The Defective Soldier || Newt

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟔

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕔𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕙

✃✃✃✃✃✃✃✃✃

A woman caressed his face.

She was murmuring something like it was their little secret. Her eyes gleamed with joy as he opened his, her smile becoming more radiant than the sun itself. Not everything was happiness. Hidden at the back of her eyes and the corner of her lips, there was fear.

"Did my little warrior have a nightmare?" she asked.

"I was running," his younger self answered. "I was one of those bad people outside, and I hurt dad."

His mother's warm hand descended to his cheek, making him lean on it to absorb the warmness. "That won't happen, darling. You'll stay here, with me, where it's safe. Your brother and dad will take care of the rest, OK? We will be fine."

William's eyes shot open as he hurried to his feet, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

No Cranks were near, and neither was his group, the A's or Aris. His breathing, quick and shallow, didn't let him concentrate on anything except his memories: his first time seeing his mother's face so clearly, the fact that Newt had a sister called Sonya, who could possibly also be his friend, and his brother.

Dead? He's dead? William thought, a hand covering his mouth to keep himself from crying.

The thought that his brother, the only family he had left, could be long gone drove him close to freezing madness. He shut his eyes, trying to recollect when exactly that memory had happened. If it was before solitary confinement, couldn't it be figurative speech? Judging by Janson's words, his brother wasn't dead yet when they spoke. He had just forgotten about him, like A5, B5, and Group S.

He wanted to walk away, maybe sit at the edge of the ruins and take in the devastated surroundings. It was the only way he could feel like at least something was more chaotic than their lives. However, he couldn't leave Newt behind when the boy was still sleeping.

"Newt," he whispered, shaking the boy lightly. "Newt, help me out. I can't carry you by myself. It's early. You should go to sleep with the rest."

"Liam?" Newt took a second to open his eyes and look around before realising where they were. "What about you?"

"I need some peace and quiet to think. Don't worry, I won't be far," said William, a smile playing across his face as he saw Newt sitting up. "Come, I'll help you down."

"No," muttered Newt. "I'll stay with you."

"But—" William tried to deny the offer, but couldn't.

"No buts. You want me to be quiet? I'll be, but I won't leave you alone out here." Newt got up, brushing the dirt off his trousers and jacket. "So? Where to?"

William huffed, and pointed at the side of the ruins, where they sat, watching as the sun rose in the sky over what was left of the city. The boy kept his promise, not trying to start any form of small talk as time passed. Just like him, Newt appeared to have a lot going on in his mind.

Somehow, despite all the thoughts he knew that should have more importance, William couldn't help but stare at the boy next to him. His memories surged every time their eyes met. The comparison between what they once were and what they were now made a mild sting appear in his heart, which was a welcomed variation from the ones already in his neck and arms.

"Are you alright?" William asked in a low tone, his eyes meeting with Newt's once again.

"I thought you wanted peace and quiet," scoffed Newt.