How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Fifty-eight

- A curious Greenie -

"God..." I groan, pulling off my left boot and wincing as I rub my sore ankle. "My ankle is just killing me right now." I try to stretch it out, but the pain doesn't ease.

Tyrell, always quick with a jab, grins as he looks over at me. "Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn't have run after the Greenie then, huh?" he says, chuckling, with Theo joining in behind him. Minho, who was out in the Maze when the new Greenie arrived, just sits there looking confused, trying to piece together what happened.

"Oh, shut it," I snap, tossing my boot at Tyrell, who effortlessly catches it with a cocky grin.

"Well, I mean, then again," I continue, trying to explain myself, "I didn't want to spend yet another night in the Maze." I wince again as I shift my weight, then add, "So I was actually trying to tackle him, but I guess that stone or whatever it was he tripped over came before me." The guys burst into laughter as I speak, the scene playing out in my head once more.

"One night in the Maze is already one too many," I mutter, glancing over at the large, closed doors. Flashbacks from that awful night start creeping into my mind, and I can't help but shudder. "That shitty Maze messed up my ankle too, so I ain't setting foot in there again before you guys find a way out," I add, my voice laced with irritation as I look up at the trio.

Minho, now fully catching up with the conversation, points at me. "And it didn't help either when you insisted on jumping over the fences yourself all day today," Tyrell teases, tossing my boot back to me.

"Aha, ha, very funny," I reply dryly, rolling my eyes, but I can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. The guys start cracking up, the playful teasing continuing.

"I know I am," Tyrell says, a proud smirk spreading across his face. His grin is infectious, and soon Minho, Theo, and I are all laughing along with him, the tension from the day easing just a little bit.

---

Meanwhile, Newt and Thomas sit a bit away from the group. Thomas watches Y/n, who's off to the side, rubbing her ankle.

"What happened to her?" Thomas asks, his voice full of concern as he watches Y/n.

"The Maze," Newt says simply, not turning to face Thomas but still keeping an eye on the group. His tone is heavy with the gravity of the situation. "That's what happened to her."

Thomas frowns, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Wait... what do you mean 'the Maze'? Didn't you just say that only Runners were allowed outside the walls?"

Newt turns slightly, finally addressing Thomas directly. "She wanted to stop one of the Greenies, just like you," he explains. His voice is low, almost distant, as he thinks back to that night. "This one just made it into the Maze," he adds, giving Thomas a pointed look. Thomas can tell there's more to the story, but he stays quiet, listening.

"The doors closed behind the two of them, trapping them there for the night..." Newt's voice trails off, and for a moment, he seems lost in the memory. Thomas can see the fear in Newt's eyes, a fleeting glimpse of just how much that night had affected him.

"That's where the big scar on her arm is from too?" Thomas asks cautiously, remembering seeing it earlier that day.

Newt nods somberly. "Yeah," he says, after a brief pause. "We call them Grievers." He looks at Thomas, a weight behind his words. "Y/n's the only one who's seen one."

Thomas's eyes widen. "Really?"

"Yeah," Newt continues, taking a sip from his drink, his gaze shifting over to the others. "She's got drawings of them, but she won't let anyone but me and Alby see them. We've only seen them once, and trust me, that was enough." Newt leans back, lost in thought for a moment, the weight of the memory hanging in the air.

Thomas stays silent, taking it all in. The Maze, the Grievers, Y/n's scars—all of it paints a grim picture of the danger that lurks outside the walls.

"Right, well, that's enough questions for one night," Newt says, finally breaking the silence. He turns to face Thomas, giving him a slight smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on," he adds. "You're supposed to be the guest of honor here."

Thomas opens his mouth to protest, but Newt doesn't give him the chance. "No, no, no—come on," Newt says, standing up and pulling Thomas to his feet. "Let me show you around. It's time you meet the rest of the Gladers."

"I—I'm really not—" Thomas tries to protest, but Newt's already tugging him along.

"Come on," Newt repeats with a smile. "Yeah, let's go."

And with that, Newt pulls Thomas towards the others, the sounds of the Glade drawing them back into the light and laughter of the group.