She woke up screaming, her body shaking with sobs. Her eyes burned, her throat burned, her shoulder burned...Everything burned...Everything hurt.
"Liz? Liz? Hey, hey...It's ok..." It came from her right. Though it sounded off, she knew that voice. She shifted her body.
Laying on a cot that stood abouy a foot away from hers, was Newt.
"I...N..." She tried to get words out, but she. couldn't. breath.
She saw Newt wince as he shifted, reaching out a hand. She brought hers to meet his, and he squeezed it.
"Hey, it's ok, alright? You're safe, alright?" He winced again. How badly was he hurt? He was hurt and it was all her fault.
"Breath, Liz. Try to take a deep breath. You're alright." He gave her a smile. Though the smile was full of pain, it was there.
After a few attempts, she managed to take a couple decent breaths. Tears still leaked from her burning eyes.
"That's it, there ya go." He rubbed his thumb in circles on her hand. "Everything is gonna be alright."
"I...I'm s..sorry...It was my fault." She whispered.
"No, no, Liz. No, don't think like that. It's not your fault the griever got him, I should have noticed that he went in there. I wasn't paying attention." He was taking the blame.
"No! Newt...It's my fault...All of it! The maze, the grievers, all of it!" The tears had stopped for a moment, but now they trickled out again.
"Ben was right! T...they made me work for them! I helped to design and make the maze! The grievers too! It's all my fault!"
He didn't speak for quite a few seconds, thinking.
"Who cares, Liz?" He finally said, his face turning more serious.
"W..what?" She sniffled.
"Who cares? The people we were before the maze, they don't exist anymore. You may have gotten some memories back, but you aren't that Liz anymore. You don't belong to them, you belong to us. It doesn't matter what you did, cause that isn't you. You maybe have helped to make this place, but what choice did you have? If you didn't, what would they have done to you? So yea, who cares? I know I don't. I don't care one bit, because you know what? You're the best person in this awful place. You're kind, your helpful, and you care about others. And if anyone else thinks otherwise, than they are the problem, not you."
She stared into his eyes for a moment. Had he really meant that?
"Y...you really mean that?" She stuttered.
"With all my heart." He gave her another smile.
"Thankyou." She whispered.
The door creaked. He let go of her hand, wiggled his eyebrows, then closed his eyes, his breaths evening out more.
"Liz? You awake?" Jeff peaked his head.
"Yea..." She mumbled. She brought her hand to her face, wiping off the tears.
He crept in, trying to make his steps light, seeing a seemingly asleep Newt.
"How are you feeling?" He asked quietly once he got over to her.
"I feel like I just got ran over by a truck."
He chuckled. "Guess the medicine wore off completely."
"Thanks Captain Obvious." She paused.
"When did Newt move in here?" She asked.
"Uh, well.. He woke up for a bit, sorta..Started blabbering about how he needed to make sure you were ok. We told him you were fine, but he insisted he had to see you. Long story short, he ended up in a cot next yours. He was finally quiet and went to sleep. He was kinda dilerious...Mighta gave him to much syrup. Oh well."
"Ok, ok..." She paused. "Jeff, what time is it?"
He checked his watch...Only keepers got those. "7:30, walls close in 30...So uh, guess I'll go help...Wanted to check on ya."
"Thanks..."
He nodded, walking out. As soon as the door closed she glanced over to Newt. He had his eyes open now, watching her.
"What was that for?" She asked.
"Well, I figured if he knew I was awake and sane again, he might make me go back to the other room, and, well...I wasn't done talking with you."
"Coulda just told him you were staying. You're second in comand, he'd kinda have to listen."
"Eh, maybe, but it was more fun." He grinned. "Ya know, I only remember about half of what he said I did...I musta been really out of it."
She laughed, then winced, her shoulder burning.
"Sorry! Sorry!" He apologized.
"It's..uh...it's fine." She gave him a small smile. She was getting tired again, but worried what kind of nightmares she might have. Her eyelids drooped, and she was having troubling staying awake.
"Keep talking so maybe I can stay awake..I don't wanna go back to sleep." She mumbled.
"If you're tired, you need sleep." He pointed out.
"But I don't want to.." She sighed.
"Nightmares?" He asked.
She nodded.
He frowned, then reached his hand over to her again. She took it. He rubbed his thumb in circles on her hand like he had before. "I'll be right here. Sleep."
She sighed, closing her eyes. "Happy?"
"Not until your asleep."
"Can't sleep if your talking." She pointed out.
"All I did was respond." She could almost hear his grin.
"Whatever."
"Go to sleep, liz." He gave her hand a light squeeze.
"Fine" She muttered.
Her shoulder ached, but she was tired, and within a few minutes, she was asleep.
Newt's POV
He watched as Liz. drifted to sleep. She already struggled with nightmare, and he worried about what this would do to her. Not only had she been attacked, but she lost a friend. One of her few friends in the glade. Everyone liked Ben. It would be hard for everyone to adjust.
He looked at their joined hands, her's limp, being held up by his, and then at her face. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, and well, she was beautiful. She was to good for this place. This place was awful, and no one really deserved it, but especially her...She should never have been sent here. The creators were cruel..
Though she seemed to be alright now, her features soft and relaxed, he couldn't bear to let himself sleep again. He had to make sure she was okay.
Newt jolted slightly as he heard a grinding outside. "Ah.." He muttered, a sharp pain taking ahold of his stomach. That was odd...He hadn't been spooked by the walls since his first month...
So that was it...Ben was gone. Forever.
The girl stirred, mumbling something unintelligible in her sleep. She turned her head to the side. Her face hardened, her eyebrows furrowed. The walls must have disturbed her.
Those bloody walls! Couldn't they keep quiet for once?
He began rubbing his thumb in a small circle on her hand again, humming softly.
Eventually, her face relaxed, and she seemed to be back into a deeper sleep. He stopped rubbing her hand, but kept up the humming. In a way it calmed him, having something to do.
After a half hour-ish, his eyelids began to droop. He fought the sleep, but tired more as the seconds passed. Ben had done a number on him after he had shoved the boy off of Liz.
Finally, the tiredness won, and he fell asleep, her hand still incased protectively in his.
The next day
Liz's POV
She woke up with a deep ache in her head. The pain in her shoulder had seemed to ease up a bit.
She opened her eyes, turning her head to the side. The room was brighter, it seemed to be the next day.
Newt sat with his head leaned against the wall and turned towards her. He had no shirt on, but almost his entire chest was wrapped in bandages. She hadn't noticed it the night before, as he had been under his blanket.
"Sleep well?" He gave her a light smile, but it was obvious he was in pain.
She nodded slightly, tears forming in her eyes. She tried to sit up. and pain tore through her shoulder. Her head pounded and she thought she was going to be sick. She didn't get very far, but it still hurt when she fell back onto the cot.
"Mmm." She groaned, closing her eyes.
"Liz? What hurts? I can try and get up and go get Jeff so he can give you medicine.."
"No...no I'm fine, I just..." She took a deep breath. "I just can't move without it hurting..."
She opened her eyes, shifted onto her side to face Newt.
"What did he do to you? You look awful!"
He chuckled, than winced. "Thanks for the compliment." He seemed to be trying to keep a straight face, but he wasn't doing the best job. He looked like he was in a lot of pain.
He sighed. "Got me with the knife in the side...Missed the important stuff. I managed to chuck it away from us, but he started clawing at me...Uh...He uhm.." He trailed off.
Now the tears spilled over. "No, no, no...This is my fault! I'm so sorry, Newt!"
"Hey, hey, no Liz. Remember what I said last night?"
She nodded. "Well I still think the same thing...None of this is your fault. The maze, the thing with Ben, none of it. Alright?"
After a few seconds, he continued. "Cmon, speak to me, Liz...It's alright, I swear."
She sniffled.
"I..." She started to talk, but realized she wasn't sure what to say.
"It's ok, Liz...Alright? Just relaxe. You just need to relax.."
He shouldn't be comforting her. It was her fault anyway.
She moved her arm out from under her, wiping away the tears. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her eyes.
"You look really hurt, Newt..." She said quietly.
"It's not so bad."
"Don't lie, you're hurt pretty bad, and It's because you helped me... I shouldn't have needed help."
"Liz, it took 3 boys to get him off of me, and why wouldn't I help? You needed it."
"It's not just about this! You're always helping me! With the nightmares and stuff! I know there's stuff I could help you with, but instead you're helping me, or Alby, or someone!"
"Just used to handling things." He shrugged, wincing slightly.
"Well let me help, ok? Let me help you with something!"
"Hm, ok. Fine. Help me by not blaming yourself. That makes it easier on me."
She sighed. "Really?"
"Yep..That's what I need help with."
"Whatever, I'll handle this later."
The door opened. "Oh good, you're both up, makes my job easier." Clint walked in, trailed by Jeff.
"How yall feelin, huh?" Jeff asked
"I feel bloody awful, Jeff." Newt grinned at him.
"What about you, Liz?" Jeff asked, walking over to the cots.
"Pretty bad." She muttered.
"Can you sit up?"
"Tried that...Went bad."
He walked over to her cot.
"Alright, I'll help...on 3." He took one arm, gently getting in under her, inbetween her shoulderblades. He took the other, taking it across her body, hooking it lightly under her side
"1...2...3.." She used her good arm to try and push herself up while he used his.
She clentched her jaw to keep from crying out. The movement had caused her shoulder to burn again.
Her head throbbed, and by the time she was sitting up, she was worn out. She closed her eyes, leaning her head against the wall.
Newt spoke before Jeff or Clint did. "Are you ok? Clint, Jeff...Maybe you should give her something."
"Liz, do you want something for the pain?"
"I'm..Fine" She mumbled. She didn't want to go back to sleep, she'd slept for quite some time. She opened her eyes.
Newt sighed.
"Y'all want something to eat?"
"Yea, sure." Newt seemed to be ok.
"Nuh uh..." Her stomach did a flip at the thought.
"You need to eat." Jeff reminded her.
"Remind me again what good food does if it comes right back up?"
Jeff sighed, but dropped the subject.
"I'll go tell Fry to get you something, Liz, we'll talk later about food. C'mon Clint, lets let them rest."
They walked out after that.
"You need to eat."
She looked over, he was frowning at her.
"I can't right now."
"Maybe just try a little?" He sighed.
"I swear if we don't change the subject I'm gonna hurl."
"Alright, alright."
He paused for a moment, thinking, probably.
"What is your favorite color?"
"Huh?"
"Did I stutter?" He grinned. "What's your favorite color?"
"Orange..." She smiled slightly.
"Orange? Like bright orange?"
"Not bright orange...Soft, like the sunset. I love how the sky looks here, when the sun is setting and it's just that perfect moment..." She realized she was trailing off. "What's yours?"
"Green. Not a bright green, but like the trees out there. That green. Favorite animal?"
She gave him a look. "What's with the 20 questions?"
"Just answer it."
"Fine..." She paused, trying to figure out the answer. "Horses? I mean...I don't exactly remember them, but I know I love them. So beautiful and graceful. Fast, too. Your's?"
"Sheep...Don't ask why." He grinned.
"Next?"
"Hm...Favorite place in the glade?"
"Uh..." She almost said the deadheads, it was always so peaceful, but after what happened? "Gardens. Your's?"
"Same. That's why I work there. I bet poor Fry is offened by your answer."
"Uhuh sure."
He chuckled. "Favorite passtime?"
"Reading. definitely reading. You?"
"Hm...I dunno. I usually keep busy, so I don't really have a passtime. If I have free time I kinda just sit in my room or in the gardens."
"Done yet?"
"For now."
-Authors note-
Hey! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I tried to get it written ASAP:) Hopefully you will be getting another one soon:)