Don't Stop Running {Maze Runner Fanfic}

Chapter 4

I wake up to a bright light shining through the window. I squint and lift my head up to take in my surroundings. There are several other boys in the room sleeping. I get ready to stretch when I realize that there are arms around me. I turn my face to see Newt, fully asleep. I try to wiggle out of his arms, but it's no use. He tightens them even more.

"Newt," I whisper. "Could you let go? I have to go."

"No." He groans.

"Newt, please. Someone might get the wrong idea." I whisper again. He opens one eye and squints. I hear a boy in the bed closest to us start to move in his bed. Newt jumps up and lets go of me.

"I am so, so, so sorry-" he begins.

"It's fine! You're a sleep cuddler." I say with a laugh. Suddenly, the door flies open and Alby walks in with Gally.

"Uhm, I hope we aren't intruding, but we need Newt." Alby says while looking away. I get up from the bed.

"No, nothing's going on, I just slept there because there was a boy snoring in my bed." I gesture to the boy who was still snoring. Gally looks like he doesn't believe me. Newt stands up, and I realize that he doesn't have a shirt on.

"Newt!" I say quietly while nodding my head towards his bare chest.

"What? I always sleep like this. If you guys have a problem with it, that's too bad." He says with a laugh. Gally rolls his eyes and Alby turns around.

"Remember Newt, come find us when you're done in here." Alby says while he and Gally leave.

"What was that about?" He asks.

"I have no idea. You should put a shirt on though." I say, nodding towards his chest again.

"What? Is Elizabeth afraid of half-naked men?" He asks while taking a step towards me.

"No, it's just-" I start when he puts his arms around me and pulls me into a hug.

"Uh-oh! I don't have a shirt on and I'm touching you! What are you going to do?" He says with a laugh while tickling me and pulling me closer.

"Newt!" I yell in between laughter and gasping, because it's hard to breathe while being tickled.

"Get a room!" A boy shouts from across the room. Newt stops tickling me and I stop laughing.

"Sorry." I apologize to the other boys in the room. I throw Newt's shirt and he catches it.

"Thanks." He says and I nod while leaving the shack. As soon as I turn around after shutting the door behind me, I run into Gally.

"Oh! Hey Gally!" I say smiling.

"Hey." He says.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Nothing. So you and Newt, huh?" He asks, gesturing towards the shack.

"I swear it's not a thing. I had nowhere else to sleep, so I slept there." I explain.

"Sureeee." He says with a smirk.

"Seriously!" I say. A boy runs up to us from one of the smaller shacks.

"Hey Gally and- Newt's girlfriend, right?" He asks.

"I'm not his girlfriend!" I try to explain.

"That's not what everyone was saying after you slept together." He adds.

"Minho, this is Elizabeth." Gally explains. Wow, this is the first time he's used my name and not 'Greenie'. "The Greenie." He adds. Damn.

"You're both wanted for a meeting." Minho says.

"Okay!" Gally shouts while running towards the little 'meeting shack' or whatever that building was. I got ready to run over there when Minho stops me.

"I think that's the first time Gally has smiled since he got here." He says, looking at Gally opening the door. "Keep up whatever you're doing. I like him better this way." Minho says before walking away.

I walk into the shack and everyone went silent.

"Hey Elizabeth! There's a spot right here!" Minho says, pointing to a seat between Newt and Gally. Great. I sit down between them and Alby clears his throat.

"Elizabeth, we've been talking about several things since you've arrived. One thing we've spoken about is the fact that we have never had a girl here. We don't know why you're here, but we intend to find out. We have reason to believe that something strange is going on. Why would we start getting girls now?" A boy raises his hand and Alby nods at him.

"What if she's here for a reason?" Then another boy cuts in.

"What if they start sending girls instead of guys from now on?" Then all of the boys start arguing. "What if we're meant to repopulate ourselves?" "What if it's a punishment and she's sent here to takeover the place?" "What if she's a distraction?" "What if we're all going to die?" Newt and I sit there saying nothing while Gally tries to shut everyone up.

"I'll make sure none of these guys hurt you." Newt says quietly to me after seeing the worried expression on my face. I nod and he puts his hand on my knee.

"Shut up!" Gally screams. Everyone becomes silent. Alby nods and continues talking.

"We will find out if and as soon as we can. Until then, Elizabeth is to remain safe and welcome. Whether you like it or not, she is a Glader now. If anyone causes any harm to her, or even poses as a threat, they will face the Slammer, or even banishment. Elizabeth," Alby turns to look at me. "It has come to our attention that you almost beat Gally in a fight last night. That's never been done before-"

"He went easy on me." I cut in and Gally smiles and lets out a laugh.

"She's a better fighter than all of these boys put together." Gally says while looking at me. I nod in gratitude and Alby continues speaking.

"But I heard it was to protect William. If you are the type of person that would put yourself in a position like that for another Glader, we'd really appreciate it if you would do us the honors of becoming a Medjack." Alby finishes. All of the boys nod in agreement. "So let's all vote. Raise your hand if you have a problem with the punishments set for anyone that chooses to hurt Elizabeth." Nobody raises their hand. This seems a bit childish, but who am I to judge? "Next, raise your hand if you think Elizabeth should be allowed to be a Medjack." I think every arm in the room goes up. "So will you?" He asks.

I look at Newt, then to Gally, and they both nod. "Yes. I'd love to help!" I say.

"There you have it. Meeting adjourned!" Alby shouts and everyone leaves.