Chapter 9
Life at the Mansion became habit. The alarm woke them, showers, breakfast and then chores before returning in time for lock down and dinner.
They swapped chores around for a few days until they all tried everything and found the place they belonged. Face kept insisting that Newt stay with her and equipped him with a gun and shooting lessons. The Gladers ended up dividing into new friend groups according to their daily jobs. Thomas and Newt ate their meals with Face and even though it was strange to Thomas at first, they eased into a tolerance. Of course, they only pretended to hate each other after that first day. And every day after that they got closer and closer to being friends. When working, they couldn't talk about their secrets and kept it to themselves.
On their sixth day, the vibe in the Manor seemed more relaxed. When they got to the cafeteria, it was sparsely occupied. Some kids even slummed around in their sleepwear.
"It's rest day." Anna informed them. "Some times we go to the dock and swim in the ocean. But I don't think anyone wants to go out with all that wind."
After breakfast, they went upstairs to the top floor and found it to be an amusement room. There were books stacked on the walls, the floor was covered in tables and couches and playthings. Half the kids were already occupying the toys and craft area.
Thomas felt something flick his hair, and turned around but there was no one there. Newt felt a flutter of touch in his neck and turned to look at Thomas but he wasn't close. Air rushed over his neck and Newt turned again.
Face giggled and both Thomas and Newt looked up. She was hanging upside down from an opening in the ceiling.
She reached down and placed her hands on Newt's shoulders before letting go and dropping into his arms.
"Come with me." She whispered.
"Where are we going?" Newt breathed.
"It's low tide. Come on." She smiled and pulled Newt to the door.
"You too Thomas." Face called, reaching for his hand.
They went down to the wardrobe floor and grabbed their basic runner backpacks. She searched behind piles of clothes and got them each a pair of sunglasses.
"Why don't we get these every day?" Thomas asked.
"Because it's really windy today and we wont be able to open our eyes without the glasses." She grabbed another bag and they headed downstairs.
Outside, the glasses did help against the sand. Face pointed in a direction and they ran away from the Manor.
The docks were once the main harbor. But now, ships stood on dry sand abandoned next to broken wooden piers. The ocean barely started half a mile away from the deck. Face pointed again and they ran parallel to the water. Eventually the buildings and the water collided and the ocean stretched a little into the city.
"Do you trust me?" Face yelled.
"Why?" Newt asked.
"Just," she smiled. "Follow me."
She ran into the water, away from the city. The water level rose as they started swimming towards a glass building that stood in the middle of the water. Face took off her glasses, placed them in her bag and told them to do the same. The wind was still harsh. But the sand was far away.
"Swim." She simply said and duck dived into the depths of the water. The boys followed and swam deeper into the water. She reached an open door and swam inside, aiming upwards to the surface.
They ended up inside the glass hotel. The whole place was an open plan hotel lobby with all the rooms on the city's side. Metal beams held the glass side in place. The bottom of the lobby was already covered in ocean life and they swam to the stair where they could climb out.
"Welcome to my world." Face smiled. They stood on the terrace and looked out to the ocean view.
"Walker's can't get here?" Thomas asked.
"They don't like the light." Face took off her bags and opened them, placing towels on the dry floor before taking off her (now wet) layered outfit.
"Why don't you bring the others here?"
"Because this is my world. Have…" she paused, "fun."
They spent most of the morning swimming around the lobby. The doors to the covered floors were all open and light was streaming in from everywhere. The sun was getting high so they took cover under one of the balconies. Face sat halfway in the water on the stairs, Thomas lounged on the dry floor and Newt fluttered around.
"What's up the stairs?" Thomas asked.
"Just rooms. Undisturbed and unused."
"Maybe there's stuff we can take back with us?"
"Anything we take out of here will get wet, or ruined."
"I'll go look around. Just curious."
Thomas climbed the stairs to higher floors and out of view.
"He's safe on his own?" Newt asked. "Are we?"
Face nodded. Newt swam closer and sat next to her, tilting his head closer.
"Can they hear us?" Newt whispered in her ear.
"No." she whispered back, tilting her head to match his. "Not if you're whispering."
"Can they see us?"
"I don't know. I like to think that I'm here alone. As if they don't exist."
She sighed and tilted her head to rest against his. Newt pulled her drying hair behind her ear and ran his thumb across her cheek.
"I'm here…" Newt breathed and kissed her. It was a soft and gentle kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He cupped her face and tucked her chin down with his thumb, parting her lips. The kiss intensified until she pulled away, catching her breath. She held his brow against hers as their breathing slowed.
Newt opened his eyes and saw tears on her cheek.
"Are you crying?" He asked.
"I don't want them to take you away from me again." She whispered.
Newt pulled her closer and held her tightly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"What's going on?" Thomas asked from the top of the stairs.
"We…" Newt pulled away and looked at Face. "We're together." He said simply. "Matched."
Thomas descended the stairs and sat down close to them.
"You're not related?" Thomas asked. Face turned and stared at him.
"Why would you ask that?" she asked.
"I had a strange dream the other night. It was just a dream."
"What did you dream?" Face insisted.
"Kids. A school. Standing in line. Teresa. You two." Thomas boiled it down to the basics. "I dreamt Teresa and I are twins."
"You are." Face said before she could stop herself.
"How do you know that?" Thomas asked. Face slapped her hand over her lips and closed her eyes.
"You two look alike." She mumbled, wanting the conversation done with.
"You sounded like Newt. In the dream. Same accent. That's why I asked."
Newt stared at Face.
"Just a dream." She said quickly.
"I don't think it was though." Thomas mumbled. "I remember things from before the maze. Maybe being here reminded me of things even before that. Your name was Zaydeen. I can't make that up, can I?"
Face bit her lip.
"I'm sorry." Thomas shook his head, clearing it. "You probably don't remember anything."
Face turned away, hoping the conversation was over.
"What is that?" Thomas asked as he snuck closer. He touched her back, where she had been stung. She twisted around and covered the spot with her hand, but his attention got drawn to a bite mark on her arm. He dropped her arm like it was hot and recoiled quickly.
"How? When? What?" Thomas was confused.
"I got stung by a Chaser and bitten by a walker. A few actually. Nothing happened to me."
"You didn't need the injection?" Thomas asked. "That's why you don't remember anything."
"Yeah." Face stood quickly. "We should go back."
"You're immune to the virus? You must be the cure." Thomas realized.