Maze Runner Y/n x Newt Part 1

Part 16

I gasped.

Alby looked like someone had just told him he could grow wings and fly. "Ain't a good time forjokes," he said. 

"Look," Minho answered, "I wouldn't believe me if I were you, either. But trust me, I did. Big fat nastyone." 

"You found a dead Griever," Alby repeated. 

"Yes, Alby," Minho said, his words laced with annoyance. "A couple of miles from here, out near theCliff." 

Alby and I looked out at the Maze, then back at Minho. 

"Well ... why didn't you bring it back with you?" Alby asked.

Minho laughed again, a half-grunt, half-giggle. "You been drinkin' Frypan's saucy-sauce? Those thingsmust weigh half a ton, dude. Plus, I wouldn't touch one if you gave me a free trip out of this place." 

Alby persisted with the questions. "What did it look like? Were the metal spikes in or out of its body?Did it move at all—was its skin still moist?" 

Thomas was bursting with questions—Metal spikes? Moist skin? What in the world?—but held histongue, not wanting to remind them he was there. And that maybe they should talk in private.

 "Slim it, man," Minho said. "You gotta see it for yourself. It's ... weird." 

"Weird?"I paused. 

"We could probablymake it there and back before the walls shut." 

Alby looked at his watch. "Better wait till the wake-up tomorrow." 

"Smartest thing you've said in a week." Minho righted himself from leaning on the wall, hit Alby on thearm, then started walking toward the Homestead with a slight limp. He spoke over his shoulder as heshuffled away. "I should go back out there, but screw it. I'mgonna go eat some of Frypan's nasty casserole." 

Then Alby turned to Thomas, surprising him. "If you know something and ain't tellin' me ..."

He looked at the boy square in the face and asked, simply, "Why do you hate me somuch?" 

The look that came over Alby's face was indescribable—part confusion, part anger, part shock. "Hateyou? Boy, you ain't learned nothin' since showing up in that Box. This ain't got nothin' to do with no hateor like or love or friends or anything. All we care about is surviving. Drop your sissy side and start usingthat shuck brain if you got one." 

Thomas looked like he'd been slapped. "But ... why do you keep accusing—" 

"Cuz it can't be a coincidence, slinthead! You pop in here, then we get us a girl Newbie the next day, a crazy note, Ben tryin' to bite ya, dead Grievers. Something's goin' on and I ain't restin' till I figure itout." 

"I don't know anything, Alby. I don't even know where Iwas three days ago, much less why this Minho guy would find a dead thing called a Griever. So back off!" 

Alby leaned back slightly, stared absently at Thomas for several seconds. Then he said, "Slim it,Greenie. Grow up and start thinkin'. Ain't got nothin' to do with accusing nobody of nothin'. But if youremember anything, if something even seems familiar, you better start talking. Promise me."

"Yeah, I guess, but—"

"Just promise!"

"Whatever," Thomas finally said. "I promise." 

At that Alby turned and walked away, not saying another word.

I put a hand on Thomas's shoulder. He shrugged me off, walking away. I sighed.

"Y/n! Y/n!" Newt ran up next to me.

"What?" I asked.

"Ben ... he isn't dead."

"What?" 

"He ... isn't dead. Baggers went to get him. The arrow missed his brain, and Med-jacks patched him up." 

"You gotta be kidding. I saw him...." I turned away.

"Well, so did I," Chuck said. "He's locked up in the Slammer, a huge bandage covering half his head. Theythrew him in it so fast, the Med-jacks had to patch him up in there." 

"...Banishing?"

"Yep. Already had a Gathering of the Keepers this morning—made a unanimous decision.Looks like Ben'll be wishing that arrow had found a home inside his shuck brain after all." 

"When will it be?"

"Tonight. For trying to kill you and Thomas. Y/n, it's for the best."

I sighed.

I hate Banishings.