Abused ≫ Newt [2]

Chapter 14.

"Emily, we need to talk."
At the sound of Alby's voice, Emily lifted her head. She watched in silence as the boy approached her, only nodding once when he took a seat across from her. Newt and Thomas trailed behind him, their eyebrows furrowed in the same confusion that Emily felt. Alby waited until Newt and Thomas were seated before speaking.
"We need to talk about Ben," His eyes scanned the three of them carefully, narrowed suspiciously. "He said that he saw you. That you were bad. Do you have any idea of what he was talking about?"
Emily stayed silent for a moment, glancing between Newt and Thomas.. Hoping that they would have an answer, an explanation.
She couldn't get one thought out of her head: What if he knew that she designed the Maze? What if he knew that she, Thomas, Newt, and the other two kids helped create this whole place? What if Alby believed him?
She knew she couldn't let him know that she remembered her past life. Alby was unpredictable, and there was no telling how he would react. So she only shook her head once, keeping her gaze focused on the table as she spoke. "No."
Thomas and Newt stayed silent and, though Emily couldn't see them, she knew they must have been shaking their heads, as well.
Alby let out a long sigh, brought his hands up to his head and rubbed his temples. Emily looked up at him. He looked as if he had a lot on his mind. He was stressed. She suddenly felt a stab of sympathy towards the boy. He could not be any older than eighteen, and yet he was given the responsibilty of the whole Glade.
Alby looked up, his gaze locked with hers as words fell from his lips.
"Ben is not dead."
"What?" Beside him, Thomas sat up straight, staring at Alby with wide eyes. His face turned a light shade of pink, blushing, as if he had not meant to speak so loudly.
"The Baggers went to get him, found him breathing. Arrow missed his shuck brain. He is unconscious, but the Med-jacks patched him up all nice an' good."
Emily turned her gaze to the rickety building of the Homestead, feeling a mixture of disbelief and relief inside her. "That's not possible... I saw his-" she cut herself off with a shake of her head, a sudden wave of dizziness come over her. It was all so overwhelming. The news of the sick boy being alive, despite being shot in the head, and the memories of the night before. The fear she felt when Ben basically went insane. It reminded her of George, and it nearly sent her over the edge.
"Where is he now?" Newt spoke up for the first time, breaking Emily from her thoughts.
"The shank's locked up in the Slammer." Alby said. "Looks like, in a few hours, Ben will be wishing that the arrow did hit his shuck brain after all."
"What do you mean?" Thomas asked, turning to face him as he stood up.
Alby stared down at the Greenie, his face neutral, "You will see soon enough, Green Bean. If I tell you know, you won't understand. Best if you just wait an' see." He glanced over at Emily, his eyes glazed with some emotion. Sorrow? Regret?
She could not tell.
The leader turned to walk away, but she quickly stopped him, reaching over the table and grabbing ahold of his shirt sleeve, "Alby?"
He turned to look at her, one eyebrow raised.
"What is going to happen to him?" She asked softly. Alby stared at her for a moment, though said nothing. He sent her a small, sympathetic smile before turning and walking away. Leaving Emily to only stare after him in confusion.

+

The sun was setting, turning the sky a fiery orange color. Emiy stood on the edge of the Gladers, all crowded around the East Door. She was breathing heavily, memories of the night rushing back to her like a tidal wave. She had no idea why she was attending the Banishment, and she mentally slapped herself across the face as she felt yet another wave of dizziness wash over her. She had almost fainted several times, and it was only because of her stupid decision of watching Ben be Banished. Newt stood beside her, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. Every once in a while, he would press his lips against the side of her head, whispering comforting things in her ear. He knew how much this bothered her, though he could not even imagine how she felt. No one understood how she felt.
Except maybe Ben.
No one else felt the fear she felt while being pushed into the Maze as the Doors were closing in on her. The fear for herself. For her fate.
She found herself shaking again, her breaths coming in quick gasps. She knew she was having a panic attack, and she stumbled a bit. Newt wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her into her chest.
"It's okay, princess," he whispered into her ear. "You don't have to watch this. Just go back to the Homestead and lay down."
Emily shook her head stubbornly, wrapping her arms around Newt's torso. She didn't know why she was still there, when she could be in the Homestead, cuddled up in her bed. Safe.
Thomas and Chuck stood not too far away from them, both shifting anxiously in their shoes. She knew it was their first Banishment, and they must have been extremely nervous. Unknowing of what they were about to witness.
Alby's voice brought her back into reality. Echoing off the stone walls that surrounded them, lacking any emotion.
"Bring him out!"
Emily turned her head towards the Homestead, where she knew Ben would appear moments later, led on a leash as if he were an animal. Almost as if on cue, she saw three boys' figures appear from behind the Homestead. Ben was trailing behind them, literally being dragged by the bigger boys. He struggled in their grip- she could hear the signs of struggle from where she stood.
As they neared the East Door, Emily could see more details of the sick boy. His clothes were ripped and bloodied, barely hanging on his body by a few strands of string. His eyes were wide, darting around the Gladers, filled with terror.
"Newt," Alby's voice was low as he addressed the blonde boy. "Bring out the Pole."
Newt rubbed Emily's waist comfortingly, giving her one last quick kiss before heading towards a barely-standing tool shed. He disappeared inside, the door shutting behind him.
Emily focused back on the scene before her. She was shaking from head to toe, barely able to stand without the support from Newt. Ben stood before Alby, his head hung low. Obviously given up on trying to fight his fate.
"You brought this on yourself, Ben," Alby spoke. He turned to glance at Emily, his eyes full of sympathy- something Emily didn't see much of from the boy. He felt sorry for her. In fact, they all felt sorry for her. Every now and then, she could feel some boy's eyes on her, watching her as she stared at Ben with wide eyes. They all knew how hard this was for her.
And yet she was still there.
Her gaze snapped back to the tool shed, where Newt was just no emerging. He carried a single metal pole. Attached to the end was a loop of leather, fasted at the end with what seemed like a belt loop. It was the collar. The same collar that Emily once wore.
The sight of the pole was enough to send her over the edge. She fell to the ground, her vision spinning, breathing heavily. Thomas and Chuck were by her side in a split second, staring at her with wide eyes. Their mouths moved, though no words came out. Thomas rubbed her back comfortingly, his eyebrows ceased in concern.
She shook her head, squeezed her eyes shut as she hearing began to clear once more. There was a dull ringing in her ears and her head pounded. Thomas's voice spoke in her ears. Soft, comforting.
"It's okay, Emily. It's the past. Nothing's going to happen to you, alright?" When she did not answer, he leaned closer to her. "Maybe you should get away from here. It can't be good for you."
"Maybe he'll survive it," Chuck said from the other side of her. "Like you did."
"You don't understand. I had more than a supply pack to help me throughout the night, Chuck," as she said this, Emily glanced at Thomas. Surprised herself as her lips curled into a small smile. Though it disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. "No one survives a night in the Maze."
Thomas suddenly grabbed her arm, gently pulling her to her feet, "It's not good for you to be here. You'll end up having a panic attack. Go to the Homestead."
Despite her freaking out, Emily couldn't help but snicker at his motherly tone. Thomas rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, raising a single eyebrow.
"Fine, mother."
She turned her back to the scene and headed towards the Homestead at a fast pace. She tried her best to ignore the sounds that were coming from behind her, though she just could not ignore the sound of Ben's scream that erupted throughout the stone courtyard. One that was sure to rip his vocal chords to shreads.