Chapter 25
"They should've been back by noon," Newt continues, "That's more than enough time find the dead bugger and explore for a bit. Alby's no Runner but he's strong enough to keep up with Minho for an hour or two. Besides, they should've been back three hours ago."
"Maybe they're just exploring and having fun," Chuck offers.
You laugh, Chuck's sense of humour is almost always enough to ease any tension, at least for you. Looking around, you realise that it isn't enough this time. Newt is glaring at Chuck, and it's more than just daggers, it's like the laser aiming that high tech guns have. What's up with my shuck brain! You scream in your mind, frustrated, but you don't have time for that now. You put a hand in front of Newt's eyes, just in case, for Chuck.
You then say, "I think you boys should leave."
But Thomas and Chuck stay.
Newt pulls your hand away from his eyes and turns the look to you,
"What was that?"
"Don't you look at me like that," you say with a smile, putting your hand back, giggling.
You manage to get a chuckle from Newt as he pulls your hand away again. But he goes make to being mopey.
"I'm sorry Y/N, but they're my best friends, I can't stand to lose them too."
Thomas cuts in with an idea, "Why don't we send in a search party to look for them?"
Newt's face becomes the image you'd find if you looked up horror in a dictionary. As Thomas says that.
"No," Newt commands even, no niceties, "No, search parties into the Maze are against the rules, we don't want to lose anyone else."
"Don't worry, Newt, we aren't going to lose anyone."
You and Newt are standing by the West Doors, nervous, Newt pacing back and forth and chewing his nails again. He had told all the Gladers to eat, he'd told you too but you stay with him, ignoring his arguments. It seems you aren't the only one: Thomas and Chuck are walking up to the two of you. Newt sees them arrive and says
"Where are they?"
"Why don't we send out a search party?" Thomas recommends again.
"Bloody he—," he closes his eyes and seems to gather himself before saying, very annoyed,
"We can't. Okay? Don't say it again. One hundred percent against the rules. Especially with the buggin' Doors about to close."
"But why? Won't the Grievers get them if they stay out there? Shouldn't we do something?"
"Thomas—" you start, Newt interrupting you, shouting,
"Shut your hole, Greenie! Not a bloody week you've been here! You think I wouldn't risk my life in a second to save those lugs?"
Thomas apologises, "No… I… Sorry. I didn't mean…"
Newt's face is a fiery red and his breathing is heavy. You take his hand and squeeze it, trying to comfort him. He calms down,
"You don't get it yet, Tommy. Going out there at night is beggin' for death. We'd just be throwin' more lives away. If those shanks don't make it back…" Newt pauses, trailing off and looks between everyone uncertainly before taking a deep breath and continuing, "Both of 'em swore an oath just like I did. Like we all did. You, too, when you go to your first Gathering and get chosen by a Keeper. Never go out at night. No matter what. Never."
It's silent for a bit until Chuck says, "Newt won't say it, so I will. If they're not back, it means they're dead. Minho's too smart to get lost. Impossible. They're dead."
Your mouth falls open in surprise as Chuck turns and walks back to the Homestead. You'd forgotten how blunt Chuck could be but you did not expect that.
"The shank's right. That's why we can't go out," Newt says, "We can't afford to make things bloody worse than they already are. The Doors close in two minutes. I'm going to wait."
Newt sits down and you sit next to him.
"No," he says, "I want to be alone for a bit, please."
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
Newt nods and you stand up, leading Thomas away.
"They're not gonna make it," Thomas says.
"I know," your chest feels heavy and your breaths are ragged as you try to hold back the impending feeling of doom. Your friends are out there, but going in might not help them and would most definitely lead to your death.
You're about halfway to the Homestead, Thomas ran ahead to catch up with Chuck, when you hear the Doors start closing, you turn around and look at Newt, he's on his feet again. He turns to you, hope in his eyes,
"They're coming!" he shouts excitedly, "they're right there. I can see them."
You start running back. Not daring to feel hope. Newt is biting his nails again and he's pacing stopping every few seconds to yell encouraging things. You finally reach Newt and look past the nearly closed Doors. Minho is dragging Alby along the ground by his arm, but he's struggling.
"They aren't gonna make it," Newt whispers under his breath, almost afraid to speak it into existence.
Newt looks between you and the Doors and you can see him considering going in.
"No," you say, "no, Newt. Don't you dare."
He runs and you grab his arm barely able to hold him back. You look to Thomas and the other Gladers making their way back to Doors, hoping they can help you with Newt, but they're still too far away.
"Y/N, let go!" Newt shouts as he pulls against you, trying to go into the Maze before the Doors close.
"I can't let you do this! You're going to kill yourself!"
"It wouldn't be the first time I tried," Newt says this and it catches you off guard enough to slightly falter. Newt gives another hard pull but you manage to hold on. He slips through the Doors just in time and they close with a deafening boom. You fall to the ground, hard stone ground instead of the soft grass of the Glade. You stand up, dusting yourself off and nearly pass out right there.
You're locked in the Maze.