A/N: hoot hoot hoot look who's back
Newt hated to admit this, but what Gally said was true. Once Thomas came, everything did, indeed, change. First, a new Glader came one day after Thomas. Without supplies. And it was a girl. And then, Minho found a dead Griever deep in the Maze. How did the Grievers die? Was there anyone else in the Maze? Why was it even out at daytime?
Which is why Minho decided to go investigate on the dead Griever. Alby wanted to tag along, afraid that Minho might get attacked by more Grievers and possibly die. Afterall, it was better to travel in pairs... right?
As an ex-runner, Newt would have followed, but Alby strongly refused. "Not to offend you, Newt, but you can't outrun a Griever. Not with your leg." Newt nearly snapped back "Not like you can either, heck you haven't even tried running an entire day in the Maze before," but he quickly stopped himself. Alby wouldn't be gone an entire day; he'd just go in with Minho, find the Griever and drag that slinthead out.
But deep inside, he knew it wasn't that he really wanted to go. He just couldn't bear the thought of letting Alby go into the Maze. He knew how dangerous it was, and what if he died? How would he be able to take care of all the Gladers? But Alby kept assuring him that Minho would take good care of him. With a heavy heart, Newt eventually relented.
Alby and Minho left the Glade early that morning, and Newt woke up even earlier to prepare breakfast and send them off. It wasn't like they were going to leave forever, but Newt never knew when it would be his last time seeing his two best friends. "Be careful. If any of you die, I'll find your bloody bodies and kill you shanks again."
"Wow Newt, that logic!" Minho scoffed. "No worries, shank. We'll make it out of the Maze alive," he reassured, pulling Newt into a hug. Alby squeezed his way between the two, flinging his arms around them.
"Trust him, Newt. He's the Keeper of the Runners, and he'll keep me alive too," Alby said.
"Alright then, we'd better head off now so we can come back in time. See ya, Newt. Don't klunk in your pants waiting for us, kay?" With a wave, Minho took off with Alby following close behind, the silhouettes of the two boys disappearing through the West Doors.
Newt unwilling left the Doors to do help out around the Glade. Most of the Gladers were already awake, some washing up while others were having breakfast on a picnic table. Newt smiled faintly at the sight of the normal sight of the Glade, trying to take his mind away from the two boys out in the Maze.
"Newt, you alright? You seem pretty off today. Is it because of Minho and Alby?" Frypan asked, frustrated at the Second-in-Command's jumpy behavior.
"I guess," he admitted. "I didn't have a good sleep last night either. I don't want either of them to get injured or worse still, die, but I think that bloody Griever has something to do with our escape."
"Just... try to take your mind off it, ok? You mind helping me out at the Kitchen today? We could make some cookies for everyone," Frypan suggested, trying to take Newt's mind off the whole situation.
"I guess? I might burn them though. Then everyone will have bloody badly burnt cookies," Newt joked. The blond spent the rest of the morning mixing flour and flattening the dough onto flimsy metal trays, and with a little of Frypan's help, they got perfect crunchy cookies.
"Look how much better you've gotten! You've come from burning stew to baking cookies!" Frypan praised, and Newt felt a slight sense of satisfaction. Lunch that day was just the previous night's stew heated up with some toast. "Sorry for not changing the menu, but Newt's baked some cookies," Frypan said, still in a very good mood.
"Thanks," Newt softy muttered, grateful that Frypan had made the effort to cheer him up.
After lunch, Newt brought Thomas, to go see what tasks he was suitable for. For the entire afternoon, the two helped Zart and the track-hoes at the Garden, tending to the ripe tomatoes that grew red and juicy. Newt was almost able to get his mind entirely off Alby and Minho, until he felt the heat of the evening sun burn his skin. He glanced at his watch. 5.30. They should have been back hours ago!
Thomas seemed to have sensed Newt's sudden change in emotions. "What's bugging you?" he asked. "Is it about the girl? Don't worry about her, I'm sure she'll be fine."
"I don't know. I don't know, Tommy," the nickname slipped naturally from his mouth. "They should be back by now. Bloody hell, they should have been back by lunch time. Alby and Minho! This could mean two things. Either they found a way to escape, or they are injured or even dead. I'm hoping it is the former, but something tells me it isn't that bloody simple and happy."
Dinner that day had a very sombre mood, the Gladers hardly able to stomach anything. Everyone couldn't calm their nerves, and soon half-eaten plates of steak and mashed potatoes were left on the grass and the table. Newt was the first to leave the table, clanking his utensils loudly against the plate as he got up suddenly, shocking Thomas and several others.
"I can't stand this bloody waiting anymore," Newt muttered under his breath as he took off to the walls of the Glade, running from door to door, hoping to at least catch a glimpse of Alby and Minho's figures. He stopped at the West Doors where the two left that day, peering far down the dark stone corridors. A gust of cold air sweeping past his face as a chill crept down his spine. The air was one thing. His fear was another. Newt was absolutely terrified of the Maze. It was where he had tried to die, and though he did crave for death, he had somehow developed a love-hate relationship for the Maze which eventually evolved into fear.
Several Gladers gathered around Newt, curious about the outcome of the their fellow Gladers. "Why aren't they back yet?" "The Doors are going to close soon." "Are they alright in there?" Newt could hear the hushed whispers of the Gladers which made him even more anxious.
"Newt, are you alright? Newt!" Thomas asked from beside him.
"No. I won't be bugging alright until those two shanks get their shuck asses back. And when they do, I'll skin them alive," Newt snapped, the anxiety making him irritable.
"They don't have much longer til the Doors closed. Maybe 5 minutes," a Runner announced from somewhere at the back. Newt nearly lost it at that comment and wanted to punch that shuckface right in the nose. I know, okay? Just shut up.
"Can't we send a search party to go-" Thomas said, but Newt briefly interrupted him.
"Bloody hel-" Newt stopped to take a deep breath. There was no point losing his cool in times like these. "We can't. Okay? Don't ever mention that. Didn't you listen to Alby when he listed down the rules? 'Never go outside the Glade'. Especially not when those buggin' Doors are going to close anytime."
"But why? The Grievers might get them. Shouldn't we send someone to save them?" Thomas asked again. His questions got on Newt's nerves, and Newt finally exploded. He turned to face Thomas completely, face burning with fury.
"Shut your hole, Greenie. You've been here for not more than a week. You think I won't go and save those bloody shanks?"
"I- I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Thomas couldn't seem to find the right words. Newt immediately softened, feeling sorry for snapping at Thomas. He just wants to help them, he reminded himself.
"Look, Thomas. We all made an oath. Minho and Alby included. Even you. No one goes into the Maze, especially not at night." Newt stopped, unable to continue. Somewhere beside him, Chuck spoke up.
"Newt won't say it, so I will. Minho's too smart to get lost. If it's anything, they are dead."
"Shank's right. They won't be coming back." Newt felt a deep gnawing pain at the bottom of his chest, the words making him realise the severity of the situation. His eyes moisten, clouding his vision, and everything that surrounded him was just anguish and despair. They won't be coming back, he repeated in his mind.
"Two more minutes," he muttered under his breath, and the next two minutes that ticked by went horrifyingly fast. The grinding of gears resonated through the Glade deep and loud as Newt watched the stone doors slide close. And then there was a faint movement somewhere in the Maze, but Newt couldn't be sure that it wasn't his eyes playing tricks on him.
A/N: I hope this chapter wasn't too short; school's getting really busy and all the tests have started. I'd be uploading the next chapter next Saturday as Lunar New(t) Year gift to all you kiddos. Once again, thanks for reading!