Antidote | A3

c h a p t e r . t h i r t e e n

The Berg wasn't planning on leaving any time soon.

All of us stared up at it in stunned silence for several more minutes, until finally Minho plopped down in the sand decisively.

"Well, looks like they'll bring that shuck-face down when they're ready."

Other Gladers began to follow suit, gingerly lowering themselves to the ground where they stood. I placed myself next to Newt, craving the comfort of his presence.

"You think they're saving him?" I asked. "Getting the infection out?"

Minho shrugged, planting his hands in the dirt behind him and leaning back on them. "Looks like it. Why else would they wait around up there? Why would they swoop in at all?"

"It is odd," Newt said. "I thought they said there were no rules."

"He needed real medical attention. And plus, he's special, right? The 'real' leader?" Aris commented.

"Not that special if his tattoo said he's supposed to be killed," Minho said, which earned him a scowl from Newt.

Leo sat forward, as if just realising something. "What if that's it, though? A rusty bullet wasn't one of their Variables. They're fixing something that wasn't part of their plans, up there ready to drop him straight back off and continue the experiment. The way they want it to go."

"Hmm." Minho considered it for a moment, then pursed his lips and nodded slightly. "That would make sense."

That seemed to settle something between us, like it was decided. I think every Glader collectively blew out a sigh of relief, comfortable now to wait.

As Gladers split off into their own conversations, Newt turned to me.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. That was pretty terrifying, though," I replied, casting my eyes up to the Berg high above us. "They better be saving him."

"I think they will," Newt said, following my gaze upwards. After a moment, he reached out, gentle and subtle, and scooped my hand up in his.

My heart did a somersault in my chest. I couldn't quite look at him as I smiled, instead fixing my gaze to the floor while his thumb traced slow circles over the back of my hand.

"It's Anna, right?" I jumped as I looked up, Brenda appearing in front of me. She took a seat on the ground opposite, then extended her hand. I dropped my own hand from Newt's and used it to shake hers, before she turned to him. "And you?"

"Newt," he told her. "Nice to be properly introduced."

"Likewise. So," she started, eyes drifting upwards like she was trying to recall information she'd learned. "Anna, you and this other girl, Teresa, have been with these guys the whole time, right?"

"Yeah. Since the Maze."

"But you have the boys from the other Maze here now too?" She started glancing around, and Newt pointed out Aris and Leo.

"Those two," he explained. "They were left with us after we got rescued. Had been in a Maze with the other girls. They're the only two of us who've met them, actually."

"Jorge said that one's your brother?" Brenda asked of me, pointing at Leo.

"Seems that way," I said. "Don't remember much from before, though."

"That must be so weird. Not having memories."

I scoffed, not unkindly. That was perhaps the understatement of the century. But then again, everything about our lives had been nothing but weird.