The First Runner

So...I'm not dead... that's a plus

Newt POV

 "Newt man stop pacing, you're making me dizzy," Minho said but I couldn't help it. We had no idea if Jess was even alive and it was eating away at me from the inside out. I looked over at Minho, Nick and Alby who all mirrored my worry. 

All the Gladers had gathered by the doors and the tension in the air was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Then the doors began to open and I was mentally preparing myself for the worst.

 Jess POV 

 I limped towards the doors. Everything hurt. My back was on fire, my shoulder was numb with pain and my ribs were killing me. Almost there, almost there, almost there. 

 "There she is!" I heard someone shout but I barely registered it. I limped through the doors and felt the concrete and change to dirt and I dropped to my knees.I could hear voices all around me but everything was a blur of pain and colour.

Third Person POV

Jess dropped to one knee, her body collapsing under the weight of exhaustion and pain. The once familiar maze walls now seemed like a distant memory as she fought to stay conscious. Blood seeped through her clothes, staining them and marking her with the cost of survival. Her breaths were ragged, each one a struggle against the overwhelming pain.

Newt and Minho rushed to her side, their faces a mix of worry, fear, and relief. Minho knelt beside Jess, his hands shaking as he held up three fingers in front of her face. "Tiger, look at me. How many fingers am I holding up?"

Jess struggled to focus, her vision blurred and darkened by pain. "I-I can't," she gasped, her voice barely more than a whisper. A sharp stab of pain shot through her side, making her wince.

Newt's eyes widened as he saw the blood staining her hands and clothes. "Bloody hell," he muttered, his hand hovering over her, unsure of what to do. His face was a mask of concern as he looked at Jess, his usual composure cracking under the pressure of the situation.

Minho's voice was laced with fear as he pressed his hands against Jess's side in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. "That's not good," he said, his voice trembling.

"Hey—hey! Stay awake, Love!" Newt shouted, his voice breaking with desperation as Jess's eyelids began to droop. He placed a hand gently on her cheek, trying to keep her focus. "No, JJ! Look at me! Stay with me!"

Jess's eyes fluttered open again, barely registering the figures around her. The world seemed to spin, her senses overwhelmed by the agony coursing through her body.

"Where are the medjacks?!" Nick shouted over the growing crowd, his voice tinged with panic.

"No, Tiger, stay with me! Hey! Eyes open!" Minho's voice was urgent, his grip tightening on Jess's side. He tried to keep her alert, fighting against the creeping darkness threatening to pull her under.

"Someone get me a bloody medjack!" Newt's shout was filled with raw emotion, his voice cracking as he tried to maintain control. His hands hovered over Jess, desperately searching for any sign of improvement.

The crowd around them seemed to close in, their worried faces a blur as Jess fought to stay conscious. The maze's dark and dangerous reality was a stark contrast to the desperate hope in the eyes of her friends.

Through the haze of pain and the blur of faces, Jess could barely make out the frantic movements and hear the panicked voices of her friends. The world was narrowing down to the overwhelming pain and the relentless effort to stay awake. She was barely holding on, clinging to the fragments of consciousness, each breath a battle against the encroaching darkness.

As the medjacks finally arrived, their faces determined and focused, Jess's vision started to fade. Her last coherent thought was a silent plea for them to save her, for her friends to hold on just a little longer.

Newt POV

I stood there, paralyzed, my hands trembling as I watched the medjacks work on Jess. The blood smeared on my hands felt like a cruel reminder of how helpless I was. The image of Jess collapsing, so broken and vulnerable, was seared into my mind. It felt like my heart was being squeezed with every ragged breath I took.

Alby's commanding voice cut through the haze of panic. "Clear out, shanks! Give 'em some room!" The crowd slowly parted, their faces a mix of shock and concern. Their presence was a blur, their worried murmurs blending into a chaotic symphony.

Clint and Jeff, with their hands steady despite the gravity of the situation, assessed Jess's injuries. They exchanged brief, intense glances as they worked, their faces grim with determination.

"We need to move her," Clint said urgently, his voice cutting through the noise. He turned to Nick, who nodded, his face a mask of worry and resolve.

Nick, Clint, Jeff, and Alby carefully lifted Jess off the ground. Every movement was deliberate, every step measured. Jess's body was limp, her breathing shallow and uneven. I felt a surge of guilt and helplessness as I saw her being carried away.

I wanted to be there, to do something, anything, to make things better. But all I could do was watch as they carried her towards the medjack hut. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a painful reminder of how precarious our lives had become.

The medjack hut seemed miles away, though it was just a short distance. It felt like an eternity as they moved slowly, Jess's injuries demanding the utmost care and caution.

I followed them at a distance, my mind racing with thoughts of what might happen next. I couldn't shake the image of Jess's pale face and the blood staining her clothes. It felt like a heavy weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

As we reached the medjack hut, Clint and Jeff carefully placed Jess on one of the beds. They immediately began working to stabilize her, their movements precise and focused. I stood at the doorway, my fists clenched at my sides, fighting the urge to rush in and help.

Alby's hand rested on my shoulder, a silent show of solidarity. "We'll get her through this, Newt," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the tension.

I nodded, though the worry in my eyes betrayed my hope. "I just hope it's enough," I murmured.

Inside the hut, the medjacks continued their work, the air filled with the sounds of medical equipment and the low murmurs of concern. I could barely make out their voices, but the occasional shout or exclamation cut through the tension.

All I could do was wait, my mind a storm of fear and anxiety. The hours stretched on, each minute feeling like an eternity. I paced the outside of the hut, my thoughts consumed by Jess and the desperate hope that she would pull through.