[Off Path] | Oath of Lies ~ Newt²

[0.8] How

The wind picked up making it hard for the group to continue.

"We need to find shelter!" Thomas shouted over the sound of the wind. They found a broken pillar that they could take cover under until the wind died down. That's when they took their break, water and whatever food they had with them, Isa and Casey had food leftover from their trip and handed it out to the group. They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound being heard was Winston's winces.

"I can't do this anymore Star, I can't pretend like you didn't just disappear and end up alive." His voice showed desperation, he had this in the back of his mind for a while.

"Yeah Is, I think we need to know what happened." Fry was quiet, in shock from the reunion still. Newt didn't say anything but played with the bracelet around his wrist. They all looked at her, eager for an explanation, she started to feel uneasy with all the eyes. Casey noticed her worries and placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a nod, they do deserve an explanation.

"I don't know what happened, one minute I was in the maze standing in front of a griever and then I was in a room. A completely white room strapped down to the chair. I was back with Wicked, which I assume you've figured out by now, are not good people."
"How'd you escape? Where have you been hiding and who is he?" Minho was desperate for more information.

"One of the guards helped me escape, he helped all of us, he caused a distraction that gave me enough time to run. I got out and ran to the city, Natalie and Maya found me and took me in. We live in a rundown warehouse, it's like a gang. Every so often we would come out here looking for supplies, anything that could help us, eventually we found Casey here and Penny. The five of us, we all got out the same way." Isa and Casey both directed their gaze to the ground at the thought of the three missing girls.

"The other three you mentioned, where are they now?" Fry seemed concerned, noticing the look on both their faces.

"We don't know. We were out for supplies and we got attacked. Penny messed up her ankle pretty bad so we were gonna head back early. We camped out in that mall until the bergs sounded from your escape. Casey disappeared so I went looking for him and I haven't seen them since. All we can do is hope they already made it back." The group was silent now, Teresa noticed the scar on Isa's face.

"What's that scar from?" Her hand reached out but Isa swatted it away.

"A griever attack, from when I was back in the maze." She looked around at her friends noticing the silence. "I thought about you guys everyday, I wish I could've stayed with you." This caused Newt to finally speak up.

"Then why didn't you try? Why didn't you try to survive the maze? It's possible, Minho and Thomas here did it so how Isa, how did one of the smartest people we ever sent into the maze not make it out? I know the answer, she didn't try." He had stood up, getting in Isa's face. She was shocked at how he had reacted but he stood his ground waiting for an answer.

"Sometimes, I wish that I would've died in the maze that night, because I would've deserved it. I told you I remember the lock and key and you asked if I remembered anything else, I said no. I lied, I remembered almost everything that night." She was calm while she spoke. "I remember working on the maze, I remember sending Alby, and Ben, and Gally, and you Fry, and Winston and all of my friends into the maze but I also remember refusing to send you or Minho up because I had met you in the vents so you were my friends. I worked for them, I did this." Her gaze shifted to Thomas who was staring at the ground. "I'm sure you already know about Thomas and Teresa, did he tell you I was there too or did he keep that part a secret?" Newt backed off slowly, giving her a chance to look at all her friends' faces, they didn't seem angry, more sorry for her. "I didn't try to survive the maze, because at that moment, I thought I deserved to die." Her eyes had started to water, quickly moving her hand to wipe her tears but Newt got to it first. He held her face in his hands using his thumb to wipe and stray tears. Minho stood up and walked over, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a hug causing more tears to fall. Soon enough Fry came over as well. During this moment, Thomas turned to look ahead, quickly being followed by Teresa. They all let go of the embrace before sitting down to rest, it put Isa at ease knowing that her friends are still her friends. She walked off to the side so she could breathe for a moment, footsteps following behind her.

"You alright Is?" She nodded at the sound of Fry's voice. "Are you sure?" She paused, not really knowing the answer.

"Is this it? Everyone that made it out?" He nodded, upset. "Alby, Ben, Gally, everyone. They're all dead?" He nodded again unable to form a sentence. "I want to know how. Can you tell me how they died?" Her voice was strained from trying to hold back tears.

"Well, Ben got stung. He attacked Thomas so we had to.." He didn't finish the sentence but she knew what had happened to him. "Alby sacrificed himself, the doors didn't close and the grievers came into the glade. One of them grabbed on to this kid, he was twelve and they managed to get the griever to let go but it took Alby instead." She nodded for him to continue but he never did.

"And Gally? Fry, what happened to Gally?" It was something bad and she knew that.

"After the doors never closed, he took control. He was going to make Thomas and Teresa and offering for the grievers to leave them alone. We left, we had found a way out but Gally refused to come with." He paused looking at the sand below. "We were almost out, Gally showed up. He had been stung. He tried to shoot Thomas but the kid, the twelve year old, jumped in front of him. Minho threw a spear into his chest, he had to stop him from doing anything else stupid. I'm sorry Is." She shook her head at his apology.

"No, I needed that. Thank you Fry." He pulled her into a tight hug. They stayed there, swaying back and forth until they heard it. A gunshot.