Maze girl

✧༺ 15. Newt ༻∞

Newt stood at the edge of the Glade, his heart heavy, staring into the distance where the walls of the Maze loomed ominously. The sun was starting to sink, casting long shadows over the grass, but he barely noticed. All he could think about was Rune. And Alina. The look on Rune’s face when Alina died—shot, bleeding out in her arms—was seared into his mind.

He found her where he knew she’d be: by the corner of the wall where they used to meet. Alina, Rune, and Newt—three friends who survived everything this place threw at them. Now, only two remained.

Rune was sitting on the ground, knees pulled to her chest, staring blankly at the space in front of her. Her eyes were red, swollen, but she wasn’t crying anymore. She looked drained, like all the fight had gone out of her. The blood that stained her clothes hadn’t dried yet. Alina’s blood.

Newt swallowed, his throat tight, unsure how to begin. How could he? What words were enough when someone you loved was ripped away from you?

"Rune?" he said quietly, stepping closer.

She didn’t respond, didn’t even flinch. He crouched beside her, his hand hovering near her shoulder but hesitating. He had no idea how to touch her right now, how to make her feel anything but the hollow ache she must be drowning in.

He felt the weight of his own grief. Alina had been a light in the darkness of the Glade, someone who brought warmth, humour, and defiance to a place designed to break them. And now she was gone. Just like that.

His chest ached. He wanted to break something, to shout at the Maze, at whoever was behind all this, for taking her from them. But Rune—Rune was his priority now. She needed him to be strong, even if he wasn’t sure how.

"Rune," he said again, this time firmer, sitting down next to her. She blinked, her lips parting slightly as though remembering how to breathe.

Newt stared at the ground, gathering himself before speaking. "I—I don’t know what to say," he admitted. "Nothing feels right, does it? It’s just...all wrong."

Rune let out a small, broken sound—a mix between a sob and a bitter laugh. "She’s dead, Newt," she whispered, her voice cracking. "How is any of this supposed to be right?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, the truth of her words hitting him like a blow. "I know. I know, Rune."

Her hand, shaking, reached up to wipe at her face, but she gave up halfway, letting it fall back to her side, like even that was too much effort. Her eyes were distant, lost somewhere in the memory of Alina’s last moments.

"I couldn’t save her," Rune said, her voice barely audible. "I should have been faster, I should have—"

Newt shook his head, finally reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. "Don’t do that," he said, his voice firmer now. "Don’t. This wasn’t your fault. Alina knew what she was doing. She fought like hell—just like she always did."

Rune turned to look at him for the first time, her eyes full of pain, but also full of doubt. "She was everything, Newt," she whispered. "Everything."

He felt a lump rise in his throat. "I know," he said softly. "And she loved you. You meant the world to her, Rune. She wouldn’t want you blaming yourself."

She shook her head, tears welling again. "But she’s gone," she said, her voice raw. "What do I do now? How am I supposed to just... keep going?"

Newt didn’t have an answer for that. He didn’t know how they were supposed to keep going, either. But he did know one thing. "We keep going because she’d want us to," he said. "For her. We survive, Rune. For Alina."

He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close as she trembled. For a moment, she stiffened, like she wasn’t sure she deserved to be held, but then the weight of her grief broke through, and she let herself collapse against him. She sobbed into his chest, the sound ragged and heart-wrenching, and Newt held her tighter, his own tears slipping silently down his face.

He didn’t try to stop her. He knew this pain. He’d felt it before, and it was the kind of pain that needed to be let out, however messy, however loud.

As her sobs quieted, her breathing coming in slow, shuddering breaths, Newt spoke again, his voice soft and steady. "We’ll get through this. Together."

Rune didn’t say anything, but she didn’t pull away either. Newt felt her hand tighten slightly on his sleeve, as if holding onto him for dear life.

He sat there with her, in the fading light of the Glade, not moving, not saying anything else. Just being there. Because sometimes, that was all you could do. Just be there.

Rune is trembling in my arms. I can feel every quiet sob shaking through her body, the way her breath catches, like she’s drowning under the weight of it all. We’ve been lying here for hours—feels like days—her back pressed against my chest, my arm wrapped around her waist, holding her as tight as I could without hurting her.

She’s been crying since we left the Glade, since Alina... since I brought her here. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have the words for this kind of pain because no words will bring Alina back, and no words will make Rune stop hurting.

I tighten my grip on her, hoping that maybe just being here is enough. Maybe if she knows she’s not alone, it’ll hurt a little less. But the truth is, I can’t feel anything but helpless.

I press my forehead against the back of her head, her hair damp from the tears she’s cried into the pillow. She’s still shaking, still holding onto this grief like it’s the only thing keeping her upright. I can feel the weight of it in her every breath.

“Rune,” I whisper, but she doesn’t respond. I’m not even sure she hears me.

I kiss the top of her head, softly, over and over again. It’s the only thing I know to do, as useless as it feels. Her body tenses for a moment, and then she relaxes into me, but the tears keep coming. I can feel them dampening my shirt, feel her chest rise and fall as she tries to muffle her sobs.

I don’t know how long we lie there like that—could be hours, could be a lifetime. Every now and then, I kiss her forehead again, hoping that maybe it’ll remind her that she’s not alone in this. That I’m here, for as long as she needs me.

Her breathing is uneven and shaky, and I can tell she’s still fighting it. Fighting the exhaustion, the pain. I wish I could take it all away. I wish I could go back and save Alina, make it so Rune didn’t have to carry this.

I kiss her forehead again, and this time, I feel her hand reach up and lightly grab my arm, holding it against her. It’s such a small thing, but I feel her starting to give in to the exhaustion, feel her body starting to settle.

Her sobs have slowed, but every so often, her breath catches, and I can tell she’s still on the edge. Still not able to let go of the pain, not completely.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, even though I know it’s not. It’s not okay. It won’t be for a long time. But I keep saying it anyway. “I’m here.”

I kiss her again, and this time, her breathing steadies. Slowly, so slowly, she starts to drift. I feel her weight sink deeper into me, the tension in her body finally easing. Her grip on my arm loosens, her breaths evening out into something softer, something close to sleep.

I don’t move. I won’t. I’ll stay like this for as long as she needs me, holding her until the world feels safe again. Holding her through the night, through the grief, through everything.

Because she needs me. And right now, that’s all I know how to be.
_______________________________________________
I'll pay for y'alls therapy, okay?
Sorry for breaking your heart, I am really.
The next parts will be a bit happier.