"I think she's dead."

XII ~ Newt

Disclaimer: all characters apart from Peyton and Alex belong to James Dashner.

"How did you really get your limp?" Sonya asked. "Tell me honestly."

"I already told you," Newt said, "I was running from some shuck Grievers and fell."

She crossed her arms. "I don't believe that."

"Why not?" He was getting more and more nervous by the second.

"You're stealthy. It's not like you to trip when your life is on the line."

"How would you know?"

"Because in times like that, you're determined to survive. And besides, falling when you're running doesn't permanently break your leg." Sonya turned to her brother. "Newt, tell me what really happened."

For a few beats, neither said anything. Newt's gaze stayed on the ground as Sonya looked at him expectantly. Finally, he said, "Alby, Minho, and I were the first ones to get here three years ago. I've hated it here since we first arrived. I'm not lying about used to being a Runner, I'll tell you that. But one day, I couldn't stand it anymore. So one day when I was out running, I climbed up some of the vines on the wall to the top and..." He sucked in a breath. "And I jumped."

Sonya gasped. "You tried to kill yourself?!"

"Shhh!" Newt chided. "No need to yell it to the whole Glade. Anyways, it obviously didn't work, and I snapped my leg in three places. I don't remember who found me, but I woke up in the Homestead, my leg killing me. Alby told me that my leg got caught up in the vines, and I've had a limp ever since." His voice turned dangerously low. "Only Alby and Minho know about it. Don't. Tell. Anyone. Okay?"

Sonya nodded. She seemed to be in deep thought.

"What're you thinking 'bout?" Newt asked.

"Well, since we're already sharing..." Sonya looked down. "While we were still in the Spring, Alex and her best friend, Peyton, were inseparable."

Where is she now? Newt wanted to ask, but quickly put the pieces together. Only four Icers came to the Glade, the rest of them being dead. So that meant...

"Did she kill herself?" he accidentally said aloud.

Sonya's gaze remained on the ground. "Around the time Ximena was dying, she took her knife out and stabbed herself in the chest. None of us know why. Alex was right there and Peyton died in her arms. Ever since then, Alex has been..." She looked up, as if trying to pluck the right word or words from the air. "...different. She used to be very cheerful, especially whenever she was with Peyton. It took a while for us to get to her to talk to us at all. Now it seems like she'll only talk to us."

"And Chuck."

Sonya looked at her brother. "What?"

"Alex talks to Chuck. A lot."

She looked back down. "You know how each of us has an equivalent?" Newt nodded. "I think Chuck's Alex's equivalent. That's why she talks to him."

"That would make sense." The two sat in silence for a few minutes until Newt finally asked, "Do you ever miss it?"

"Miss what?"

"The Spring. On your first night here, you told me that if I left with the Gladers, I wouldn't miss this place. Do you miss the Spring?"

Sonya tilted her head in thought. "I mean, there were as many Icers as there are Gladers, as you know. I obviously miss the ones we lost. I must admit, however, there are times when I do miss the Spring. A lot." She smiled as she recalled memories of her time in the Spring. "I'm just so used to it, you know? After three years of being there, we just got up and left... and that can take a heavy toll on some of us. Of course, I don't miss always being freezing and surrounded by snow and ice. But I also... strongly dislike it here."

Newt laughed. "'Strongly dislike'?"

"Well, yeah. Hate is a very strong word, if you don't already know."

"But if you really mean it, it's okay."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't just strongly dislike Gally. I hate him."

This earned a laugh from Sonya. The two were now smiling, and it was beyond clear that they had the same smile and laugh.

"I wonder what our parents were like," Newt said suddenly, catching Sonya off guard. She looked at him.

"What?"

He silently scolded himself for ruining their happy moment. "I- I mean, I wonder what they looked like, you know?" Sonya looked down.

"I guess."

"Sorry," Newt apologized. His sister didn't respond.

Just then, a loud noise echoed through the walls of the Glade. Newt knew what this meant, unlike Sonya. He got up and started walking away.

"Wait!" Sonya called after him. He turned around. "Where are you going? What's that noise?"

"It's the siren for this month's Greenie," he explained.

"Oh."