Marooned | Maze Runner | Minho

80. 𝐸𝓊𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒶𝓈𝒾𝒶.

The cool ocean breeze rushed onto the shore as angry waves crashed against the rocks. Viya's hair blew in her face as she walked along the edge of the camp carrying three heaping crates of produce. She could still smell the salt in her hair from her swim the night before and her long black locks were dry and unruly.

The midday sun was hot on the island, a handful of bushy clouds were dotted through the sky yet the golden sphere in the middle was the main event. Almost everyday was hot, sometimes it would be a cooler windier day but from what Viya understood was that this 'sanctuary' was always hot.

Viya set down the crates at the entrance to the cafeteria, she didn't bother going in, everyone at the camp seemed to have loads of free time anyways.

They had arrived at the camp a couple of weeks ago, and Viya had been bored out of her mind ever since. Thomas was still in a coma from his injury, the bullet had just missed his large intestine, Minho had been spending most of his time with him. Newt was being contained in a hut far outside camp, Nash spent his days begging Vince to let him out, trying to convince the man to let him free. Vince would shake his head and tell him 'he has to think of the whole camp, he could still be contagious' and Nash would walk away solemnly back to Newt's hut where he would sit with his back against the door and talk to his beloved. No one was permitted to enter or leave the hut, many believed the boy to still be contagious and some believed they should just kill the crank to save themselves the trouble. Teresa had been giving the boy a steady stream of serum to keep him sane, but she'd always walk away muttering about the 'true cure'.

Meanwhile Viya spent her days distracting herself with tasks and making herself useful. She would haul boxes, scrub linens till her fingers were raw or haul firewood until her shoulders begged her to stop. She refused to let herself think about how it had all played out. She refused to acknowledge Lawrences suicide or Felixs death in the WCKD building. She didn't acknowledge the remaining gladers or acquaintances she hadn't seen in months. Instead she buried herself in work because maybe if she proved her worth it would all go away.

—

Viya continued to chop and haul wood. She would unceremoniously pick a tree and ram her axe into it until it tumbled to the ground where she would slice it into smaller pieces and haul it back to camp. The men around the wood stores would give her weird glances as the storage began to overflow. One of them tried to tell her to stop and that they had enough but she didn't listen.

Every time she walked through the trees she could hear Nash's sobs from Newt's containment hut. She could hear him talking to the boy, but not Newt's responses. She would try to block out his cries and focus on her work yet his tragedy continued to remind her of the nights in the maze when she would sob on the floor until she was unable to breath.

On one of her trips back she noticed Vince behind her walking towards Newt's prison. Vince soon split from the main path towards the hut, Viya hesitated before she flowed far behind him.

She reached the edge of the bush just as Vince approached Nash. She was just able to hear them from where she crouched.

"His trial's in two days." Vince said coldly.

"Trial?"

"To determine his fate."
"What do you mean by that?" Nash asked.

"We will see if he's a crank or not. If he is, he will have to be euthanized."

"You can't do that!" Nash exclaimed.

"I have to think about what's best for everyone."

"He's not dangerous I promise! He was given the serum, remember? If you'd let him out you'd see that!" Nash said desperately.

"I know Teresa has been up here every day. If he was truly cured he would've been released weeks ago."
Almost on cue Newt let out a groan from inside the hut. "See?" Vince said.

"You can't kill him!" Nash shouted as he began to sob again. "You can't!"
"You have to let him go." Vince said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" Nash slapped his hand away.

Vince sighed, "His trials in two days at the hall."
"Will he be allowed there?" Nash asked.

"No. We can't have a crank infecting everyone."
"So he's not even allowed at his own trial? That doesn't seem very just." Nash said angrily.

"Two days." Vince repeated before he walked away.

Nash slumped down against the door, his head in his hands. "It'll be okay." He said, "They will see that you're not a crank, don't worry." He said for more of his sakes than Newts.

Viya couldn't bear to watch the boy suffer any more. She stood up from the bushes and began to walk back towards camp. She had to tell Minho about this.

But when she arrived at their side-by-side hammocks, Minho wasn't there. Instead, there was a yellowed letter on her pillow with the words 'To Viya' printed on it.

She carefully picked it up and twirled it in her finger for a moment before she carefully opened it.

She folded open the letter inside and immediately recognized the handwriting.

Lawrence.

'Dear Viya,

I wish I could've said this to you in person but the world seemed to have separated us. I never meant to not say goodbye, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving you on your own but I couldn't keep going. I didn't want to lose myself, and I didn't want you to see me like that.

I remember the day you arrived at the base, there was no fear in your eyes, only determination. You were not afraid of us even though you very much should've been. You surpassed all expectations I had of you, you never half-assed a single task.

And it's that reason why I know you'll be okay without me. I don't think you ever needed me in the first place. I know you'll stay strong, Viya. I know you will succeed and I hope you find your happiness one day. Live strong Viya.

Sincerely,

Lawrence'

Before Viya could even process what the note said, tears began to stream down her cheeks. Lawrence hadn't hated her or been disappointed.

She carefully folded the letter back into the envelope and tucked it into her backpack.

She would live strong–for Lawrence.