The Hawk / Maze Runner/ Harriet

𝒩𝑒𝓌𝓉.

I fall to my knees beside him. Newt's eyes are closed and black sludge pools in his mouth. A knife is buried in his chest, blood staining his clothes around it.

I place two fingers below his jaw, desperately searching for a pulse. I move my fingers around, giving up hope each passing second.

Then I feel it, a very soft thumping. I wait until it happens again–and luckily it does.

I run my fingers through his hair, brushing the blonde strands out of his face.

I glance around me. We can't stay here. A dark tunnel like this will certainly attract Cranks. But, where else can I take him?

I can't–no won't leave him.

So I guess I'm left with one choice.

I grab the boy's shoulders, grunting as I pull him upwards. I grab his feet and pull them together and I lift him over my shoulder. Newt lays on top of the backpack, I opened the zipper to allow his knife to sit comfortably, I thought to pull it out, but a forgotten memory told my brain to leave it in. Newt's arms and legs are draped around me, and I use my hands to hold him in place.

I slowly start to walk, I hold onto Newt tightly. He's surprisingly heavy.

I stumble to the side, but luckily I recover quickly.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I quicken my walk.

I step out into the light, squinting as my eyes adjust to the brightness. Once they do, I look around, the other side of the tunnel doesn't look too different, rubble is still littered on the streets, cars are still abandoned in the road. There is one difference though, there's more buildings that are standing on this side. Most of them look like office buildings or apartments.

Apartments.

That's it.

I just have to get into an apartment, it'll be sheltered and have stuff in it; useful stuff.

I look out at the buildings, trying to decide which one to go to. The closest one looks stable enough.

—----

Newt groans as we enter the lobby of an apartment building. The power is still somehow on, but that's the only sign of life. I don't trust the elevator, so instead I head for the stairs.

I push open the door, and I slowly walk upwards, trying my best not to shake the boy that rests on my shoulders.

I stop at the first floor, pushing open the door. It leads to a seemingly endless hallway, doors dotted along it.

I walk down the corridor, trying the handle of every door. All of them are locked, and I tried to kick one in, but I failed miserably.

Soon enough I've tried every door, and I'm heading back to the stairwell, ready to climb to the second floor.

The carpet is the same dull grey that it was on the first floor. I jiggle the first few handles mindlessly, but I stop at a door that has a name plate on it that says 'Janice' with a little cat on it. I tilt my head in confusion, why does Janice need everyone to know that that's where Janice lives? I touch Janice's door handle, and to my surprise it swings open gently.

I take a step into the apartment, listening carefully for any signs of life, but only silence can be heard.

I flick on the lights and I gently close the door behind me.

The kitchen sink is full of dirty dishes, and a sewing machine sits on the table, still plugged into the wall.

Pictures of cats are strung up on the walls, even one of her throw pillows has a cat on it.

I walk towards the couch, and I carefully place Newt down, I feel the knife catch on the edge of my backpack and the boy lets out a soft groan.

I freeze when I hear something from one of the bedrooms. I grab a knife from the kitchen and creep forwards. I'm ready for some deranged Crank to attack me, but instead I'm met with something rubbing up against my leg.

I jump back as I glance down. A black and white cat is rubbing herself against my leg, a loud purr sounding out of her.

I poke my head into the bedroom, nothing out of the ordinary is in there, so I guess this little critter made the noise.

Janice really left her cat?

I roll my eyes and head back to Newt. I have bigger problems.

I somehow have to get that knife out of him.

I go into the bathroom, I yank a towel off the hook and I grab a first aid kit before heading back.

I start to prepare myself when I realize something, I can't just pull it out, I need to close it somehow.

I glance around the room, my eyes falling onto the sewing machine. I go towards it, grabbing the spool of thread from beside it. I look around for the rest of Janice's sewing supplies. I open a handful of draws eventually finding a small container full of threads, fabrics, and needles.

I grab a needle, threading it carefully before I finally go back to Newt.

I bend down beside him, I prop his head up with a pillow.

"This is gonna hurt." I warn him, not sure if he can hear me or not.

My hands close around the knife, and I slowly pull it upwards, lifting it out of him.

The boy groans and wiggles around, but luckily I get the knife out without causing too much more damage.

I apply pressure to the wound with the towel, and I hold it there tightly.

Eventually most of the bleeding stops, and I'm able to take off the boy's shirt.

My hand shakes as I move closer to the boy, needle in hand. I hold the skin together, and I feel my needle enter Newt's flesh. I do a criss cross motion, as carefully and quickly as possible, stitch Newt back together. I eventually make it to the end, and I quickly tie a knot to secure it.

I grab some bandages out from the kit, and I lift the boy up gently as I wrap his torso.

I fall backward with a sigh, looking at the helpless boy. The weird thing is, I don't remember ever doing something like that before or learning about it, yet it all felt so obvious.

I watch Newt breath for a while, his chest rises and falls calmly. A meow sounds out from beside me, and I look over to see the cat staring at me. I stand up and walk past her, I head towards the bedroom and I open up the closet. The cat follows me in, jumping up onto the bed so it can watch me. I search through the closet, I grab a few of the T-shirts and pants, trying to estimate which one's will fit Newt the best. I change into a pair of jeans and a red shirt.

When I go back to Newt, I quickly change him into a navy T-shirt and cargo pants.

I let him rest on the couch, the cat is with him. I head to the kitchen, looking around until I find a pot. I fill it up with water, thankful that the electricity and water is still on for now. I put the pot on the stove, turning back to my backpack. I dig through it, eventually finding a package of instant noodles.

As I wait for my water to boil, I can't help but think of Harriet. They're probably still flying now, or maybe already there...I'm not sure. Is Gally going to be okay? I hope he and Thomas will eventually be friends.

I hope they'll all still forgive me.