Chapter 7

It was still dark outside, when she felt someone shake her arm, bringing her back from her blissful and surprisingly nightmare-less sleep. She opened her eyes slowly, thankfully no lights were on to adjust to, and she was shocked to see Alby above her.

"What's your?" She mumbled still half asleep.

"Sh, greenbean." He put a finger to his lips as a signal for her to stay quiet. "Follow me." He whispered and walked out of her room without making a sound. She stood up soon after and practically ran after him.

She followed him into the woods – deadheads, as Newt called them.

She was curious and had about thousands she wanted to ask Alby, but decided to 'slim them' until he spoke up and explained it himself. She knew from Newt not to test his patience.

They reached a wall, but there was something different about it. There were more ivy covering this part and soon she noticed they were hiding a window. Alby motioned for her to come closer and with his hand he brushed the ivy away, making her see what was behind the glass.

Nothing.

Are you fuckign with me right now?

She was about to ask him what was going on but he put a finger to his lips again and she silently sighed.

There was just a corridor and nothing else. She was getting annoyed and she discovered her patience was as short as Gally's.

"Here." She heard him whisper or at least she thought so. It was so quiet it could as well be a soft breeze messing with her. But then she noticed he was pointing something behind the window with his index finger. Her eyes followed his hand and she had to put hers over her mouth not to let a ear-splitting scream come out. She heard few birds fly away from their trees meaning she failed. Yet, she couldn't care less at the moment.

On the other side of the window stood a giant greenish beast with eight mechanic legs. It moved slowly through the corridor turning its head from left to right - looking for a pray, she figured.

"Greenie," She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumps few inches above the ground in fear. "Hey, calm down." Alby told her. He looked at her softly, giving her time to gain control of her breathing again.

"Take me away from here." She pleaded in soft, barely audible whisper. He couldn't not comply with her request. They walked throught the deadheads fast for she found them creepy in the dark.

Alby took her to another wall. She wasn't exactly paying attention to where she was going it only mattered that she followed him out of that awful place.

"Look up." He ordered and her eyes left the ground to travel up. She noticed engravings, soon realising they were names. "You're one of us now." Alby told her and they eyes met briefly before he pointed at the wall with his hand. "As soon as you remember your name you can put it on that wall among the others."

"Why are they crossed?" She asked getting closer, her eyes fixed on crossed names.

"Because they're no long with us." He explained. He walked up to her quickly and brushed his shoulder against hers. He caressed one name slowly with his middle finger. Nick. "He was our leader before. I was his second in command." She took in every word. "After Newt's accident he covered with me his section-"

"What accident?" She interrupted him.

"He didn't tell you?" He looked surprised. "Shank… Well, he used to be a runner. We ran the together for months. We split up once and h-he had this accident. Shucked up his leg, you noticed his limp right?"

"Yeah." She exhaled heavily.

"That's how he got it. Well, after that Nick decided he would cover his section until Newt recovered. One day a griver jumped at him. There was nothing I could do." Alby confessed with regret. "After that we had a gathering and decided I should take his place. Minho found other runners. Newt's never fully healed so we've never sent him into the maze again." There was something more to it . She just knew.

"But his limp is barely noticeable now." Not that she wanted Newt to go back out there to those beasts, but she felt a part of this story was missing.

"It's different when he walks around than when he runs." Alright, good enough, I guess. She convinced herself silently. "You should go back." He interrupted her thoughts. "From what I heard you and Newt are about to wake up Legend for work."

"Right!" She shot up. "I totally forgot." She managed to shake insecurity off and focus on her task. "T-thanks, Alby." She ran off to her room for the sun was already rising.

"See you around, Greenie." He yelled.

She ran back into the homestead quickly. Newt was standing in front of the door to her room knocking on the door frantically with a frown.

"Greenie, if you don't open up I'm coming in and you better be dressed!"

"I am, so don't be shy." She teased and he turned to her, his frown disappearing immediately replaced with a shock.

"Love? What are you doing out there?" He asked, shaking off the confusion.

"Alby took me for a little trip." She tried to sound nonchalant, but remembering the griever she started trembling.

"He showed you…?" He trailed off and she nodded quickly. "Are you cold?" He asked noticing her state.

"N-no." She was losing hold of her body as her hands were shaking uncontrollably. Newt as if sensing something – or simply using his eyes – walked up to her at took one of her palms in both of his, holding in tightly.

"Love, you gotta bloody breathe."

"I am." She said with confusion.

"No, you're losing control and soon if you don't calm down you'll have a panic attack or other klunk. So just breathe with me okay?" He asked calmly. He brought her down with him to the floor and she sat on her heels.

She breathed with him and soon he started whispering calming phrases to her.

"It's okay, love. I swear you're safe here. Grievers are not coming in here." And soon she calmed down and the shivering stopped.

"I'm okay." She whispered closing her eyes and taking one last calming breath.

"You sure?"

"Yes." She opened her eyes. "Thanks, Newt."

"Don't mention it." He helped her up and let go of her hand. Her palm immediately felt much colder. She brushed the feeling off.

"Let's go get Legend."

"Yeah, good that." He put his hands on his hips. "Ladies first." He motioned the way out with his hand and she moved right in that direction.

They straggled to get the boy out of bed, but he rewarded them with hot tea and Frypan looked really pleased, which meant Legend would probably keep his job (which was the biggest reward she could have asked for, though she'd never admit it).

Because the doors hadn't opened yet, they got to eat with Minho and Ben. Asian was still thinking about perfectly annoying nickname. She told him he should just give it up. Yet, he told her to be patient.

"Besides I want to have a name for you if everyone gets to have one."

"Ben doesn't." A boy raised his eyebrow and offered to think of some if she wished. "No, please. Ben, I had so much faith in you! I thought you were more mature than those… shanks." Newt laughed as she tried using their slang. "What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry, love." He made sure to put pressure on the nickname to annoy her. "I'm actually mad, because, excuse you, I'm bloody mature." He tried to look resentful, but broke into chuckle quickly. "But you trying to use our slang is shucking hilarious." She rolled her eyes as if she wanted to say whatever.