Chapter 10 - A Long Way
AN: Oh no, my readers and Gladers, this must come as quite a shock to you, but I'm still alive! Yes, I'm alive, relatively well and I'm getting back into writing fanfiction once more. I even watched Maze Runner again and I love it as much as I did so much time ago.
We remember: Newt can't really enjoy his role as Runner and second-in-command as he falls ill all of a sudden.
I hope you're ready for this next installment!
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I nodded, then turned back on my side and continued to sleep. Right now, sleeping was the best thing I could do.
But it wasn't quite as simple as Minho and Alby imagined. Although I almost slept completely through the days and drank as much as I possibly could, I didn't feel any better. The fever, as Minho called it, remained constantly high and the chills did not diminish either. Added to this was the fact that my stomach refused to take in any food and if I did want to try, then everything was out again half an hour later at the most. But that was also clear when you had a piece of meat or a carrot on an irritable stomach. But there was nothing else here. And that's why I didn't blame anyone. After all, they tried everything to help me.
I didn't realize myself that I was going downhill, it was only through Alby's stories that I found out how bad things really were for me. According to him, I was just skin and bones. With pale skin. He told me that he had been partly afraid to come in the morning and check on me. He said it was his duty, but he would have liked to have spared himself the sight of my corpse (yes, he expressed it quite drastically). Of course, I was still a long way from ending up as a corpse, but this was a clear indication of my more than abysmal state. For several days I was supposed to have been lying on my bed, completely apathetic and covered in sweat. Minho, too, had been more than just very worried. He cursed those who had brought us here. He wondered why no medication was sent. There had to be something that could help me.
There was. Thank goodness Frypan had an idea. He grabbed a pot and ran to the river to get fresh water. Everyone was quite surprised. It was common knowledge that I could keep water in my stomach. But they let him do it. Alby said with a smile that at the time he had no idea what the dark-skinned boy was up to, but he would have been open to anything. Thank God. Thanks to Alby and Minho, I was fully informed.
Frypan held the pot of water over the fire and put two carrots in it. Then he ordered Gally to get a piece of lean meat. He should then tear it into small pieces over the pot. Quite astonished, Gally did as he was told and returned a short time later with a piece of sheep meat. As instructed, he tore the meat and dropped it into the pot with the carrots. Frypan let it all simmer over the fire for a while, then he could mash the carrots and mix them with the meat, which had cooked in the meantime. Frypan had him try a spoonful. Gally later said that it had even tasted alright.
Less than five minutes later, all the boys were sitting with me, watching me eat. As strange as it sounded, I barely had the strength to hold the spoon, but it worked. But after four bites, I was so exhausted that I couldn't get any more down. The last thing I knew was that Frypan was putting the pot next to my bed as I laid down and fell asleep.
When I gradually woke up three hours later, I was feeling a little better. My stomach had actually kept Frypan's mixture inside. My headache was almost gone, which was positive, only my fever and chills were still as high as usual. Still a step forward compared to the last few days. But I felt a twinge in my stomach that I couldn't place at first. Then I remembered the feeling though. Hunger. Completely bewildered by this new improvement, I searched for the pot. It was standing next to my bed, where Frypan had put it. Of course I was alone, the others had something to do as well. But it was so close to me that I could get it without any problems. Cautiously, I leaned down from the bed to the pot, grabbed the spoon and began eating slowly and carefully. I didn't want to risk hanging in the bushes again and getting rid of my food. Even now I couldn't manage more than six bites, but I was satisfied. Apparently I was very slowly getting better again.
As a result, I kept eating meals throughout the day and then sleeping again. I didn't have to throw up anymore. I was able to keep my food with me and thus gather new strength, which I would certainly still need. But I felt like a human being again. And I was very happy about that.
In fact, I was getting better day by day. The fever finally receded completely and the chills also subsided quickly. After only three days, I really wanted to go outside again. Alby forbade me. He said I should give myself one more day and regain my strength. Tomorrow he would pick me up. In the meantime, he would send Frypan over with some food.
No sooner said than done. Frypan came by with a piece of meat that he had fried and cooked. I had no idea what that meant, but it tasted good. My stomach kept everything in again, but there was no need to overdo it. That's why I still got all the food cooked. Why, I don't know. Frypan told me about bacteria or something, but I had been too tired to listen and fell asleep at the time. But it worked and that was the most important thing. I recovered.
And in fact, I was allowed to get up again the next day. Alby came by with Minho in tow. The two of them wanted to support me a little more. When I threw back the blanket, I was shocked at myself. I knew I was slender. But the fact that I now looked so dangerously thin really drove up my anxiety. I wasn't sure if my legs carried me at all. Of course I knew that you wouldn't lose all your muscles within a week, but I still didn't trust them that much.
After Alby had tucked me into my top, which was far too loose and flapped around my body in the wind, they each grabbed a hand and together they pulled me to my feet. At first, I wavered quite a bit. The sudden change of perspective bothered me more than I thought. And my legs felt like lead, too. But things got better after just a few minutes. My muscles remembered their tasks and carried my weight all by themselves again. Apparently, things weren't as bad as I'd feared. As we walked across the meadow towards the sheep stable, Alby and Minho let go of me and I was proud to be able to walk without help. But that shouldn't stay that way for long.
An excited "Baah" could be heard, then a white flash shot through the grass towards me and jumped right into my arms. Blue! Completely taken by surprise, I caught her. However, I had underestimated her momentum. With full force, she catapulted us both onto the meadow. I landed on my butt while she enthusiastically supported herself with her front legs on my chest and lovingly licked my cheek. I had to control myself not to lick back. How I had missed the little sheep. Sure, she'd been lying next to me night after night, but I'd never really noticed it. I hadn't responded to her caresses because I simply had no strength. And yet she laid with me every night and had cheered me up when I'd had bad dreams or had to cry from exhaustion.
I wanted to give it all back to her so badly. I put my arms around the wool pillow and pressed it against me tenderly. Lovingly, she shoved her head against my cheek and grumbled a little.
Since it was foreseeable that I did not intend to leave here so quickly, Alby and Minho sat down with us and watched. At first, we weren't bothered by it. But after just a few minutes, Blue became curious. Of course, she knew Alby and Minho. And so she climbed first onto Minho's, then onto Alby's lap and also greeted the two by hiding her nose in their clothes and grumbling dully. They both caressed her and rejoiced over the little lamb.
In between, she kept wiggling back to me and made sure that I was okay and that I was still there at all. If this was the case, she got a cuddle and ran to the next. This went on all afternoon until I finally started yawning. That was the signal for Alby and Minho to head back. They helped me get up again. I said goodbye to Blue, but she didn't even think about staying in the sheep stable. Without hesitation, she ran after us. After a small detour to Frypan with the request for something to eat, I was transported to my bed. Blue jumped on next to me and made herself comfortable. Although we hadn't done much, I was very tired. When Frypan finally came by with a piece of meat and some vegetables, I was almost asleep. He stroked Blue, gave her something to drink, and then left us alone again.
8 days later:
I was fit again. And full of energy. After I was able to walk completely on my own again just one day later, I could hardly wait to go back into the maze. Sitting here and waiting drove me crazy. But Alby wouldn't budge. I had to regain my strength and be completely healthy before he would let me into the maze in good conscience. Today was the day. I had gained some weight again, but I was even slimmer than before the illness. I was hoping that would change soon. I also ate as much as I could. I was always hungry and couldn't get enough. This now took its revenge in sheer endless energy. Full of impatience, I stepped from one foot to the other at the entrance and waited for Minho to finally turn up. He did about five minutes later. With Alby in tow.
"Okay guys, take it easy today, all right? Newt, you may be healthy again, but don't overdo it. You have four hours. Take a break in between, okay?"
We nodded. It was hard to do more than that. Four hours was a lot, in that time we would certainly find something. Finally, the heavy gates opened and revealed the way into the maze. I couldn't wait any longer and darted in. Minho gasped in surprise, then caught himself and ran off too. We sped along the long corridor. It felt so infinitely good to be fully capable again. I enjoyed being in nature and being able to move. And I was glad to be healthy again.
I was ready for the next adventure. The maze. Now it could finally be explored!
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EN: That concludes chapter 10 of New(t's) Life! I am so genuinely happy to be back. Kudos and comments are most welcome, even if it's to chew me out.
Kisses and cake,
Yuna McHill