Having frantically jumped out of the pond, Vivienne was quivering uncontrollably. She wasn't sure if it was for the shock of chilliness, or the voice in her head, or the lack of oxygen. She barely managed to find her clothes with rheumy eyes that made her vision blurry. It was getting harder and harder for her to control her breathing for the lump in her throat; and in her underwear, the only thing covering her drenched body; she sank to her knees and wailed.

Vivienne didn't know why exactly she was sobbing. She still somehow felt trapped, even though she was already out of the water. She ordered herself to exhale slowly and inhale deeply, trying to avoid a panic attack. She resented the thought of anybody founding her like this.

Few minutes had passed, and she managed to compose herself, and attire. Her clothes absorbed some of the water from her underwear and stayed glued to her body.

Having almost made it out of the woods she hoped to make it to the homestead before anyone could notice her. Luckily everyone was occupying the kitchen, so she swiftly made her way to her room, invisible to the Gladers impercipient eyes.

On her tiptoes, in case someone was there, she reached the dorm. Opening it with a relieving sigh, she gasped. Looking out the window, Newt stood there with Legend by his side. The crack of the door caught their attention.

"Where the shuck have you been?" Legend squeaked at the sight of her. He ran up to her, bringing her close in a tight, warm embrace

"Language, youngling," she tried to dismiss the attention, which she knew was a worthless action. Newt turned to her, his eyes wide opened at the view before him. She found neither anger nor severity in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with an aberrant mix of relief, confusion, and concern. "I just went for a walk."

"For two hours?"

"I was there this long?" She pulled away from the boy in shock. Newt patient gaze studied her carefully while he scratched his chin.

"We'll let you dry off," he finally spoke up. "Let's go grab Vivienne dinner, huh, Legend?" Youngling nodded vigorously.

She bowed thankfully to Newt, but only received a frown in return. Two Gladers left and Vivienne quickly changed. She wrapped herself in a washed-out blanket to warm herself up. She was still trembling hectically. 'I'll take care of you, sister.' The voice echoed in her head, and spasms of shivers ran down her spine. Sister. Was she one? Could the owner of the disembodied voice be her brother? Was he... outside the Maze, waiting for her? What did he mean by taking care of her?

She wanted to know, to remember, but something told her she was not yet ready for the truth. After all, she had only lived for three weeks.

"You alright?" His thick accent startled her, and the blanket fell off her shoulders. Newt closed the door behind him and sat few inches away from her handing her a plate.

"I'm fine," she smiled weakly readjusting the rug. She took the dish with a whispered 'thank you' and asked where Legend disappeared to. Newt explained that Frypan needed him in the kitchen.

Vivienne tried to eat, but for the lump that formed in her throat, she could not swallow a piece of the meal. She was shaking, still cold and frightened, and she knew Newt noticed. He was staring at her for a while, not daring to move closer for what she was thankful – she needed space to recover and gather her thoughts.

"What's wrong?" He whispered as if he was scared she'd run if he dared to speak louder.

"Nothing," she tried to sound casual, but he saw right through her.

"How about you stop lying to me, Love?" He smiled lightly, maybe even hopefully. "I know this..." He looked around before his eyes met hers again. There was something in his russet eyes that she knew was truthful, yet somehow scary. "Can get hard. And since you're the only girl... Just find someone you can confide in. Otherwise, you can break under the weight of your secrets." A shiver ran down her spine because Newt hit home. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed it with such delicacy she barely felt it. He stood up ready to leave her in peace but she stopped him.

"Wait," she sighed giving up. "You're right," she continued when he turned to her. "I guess for the past three weeks I was so overwhelmed with meeting everyone and getting the job I seemed to have accustomed to the Glade quickly, but... It just hit me today, out of nowhere." Newt sat a bit closer to her this time. "I'm just surprised it took me three weeks..."

"It's all right, we all get wistful every now and then, but you can't give into it," he said, and suddenly he seemed a bit... off and uncomfortable. "Did any of the guys say something that... made you feel afflicted?" She instantly thought back to what occurred in Ben's room, but she suppressed a shiver that almost forced itself on her.

"Nothing's for free, Vi." Of course - she thought.

"What do you want?" She tried to sound careless. "My breakfast or dinner?"

"Not quite," his simper showed his teeth.

"I don't really have much more to offer," she faked a laugh.

"I think you do," she felt dyspnoea as he took a step closer.

"No, guys are great," she forced a smile, hoping she misunderstood Ben's intentions. If only there had been any other girl she could ask for an advice. "I just... I'm confused, and scared, and I feel... lonely, even though there's always someone around," she sighed rubbing her forehead with her free hand. Newt reached out and took the plate from her. The meal was cold, anyway. He put it away on a drawer and came back to the bed. "I'm trying to be strong-"

"You don't have to be strong all the time," he muttered. His eyes seemed clouded all of the sudden as she tried to understand him. Newt was good at reading people, and it seemed he was easy to understand, too. However, sitting there with him up close she acknowledged how wrong she was. Always cheerful and helpful there he was brooding with her, something mysterious glinting in his eyes. She wanted to ask, but knew better than that. It was not the right time; he didn't have to tell her anything. He barely knew her after all. She barely knew him.

"Easier said than done," she cracked a smile, getting her mind off of what Newt may have been thinking. "I don't even know what caused all this." Liar. "I'm just… still trying to figure it out I guess."

"Don't we all? But don't worry we're going to get out of here, Vivienne." It wasn't often that he called her by her name. She turned to him and only then had she noticed her eyes were rheumy. She was exhausted and she missed closure. Though, a few inches separated them the warmness of his body radiated to hers, and though she'd never admit it she yearned more of it. "But before that... I'm gonna be right here whenever you need me to. And I won't bugger off until you feel better." Not knowing what took over her, she abruptly leaned in, and pecked his cheek.

"Thanks, Newt." He nodded too caught up in what took place to react.

"How about we get some tea to lift your spirit?" He offered, scratching the back of his neck to shake off the shock.

"That's the best idea I heard all day," she confessed, her lips curving into a soft smile.

On their way to the kitchen, Newt offered to put Legend's hammock in the room, so they wouldn't have to squish in the small bed.

"I thought you didn't want Legend to get used to your room," she chuckled and almost tripped, forthwith the hopelessness was gone. Newt's company was just what she had needed. Ever since Legend moved in Newt hadn't been coming for their late night talks and she admitted she missed them.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Where do you sleep anyway?" She realized she never even worried about that.

"At Minho's," he shrugged as if it were obvious. They reached the kitchen before she could thank him or ask when he expected her to move out for he never even mentioned that and she knew she couldn't stay there forever.