Bewitching

30|Here we Are

"And yet, here you stand in front of me, like nothing ever happened."

"What's wrong with him?" Chuck whispered over lunch as Thomas and I sat awkwardly next to each other. Newt was sitting under a tree a little farther away, eyes bloodshot and chewing his fingernails, something I had never seen him do. I shrugged. "Why should I know?" I put down my sandwich, suddenly not hungry. "I can hear every bloody word you guys are saying," Newt irritably called out. "No wonder people hate sleepin' next to you shanks."  I got up, Thomas and Chuck following suit. I crouched down in front of Newt once I reached him, and took his hand. "What's the matter?" I whispered gently. "What is wrong with you?" Chuck added. "No offense, but you look like klunk."  He threw his hands up in the air, tearing his from mine. "Every lovin' thing in the universe," he responded, then suddenly fell silent as he lost himself in space for a long moment. I was about to ask him another question when he spoke again. "The girl from the Box. Keeps groanin' and saying all kinds of weird stuff, but won't wake up. Medjacks are doing their best to feed her, but she's eatin' less and less each time. And that's only when Alby lets 'em in the Slammer to tend to her. I'm telling ya' something's very bad about that whole bloody thing." I looked down, seeing Thomas bite his apple, then make a face. We were both worried about the girl. How could she do telepathy, or whatever it was, like me and Aris. Did she know Aris? And most of all, what was her role in this whole thing. She was obviously important.
Newt suddenly let out a long, pained sigh. "Shuck it. But that's not what really has me buggin'." "Well, then what does?" Chuck asked. I saw Thomas lean forward in my peripheral vision, wanting to hear better, I assumed. I suddenly saw the heavy worry lines in Newts forehead, and that sick, demented feeling that something horrible was going to happen slammed me in the gut, making me feel as if I ate something rotten. I shoved the girl into the back of my mind to deal with later. Newts eyes narrowed and his hands curled into fists as he looked out at one of the Maze entrances. "Alby and Minho," He muttered. "They should've been back hours ago."
Before I knew it, I was back at work. I was only half paying attention, full of concern and worry. What if something happened to Minho? Even Alby? I had always had a special bond with Minho, and Alby and I had a mutual tolerance for each other. They were supposed to be back at noon, if not before. That was more than enough time to get to the dead Griever, explore for an hour or two, then return. No wonder Newt was so worried. When Chuck said that maybe they were just out exploring and having some fun, Newt gave him such a harsh glare I thought Chuck might spontaneously combust.
Then I asked why Newt and some others didn't send out a search party or do something. I will never forget the look that had come across his face next. I shudder thinking about it now. His expression had changed to outright horror-his cheeks had shrunk into his face, becoming sallow and dark. It gradually passed, and then he proceeded to explain that search parties were forbidden, lest even more people be lost.

But there was no mistaking the fear that had come across his face.

Newt was terrified of the Maze.

And the horrible thing was I knew why.

At dinner all of the Glader's ate like dead men resurrected for one last meal before being sent to live with the devil. Word had spread. My heart fell as the Runners returned at normal times, and Newt ran from Door to Door as they entered the Glade, not bothering to hide his panic. But Alby and Minho never showed up.

Newt insisted standing watch for the missing duo. Even though no one said it, I knew it wouldn't be long until the doors closed. From a spot somewhere along the West wall, I saw Thomas join Newt at one of the doors, Chuck right behind him. I got up and heading over there, just in time to see a seemingly very angered Newt finishing a heated sentence. "-Never go out at night. No matter what. Never." I put a hand on his shoulder, and felt them slump as the situation hit all of us at the same time. "Newt won't say it," I looked over at Chuck who had a pale-face to match Newts. "So I will. If they're not back, they're dead. Minho's too smart to get lost. Impossible. They're dead."

This came as no shock to me, just another wave of the same grief I'd been feeling since lunch. I knew this already. Chuck turned and headed back to the Homestead, his head hanging low. "That's right." Newt said solemnly. "That's why we can't go out. We can't afford to make things bloody worse than they already are." He put his hands on Thomas and My's shoulders, than let hem slump to his side. Tears moistened Newts eyes. He looked completely, and utterly, defeated. In my limited memories, I was sure I had never seen someone so sad. I could see myself now, pulling him into a hug, kissing him, crying with him, both of us comforting each other, me actually being there for him for once in my sad life. But before I could turn my thoughts into actions, he spoke again. "Doors close in two minutes," Newt said, a statement so succinct and final it seemed to hang in the air like a burial shroud caught in a puff of wind. Then he walked away, hunched over, quietly. And he was gone. I sniffed and wiped a tear out of my eyes. If I broke down now, I'd let go of everything I'd been holding back. And that would not be a pretty sight. The twilight fit the grim mood perfectly. Thomas turned his head to look out into the Maze. I thought of Alby, my annoying moody friend, and Minho, my sarcastic king. My chest ached like the Grim Reaper himself had stabbed me in the heart and twisted the knife around.

A loud boom suddenly echoed across the Glade, and the crunching and grinding sound of the Doors closing ensued. I slowly started to slump away, after Newt and Chuck, who had left after Newt did. I was about one quarter of the way across the Glade when Thomas started to scream. "NEWT! LIZZY!" I whipped around, and without waiting to see what was wrong, I started out in a dead sprint across the Glade back the Doors. "They're coming! I can see 'em!" I glanced back to see Newt already at the Homestead, and I knew with his limp, he wouldn't make it in time to stop what I knew Thomas was going to do. I was the only hope of stopping him.

"DON'T DO IT THOMAS!" I screamed, hearing Newt join me. The rods on one side of the wall reached out for their corresponding holes, seeming to go faster by the second. They were only feet apart. And Thomas ran in. "NO!" I screamed, skidding to a stop at the threshold. 6 feet. I was torn. Go in or stay out. Stay out or go in. Time seemed to slow. The doors rumbled on, but I saw a flash of light brown to my left. I whirled around on the defense, as always, only to see a crazed looking Ricky sprinting straight for me. I straightened up and squinted. She kept coming. "Ricky what's wrong!" I called, glancing back to he doors. Then I saw she wasn't slowing. I shot my hands out in front of me for a little protection, but it didn't work. Ricky let out a horrific scream and shoved me past the rods and into the maze. 3 feet. I heard Newt screaming as he called for help. I met eyes with Ricky, and she looked satisfied with her work. I let out a gasp and lunged forward. I grasped a handful of her shirt fabric in my fist, and pulled. 2 1/2 feet. Her mouth opened in a scream I couldn't hear, my ears were filled with the grumbling and crunching of the doors closing in on me. With one last ditch effort. I pulled with all of my might, and Ricky toppled into the Maze after me. We landed on the hard concrete ground, and my breath left my lungs with a whoosh. All I could see was the darkening sky above me. Minutes earlier it had been a calming presence in my life. Now it was one of oncoming doom.

The Doors slammed shut with a final boom, and never had the silence been so loud.