Marooned | Maze Runner | Minho

27. 𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓁𝑒𝓃 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓁𝓁 𝒩𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒𝒹

Viya was not at all focused today, I mean, how could she be?

Viya tried to grasp her focus and stay on task, yet her thoughts always trailed back to Minho and the glade, and she hated it.

She didn't want to think about him, yet he seemed to be the only thing in her mind.

Viya was heading back towards the squished griever, she knew she wouldn't be able to memorize routes today, so she thought that looking at the deceased griever would be a good alternative. It was already past noon, after Minho and Thomas had left she had taken a well deserved nap. She hadn't felt comfortable sleeping with them in her room last night, it's not that she thought they would steal her stuff or anything, she just didn't like the idea of being vulnerable around them. She had never really taken naps during the day before, but there was no way she'd be able to go about her day without one. Not only had her running tired her out yesterday, the socializing had too. During the entire six hours that they were there she felt exposed and intimidated. Share hadn't spoken with anyone in two years, and it felt strange doing it. She also had stayed alert for almost the entire night, watching the boys and listening for grievers.

The worst part is, that all of her old feelings had come rushing back. She desperately wanted to hate Minho, but something about the way he acted made her want to like him again. She'd never let herself, of course. She'd never be able to forgive him, she'd have to become an entirely new person to do that. It had to have been his eyes that had affected her that way, they were filled with sorrow and regret, and to her, he still looked like that scrawny fourteen year old kid–even though he was much more muscular now.

She hoped Minho and Thomas would keep their mouths shut, she shivered at the thought of what would happen if they did tell. Would the gladers hunt her down and kill her? Would they take her supplies? Or would they cage her up in the pit?

Viya turned the corner that was right before where the dead griever was. But something stopped her in her tracks, the sound of voices.

Viya crept forwards, she kept her footsteps quiet and her head low. She pushed her body into the ivy in an attempt to conceal herself. She peered around the corner and watched as a group of seven or so boys all examined the griever.

The gladers seriously had to beat her to it? They couldn't let her have this one thing.

Viya watched carefully, she tried her best to catch the words that the boys spoke. She recognized both Minho and Thomas in the crowd.

She watched as Minho slid the slime off of some sort of device. The boys chatted about it for a while, discussing what it could be and its uses. Eventually, one boy urged them to get going.

Viya ducked back around the corner as she watched the boys walk past her. Luckily she was far enough down the halfway that nobody thought to look for her, but just to be safe, she concealed herself in the vines.

Minho was at the back of the pack, he held the device in his hands. He glanced to the side, and it was a pure coincidence that he met Viya's gaze. His eyes widened slightly, his pace slowed ever so slightly, but he had to force himself to keep walking.

Usually Viya would've been concerned over being spotted, but judging by Minho's reaction, she didn't think she had to worry about him telling anyone. Him of all people knew what she was capable of.

—----

Newt watched Alby's chest rise and fall. He was alone in the med-shack, it was evening already and the small shack was only illuminated by a small lamp in the corner.

Newt was still in shock over everything that had happened. When he saw the doors close last night, he presumed Alby, Minho, and the greenie as dead. Yet here he was, alive, barely, but still alive nonetheless.

He would never admit it, but he was terrified that Alby wouldn't make it. Jeff said that he was stable and should recover. But a small part of Newt doubted the boy's words despite his year of experience. He had only done one keeper meeting, and he kept his cool and directed it moderately well, but deep down he felt like the same thirteen year old boy who had come up in the box. The same boy who had snuck off into the maze with the intention to do the unspeakable.

No matter what Newt did, that part of him was still there. It would always be there.

No matter how happy or busy the day was, when he would head off to his hut and lay down in his bed, he'd always be back on top of that wall.

Few people in the glade knew what had happened, Minho knew, all three med-jacks knew. Alby knew, and he was pretty sure that Frypan knew as well. It was one of the things they never talked about, it was another one of those topics on the 'unspeakable' list. There were many stories that were told at bonfires in the glade, and very few stories were not shared, but Newt's was a special case.

He wasn't embarrassed about it, he didn't really feel anything. Sometimes he wished that it would be talked about more, but he'd never be able to bring it up himself.

On the darker days–the days where all he could do was sit in bed and sulk, the days where eating and walking felt impossible–he'd think about his attempt, and sometimes, he'd wish he would've been successful. He didn't mind the glade, but it was not where he wanted to be. He wanted to be free. He knew it was unnatural for him to be there, and he'd do anything to get out. Newt couldn't help but feel like there was something missing, no matter what he did there was always this hole in his heart that never was able to be filled. Sometimes he'd assume it was his missing memories, but that didn't feel right, it was almost like he was missing someone.

"Hey." Nash said as he entered the room. "How's he doing?"
"Good...I think." Newt responded.

Nash walked up to Alby and gently placed his hand on his neck, he counted Alby's heartbeats carefully. "He sounds good," Nash said, "Did you try giving him water like I asked?"
Newt nodded, "I dripped some into his mouth like you told me, he swallowed it, but he didn't respond to it."
Nash nodded as he got out bandages from the cupboard. The brunette slowly started to take off the old bandaged, careful to not rip too hard.

Newt watched the med-jack work, impressed by the boy's knowledge.

"Was this what I was like after..." Newt's voice trailed off.

Nash nodded, but he didn't look up from Alby's chest. "Minho was just like how you are now. He wouldn't leave your side."
"Did you think I was going to make it?"
"Clint did." Nash answered, "I was just starting to learn how he estimated peoples chances, but looking back I would've said yes."
"Do you think he'll make it?" Newt asked nervously.

"I do." Nash replied, "We gave him the serum, we have quite the stock since..." Nash stopped talking as he realized he was mentioning one of the worse topics. But Newt didn't mind, he yearned for someone to speak of the unspeakable things.

"I don't think Jax ever intended to hurt the glade."
Nash nodded in agreement.

"He truly cared about everyone, I just wish he would have spoken up sooner..." Newt commented, "He went so far to keep his secret."
"I still see her, you know." Nash blurted out.

Newt looked up from the floor. Nash continued to patch up Alby.

"Most nights I do." Nash admitted, "I can see her over me, it's mostly her eyes. They were just so...different. After Jax confessed everything, lots of the gladers regretted what they did to Viya. But I'll never be able to, they don't understand, they never will. I believe she knew what she was doing, she chose to attack me...I don't think I'll ever be the same."

"I get it." Newt muttered.

"Worst part is, even though I don't talk to Minho much, I still know how he stands on the topic. I can't help resent him for it."
"She was his best friend, you know."
"Everyone tells me that, and I might be a bad person for admitting it, but I don't care. She took everything from me, and I'm glad she's dead."
Newt wanted to be taken aback by Nash's words, but he understood the boy so much. Almost too much.

Nash stepped away from Alby, "He's all done, I guess he'll wake up in a day or two."
"Thank you." Newt said.

"Just doin' my job." Nash responded as he walked out of the room, leaving Newt with only his thoughts to accompany him.

-------------

AN

There may or may not be a side ship happening here...