caution, the maze runner

three.

SCOUT DIDN'T SCREAM WHEN SHE SAW NEWT'S BODY. when you're scared, you think you're going to scream, because you know you probably should scream. but, sometimes, you just stand there like an idiot, with your jaw dangling open. that's the way scout stood, unable to speak, unable to breathe, and unable to think.

minho paused in his stride, turning and jogging to where she stood. her hands trembled as she clasped them over her mouth, a lone tear falling down her cheek.

the sight in front of them was horrific. newt's leg was caught in a vine, his whole body twisted on the maze wall. his leg was bent in places legs should definitely not be bent, and his eyes were closed. from a distance, he seemed dead.

but as scout dared to move closer, she saw his body move ever so slightly in ragged breaths. "he's still alive." she said to minho, eyes blown wide in both shock and terror.

minho was immediately making action to get newt down, eyeing the vines and the way he was positioned. "if i hold him and catch him, can you move the vines from off his leg?" he asked.

scout nodded, outstretching her trembling hands. minho wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he was scared. not only was one of his best friends clinging onto life, but his other was more emotional than he'd ever seen her before. even after knowing scout for some time, minho had never once seen her cry. now, tears pricked her eyes as she untangled the vines on newt's leg. if minho knew her as well as he thought he did, he would bet that she'd break down any moment.

after scout broke apart a matted clump of vines, newt's nimble body slid ever so slightly down the side of the wall, making a small fall into minho's outstretched arms.

newt was still breathing, and that was the one thought that crossed scout's mind as she wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders and the other around minho's. the two jogged as fast as they could, given the limp body between them.

as the entrance to the glade neared, they picked up speed. slowly, the gladers approached the maze doors, shock etched on each of their faces. clint and jeff, the med jacks, approached them first, each replacing scout and minho in carrying newt.

people began to crowd around the two remaining runners, swarming them with questions. scout felt her head start to spin as her heartbeat quickened. everything became a blur, and she could barely hear minho trying to calm her down. the next thing she new, she was hunched over, throwing up on the grass.

the gladers backed away, giving her space upon minho and alby's orders. "are you okay?" minho asked as he crouched down next to scout.

"i'm okay." she managed to breathe out, nodding her head.

although minho didn't entirely believe her, he didn't want to press. instead, he just wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders, leading her to the med-jack hut where newt now lay.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

feelings were extremely complicated. in the little scout knew so far about human interaction, she knew that the way people felt about things was ever-changing. that, no matter what, people would feel. all the time, any time.

but, what scout hadn't realized, was that feelings that people felt about other people could be detrimental. in her experience, which was limited, feelings for other people could be positive or negative. she had determined that these were the two sides of the coin when it came to feelings towards people.

within these two sides came various emotions. disgust, anger, jealousy, fear, and sadness all fell into the negative category. though she didn't have people in the maze that she particularly felt these emotions towards, she talked to enough people to know that having these feelings about other people was a bad thing.