sorry for being so inactive. I'll try to get some more chapters up by Christmas.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Only Skylar and Billie.

:) keep reading and reviewing.

Chapter 17 - Family

Previously...

That night I fell asleep, peaceful. I was away from Wicked.

It may not have been paradise, but I was free.

Dream/memory

I was sitting on the lookout. It was still dark out but the sun would rise soon.

Newt came up not much later. "What are ya doing love?" I laughed, "just watching the sunrise."

He smiled as a haunted look appeared on his handsome face. "Have you ever thought of ending it? Getting out of this bloody maze that way?"

I stared at my hands. I felt the familiar darkness wrap around my mind at his words. Yes, I have thought about ending it. "Sometimes...: I admit. Then I remember what dragged me from those dark days. "But I always think of my friends when those thoughts creep their way into my brain. Helps keep them at bay." I frown, looking deep into his eyes. "How 'bout you? Ever have those bloody depressing thoughts?"

He looked away. "Yeah. I used to have them most days...before George came up. I took him under my wing and life seemed a little more bearable. Then you showed up Sky." He gave me a broken smile, trying to hide his pain. "You interested me the moment you came up. You didn't panic like most greenies. You were calm. You also hid away from the world. You were different." He nudged me gently, looking out into the distance. "After you talked for the first time and expressed the desire to become a runner I knew you'd find a way out. After I realized that I liked you, I discovered that you also gave me hope. Hope that we would make it."

Newt no longer wore a haunted look. He smiled gently at me, kissing my hand. "I love you Sky. It may not be the perfect timing but I bloody love you, Skylar."

I smiled, feeling astounding happiness at his words. " I bloody love you too, Newt," I replied sweetly, meaning it with all of my heart.

I kept our hands entwined as I looked into his eyes. "Whenever I think depressing thoughts my mind always returned to you. You gave me a reason to live. Just by being you." I told him honestly. "I love you."

End of dream/memory

...

I woke up with tears on my face. "Maybe I'm the bloody reason he jumped."

A voice startled me, "who jumped?"

I turned in the darkness. "Sorry, Brenda. I didn't mean to wake ya...Oh and nobody."

I could feel Brenda staring at me through the darkness. "Didn't seem like nobody. You were crying in your sleep."

I sighed, "you know how I was in the maze?"

She nodded.

"Well, I fell in love. His name was Newt. I miss him so much." I brushed a tear away in annoyance. I hated crying. "Before I escaped Wicked I saw him jump from the maze walls. There's no way he's alive anymore...but it still hurts. I was his reason for living. Wicked may be responsible but I'll always feel guilty. It doesn't help that something happened to my brother after I left." The last part was bitter.

Brenda nodded sympathetically, seeming to take comfort in the fact that I wasn't trying to act tough. "I know how it feels." She told me quietly. "I was close as can be to my siblings. Sure they were step-siblings but it's not blood that matters." She smiled in remembrance. "When my parents died I took care of them. They were chosen by Wicked. I thought I could go along but they didn't want me. It broke my heart. I still feel guilty about leaving them but I thought they had a better chance to live then with me. I regret it to this day."

I nodded sadly, "what were they like?"

Brenda fiddled with a compact mirror. " Well, Bella was a spitfire. She stood up for anything. George was quiet. He would observe us all day. They actually look like me, oddly enough. They were from England. I was from Canada. Their mom came over after the sun flares. They were little tykes, even though they were 7 at the time. I had only been 9. By the time they were 8 they were orphans."

Brenda pointed to the picture of a small girl with black hair. "Bella was like me, calm as can be and sneaky as hell...but when you got her angry you had better run for the hills." Brenda pointed to the dark-haired boy next to Bella. "George was much calmer than either of us. He loved to play in the garden and read. I miss them."

I had paid rapt attention to her descriptions. "Do you have a picture of them?" I wondered.

It could just be a coincidence.

Brenda opened the compact mirror. There, opposite to the mirror was a picture of me and George. "Brenda" I breathed.

She looked at the picture fondly before jerking at my voice. She looked back and forth from me to the picture before whispering "it can't be?"

I wanted to shrug but I was still dazed "it might be. I saw him. The boy. He was in the maze with me. His name was still George and many thought us to be twins.

I also stole a file from Wicked saying that he was my biological brother."

Brenda broke the silence by hugging me and whispering "it has to be. Oh Little Bella. My little Bella."

We didn't get much sleep that night. Mostly we talked about our pasts.

I told her all about George while she told me about our family. Sadly, I had to break it to her that George was probably dead.

She didn't take it well but I knew she was glad to have me here. I decided to keep the name Skylar but only Brenda was allowed to call me Bella.

The next morning my new life began...

I really don't like this chapter but it sums up some loose ends. Or at least I imagine it does.

So now you know one of my many plot twists.

More to come.

Later Gladers...