𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 ➤ Maze Runner AU

𝟢𝟫𝟧，𝐨𝐡, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩

"You did the right thing, love. And you did it well."

I stare down at my bruised knuckles for the millionth time, rethinking every step. Every movement I made.

After Lelia and Thomas's call and we took a minute to process what was happening—and the fact that it was real—I ran outside. I followed them.

And as I did, I was staring at Austin. From a distance, I saw him attack them both. I got reminded of how badly he has hurt people in the past. How badly he must've hurt my sister and friend the past two weeks.

A strange kind of anger filled me when all of that combined, and I just jumped at him the second I got the chance. And had him in such a perfect hold that I could easily reach his face. And I started punching, over and over.

For Lelia. For Thomas. For Daphne. For everything.

When I realized the power I had and how good it for once felt to let everything out, I didn't know how to stop. His had face morphed into Marcus's, and I punched again. Then he became one of the boys from my childhood. And another one. The whole group. He became anyone that has ever pissed me off.

And now I'm ashamed and feel guilty, even though he deserved it all.

"I always told her I'd hurt people for her," I say. "She thought it was a lie. Sometimes, I did, too. I could not imagine a scenario in which someone was hurting her so badly, that I'd hurt them back for it. And you know why?"

Newt hums. "Well?"

"Because I couldn't imagine someone ever wanting to hurt her. And I'm so stupid for not realizing before—"

"Hey, no. You're not stupid. None of us knew anything, Lynn. It happened how it happened and now, in the end, everything is okay."

"Neither of them have woken up," I point out, blinking some tears away.

"They will. The doctors said they will. There have been some issues with hyperthermia, apparently, and Thomas got a stab in his leg and Lelia a concussion, but other than that, I think they were lucky."

"I don't know about that," I mutter. My eyes are on the ground now. It's white. Of course it is. We're in a freaking hospital, again.

"I do."

"But like, what's better? Some physical wounds that will heal, or mental wounds. We don't know what they did with them. Well, mind games. Which means mental things. Mentally, they won't be fine, Newt—"

"No one is fine mentally," Newt interrupts. "For now, Lynn, try to just think about the good things. They survived. There's no permanent physical damage. Austin will return to his cell and Marcus is dead."

I'm glad he doesn't add Noelle to that list. I don't think she deserved death.

She had a horrible father who let her grow up in a horrible way, but I can't blame everything she has done on Marcus. I still don't like her. But she didn't deserve to die.

I don't know why she died in the first place, though. Maybe Lelia and Thomas know something.

"The girl's awake," a nurse suddenly announces. "One person can come in at the time. Don't overwhelm her, please. You get a few minutes each."

I'm the first to rush up. I don't give a crap about how badly anyone else wants to see her right now, to be honest. I want to go first.

When everyone seems to silently agree, I do feel a little bad—

Okay, what. What did I expect? Would it feel better if we started arguing? Of course not—

The nurse clears her throat. "You're allowed to go in."

"Right." Slowly, I open the door. It creaks a bit. I step inside. Close the door behind me. Stand there for a few seconds.

A familiar beep is all I hear.

For some reason, that beep does not give good memories, except I don't know what those memories are.

"Hi," Lelia croaks out. "We're not going to hug...?"

I don't think she has ever asked me for a hug before. Whatever— I don't hesitate to rush forward and immediately wrap my arms around her.

I don't think I'm ever letting go of her now. Never, ever again.

The tears start coming ten seconds later. She's also wetting my shoulder. Sobbing softly into the material of my shirt.

And we hug on the hospital bed, for so long that I think we won't even talk in those few minutes I have.

"I love you," she whispers. "And I really missed you. And I'm really sorry for everything. All the trouble I caused you. And I know I should've said something earlier, but—"

"I love you," I cut her off. "And I really missed you, too. And you don't have to be sorry."

Lelia tightens her arms around me, then lets go. "My head's starting to hurt."

Sniffing and wiping my tears away, I smile. "Sorry."

"Oh— your hands!"

I look down at them... again. "Yeah, no, that's... I don't know. Guess Austin entered the police station with bruises and blood."

"Oh, so he matches their colors?"

I blink. She snorts. And then I also do. "That's so bad."

"But that's true." She laughs. The sound is absolutely amazing to hear. I've missed it.

Then it slowly starts to fade.

"So, eh, how long has it been since the ball?"

"...two weeks."

She shoots straight up, winces, and lies back down. "Two?"

No matter in what tone I would've announced it, this would've happened.

"Yeah." I rub the back of my neck. "It was rough. We figured a lot of things out. What did they... uhm, what did they do to you and Thomas? If you don't mind me... asking."

She puffs away a breath. "Eh, well. I don't know. Multiple things. I feel really bad for how I've treated some of my Barbies now."

The corners of my lips automatically move up. Maybe, even mentally, they'll be better off than I thought. Lelia, at least.

"I'd rather explain it to the police first so I have everything straight, then explain it to you all."

"It doesn't have to be straight around me."

She tilts her head to the side. "Did you mean that or was that a joke?"

"It was supposed to be a real comment, but now you say so..."

A chuckle leaves Lelia's mouth. "Wow. Lyndon Blake made a joke— on accident."

Then there's a knock on the door. "Sorry, kids. But time's up. Lelia needs to rest. I'll let someone else in, in about ten minutes, okay?"

"We weren't done," she announces.

But I get up. I absolutely don't feel like causing a scene in a hospital. "Maybe I'll be the 'someone else in ten minutes'," I tell her.

"No, no. That's Dad. Then Minho. Then you again. Then, I don't know. Fight it out. Is it weird that I want to see Thomas after legit spending two weeks with him?"

All I can do is smile at her.