'm going to die of heatstroke if we stay out here much longer," I complained, kicking up a patch of dirt with my shoe.
"I'm down if you're down, sweetheart," Newt finally looked down at me, smiling.
"Good that," I replied, rolling onto my back.
When Newt walking a bit farther to inspect another part of the wall, I let out a loud groan and closed my eyes in an attempt to get more rest.
"Lazy," Newt said in a fake cough, to which I flipped him off. "Your middle finger is sexy," Newt purred.
I couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter.
"Not everything is sexy, Newt!".
"Everything about you, is,".
"Okay, cut it out and get to work, I'm hot and hungry,".
"You're always hungry.." Newt whispered to himself.
"Hey! Shut up and work!" I yelled, making us both laugh.
Newt and I finally stopped talking, so I let him work by shutting my eyes. The floor of the Maze was actually quite comfortable. I probably could've fallen asleep, but I jumped up with a shriek when something ran across my leg.
"What is that thing?!" I screeched, tucking my knees up to my chest.
The red and black creature jumped had jumped off of my leg and simply stared at us, a red dot blinking at the top of its body.
"Chill, Sutton, it's just a beetle blade. They're everywhere around here," Newt chuckled.
The red light eventually stopped blinking and the beetle scurried away. Okay, I was officially creeped out. Pushing off of my thighs, I stood up and made my way over to Newt.
"Almost done?" I chirped against his ear, making him jump.
"Christ, Sutton! No, I'm not done. Can't you be patient?" he smirked, kicking his foo back against my leg.
"Not when I'm hot,".
"Or hungry,".
"Exactly!" I smiled, laying my head on his taller-than-mine shoulder.
While Newt worked, Minho and Thomas were working on the opposite side of the Maze, near the Cliff. As a group, we planned on working through the Maze and meeting up in the middle, looking for anything along the way that might be out of sorts.
"Okay, let's get moving. Thomas and Minho will be expecting us soon," Newt said minutes later when he was finally done with the long hallway. "Sutton?" he asked again when I didn't answer.
"Aren't you hot?" I asked almost exasperated.
Theresa and I were lucky, arriving in the Glade with bright white shorts. The boys, on the other hand, got darker pants.
"Well, yeah, Sutton, obviously.." Newt's confused response turned to a mumble as my fingertips made their way up the back of shirt.
Nails scratched across muscle as Newt shivered against my hand.
"You should really stop," Newt suggested, his head lolling to the side.
Slowly, I attempted to tug Newt's shirt off. He finally complied, throwing his arms up in the air to assist me.
"Sutton.." Newt warned when my lips made contact with his neck.
"Tell me stop. Tell me to stop and I will let you turn around and walk away. I won't stop you," I repeated his own words as my own hands flew to his shoulders.
"That was rude of you," Newt sighed rolling his shoulders back.
"Newt, if we don't make it out of here.. I don't want us going out on a bad note," my lips whispered against his back.
At my words, Newt was reached up and behind him to take hold of my left hand, giving it a squeeze.
"We're getting out, Sutton,".
"And if we don't?" I asked, defeat in my voice.
In seconds, Newt spun around in my arms and told hold of my jaw. For what seemed like centuries, he just looked into my eyes, tearing my soul right up.
"If we don't.. Then I guess I'll just come right out and say it,".
"Newt..." Now I was the one warning him, backing up out of his arms.
But Newt pulled me, crashing his lips onto mine. It was bittersweet, the kiss. The sugary, salty, kiss that was just Newt hit me like a ton of bricks. Would this be the last time I kiss him? Would this be the last time he gets to hold me in his arms?
"Sutton..". As Newt opened his mouth, I heard footsteps.
For some reason I panicked and slapped my hand across Newt's mouth, worried as to who it would be.
"Why is your shirt off, bro?".
"He was hot, Minho," I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"The question should be, why is Sutton's shirt not off as well?" Newt replied, pulling my hand away from his mouth.
"Any luck over here?" Thomas butted in, ignoring our current conversation.
"Not in the way I would like," Newt smirked, crossing his arms.
"Seriously?" I growled, shooting him a glare.
Newt clucked his tongue in surprise at my reaction, but told Thomas, "Not in that way either,".
Minho hadn't stopped moving since they arrived, and the bouncing up and down was getting on my nerves.
"Same. Maybe if we put our work together we can get something," Minho suggested, but we all knew what we would find: nothing.
The four of us were leaving the Maze when Thomas took hold of my arm, stopping me from leaving.
"What is it?" I ask.
"I need to talk to you, alone," Thomas started to say, but Newt was quick to jump in.
"Back up, buddy. I've been pretty shucking lenient over your friendship but I'm not letting you drag her back into that Maze without me, especially with what's been going on,".
"I think I can take care of her, Newt," Thomas argued, but it seemed like Newt already had a comeback just waiting to come out.
"Oh, so who took care of her when Ben attacked her? Or when Gally attacked her? Ohhh, right. Me," he growled.
"Guys, seriously? Cut it out. Newt, you can't not let me talk to Thomas. And Thomas, I can take care of myself, thank you very much," I growled right back, pulling my arm out of Thomas' grasp.
"You heard heard her, man, she's a big girl,".
"She's 5'2," Newt spat, correcting Thomas.
If it wasn't for the timing, I would've laughed.
"Sorry Sutton, but I don't feel very comfortable trusting him with your life," Newt replied as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
"I know that, Newt. I think we all do. But you trust me, so that should be enough. If we don't come out in ten minutes, come get us," I told him, taking hold of his hand.
Newt looked back and forth between me and Thomas, lost in thought.
Finally, turning to Thomas, he said, "If there is so much as a speck of dirt on her, you're banished,".
Our hands were still connected, but Thomas and Newt were just as close, a challenge flitting through the air.
And I'm not going to lie, angry Newt is really, really, hot.
"What's wrong?" I ask Thomas as soon as Minho can drag Newt away and back towards the Homestead.
"This was a complete and total waste. We won't find the information we need in the Maze," Thomas explained, running a hand through his hair.
"Then what? What do we do?".
"You're not going to like it," Thomas told me straight away, looking down at me with concern.
"And why is that?" I reply, crossing my arms.
"Just hear me out before freaking out, okay? When people go through the Changing, they.. Remember things, yes?".
"Yeah.. Thomas what are you getting at?" I asked, growing more and more worried by the second.
"Well, maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to see a way to get out of the Maze," Thomas continued to explain, biting down onto this thumbnail.
"But how, we only get some of our memories, not videos of how the damn maze was born," I tell him, throwing my arms up in the air.
"Sutton, Theresa said there's a code in this Maze. If we haven't found it yet, this is the only way," Thomas' voice was rising out of frustration, but I didn't blame him.
"Thomas, what is the only way? Thomas answer me, you're scaring me..." I mutter, hugging myself with my arms.
Thomas' head fell his eyes glancing down at the Maze floor.
"Someone has to get stung by a Griever,".
My mouth dropped open in surprise, my eyebrows rose in shock.
"Are you crazy? Nobody here is going to volunteer to do something that stupid," I laugh, but my laughs end when I see the look on his face.
Determination. Fear.
Hope.
"No. Don't even say it, Thomas. You've had a lot of crappy ideas the last few days, but this is the stupidest, not to mention craziest," I snapped, throwing my finger in his face.
"It's the only way, Sutton," he replied sadly, moving my hand out of his face.
"Are you crazy? Ben died because he couldn't handle the changing, Thomas. Died. And Alby still is out of sorts from it whether we want to admit it or not! This is a bad idea.. I'm not letting you do it," I shook my head adamantly, furious at his idea.
Why? Why would he risk his life?
"You can't stop me, Sutton," Thomas shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh yeah? Why not?" I challenged him, stepping closer so we were nose to nose, minus the fact that he was much taller.
"Because I'm going to bring you back to Newt and not let you leave his side. Then I'm going to come back here and find a Griever,".
"You'll die, Thomas. You can't do it!" I yelled, not wanting to hear his crazy plan anymore.
It looked like Thomas wanted to argue with me, but he didn't have the heart. After a short silence, Thomas took hold of my shoulders.
"Give me a reason,".
"A reason? What? What are you talking about?" I stuttered, shaking my head rapidly back and forth.
"Give me a reason not to,".
Thomas' voice showed no emotion, but his eyes betrayed him. He was praying I would. Praying I would give him a good enough reason not to.
"Dying isn't a good enough reason?".
"Not if I'm helping all of you get out of here," Thomas said, shaking his head.
"We can't lose another Glader, Thomas, we just lost two," I pleaded with him, squeezing his hands in mine.
"Not good enough," Thomas continued to shake his head.
I could feel tears begin to fall from my eyes. Why was he putting me in this situation? Out of all of the Gladers, I felt closest to him and Newt. Thomas just wasn't being fair. "
Then what is good enough, Thomas? What could possibly make you not do it?".
Thomas' eyes betrayed him once again, a slight sadness running through them.
"You know, I've been incredibly quiet about what I feel and don't feel. And incredibly patient when it comes to you, Sutton. I thought you would know by now,".
I went to ask him what he was talking about, but Thomas just continued talking.
"I get it, you're with Newt, you're his.. Girlfriend? I don't know what you two are, but I've been great with respecting whatever it is, and if you can tell me that you have once, just once, thought about me in any kind of way other than a friend, now would be the time to tell me,".
His eyes were boring into mine, searching for a good answer. I struggled to find an answer, my body was shaking.
"Thomas.. I'm with Newt. I can't answer that,".
"Because it's not true or because Newt doesn't want it to be true?" Thomas asked the penultimate question, an eyebrow raising at his own question.
"Thomas, please..".
"No, Sutton, I need to know if I'm risking my life for nothing, or everything,".
Both of us let out small grunts when my back was pressed up against the mossy Maze wall, taking me by surprise.
"Thomas.." I tried to say, my voice shaking.
Why was I so upset?
Because he was going on a suicide mission or because I didn't want him to go on a suicide mission?
"You blokes okay in there?" a voice shouted from outside of the Maze, but I knew that it was Newt. Had ten minutes already passed?
"I'm going to do it, Sutton. I'm going to get stung," Thomas told me when we both looked back into each other's eyes.
"Thomas, no, please don't," I was begging now, but I hadn't given Thomas the right answer.
I heard Newt's footsteps, they were coming closer, crunching through the dirt. My voice was stuck in my throat, screaming at me to yell for help, tell Newt of Thomas' crazy plan but I had lost my voice.
Lost all of my senses when Thomas leaned down and kissed me with as much passion as he could muster. I stood frozen solid, unable to move as Thomas' warm lips moved against mine. It was the longest kiss, but the shortest one. Time slowed as a hand weaved its way through my long hair, the other pulling lightly at my waist.
My hand was taken ahold of as Thomas pulled away and led me down the corridor to meet up with Newt. I was still in shock, still unable to speak as I drifted through the Maze with Thomas. My body finally woke up my brain when Thomas pushed me into Newt's arms.
"No, Thomas, stop!" I fought against Newt's arms, but Newt knew something was up and wouldn't let me.
"Don't let her follow me. No matter what, you keep her safe," Thomas told Newt, who surprisingly, nodded.
"You're just going to let him go? He's going to find a Griever, Newt, he's trying to get stung!" I yelled, kicked and pulling against Newt's arms, but his iron grip only got tighter.
"You're what? Are you bloody insane?" Newt aimed his words at Thomas, despite the punches that were getting aimed at his chest.
"I might have memories of the Maze, something that can break this code. It has to be done. Don't let her follow me, Newt. Don't," Thomas told us before turning around and walking away.
I continued to fight against Newt's arms, but for once, Thomas and Newt had agreed on something—they were aiming to keep me safe.
"Med-Jacks said he should make a full recovery, Sutton. He should be okay," Newt's voice enveloped the silence as he stepped into our room.
"He still did it. Why would he do it?" I asked myself, almost in a whisper.
"He wants to get out of here just as much as we do. He did for all of us," Newt sighed, sitting down next to me.
"So you're saying you would've done the same thing?" I say, looking up and over at the blonde. Newt looked back at me and stared, deep in thoughts.
"Not for everyone, no. But for you? Yeah. Yeah I would. So I can see why he did it,".
Shaking my head, I leaned over and kissed him, kissed him until I couldn't breathe.
"That's really sweet of you, but please don't. If I lost you...".
"I know," he replied, taking my hand in his.
"Good that,".
"What else did he say in the Maze?" Newt chirped, rubbing his nose against my shoulder sleeve.
"Nothing. I was just so freaked out by the idea that he didn't really get a word in edge-wise,".
Unfortunately, there was the large fact of Thomas kissing me looming over my head. Why's he do it? I don't know. But it wasn't a good idea. I'm Newt's, Newt's mine. Thomas is a just a friend.. Right? What Newt and I have is passionate, and crazy, and indescribable. Thomas kind of just came out of nowhere, lips and all.
The day had gone by almost too fast after that and the sun was down, the walls hadn't closed. Every Glader knew that more Grievers would come, but every Glader also knew that we had to turn the Homestead into a fortress. No Grievers in or out.
"What do we do when the Grievers come?" I ask him changing the topic to something Newt is more comfortable discussing.
"We hide," Newt says, pushing my hair up off my shoulders and neck.
"And if we get caught, we fight,".
He began to kiss and nip at the skin there, giving me chills down my spine.
"I wish we could stay like this forever,".
Newt's answer was a slow kiss, his tongue working its way into my mouth before I pulled away.
"No you don't. You want out of this place just as much as I do,".
"Yes, but I mean this exact moment. It's perfect," I say, just as the infamous clanks and scratches enter the Maze.
"Speak of the devil," Newt growls, leaning his forehead onto my shoulder. "Let's go fight,".
It was after the Griever left a gaping hole in the side of the Homestead that we realized it. It was after the poor young Glader Leo's screams died down that we knew it.
"Everybody listen up!" Alby's voice boomed throughout the Homestead.
Boy's clothes were torn and ripped after the fight with the three Grievers, but only one had been taken. Apparently just one was enough.
"I would like to commend all of you on your tough fight against the Griever's tonight," Alby continued, clapping loudly for all of us to hear.
All of the Gladers in the room joined in, but were still pretty shaken up over not just Darwin the night before, but from Leo getting killed by the Grievers.
"I think now it is pretty clear that the Grievers are taking one Glader per night. I know, it worries all of us, but we have some projects in the works that will hopefully be able to fix our problem," the leader explained.
Looking over at Alby, I could see just how tired the boy really was. Dark circles ringed around his eyes, tufts of hair were pulled this way and that... The Changing really had changed him.
"What could possibly fix our situation? We're doomed! By now, we should've already built a shuck barricade at every Maze entrance and actually had a chance to live,".
I was surprised when Gally spoke up since I haven't really heard from him after getting attacked by the boy. Hearing his voice, I took a step farther away and into the group of boys around me.
"Slim it, Gally, that's enough," Newt snarled from the top of the stairs where he stood side-by-side with Alby.
"If you slintheads have everything figured out, why don't you let us in on all of your big bad plans, huh?" Gally's voice was challenging as he stepped out of the crowd, as if his presence wasn't well known.
"It's classified. If our plans don't work out, we don't want any of you getting your hopes up," Newt explained.
Newt was gripping tightly onto the railing, his knuckles ghostly pale. I wished I could tell him to calm down, but at the moment, I'm just a Glader. Not Newt's.. Whatever I am.
"Oh, so you're telling me it's not okay to get our hopes up, but you can get Sutton's hopes up? I mean, she does know all of your plans, right?".
"Gally, slim it!" Alby was shouting now and making his way down the stairs, because if he hadn't Newt probably would've been hitting Gally by now.
"Sutton is none of your concern, got it?" Alby told Gally, nose to nose.
I'm sure Gally understood that, but his fight wasn't with me, it was with Newt, for some reason. And what was Newt's number one concern in the Glade?
Me.
Gally pushed himself away from Alby and waded through the crowd. I tried to blend in as best as best as I could, but I was the only female in the room. Pretty impossible, if you ask me. Gally grabbed me by the arm and pulled me flush against his side, looking up at Newt.
"Why don't we ask Sutton if she minds you getting her hopes up?" Gally asked. Turning back to me, he said, "Sutton? Do you mind being used by Newt in any way he wants? Do you mind how he tells you everything's going to be okay, but then he just dashes your hopes?".
Gally's grip on my arm was tight and I was at loss for words. Why does Gally always have to act out? Just as I opened my mouth to answer, Newt's fist connected with the back of Gally's head, knocking the boy out cold. I couldn't help but let out a yelp of surprise when Gally hit the floor, my hands flying to my mouth.
"Newt, you could've killed him!" I said, flabbergasted that Newt had actually just punched Gally in the back of the head. Newt shrugged, crossing his arms.
"Don't care if it was a cheap shot, the shuckface deserved it,".
I had been so caught up in Gally's little defiance speech that I hadn't even heard Newt's feet bounding down the stairs. He had clearly had enough of Gally for the moment. The rest of the room must've noticed Newt's anger, for the rest of the room had parted like the Red Sea, giving him a straight line to Gally's back. Turning back to the crowd of boys, Newt stood tall, arms still crossed.
"Anyone else feel like questioning our authority or solutions? If we solve whatever's going on, we'll get out of here. I don't see why anybody would question that after everything we've all been through,".
The room was silent, everyone looking back and forth anxiously between Newt and Alby, who looked just as flabbergasted as me over Newt hitting Gally.
"Good. Now go to sleep," Newt smiled, ordered, and headed upstairs.
The boys dispersed, while some Baggers went to try to fix up the large hole in the wall created by Grievers. Knowing Newt would be upstairs when I got there, I made my way over to Alby, who was sitting in a chair with his head in his lap.
"You okay?" I asked almost nonchalantly, plopping my butt down on the arm of the chair. Alby laughed at my question, shaking his head.
"I'm as great as I can be. The place I've worked so hard to create is falling apart around and there's nothing I can do about it. On top of that, I'm seeing things that I can't explain, and..." Alby sighed, struggling with his words.
"What do you mean, 'seeing things'?" I whisper, not wanting anybody to hear our conversation.
If one person doubts the leader, everyone will. Alby shrugged his shoulders, picked his head to look over at me. I was sitting on the arm of the chair, so for once, I was taller.
"Ever since the Changing, I.. Shuck, I don't know, I see things. A person in the corner tinkering with the walls, clipboards thrown about... It's stupid stuff, but I just can't shake it," Alby whimpered, flinching.
Watching him flinch, a realization dawned on me. Alby was always flinching, always nervous since getting stung. Originally, I thought that it had just shook him up, but he was actually seeing things that weren't there.
"Not to put a damper on your mood, Alby, but is that what drove Ben..".
"Mad?" Alby huffed, a twinkle in his eye.
"Yeah. Guess you could use that word," I sigh, leaning into his side.
We sat in silence for a while, watching Gladers move this way and that as they prepared for sleep. Two Keepers sat outside the door, keeping watch for more creatures of the night.
"Sutton, I need you to listen to me and listen well," Alby said out of nowhere, alerting me.
"You're the great leader, Alby, I always do," I said, joking, but Alby wasn't.
"I'm serious, Sutton. Newt, he.. He's a great guy, you know that. He's like my brother, but he's known for being a loose cannon sometimes, and I think him hitting Gally proved that,".
"He was provoked," I insisted, standing up for the boy wasn't even here to defend himself, but Alby dismissed me with the wave of a hand.
"Either way, he's still known for losing it once and a while. I need you to promise me that if something happens to me, you'll take care of him,".
My eyes narrowed in on Alby's while he spoke.
"Nothing's going to happen to you,".
"But if something does, I don't want Newt falling off the edge. He's come close, before you arrived, and if I'm not here to bring him back, I fear that you're the only one who can," Alby explained, running a tired hand down his face.
"Alby, nothing is going to happen," I urged, but Alby was persistent, just like Newt.
"Promise me. Promise me you'll take care of him,".
By this point, Alby had taken his hand in mine and was squeezing tight.
"I promise," I nod, squeezing his hand back.
Alby watched for a moment, checking to see if I was telling the truth, before nodding back, and murmuring to himself.
"Good, good. Thank you, Sutton, for being so kind to him and me. I know I can be..".
"A hard-ass? An asshole?" I joked, smiling.
For once in my life, Alby shot me a smile.
"Yeah, that. Newt and I have worked so hard over the last few years to keep this place going, and we've been faced with a lot of problems, but this? Nothing like it," Alby muttered, shaking his head in dismay.
Nudging him in the shoulder earned me another smile, which made me happy.
"You'll get through it. We all will,".
I couldn't sleep through all of Thomas' pained screams. It was agonizing, hearing his wails from the next room over.
"It's okay, love, it's okay," Newt mumbled, woken up by my body jumping at every scream.
"It's not okay, he's in pain in there, Newt," my voice was only at a whimper but Newt heard me, nodding against my hair.
"Think about something else to take your mind off of it. Off of everything," Newt suggested, running his hand up and down my side.
Shaking I pressed my nose into Newt's bare chest, inhaling so I could always remember what Newt embodied.
"Alby said that-,".
"Alby is just taking precautions, love, you'll be fine. We all will," Newt told me harshly, forcing me to accept his facts.
Another scream left Thomas' room and I felt Newt pull my body closer to his.
"Think about us, right now, in this exact moment," Newt whispered in my ear, still caressing my side. "Think about what my nose feels like buried in your hair,".
"It tickles when you breathe," I giggle quietly, making Newt smile.
"See? I got you laughing. Now what about... The way my fingertips are giving you goose bumps?" Newt asked, moving back and forth from fingertips to nails against my side.
"It gives me chills," I whisper, leaning into his chest more if possible.
"There you go, Sutton. Feeling better?" he asked, dipping his chin so he was eye-level with me.
"Much," I nodded happily, thankful for Newt cheering me up. "What about you?".
"What do you mean, 'what about me', I'm great at this klunk!" Newt exclaimed, kissing me on the forehead.
"No, I mean, what are you thinking about? In this exact moment," I say, looking up into his thoughtful eyes. Newt squinted in the darkness to see me better, examining our close positions.
"I'm thinking about the way your nose is pressed into my chest. Your warm breath tickles but your nose is so small, I barely feel it," Newt explained, to which I let out a heavy breath of air through my nose, making him laugh.
"What else?" I ask, wrapping my arms around his strong torso.
"I'm thinking about the way your toes graze mine, since my feet are especially ticklish and sensitive. I've never too keen on footsies because of it," Newt said, bumping toes with mine. "And.. I'm also thinking about what would happen if I lost you. I always am," Newt shuddered, squeezing me tight.
"You won't lose me, Newt," I try to say, but Newt's shaking his head, just like Alby was.
"You can't promise that. No matter how many times either of us say it, we know it's not possible. We know we're not good for each other, yet we still try to make it work. There are so many ways I could lose you, and none of them work for me,".
Newt's eyes were deep pools of color and emotion, something I hadn't seen from him in a while.
"We are all going to be fine," I told him, quoting Newt from just moments ago.
"I hope so. And if not, I'm going to try my shuck hardest to get you out of here. With or without me,".
"Uh-uh, no way. If you don't leave, neither do I, Newt. It's both of us or neither of us, got it?" I said strongly, poking him on the nose with my finger.
Newt crossed his eyes to look down at my finger, making me smile.
"What did I do to deserve you?" he mumbled to himself, but I was lucky enough to hear it.
"Nothing," I say, shrugging my shoulders, "Absolutely nothing. But you were the only one to help me here, so.. Everything, really,".
Newt raised his eyebrows in confusion at my answer, not believing it.
"That doesn't make any bloody sense, darling,"
"We don't make sense. So it kind of works, don't you think?" I ask him, leaving him with that question.
Just as Newt was leaning in to kiss me goodnight, our door flew open, revealing a sweaty crazy-eyed Thomas.
"Thommy, what's wrong?" Newt asked, panic-mode flipped on like a switch.
"I saw it, I saw the code! The code, it.. It says how to get out of here," Thomas rambled on, his voice loud and pained.
"Well spit it out before the Med-Jacks grab you, what's the code?" Newt urged the boy on, ready to leave the Maze right here and now.
"The walls inside the Maze. When they move, they spell, they spell different words! Float, Catch, Bleed, Death, Stiff, and Push. That's the code, guys, that's the code," Thomas relayed the message over and over, like he had lost his mind.
"Thomas, are you..?".
"Quiet. He'll be fine once he's done with the Changing but it looks like he's right in the middle. Med-Jacks!" Newt yelled, calling for some doctors.
As soon as Thomas saw the doctors making their way down the hallway he freaked, running into our room.
"Sutton, please, Sutton, I'm fine. Don't let them give me anymore, any more pain, please, Sutton!" Thomas begged, throwing his body against a wall.
"You'll be fine, mate, you just need to finish the Changing. I know it hurts, but you'll get through it and you'll feel better, I promise," Newt stood up, ready to defend us if Thomas got too crazy.
"Float, Catch, Bleed, Death, Stiff, Push. We, we have to jump into the Griever Hole, and whether it's before, after, or on the way, people are going to die. Not all of us can survive, we won't, we won't!" Thomas shrieked as he was pulled out of the room by Med-Jacks.
"Sorry to disturb your sleep, Newt, he pulled out of the restraints," a Med-Jack apologized, and Newt nodded.
"It's fine, just get better restraints. He needs to finish the Changing or he'll really lose it,".
When the door was shut, the tears fought their way to my eyes and I burst into tears, terrified at the Thomas I just saw.
"That's not him, Newt, that's not Thomas," I cried as Newt hugged me tight, pulling me into his lap.
"I know, love, know. The Changing does crazy things to people, but I promise you, he'll be his wonderful, charming old self when he's done with the Changing," Newt shushed me, actually rocking me back and forth.
"When did you get so wise?" I sniffled, letting his rocking calm me down.
"I'm not, really. Now relax, he'll be fine,".
"Promise?" I asked, getting a kiss on the top of my head.
"For you, always,".
Well, there you have it. I believe this is chapter 10? Man, has time flown! I hope you all enjoyed/loved/adored the chapter (sorry it was a little longer than usual).
Don't forget to let me know down below, Team Thomton, Newtton, or just plain old Sutton.
If you feel like talking about anything, make sure to follow me on Twitter at: XoStasiiXo. It's the best way to reach me, so don't feel bad about yelling at me to update on there!
You are all AMAZING, wonderful people, and Sutton and I love you for it. You're the only reason our favorite Gladers have gotten this far!
"WICKED is good,".
Song; Cease Fire. Artist; Christina Aguilera. Album; Lotus (2012?)