Abused ≫ Newt [2]

Chapter 24.

"That's ridiculous!" Gally's surprised voice rose above all the other shocked voices of the Council. "He should be kicked off the Council for saying something so stupid!"
Emily's head spun as she fought to process what Minho had just said. Keeper of the Runners? Surely he couldn't mean that. She put her heads up to her head, closing her eyes as she waited for the outburst to calm down. Though her eyes were closed, she could feel Newt staring at her.
It's not a half bad idea.
His voice rang through her ears, almost sounding as if it were inside her head altogether. She opened her eyes, surprised and terrified all at the same time. Though Newt was already looking away, as if he hadn't spoken in the first place. He ran a hand through his hair, scratched the back of his neck before standing up.
"Shuck it," he said. The Council almost immediately quieted at his voice. "I've never seen so many shanks acting like teat-sucking babies. We may not look it, but around these parts, we're adults. Act like it, or we'll disband this bloody Council and start from scratch."
Some Keepers nodded, while other nodded quiet "good that"s. Gally sat back in his seat, a deep scowl on his face, looking like a five year old who just got his favorite toy taken away.
Newt sat back down, turned to Minho. "That is some pretty serious klunk, brother. Sorry, but you need to talk it up to move forward." He had a bit of warning in his voice, almost as if he was begging Minho to just drop the whole subject altogether.
Minho looked exhausted. "It is sure easy for you shanks to sit here and talk about something you're stupid on. I'm the only Runner in this group, and the only other person here who has even been out in the Maze is Newt."
Gally sat up, "Not if you count the time when I-"
"I don't!" Minho shouted with such ferocity, Emily was taken aback at first. The Runner closed his eyes, rubbed his temples before continuing. "Believe me, you or nobody else has the slightest clue what it's like to be out there. The only reason you were stung is because you broke the same rule you are blaming Thomas for. That's called hypcrisy, in case you aren't familiar with the term, you shuck-faced piece of-"
"Enough," Newt said. "Defend your suggestion and be down with it."
Emily couldn't help but snicker as Minho stared at Gally, his eyes burning with hatred. The tension between the two boys was palpable, and everyone sat in an awkward silence as Minho continued.
"Listen to me. I've never seen anything like it. He didn't panic, neither of them did. They did not whine or cry, never seemed scared. They kept going when I was ready to give up, pushed me on. Shuck, the Greenie has only been here for just a few days. Think about how we were all like in the beginning. Huddling in corners, disoriented, crying our eyes out every hour, klunking our pants, not trusting anybody, refusing to do anything. The list goes on. We were all like that, for weeks and months, till we had no choice but to shuck it and live." He turned to Emily, sent her a small smile. "And I don't even know where to begin with her. She's survived the Maze twice. First person to ever do it, and then she turns around and does it again. She's obviously got some tricks up her sleeves. She's almost been here as long as I have, but she seems to know twice as much as I do."
Minho stood back up, pointed at Thomas. "Just a few days after this shank shows up, he steps into the Maze to save two helpless guys he hardly knows. All this klunk about him breaking a rule is just beyond stupid. He didn't get the rules yet. But plenty of people told him what it's like in the Maze, especially at night. And Emily had experienced it first hand. Shuck, she almost died last time she was out there. Yet they still stepped out there just as the Door was closing, only caring that two people needed help. If we are going to punish them for that, then we're just beyond stupid." He sucked in a deep breath, seeming as if he was gaining strength the more he spoke.
"But that was just the beginning. After that, they both saw me give up on Alby, leave him for dead. Emily, she has known me almost as long as I have known myself in this life, and she knows how much I care for that boy. I was the veteran out there- I run it every single day. The one with the experience and knowledge. And yet I turned and ran. When they saw me give up, the should not have questioned it. But they did. Think about all the strength and willpower it took them to push Alby up that wall, inch by inch, while being scared out of their minds. It's psycho. It's crazy. It's freaking impressive." he paused, licked his lips as he took in a deep breath. "But that wasn't it. Then came the Griever. The creatures that everyone fears, that are known for ripping people to shreds. I told them that we needed to split up and I started the practiced evasive maneuvers, running in patterns. When they should have been wettin' their pants, they took control and defied all laws of physics and gravity to get Alby up on to that wall. They diverted the Griever away from him, beat one off, found-"
"We get the point," Gally snapped with a roll of his eyes. "Tommy and Emily here are a couple of lucky shanks."
Minho rounded on him and groaned in frustration. "No, you worthless shuck, you don't get it. Newt asked for my opinion and, well, he's going to get it. I've been here two years, and I've never seen anything like it. Even when Emily was Banished, I still didn't see what she could do first hand. For you to say anything..."
He paused, rubbed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. Emily stared at him in shock, her mouth hanging open. She had never heard Minho talk so fondly of someone before; appreciation for her friend standing up for them in front of everyone ran through her, and she wanted to hop up and pull him into a hug. Though as he continued, she stayed where she was. She could thank him later.
"Gally," Minho said in a much calmer voice. "You're nothing but a sissy who has never, not once, asked to be a Runner or even tried out for it. You don't have the right to talk about things you don't understand. So shut your mouth."
Gally stood up, veins popping out of his forehead as his nostrils flared in anger. "Say one more thing like that and I'll break your neck, right here in front of everyone. Don't think I won't." Saliva sprayed from his mouth as he spoke, causing Emily to flinch away.
Minho laughed in a sort of maniacal way. He raised the palm of his hand and shoved Gally in the face. Emily watched in awe, her mouth hanging open, as the Builder crashed down into his chair, tipping over backwards and cracking it into several prices. Gally sprawled out in the floor, staring at the Runner with wide eyes. He shook his head, then scrambled to stand up, struggling to regain his balance as he glared at Minho. The Builder was still on his hands and knees as Minho stepped closer to him and stomped the bottom of his foot down on his back, driving his body flat to the ground. Emily sat back in her seat, stunned, yet a small smile was beginning to form on her lips.
"I swear, Gally," Minho sneered, a sort of psychotic smile stretching across his face. "Don't ever threaten me again. Don't even speak to me again. Ever. Hell, even if I hear my name come out of your shuck mouth, I'll break your neck. Right after I'm done with your arms and legs."
Emily went to stand up, though Newt quickly pushed her back into the seat. He turned to glance at her, an apologetic look on his face.
I'm sorry. Just stay there.
Though his voice rang through her ears, his mouth didn't move. Emily stared at him in complete silence, her head spinning as she tried to figure out what just happened. How could he speak to her without moving his mouth?
Newt and Winston were grabbing Minho by his arms before she could ponder on the thought any longer. They pulled him away from Gally, who jumped up, his face the shade of a ripe tomato. But he made no move towards Minho. Just stood there with his chest out, heaving ragged breaths. Thomas stood from his seat, staring at the scene in front of him with wide eyes. He glanced at Emily, who only merely shook her head. He sat back down, still looking stunned, and Emily turned back to the boys in front of her.
Gally finally backed away from them, stumbling towards the exit behind him. His dark eyes flickered around the room, lit with a burning hatred. To Emily, he looked like someone who was about to commit a mass murder, and honestly, it scared her.
"Things are different now," he spat. "You should not have done that, Minho. You made a huge mistake. You should not have done that." His psychotic gaze shifted to Newt, who was still holding Minho back. "I know you hate me, that you have always hated me. You should be Banished for your embarrassing inability to lead this group. You are shameful, pathetic, and any one of you who stays here is no better. Things are going to change. This, I promise you."
Gally turned to Emily, his gaze burning into hers, "I thought you were different. You're nothing but a monster, no better than the people who put us here." he yanked the door open and stepped out into the hall. But before anyone could move an inch, his head popped back into the room. "And you," he said, glaring at Thomas. "The Green Bean who thinks he's freaking God. Don't forget I've seen you before- I've seen both of you. I've been through the Changing. What these guys decide doesn't mean jack. You both are up to something." His malicious stare slid to each person in the room, finally stopping on Emily. "Whatever you came here for- I swear on my life I'm gonna stop it. I'll kill you both if I have to. Don't think I won't."
Then he turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Emily stared after him, her stomach clenching inside of her as if it were trying to discard of something poisonous. She felt as if she were about to be sick.
Gally's completely crazy, she kept on telling herself. Though she could not ignore the twinge of fear she felt at the Builder's threats.
The members of the Council all sat in a stunned silence, their expressions showing that they were just as shocked as Emily. Thomas buried his face in his hands, letting out a long groan as he shook his head.  Newt and Winston finally let go of Minho; the three of them walked over to their chairs and sat down. Newt glanced at Emily, and must have noticed her uneasiness, because he grabbed her hand and brought it up to his lips, softly kissing it several times.
"He is finally whacked for good," Minho said from his chair, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Completely psycho, I tell you."
"Well, you're not exactly the bloody saint in this room, either," Newt said. "What were you thinking? You went a little overboard there, don't ya think?"
Minho narrowed his eyes, a sort of satisfied smirk curling at his lips. Almost as if he was proud of what he did to Gally. "Don't give me that garbage. Everyone one of you loved seeing that slinthead get his dues, and you know it. It's about time some one stood up to his klunk."
"He's on the council for a reason," Newt said with a shrug.
"Dude, he threatened to break my neck and kill Emily and Thomas! If that isn't psycho, then I don't know what is. The guy is mentally whacked, and you better send someone right now to throw his butt in the Slammer. He's dangerous."
Emily couldn't help but agree with Minho. Though she considered Gally a friend, what he said to her really did scare her. She couldn't help but think: what if he really did carry out with his threat?
"Maybe he had a good point," Winston said quietly, almost as if he didn't want anyone to hear.
"What?" Minho stared at the Slicer in disbelief.
Winston looked surprised at the anger in his voice, and blinked a few times before he spoke, "He has been through the Changing. That means he has memories, and he said the Greenie and Emily look familiar. Why would he make that up?"
I've been through the Changing, as well. I don't remember anything off about Thomas and I, Emily said to herself. She almost said it aloud. Almost. But she stopped herself before she could.
"Winston, did you see what just happened?" Frypan asked, his tone full of surprise. Emily was thankful that, at least, he was on their side. "Gally's psycho. You can't put too much stock in his rambling nonsense. What, you think Thomas and Emily are Grievers in disguises?"
Beside her, Newt scratched the back of his neck, looking frustrated and slightly uneasy.
"Alright. Slim it, would ya?" he said. He waited until silence hovered over the room before continuing. "We'll deal with Gally later, alright? Right now, we need to consider Minho's offer." He turned to the Runner, who had a satisfied smirk on his face. "I think we should see what their opinions are on this whole bloody thing." He looked back at Emily, nodding at her once. "Minho nominated you to replace him as Keeper of the Runners. That's a buggin' big job; would you take up the offer?"
Emily thought for a moment. Ever since she arrived at the Glade, she longed to be a Runner. For the first few months she was there, that was the only thing she thought of doing. But then came the night in the Maze... and she wasn't so sure anymore. She looked up at Newt; his brown eyes were glowing with concern, almost as if he were begging her not to do it.
And, honestly, she didn't want to do it.
She looked at Minho, a look of apology on her face as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no. I vowed to myself I would never take another step into the Maze. I have nightmares about it every night. I'm sorry, Minho. But I can't."
The Runner looked at the ground, his eyebrows furrowed together, looking disappointed and almost embarrassed. Newt nodded, looking relieved and turned to Thomas.
"Tommy, we just elected you as a Runner," he said. "Do you accept?"
Thomas was staring at the ground, but looked up as he was addressed. He stared dumbly at Newt for a moment, but then he nodded eagerly, "Yes. I want to be a Runner."

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I'm so sorry if this is beginning to follow the books too much :( that's not what I was aiming for because I want it to be different. But I promise that the chapters will start to veer away from the book again soon :)