How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Thirty-four

- surviving the night -

The adrenaline is surging through my veins, a mix of fear, determination, and sheer willpower keeping me moving forward. Each step sends jolts of pain through my injured ankle, and my arm feels like it's on fire, but I don't let it slow me down. My hand is slick with blood, the makeshift bandage doing little to stem the flow, and my breaths come in ragged gasps as I push myself harder. My heart pounds in my chest, and my mind is laser-focused on finding the source of the scream that cuts through the oppressive silence of the maze. I know I don't have the luxury of hesitation; every second could mean the difference between life and death for the greenie.

As I round a corner, I finally spot a figure lying sprawled on the ground near a pile of fallen debris. Relief and dread flood me simultaneously as I limp as quickly as I can toward him, ignoring the protests of my battered body. When I reach him, I see his leg is pinned under a heavy slab of stone. His face is pale and twisted in pain, his breaths shallow and panicked.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," I say quickly, dropping to my knees beside him. My voice is shaky but firm as I try to reassure him—and maybe myself. "I'm here to help."

I grip the edge of the debris and pull with everything I've got, but it doesn't budge. It's too heavy for me alone, and frustration bubbles up inside me. The greenie watches me with wide, terrified eyes, and I can see the silent plea for help in his expression.

"Hey..." he whispers weakly, his voice trembling. "You're bleeding pretty bad..." His gaze drops to my arm, where the blood continues to seep through my improvised bandage.

"I know, I—" My response falters as a wave of dizziness washes over me. My vision blurs for a moment, and I feel lightheaded, my strength faltering. I close my eyes and take a deep, steadying breath, forcing myself to focus. There's no time to fall apart now.

I rip off another strip of fabric from the bottom of my already-tattered shirt and wrap it tightly around my arm. The pressure sends a searing jolt of pain through me, and I can't stop the scream that escapes my lips. Tears prick my eyes, but I grit my teeth and tie the cloth as firmly as I can to slow the bleeding.

I glance around, desperate for anything that can help. My eyes land on a sturdy-looking stick nearby. Crawling toward it, I grab it and return to the greenie, positioning the stick under the debris to use as a lever. "Hold on," I tell him, though I'm not sure if I'm reassuring him or myself. With a grunt of effort, I push down on the stick, leveraging all my weight against it. The debris shifts just enough for the greenie to pull his leg free, and he scrambles back, clutching his injured limb.

"Thank you," he says, his voice filled with gratitude and disbelief. He looks at me like I'm some kind of miracle, though I feel far from it.

I nod, offering him my uninjured hand to help him to his feet. "We need to move," I say firmly, glancing around nervously. "The grievers could be close, and we don't want to stick around to find out."

Despite our injuries, we limp as fast as we can through the twisting pathways of the maze. Every step sends pain shooting through my ankle, and the greenie is clearly struggling with his bruised leg, but neither of us dares to slow down.

"Hey," I say weakly after what feels like an eternity. "The sun's rising." My voice is barely above a whisper, but there's a flicker of hope in it. The soft light filtering through the maze casts long shadows, signaling the end of the night.

"That means the doors must be open again," I add, my words slurring slightly as exhaustion and blood loss take their toll.

The greenie manages a small, shaky smile, and together we push forward with renewed determination. The sight of the massive stone doors, wide open and bathed in morning light, is almost enough to make me cry.

"Y/N?!" Newt's voice cuts through the air, filled with a mixture of relief and panic. He's standing with the other Gladers near the doors, and the sight of him is like a lifeline pulling me toward safety.

"Hi..." I manage to croak out before my legs give out beneath me. I collapse to the ground, too exhausted and injured to move another step.

"You scared me half to death, love," Newt says as he kneels beside me, his voice cracking with emotion. He grips my hand tightly, his warmth grounding me in the moment.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

"Don't be sorry," he replies, shaking his head. "Just promise me you won't do something so bloody reckless again."

"I promise," I murmur, my eyes fluttering closed.

Theo crouches down next to me, his expression grim as he inspects the blood-soaked cloth on my arm. "Is that blood?" he asks, though the answer is obvious.

"No?" I joke weakly, though the attempt at humor earns me a glare from everyone around me.

"That's not a question you're supposed to answer with another question," Theo retorts, carefully unwrapping the makeshift bandage. The sting of his touch makes me hiss in pain, and I bite back a curse as he examines the deep cut.

Minho steps forward, his voice firm. "I'll bring her to the med-hut." Before I can protest, he lifts me effortlessly into his arms, carrying me toward the med-hut with long, purposeful strides.

When we arrive, Minho gently lays me on one of the beds, and I can feel the tension ease from my body as I sink into the soft surface. The greenie stumbles in after me, supported by two other Gladers. Despite everything, he looks at me with a mixture of awe and gratitude, as if he can't believe we both made it out alive.

For the first time since entering the maze, I allow myself to close my eyes and breathe. We survived. For now, that's enough.