We Didn't Start the Fire - Book 1 (Newt x OC) (Maze Runner)

Chapter 11 - A Runner, a Builder, and a Girl

 "We found this," Thomas explained as Newt and Plune looked over the small, metal device in the Keeper meeting. "It was inside a Griever."

"These are the same letters we get on our supplies," Newt said in confusion as he looked at the label.

"Yeah. Whoever put us here obviously made the Grievers. And this is the first real clue, the first anything, you've found in over three years, right, Minho?"

"Right."

"Newt, Plune, we've gotta go back out there. Who knows where this might lead us." Newt sighed, looking at Plune before they both looked at Gally.

"You see what he's trying to do, right?" Gally asked them. "First he breaks our rules and then he tries to convince us to abandon them totally. What... The rules are the only thing that have ever held us together. Why now are we questioning that? Plune, you remember what happened before-"

"Trust me, I was there, Gally. I know what happened."

"The murders? The disunity? Are you ready to go back to that?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

"If Alby was here, you know he'd agree with me. This shank needs to be punished."

Plune bit her lip and nodded. "Well, Alby's not here and I need to face reality. We've actually found something. That means we can't just stay set in our ways."

"Plune-"

"You're right, Gally," Newt cut him off before he could say anything else, handing the device back to Minho. "Thomas broke the rules. What about one night in the pit and no food?" he asked, looking at Plune.

"Oh, come on, Newt! One night in the pit? You think that's gonna stop him from going into the maze?"

"No. And we can't just have non runners running into the maze wherever they feel like it." Gally crossed his arms. "So let's just make this official. Starting from tomorrow, he's a runner. Good that?" he asked, turning his head from Thomas to Plune.

She hesitated before nodding. "Thomas, you'll spend tonight in the pit without food and then tomorrow you'll join Minho as a runner."

"Wow," Gally scoffed.

"Gally-"

"No, Fry," he pushed away his hand as he walked out, making Plune sigh as she closed her eyes, Winston and Frypan following after him.

"Thanks, Plune. Thanks, Newt." Newt only nodded, turning away.

"Minho, go ahead."

He nodded. "Come on, shank," he said, leaving the room with Thomas in tow, the rest of the Keepers going back to work.

"You alright?" Plune asked gently, laying a hand on Newt's back.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"You don't seem like it."

"I just... Everything's changing so fast and..."

"Hey," she whispered, coming and standing in front of him and putting a hand to his cheek, "we're gonna figure this out."

"What if we don't?"

"We always do. Okay?" He nodded and she gave him a small smile, leaning in and placing her lips on his. "We're gonna be okay."

He leant his forehead against hers, leaving his eyes closed. "You should go check on Gally."

She nodded without pulling away. "You sure you're okay?"
He opened his eyes to find her already looking at him. "I'm fine, love. Go do your thing."