Freezing Fire - The Maze Runner

Chapter Twenty Three - Lost

I stared at the towering Maze walls in front of me. I could see every thread of ivy that snaked across the concrete and each crack. That is how tense I was. How hopeful I was. I was standing infront of the Doors, waiting for Minho to come back so that the Gladers could finish packing and prepare for what was to come. Our escape.

The Glade was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Only a handful were nervous. Me, Newt, Issy, Thomas and Chuck. All the Runners had returned except for the pair that was at the escape point. Potential escape point, I reminded myself. I didn't want to get my hopes up. I could feel my hand gripping Newt's tightly. He was squeezing back. Issy had Thomas' whole arm in her grip, and her face was pale white. I could tell how much it would wreck her to lose Minho after she had just gained him.

We were already doubting Minho's and Alby's return. Then, our fears were enhanced by the wind. It blew out threw the gap the Doors made, billowing leaves into our faces. My pain of losing Minho and our escape blanketed everything. I could hear Issy screaming and Thomas trying to calm her down, the pounding of the rest of the Gladers coming over, and Newt whispering to me. We were all scared. I could feel it in the air. But Minho wasn't coming back. The certainty crashed down on us when the Doors shut, the boom that meant Minho and Alby were dead echoing around the Glade.

No one was as upset as Issy. She was down on her knees yelling. She was cursing W.I.C.K.E.D, cursing them all. Thomas was trying to get her to stand, but she was limp. Tears were streaming down her face as she sobbed once, twice, then curled up into a little ball on the ground. They were gone. The two people we needed most, were gone. Just like that. The blanket that had been covering me lifted, and it all sank in in a rush. It hit me like a train, and I struggled to hold myself up in Newts' grasp. He was crying too. I could see the tears on his face as I glanced up at him and buried my head in his chest.

That night Issy wasn't the same. We had a campfire even though there was no Greenie, and everyone seemed okay. Newt had stepped into place as the leader, so I was sitting back to back with Thomas. We weren't saying anything, we were comfortable around each other and the silence was a respected one. Even Chuck, who was sitting next to us, was quiet for once. His eyes were distant, and I could tell he was as lost in thought as I was. All I could think about was Issy, sitting infront of me and weeping silently. I wanted to comfort her, but I couldn't. In the distance, a Griever screeched.

"Would you have rathered it be me?" Thomas said suddenly. I jolted out of my thoughts. "What do you mean?" I shifted so I was more comfortable. We were still back to back. "Would you prefer that I was the one who had gotten stuck out there instead of Minho and Alby?" I was shocked by his question. "Thomas," I turned so I was facing him, as did he. "Why would you think that?" He shrugged. "We shouldn't think what-ifs. What happened happened. Even though this is a big loss, we don't have a choice in the matter. We would have rathered no one was out there. It's not your fault, or any of our fault's." I put a hand on Thomas' shoulder. "I'm being a shank, sorry." Thomas said, and I hugged him tightly.

"I'm going to bed." Issy said. It was all she had spoken all night. There weren't many of us left. Just the Builders, the Runners, Thomas, Issy and me. "Same," Thomas yawned. "Yeah, me too." I got up stretched, and walked towards the Homestead. I looked at the door to my room, made a decision and crept in behind Newt's hammock, crawling in and resting my arm around his waist. "Goodnight," I whispered, then fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
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Sorry, all. I know that sounds lame but I am. I honestly didn't know I was gonna get rid of Minho until I did. Again, sorry. See you in the next chapter!! I think next chapter I'll post a preview of my other book, The Mister Who Killed My Sister. Hopefully that'll make some of you want to read it!
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