Chapter 21
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. Hi, I really love your suggestion and I would definitely love to try it. So no one be upset that the story line will really change from the book. Enjoy!
You wake up slowly, the sun shining in your eyes. Looking around, you see that you're still in Newt's room but he's not there. You get up, change real quick, and leave the room. You get breakfast first, looking for Newt and Alby all the while. You ask Frypan, but he says they came by earlier and he doesn't know where they are now. You're about to leave and wander around the Glade looking for them when you see Chuck sitting at a table with a very tired looking Thomas. Poor guy, you think. You could never imagine going through such a thing. You wonder if your night in the maze or Thomas's experience with Ben is worse. You walk up to them and Thomas barely registers your presence.
"Hey, Y/N," Chuck says, looking up at you with a mouthful of sausage.
"Hey, Chuck."
No matter how irritating he could be, you always have a soft spot for Chuck in your heart. He's just friendly and chipper all the time. You tousle his hair.
"How's it going?" you ask as he swats your hand away.
"Okay, I guess," he shrugs, "Thomas's been having a rough morning so far."
"I can only imagine. Have you guys seen Newt and Alby?"
"Oh! Yeah!" Chuck is happy and upbeat again, I love this kid.
"We saw them earlier, they went to the Slammer."
"Oh, do you know why?"
He shrugs, "No idea, but I heard they're gonna have another Gathering about letting Gally go."
"Thanks Chuck," you stand up, tousle his hair again, and leave, heading for the Slammer in the hopes of finding Alby and Newt while the dream's still fresh in your mind.
When you get there, you see Alby and Newt half having a conversation and half arguing with Clint and Jeff. They're standing by the locked door of the Soammer with a boy laying at their feet, unconscious, with a bandage covering half of his face, you can't see enough of his face from your angle to recognise him.
"Hey, guys," you say as you approach them, giving a small wave.
They all turn to you, a bit surprised for some reason. Newt is the first one to get over it,
"Hey, love. How'd you sleep?"
"Great, thanks." You two embrace before kissing maybe a bit longer than necessary.
"Where were you this morning?" You ask, "I woke up and you were gone."
"Well," he looks between the Med-jacks and Alby uncomfortably until Alby nods.
"Something happened this morning and I was needed. It was really early and you looked so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you."
"Thanks. But maybe leave me a note next time."
Everyone still looks uncomfortable and you can't stand the tension,
"What happened this morning?"
Clint starts talking, "You see, the Baggers went—"
Alby interrupts him, "Ben isn't dead," he gestures to the boy on the ground and now you can clearly see that it is, indeed Ben, very much alive.
"What—" you start but Alby continues,
"We need to put him in there," he gestures to the Slammer, "and we can't have him in there with Gally, but your 'boyfriend'" he says with air quotes, "doesn't want to let Gally out."
"He tried to kill you," he defends himself.
You turn to him, "Thank you, Newt. But you know I don't think he actually did it. Besides, there's no proof, and what are we going to do with Ben?"
Newt stares at you stubbornly but finally gives.
He sighs, "Fine. But as soon as Ben is dealt with, he goes back."
"Good that," Alby nods and unlocks the door of the Slammer.
"Get out here!" he yells and Gally emerges,
"You finally found out who did it?" Gally smirks.
"You better be careful," Alby warns, "I don't mind leaving you in there with Ben. It'll make my job a lot easier."
Gally glares as he walks away. Newt looks down at his watch and says, "I need to go. I have to meet Thomas. He's trying out with the different Keepers. Today's the Bloodhouse."
Alby laughs, slaps Newt on the back and says, "Good luck to him. See ya later Shank."
"Goodbye, love," Newt hugs you and leaves.
You wave at him as he walks away. Then you turn to Alby,
"What happened?"
He looks confused, "What do you mean?"
You gesture to Ben, "Him."
"Right. Baggers went to get rid of his body this morning and, well, he's not dead."
Blunt and direct as always, you think.
"What's going to happen to him?"
"We're gonna talk about it, but he'll probably be banished."
Alby turns away and leaves before you can say anything else. You look to Clint and he just shrugs. The Med-jacks lift Ben up and lay him down in the Slammer, locking the door.
"See ya around, Y/N," Jeff says. He waves as he and Clint walk back towards the Homestead.
You get bored and wander around, not really doing anything. You sit with the coma girl for a while, helping Clint and Jeff fed her, you meet with Newt by the Gardens and spend his break together. Three or four hours later, you see Thomas walking form the Bloodhouse, looking just like you'd expect him to, never wanting to go back. You are so not looking forward to when you have to find a job and try everything out. You see him focus on something by the West Door, following his gaze, you see Minho coming in. He's early, you think, wondering why he would be coming back now, when he suddenly collapses to the floor. You start running over to help but Thomas is already there and he says,
"Alby! Newt! Somebody get them!"
You turn and run off. You find Alby eating lunch in the Kitchen. You send him to Minho and Thomas while you go get Newt.
Newt is busy in the Gardens. When you tell him the situation, he looks over at the three guys and says,
"Alby's got it sorted. I need to keep working. See you later, Y/N."
"Bye," you kiss him and, your curiosity winning over, decide to join Minho, Thomas, and Alby.
"Hey, Minho. You good?" you ask as you approach the group.
"Great, thanks," his voice thick with sarcasm, "Never been better."
"Yeah, whatever, Twinkletoes."
"Okay," Alby says impatiently, "out with it. What happened?"
Minho looks to you and Thomas questioningly and Alby says,
"They're fine. I don't care what these shanks hear. Just talk!"
Minho stands up, wincing all the way. He leans against the wall and says,
"I found a dead one."
"A dead what?" you ask.
Minho smiles and says, "A dead Griever."