Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 6: Girl From The Dreams

Katherine wakes up feeling surprisingly refreshed. Newt's arms are still wrapped around her waist, his warmth enveloping her in a comforting cocoon. A smile touches her lips as she relaxes deeper into the pillow. Then, like a lightning bolt, a name strikes her mind: Thomas.

“Newt! Wake up!” She shakes him gently before jumping off the bed, her heart racing with the sudden urgency of the moment. “Newt!”

“I'm up!” Newt groans, squinting against the bright light that splinters through the window, his hair tousled and disheveled from sleep.

They join the others at the maze entrance, the familiar rumble of the doors echoing ominously as they creak open. The ground shakes beneath their feet, vibrating with the tension of the moment. As the massive doors finally part, Katherine’s heart drops. An empty hallway stretches before them, and a wave of despair crashes over her.

“No, no…” Her eyes fill with tears, the hope she clung to shattering like glass. Newt feels her tension and wraps his arm around her, a silent promise of support.

“I told you, Chuck. They’re not coming back,” Zart says, his words cutting through the air like a knife, directed at Chuck, who stares into the maze, his expression full of longing.

Katherine cringes at Zart’s callousness, a frown pulling at her lips. “You don’t know that,” she whispers, though her voice is shaky, the fear gnawing at her insides.

Newt’s gaze hardens as he glares at Zart, then turns to Katherine, his expression softening. “Let’s go,” he urges gently.

For a brief moment, despair creeps in, stealing away her hopes of seeing her brother again. But then, as if the universe answers her silent prayers, Zart's words are interrupted by a sudden commotion. Everyone turns their gaze toward the maze.

“Look!” Chuck shouts, excitement bubbling in his voice.

Katherine’s heart leaps as she spots Thomas and Minho trudging back toward the entrance, Alby slumped between them, unconscious. Relief floods through her, the weight of fear lifting just a little.

“Thomas!” she cries, her voice piercing through the chaos as she rushes forward. Chuck follows suit, his face lighting up with joy.

“Yeah! Yes!” Chuck beams, his small frame bouncing with glee.

As they lay Alby down gently, Katherine’s heart races. She wraps her arms around Thomas in a tight embrace, feeling the warmth and safety radiating from him. “Never do that again!” she scolds lightly, though her relief is palpable.

“It’s good to see you too,” Thomas chuckles, his smile genuine as he pulls her close.

“What happened out there?” Frypan’s voice cuts through their reunion, pulling them back to reality.

Thomas glances at Minho, the weight of the night’s events settling back into his expression. “We saw a Griever,” he admits, his voice low.

Katherine’s heart skips. “You saw one?”

“Yeah, I saw one,” Thomas confirms, his face weary, shadows of exhaustion underlining his eyes.

“He didn’t just see it,” Minho interjects, his tone firm. “He killed it.”

A silence falls over the group, disbelief washing over their faces. Newt’s expression shifts, a mixture of admiration and concern flickering across his features.