Free (Maze Runner fanfic Newtmas Newt x Thomas)

Chapter 5

Minho had shut up by the next morning, so Thomas decided to pay him a visit and look at his back, since he couldn't get a proper view of his own even in a mirror. With Minho on his side, Thomas couldn't tell what was.. Actually, it was pretty bad. It was like a spear head had been struck in, then twisted it circles to maximise damage; done with speed rather than precision.

What kind of creature could do some much damage? Not that the grievers weren't also capable, but their stabs looked so much more precise and clean.. In one single blow Minho had lost a good chunk of his back, but who knew if Thomas' looked the same.

Alby walked in on him, clearing his throat to grab Thomas' attention. "Hey, greenbean."

Thomas looked over his shoulder. "Please stop calling me that."

"What's up with Newt? He's all giddy. I heard you asked to see him a couple nights ago when you woke up, you remember anything?"

Thomas nodded. "Yeah, loads of stuff with him, and I.. I just had to tell him; you know what I mean, right?" Alby shrugged, though he understood. "But yeah, other stuff too."

"Should I call a gathering?" He nodded again. "Then be at the hall in five." Alby turned, now leaving the room.

"Gathering..? What for?" Minho groaned. "Oh hey Thomas.. You doing okay?"

"Minho! You're awake earlier than expected."

"I am?" He groaned again. "I feel like a pile of klunk. You feel like this too?"

"I did a couple days ago, you get over it fairly quickly. We're calling a gathering because of the things I remember. What about you? Anything?"

"Yeah... If I had the strength you would not be conscious right now."

Thomas felt guilty, but he understood. "I don't blame you.. I blame myself for thinking like I did. Do you want us to wait so you can speak as well?"

Minho shook his head. "We'll just gather tomorrow, there's probably not anything you won't say anyway. It's all your fault right now." He rolled onto his other side with a wince of pain, wrapping his arms around himself.

"Don't worry, it'll feel better tomorrow."

~*~

Alby only gathered the keepers, not wanting anything too big going public just yet. Thomas stood in the centre, all the others in seats in a semi circle. "Split it greenbean, what you got for us?" Alby leant forward in his seat.

"Okay, well.. For one thing we've all known each other, been close friends, since we were kids. Everyone! People I haven't even met because they died, everyone who's ever entered this glade knew everyone else before coming up." Thomas eyed Newt across the room. "We went to some special school, no other students that I can remember, but we were all put there because of something to do with our brains. What, I don't actually know right now.

"I helped make this maze, I helped design it. I remember trying to stop people bringing you here, I knew you'd all come but I didn't know the order or anything. Maybe it was random. I.. I just watched, all of you on tiny screens, the bugs you see in the trees.

"WICKED is definitely behind it all, and they've kept us separated from our families for years because something is very, very wrong. I don't know what exactly, but it's a test. This whole place is a shuck test. There's.. there's a code, or something like that to get out! We just have to find that code, and where to put it."

"A test?" Newt raised an eyebrow, "A test how? For what?"

Thomas shrugged. "I don't know, but there is a way out of this place, but not through some magic door that can be found by running. It's more complicated than that."