Her Anchor || Newt - Maze Runner

Part 18 - The Walls of Ivy

My heavy, tear-stained eyelids fluttered open as my head pounded heavily against my skull. I closed my eyes, desperate for a couple more minutes of peaceful void, knowing that a few minutes would turn into a few hours. I heaved my head and groggily rolled out of bed. Putting on a fresh set of clothes and lathering deodorant on, I trudged towards the wooden building where I spent all my waking hours.

Twisting the doorknob, I was met with the sight of my two best friends.

'Morning.' I said still half asleep

'Morning.' replied Frypan and Ace in sync

'What's on the menu today?' I queried Frypan

'Pancakes. I hope it puts everyone in a slightly better mood after yesterday.'

There it was. The thing that I desperately pushed out of my mind all last night, had now reemerged. I know that it was silly, but I am just not ready to come to terms with Ben's death. The whole thing still shook me. The pleas. The walls closing. The scream. I shook my head, in a desperate attempt to stop thinking. 

My legs moved towards the kitchen counter as my hands worked on helping Frypan with the batter. Frypan and I were working as Ace watched the pancakes in the oven.

'Why did Alby go into the Maze?' asked Ace out of the blue

'Huh?' replied Fry

'This morning, I saw Minho and Alby go into the Maze. Why? Alby isn't a Runner, is he?' 

'Alby and Minho went to trace Ben's footsteps before sundown. They are trying to figure out how he got stung in broad daylight.'

'They are going to where Ben was just stung? Isn't that just suicide?'

'Alby knows what he is doing, alright?'

'Alright' he said clearly irritated

We got back to cooking, tension still thick in the air but slowly releasing. The rest of the day went by slowly, as if a sloth was in charge of it, until it started pouring. We moved to a little wooden shelter in the centre of the Glade. All fifty of us were there, in small groups. I looked around and my gaze set on Thomas and Newt who were both looking towards the Maze when I noticed something. Alby and Minho weren't back yet.

Once the rain ceased, Ace and I rushed towards the opening in the walls with Frypan, Thomas and Newt on our heels. Soon a swarm of teenagers had formed with the five of us at the front, waiting for any sign of life. 

'Can't we send anyone after them?' questioned Ace

'Either they make it back or they don't.' rebutted Gally calmly

'Can't risk losing anyone else.' added Newt

The Maze let out a deep roar as the doors started closing. The air felt tight and shallow around me as the Gladers stared spiralling into chaos at our lost friends. Thomas pointed out towards the maze, where we saw little figures in the distance. It was Alby and Minho

'Wait. There is something wrong.' said Newt. Minho was carrying an unconscious Alby on his back as he was swaying side to side at the heavy weight. The Gladers erupting into a sea of 'Come on' and 'You can do it'. 

The doors inching even more closely together, my mind went blank as the noise of the Gladers went deaf. I knew that wouldn't make it but why is no one even trying to help them. Encouraging them wouldn't get them out of the Maze. I made eye contact with Ace, and we made a silent agreement. My mind was spinning, knowing I had only one option. We couldn't lose more people. With the doors a couple feet apart, I looked back at Ace, and I nodded securing our plan. 

We ran into the Maze, our feet carrying us through the tight, closing walls of ivy. The Maze doors closed locking us in with inevitable death.

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