Newts POV***
I was deep in thought when I left my talk with Minho and Alby. The runners were back and reported that nothing was odd or different in the maze to Minho. Alby seemed on edge, and I couldn't blame him given the circumstances. He was not sure what to tell the rest of the gladers about Dani. He asked me if anything about her seemed off or strange compared to the rest of the Greenies. I told him about her vast medical knowledge, an innocent but bizarre thing for the Creators to let her keep. I also emphasized to him that it could be extremely helpful for us to have a medjack like her. Minho added that she clearly seemed trained to fight, like the instinct to defend herself was natural. He also said that she was fit. Minho struggled to keep up with her when she made a second break for the gates. He shrugged and suggested that she would make a great runner, surprising both of us. Alby seemed apprehensive about letting her back out into the maze though. He made it pretty obvious that he didn't trust Dani. I decided to keep the paper that Jeff saw a secret, which was a really hard choice for me. Alby was my best friend and my leader. I was his right hand man and he trusted me entirely. But I trusted Dani, she may be extremely calm and doesn't ask as many questions as the past Greenies but I think she's just like the rest of us. She's stuck here. I wanted to get closer to her though. I thought if I did she may be willing to open up to me a little more. However, Alby decided he wanted to talk to her himself, face to face. So now I headed towards the food hut to fetch her.
I spotted her easily. She was walking next to Chuck. She seemed upset about something, with a hard frown on her face. I couldn't stand seeing her like that. She paused, saying something sternly to Chuck. The boy smiled back, which made her grin more. She messed up his crazy hair with her hand.
"There you two are. Sorry I missed dinner." I apologized approaching them.
"Well sorry for you because it was delicious!" Dani smirked at me and put her hand on her full stomach. I shook my head, wondering how long it would take till she got sick of Fry's cooking like the rest of us. I glanced at Chuck, who was staring up at Dani like a lost puppy. I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but he was so young. I understood why he would take such a liking to Dani. And from their previous interactions, you could tell she had taken a motherly/sisterly role to him already.
"You can go now Chuck." I crossed my arms looking towards the boy. He nodded and took off quickly. I looked back to Dani, but was greeted with a very unhappy face.
"Bye Chuck!" She called out to him before turning back to me. "Don't be so mean to him!" She punched me in the chest, taking me by surprise. I grabbed my chest and acted really hurt. "He's just a kid!"
"I'm not mean to him!" I cried out.
"Well you're not nice to him and I'm not afraid to hit you again. But with more meaning." She threatened me. I raised my hands up in defense.
"Okay! Okay! But were not done yet with our tour. Come on." I laughed a little at her and motioned for her to follow. She fell into pace next to me.
"Hey Newt, can I ask you a question?" She looked over at me.
"Of course." I said, really curious about what she had to say.
"What is WICKED?" She asked carefully. I faltered in my steps a little take by surprise, yet again. Where did she hear about WICKED?
"No one really knows for sure. People say there are associated with the Creators." I looked over at her to see if her expression changed at all while I spoke. It didn't. "Whoever made this whole place. It's on all of the supplies we get from the box. And it's written on the walls outside in the maze. Whoever or whatever WICKED is, they must be pretty powerful." I explained pretty vaguely. She didn't respond though, she looked like she was trying to digest all of the information. Quiet and cautious, just like she had been all day. We walked behind the homestead reaching our destination.
"This is the slammer. It's where we put people who have broken our rules." I gave her a quick glance, making her look at her feet slightly embarrassed. "Hopefully you will not have to worry about this place." I laughed a little at her but a loud cry of a Griever rang out across the glade. I looked at Dani, confusion crossing her face. But there was something else in her pretty hazel eyes, a spark of recognition. She knew something.
"You said the maze was a dangerous place. That's why." She spoke barely above a whisper and looked to me as if asking for my agreement. I glanced around us and back towards the glade, making sure no one was watching or could over hear. I didn't want anyone's prying eyes looking at us. I had to talk to her, completely alone. I knew Alby's talk with her was going to be rough. He was worried and upset, he had a lot of pressure on him right now because of her. Who knew what he would do.
"Dani, I need you to tell me. Have you been completely honest with me?" I grabbed her small shoulders to get her to look at me, careful to avoid her injury on the one side. I wondered for a second if she even knew she had been hurt there. Her soft face stiffened a little and she swallowed hard. "You seem off. You're different. You're really calm actually. I just feel like you're keeping things in maybe. Is there anything you want to say?" I questioned. Dani bit her lip, a nervous habit of hers. I took a quick glance towards her chest, thinking of the paper Jeff had told me he had seen. I needed her to come clean.
"No Newt, really. Guess I'm just still trying to absorb everything. Honest." She put hand gently on my chest. I faltered a little, her touch making me nervous all of a sudden. She smiled up at me. I had almost forgotten about what I was trying to accomplish with her. Almost.
Until someone cleared their throat scaring the klunk out of me. I took a small step away from her, not wanting anyone to see us like that.
"Newt, Alby wants to see you and Dani. Now." Ben said, sound very irritated. "Sorry if I was interrupting. Something." Ben trailed off, moving to turn away. I face palmed, thinking about all the rumors that would now probably spread because of him. That's the last thing I needed right now. Dani moved quickly.
"You were not interrupting one single thing, Ben. I promise." She cooed catching up to him. I was relieved but felt a little ping of hurt at the same time.
"Is that right Newt?" Ben asked looking back at me. He was trying to antagonize me. I ran my hand through my hair calmly.
"Right, not a single bloody thing." I said before moving to catch up with them. Ben smirked over at me, threw his arm around Dani's shoulders. I rolled my eyes and looked away.
"Good to hear." I heard Ben say to Dani. "Alby is in the homestead." Ben walked us around front. I nodded and walked to the door. "I hope to see you tonight after the meeting. Maybe we could go for a little walk?" Ben spoke grabbing Dani's hand from her side.
"Yeah maybe." Dani nodded to him before pulling her hand back. Ben smiled again and headed off. Dani watched Ben go, still holding her hand. I wondered what possibly could be going through her mind. She turned back to me. I held the door open for her and we walked inside the homestead.
Dani's POV***
My head was swimming as I walked through the door. I paused and waited for Newt to follow me in and take the lead. My feelings were all over the place. There was panic from the mosters I heard, an overall grossness I got from when Ben touched me, and a warm feeling from how close I had been with Newt. I shook away the confusing thoughts as Newt passed me. The homestead was dark, only one lamp sat on a table towards the center of the room. It was empty once again, which was a little surprising. It had been a buzzing busy place when Newt took me through here on the tour. I suddenly wondered why Alby wanted to talk to me in such a private quiet place…
I stopped walking suddenly, making Newt look back at me eyebrows furrowed. A flash of concern crossed his face, making me want to smile a little. At least I can tell he cares for me. "Newt, what does he want to talk to me about?" I asked him quietly. I didn't want to take the risk that Alby could possibly overhear. Newt shifted his weight from his good side to his bad and back.
"Uh I think… he wants to know… what you want him to tell the gladers. The meeting is soon. The boys should be gathering there about now." Newt stumbled across his words making me cross my arms at him. I stared at him, knowing he wasn't telling the truth. Finally Newt groaned before moving closer to me.
"He's a little wary of you Dani. He doesn't know if he can trust you yet. Everything about you and how you came here has been very different from the rest of us. He's going to question you. Demand answers." Newt whispered to me. I took a deep breath, not sure of what to say. I began to tap my foot, panic began to slightly set in. I decided to tell Newt about the note. I would tell him about the flashes later, once I began to understand them more myself.
"Newt…I…I uh found a piece of paper…" I stuttered not sure exactly what to say. Newt looked quickly towards the stairs and then to me again.
"I know. Jeff told me. What is it Dani?" He spoke softly taking a step closer. I hesitated, and bit my lip.
"It only says one thing. I can't remember writing it or how I got it but…." I looked him in the eyes.
"Newt!" Minho called out as he quickly down the stairs. "Alby wants to talk to you first. He's in his room." The dark haired boy pointed back towards the top of the stairs. Newt nodded and sent me a side glance before going up the stairs. I watched him go, cursing to myself mentally. I needed to tell them. I looked to Minho, who was leaning on the side of the table. He crossed his strong muscled arms and staring at me. I gave him a soft smile.
"How are you holding up? First days always one of the worst." He asked monotony, just looking towards me blankly.
"I'm fine. Just adjusting." I pressed my lips together looking towards the ground. I wondered if he really even cared. Minho was quiet but I felt his eyes on me still, so I tried to fill the silence. "What day is worse than the first?" Minho actually smirked.
"Well your last day here would probably qualify as worse than your first day here. Depends on how you go I guess." He looked up at me, dark eyes boring right into mine. I couldn't help but shift a little bit. I wasn't uncomfortable really but he looked at me like he was trying to solve a puzzle. It was like he was studying me.
"Minho, I never really got to talk to you." I moved to lean against the table next to him. "I don't even really know how this. Saying thank you is not enough." I looked up towards him. "You saved my life Minho." The boy was quiet, and then looked over at me.
"I guess you just owe me then." He smirked again. "Good to know I have a 'save my life Dani' card to have in my back pocket. Just in case I need you to sacrifice yourself for me." I couldn't help but laugh a little. I punched his arm and shook my head. "Hey! Hey! I wasn't saying that was the only way you could repay me!" he whined grabbing his arm.
"Oh really?" I giggled looking up at him. "What else could I do?" I put my hands on my hips. Minho just smirked his classic smile and raised his eyebrows.
"I'm sure you'll think of something eventually." He looked up towards the stairs. I shook my head wondering what he could possibly be thinking or plotting right now. I looked up towards the stairs as well, hearing Alby and Newt now coming towards us. My chest got a little tight and I bit my lip, suddenly feeling extremely nervous. I stood up and faced the doorway, waiting. Minho glanced over at me, before moving up and standing behind me.
"Don't act so nervous. It'll make you think you have something to hide." I felt Minho's breath tickle my ear. I involuntarily shuddered. Minho moved to stand beside of me, looking towards the stairs.
"What makes you think that I don't?" I whispered to him quietly. Minho just shrugged.
"You seem too innocent." He looked at me again. I met his dark eyes, but only for a second. For some unknown reason I couldn't bring myself to look at him again.
Alby and Newt came down the stairs then. Both had grim looks on their faces.
"How are you Dani?" Alby asked stopping a few feet away from Minho and I. He sounded very professional. Newt put his hand to his chin and stared at the ground.
"As well as I could be I guess." I sighed trying to remain as calm as possible. Alby nodded and looked towards Newt. "We would like to know what you are comfortable with telling the rest of the Gladers about you. The circumstances of your arrival are quite… unusual. We aren't sure how the boys will take it at first." Alby spoke softly.
"Tell them everything. I'd rather that then have some things come to light later on and have them freak out." I decided. Alby nodded.
"We're going to have to be delicate with this. We don't want panic. " Newt looked towards Alby and then his chocolate eyes fell onto me. "I mean there is still things we don't even bloody know." This time it was my turn to look to the ground. I bit my lip thinking about the note hidden in my pocket. The flashes. How I recognized things in the glade and how I strangely felt comfortable here.
"You're right. There is a lot we don't know. There is a lot of things we need to figure out. I think we should start out easy. Dani what do you remember from last night?" Alby asked me.
"I remember crawling to through the maze…to get away from…something." I shook my head unable to remember what. "I knew I had to get in the corridor, I don't know why. I remember Minho and Ben." I looked towards the Asian boy next to me giving him another smile. "I remember him making the call to save my life and then carrying me to the Glade. I don't really remember waking up but I know I recognized you when you yelled at me to stop." I pointed to Alby. "Then everything else seemed to kind of make sense." The boys were quiet.
"Okay. Well what do you recall before that. Before the maze and the glade?" Alby inquired crossing his arms. I opened my mouth and hesitated, trying to reach back in my memory.
"I don't really remember what happened before this, before here. I keep trying to remember but it's like there is a blue cloud or something over all of my memories. I know something is there but I can't get my brain to connect it. I can't remember my family, my past, or what I did before this. I know that's normal though for all greenies." I started. Alby turned his head while looking at me.
"You said it feels like a blue cloud over your memories?" he asked. I nodded. "That is different. Normally everyone just feels like there is nothing there. Just a blank space, like someone went in and removed the memories. But for you it's like they put something there to cover it up. something blue?…." he continued. I swallowed hard. "Newt was telling me that you knew quite a bit about Jeff's injuries today." Alby looked to Newt.
"Yeah. I did. I don't know how, I looked at his injury and all the information just came spewing out. It was like it was common sense, like color the sky is or what trees are." I tried to down play the situation as much as possible.
"Maybe they sent her here like that to try to keep us from getting seriously injured, or even dying. She could just be our doctor." Minho suggested. "It could have been on purpose."
"They?" I asked, feeling Newt turn to me questionably knowing I already knew the answer.
"We call them the Creators." Alby said. "WICKED." I glanced at Newt, my hand moving to my pocket.
"I found a note this morning when I was changing. It was tucked in my bra. I don't remember how I got it or anything…" I reached into my pocket grabbing the paper. I opened it and looked at the scribbles on it. The hand writings mine. Something clicked. I handed it over to Alby. He read it, once and then twice, before looking up at me.
"What does this mean?" He asked before handing it to Newt. Newt glanced down at it before handing it to Minho.
"I don't know." I spoke looking at Alby directly.
"Look, you are not normal. You came from the maze with severe injuries, dressed like you are someone important. A gun shot injury. No one has ever had a gun here. So that means you had to come from from somewhere else. We still don't know what happened with your shoulder." I furrowed my eyebrows. My shoulder? "But you're really calm about your situation. You're so knowledgeable. You act like you've been trained to fight. And now you have this. A note saying that the one thing that is keeping us alive is evil?" Alby spoke harshly grabbing the note back.
"Keeping you alive?" I asked shaking my head.
"Yes. They send us provisions in the box religiously each month. Food, animals, wood, cooking supplies, clothes, medical supplies. A new greenie." Alby listed.
"Yes exactly. They keep sending more people here to be trapped, and to most likely die Alby. We're trapped here. With some kind of monster hunting us outside the walls. In a giant maze that were supposed to figure out in order to leave." I motioned to the outside.
"The walls close every night to protect us. It's the runners responsibility to get back before they shut. They will find a way out." He said looking at Minho. Minho hesitated slightly then nodded, but I caught his pause. "And they send up medicine for the grievers. It allows us to save people, therefore WICKED does too. They may have put us here, but they haven't killed us yet. We will survive. They want us to live. We will get out." Alby argued with me. I looked to Newt, my voice of reason but he wouldn't look back. He had his hand over his mouth like he was afraid if it wasn't there he may same something he didn't mean to.
"They are the ones who trapped us here. They want us to play their game. And so far is seems like you all have. But what happens if the game changes Alby?" I asked extremely frustrated. Alby didn't answer me at first, he just clenched his fist clearly angry. Minho took a step forward so he was barely in front of me, staring Alby down, almost protectively. But I knew Alby wouldn't do anything, he's too good of a guy. He is a good leader.
"Dani, why are you here? Why were you in the Maze?" Alby asked straight up, his strong voice making me jump a little. I took a deep breath before answering.
"I don't know. But I feel like I'm not supposed to be here." I stuttered a little unsure of how to word things. "I feel like I'm a mistake. The only thing I do remember though from the maze is feeling like I needed to help you. All of you…" The boys were quiet, just looking at me, not knowing what to say next. My frustration was reaching a new level. Finally Alby looked out the window and nodded.
"It's time for the meeting." Alby said before moving in between Minho and I to the door. Newt followed him closely behind. I watched both of them go, I grumbled in defeat feeling tears pool in my eyes. Minho turned towards me putting his hand on my shoulder carefully.
"Hey. Don't you worry about those Shanks. Alby just is a little worried. Things have changed and he is feeling the pressure. He just wants to protect all the Gladers. There has been a lot of stress on him suddenly. He is just conflicted with his feelings or whatever." Minho spoke softly. I nodded and bit my lip trying to look away as I felt a tear fall down the side of my face. I felt so embarrassed, but I was beyond frustrated. Minho frowned and moved a step closer making me freeze. His hand moved from my shoulder to my face, gently wiping away my tear. "I can't have you bawling around those Shucks now can I?" He smiled at me, his hand lingering.
"Thanks Minho. Again." I grinned grabbed my right elbow with my left hand. The door to the homestead whipped open. Newt stopped in the doorway. I stepped back away from Minho, who slowly took back his hand.
"I uh…" Newt started, but he pursed his lips together. "Alby wanted me to remind you that you have to be in attendance Dani."
"Got it." I said and started to walk towards him. Newt turned and left without waiting for me though. I frowned, wondering what had gotten into him. I decided to wait for Minho then instead of walking by myself. Minho's eyes trailed after Newt as well, his eyebrow raising a little before he motioned for me to start walking with him.
"Don't be nervous now. Now is not the time. The gladers are…. Loud and opinionated. But they respect Alby and they will listen to whatever he announces." Minho tried to reassure me. But honestly I was not nervous about the meeting at all.
"I think they all noticed earlier I can handle myself. I do not think any of them will be messing with me anytime soon." I smiled a little, thinking about how I beat the crap or klunk out of that tall boy earlier. Minho laughed before grabbing my arm.
"Oh I almost forgot." He said before grabbing something from his wrist. "I picked these two for you. They fell off during that whole mess of an entrance you made. I went and got them for you." He joked before holding up two black hair ties. I giggled at him so hard I actually grabbed my stomach.
"My hair ties really?" I gasped for breath. Minho seemed a little taken back by my reaction and started to put them back on his wrist.
"Well I mean if you don't want them I guess I'll just keep wearing them then. I thought you may have liked to use them, but I mean I can just use them as bracelets." He said as mater of factly.
"Wait!" I said grabbing his arm. "No, no, sorry. That was really sweet of you Minho. I'm just surprised you would have even thought to grab them for me. Thank you." I beamed at him pulling his wrist up. "Here I will take one, and you can keep the other one safe for me. I mean I don't want to steal your super stylish bracelet from you." I glanced back up at him as I pulled a hair tie off. He was looking down at me with that examining look again, a small smile on his face. I started to pull my hair up into a bun, cringing at how gross it felt. "Come on," I began walking again. "Don't want to be super late and gve Alby another reason to dislike me more."
"Right." Minho said and followed after me.
Authors Note: Hi! Sorry it has been awhile since I posted. I just started my second semester at college and between school and work I have been on overload! I thought I would add a little something for those Minho lovers out there in this chapter, even though Newt is still my favorite character. I know I made Alby kind of mean but he warms up to Dani quickly! Please please please let me know your opinions! Who do you want Dani to end up with? And don't forget Thomas will be coming soon as well! Also if you guys have any good Maze Runner stories that want to recommend to me please comment them! I'm looking for some good reads! Thanks for reading guys!