I'd Follow You Anywhere / Newt Fanfic / Maze Runner Series

Chapter 14 - Flames

Flames

The way sadness works is one of the strange riddles of the world. If you are stricken with a great sadness, you may feel as if you have been set aflame, not only because of the enormous pain but also because your sadness may spread over your life, like smoke from an enormous fire.
– Lemony Snicket

"Alby, I don't think she's going to wake up."

Zoe sat straight up, gasping as if she'd woken up from a nightmare in which she couldn't breath.

But that was the thing, she had just woken from a nightmare in which she couldn't breath, except for the fact that it hadn't been a nightmare.

And she remembered- something.

Alby jumped probably two feet in the air. Just a second the girl had been in a comatose state, breathing steadily, unmoving, practically dead.

Clint stopped talking and looked at her in shock.

As Zoe looked around frantically, her eyes locked with Alby's, and everything came flooding back.

—
"Why are we here, and where's Alby?"
—
"Please stay in here, and watch this screen intently, this is extremely important, and you won't take for granted seeing it in the future."
—
"It's ok, Alby's a tough one, whatever they throw at him, he'll manage."
—
"You're right, Alby will be fine, just remember that, ok Newt?"
—
"Thomas, have you seen Newt?"
—
"Zoe. Zoe come on, we have to get you to your room."
—
"We are calling this experiment 'The Maze Trials' and it is crucial- no, vital to the purpose of WICKED. We will find a cure."
—
"You are very lucky to be joining the maze trials Zoe, good luck, and remember, WICKED is good."
—

"Oh my god."

Her words caught in her throat as Zoe recalled the memory she'd gained from unconsciousness, but before she could process it, she was sent back into a flurry of more memories; ones she'd made just hours ago, listening to Newt confess everything to her.

—
"I wonder if you can hear any of this, and I'm hoping you can,"

I can Newt, I'm right here, I'm listening

"...but if you can't, I'll have to tell you in another lifetime, I love you Zoe,"
—
"...and I can't bear that any more than I already am. If you can hear me, wake up, wake up and say it back. Change my mind. Stop me. Please."
—
Stay, please, I love you
—

"Oh my god"

Zoe's mouth hung open just slightly, and her eyes were glazed with tears.

She'd always loved him.

And he had just confessed his love for her.

And then- he...

"Alby"

Alby looked at her with utter confusion and deep concern written all over his features.

"Alby where's Newt?"

Zoe's voice was low, and cracked at the mention of the tall boy that she was so desperately in love with, but it came out fast, a desperate pleading question awaiting an answer.

"He went into the maze- listen, Zoe, we need to talk about what happ-"

"In the maze? You let him go into the maze?!"

Zoe had her legs over the edge of the cot in a flash, and tried to stand, only to be pulled back down by the jolt of her body being held down. She looked down to see sheets tied to her wrists, restraining her to her cot, and keeping her hands away from each other.