Different (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 11

"Y-you think I'm your brother?"

I nod slightly. "We look alike, and your voice its... it's familiar to me. Maybe that's why you're not freaking out. Maybe before I was sent up I showed you. Maybe you knew."

"Wow."

I nod. "Alright, you better head off to your hammock you've got a long day ahead of ya."

He rolls his eyes. "You already sound like an older sister."

I laugh and say "go to your hammock."

"Are you gonna un-shift?"

"As soon as I figure out how."

He sighs and stands up. "I guess I'll see ya in the morning."

"Night shank."

"Night Coyo-Alyssa."

I smile slightly as he gets up and walks out of the hut. After he's gone I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I feel my claws and fangs slowly retracting. After a minute there's another knock on the door and I jump.

"Love? You still up?"

God, why is everyone coming to me this late at night?

I take a deep breath and say "yeah, I'm up. C'mon in."

The door opens and Newt walks in. He shuts the door behind himself and says "you okay? I saw the greenie just leave."

"Yeah I-I'm fine." I look down at my hands and thankfully the claws are gone.

"You sure?"

I nod. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He nods slightly. "Well you should probably go to sleep, you've gotta be up early."

I shake my head. "No, I'm not going back to sleep."

"Why not? Did you have a nightmare or something?"

My nightmare became real. But, I shake my head and say "no, it wasn't a scary dream. I just don't wanna go to sleep."

"What was it?"

I sigh and say "my name it's... it's not Coyote."

He looks a little confused for a second. "Did you remember another one?"

I nod and quietly say "my name's Alyssa."

"Alyssa?"

I nod slightly.

He smiles a little and says "that's a beautiful name you've got."

I smile and say "thanks."

"Do you know why you remembered Coyote first?"

I suddenly freeze. Do I tell him or should I keep it hidden?

"Love? You okay?"

I nod and say "yeah. And um, no, I don't know why I remembered Coyote." If he finds out he'll probably tell Alby, then I'll probably be banished. I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. I have to stay. I have to save Chuck.

He nods. "Okay. Well I just wanted to make sure you were okay. What was the greenie doing in here?"

"His name's Chuck."

"Well what was Chuck doing in here?"

"Just talking."

"About?"

I sigh and say "stuff."

"What kind of stuff."

"Um..."

He sighs and says "I really don't wanna have to ask this and it's a very awkward thing to say and I know I'm wrong but I've just gotta ask. You're not cheating on me with the kid are you?"

I start laughing. "God no! No, we were talking about something else."

"What were you talking about?"

"It's um... he's..."

He grabs my hands and says "you can tell me anything."

I look into his eyes and see he really means it. But I know, he wouldn't be able to handle me being a werecoyote. That's just too much weird. "He's... my brother."

"Your brother?!"

I nod and say "yeah, Chuck's my little brother."

"You remembered that?"

I nod and say "yeah."

He yawns, and I say "you tired?"

"Little bit."

"You go to sleep then, I don't wanna keep you up."

He sighs and says "but I wanted to come talk to you. Haven't gotten to actually spend much time with you in a while."

"We'll spend time together tomorrow, I promise. Unless you wanna sleep on the floor."

He has a look of consideration on his face.

I laugh and say "you'd seriously do that?"

He nods slightly. "If I get to talk to you a little more, yeah."

I laugh and say "if you wanna sit in the hammock you can put your head near my feet. But caution: your feat will be near my face. Kick me and I'll kill you."

He laughs and sits in the other end of the hammock so we're facing each other. And it is in this moment that I realize just how much I like him. I don't like him anymore. I love him. I reach out and grab his hand. I quietly say "I know it's only been a couple weeks, but I think I love you."

He smiles and says "I love you too, love."

We sit and talk for a few minutes, until he falls asleep.

I can't tell him I'm a werecoyote. I love him, and I can't have him fear me.