Different (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 25

My eyes slowly open, and for a change I see Minho sitting at the foot of my bed. "About time you woke up, you shank! You've been out cold for six days!"

Wait, six days?! "I was asleep for that long?"

He nods. "Yeah. I just got back from running, wanted to check in on you."

Running. Maze. If I don't get better they'll send me out in there to die. "Is it true? That Alby's gonna send me out there if I don't get better?"

He sighs. "Who told you?"

"I forced it outta Chuck."

"We have very limited resources, Alyssa. We don't know how much longer we'll be here, we don't know how much we'll need or how long we'll need them for. We can't keep giving away our resources if you can't do your part. I'm sorry."

I nod. "I understand. One hundred percent. I get it. If I can't contribute, you can't afford to keep me. Resources are too limited."

He nods. "Alby said he'll give ya 'till the next Greenie comes up. If you're not better by that night, then he's dropping you out there."

I nod again. "Well I'm feeling much better. I'm not in constant, agonizing pain anymore so that's good."

"Maybe Alby won't throw you away then."

I chuckle and sit up. "Where are Chuck and Newt?"

"Eating, Newt's coming in once he's fini-"

Suddenly the door flies open. "Alright Minho I'm done." Newt walks into the room and turns to see me. "Hey love, long time no talk."

I laugh and playfully roll my eyes. "Hey. About time I woke up, I missed you."

Minho rolls his eyes. "I'm out before I puke from all this... whatever this is."

I roll my eyes as he leaves the room and Newt sits in his place. "Do you know how long you were asleep?"

I shake my head. "How long?"

"You were out for eight days this time."

I shoot up in my bed. "Eight?!"

"You needed the rest."

"Yeah but if I'm not better by the time the Greenie comes then I'm being thrown out like garbage."

"I won't let them hurt you. I promise." He grabs my hand. "No one's gonna hurt you. I won't let them, Chuck won't let them; we won't let them hurt you."

"You guys can't keep wasting your resources on me if I'm not gonna be able to do my part."

"They send up enough supplies for everybody in the Glade that includes you. They send up just enough, we're not wasting anything."

I sigh. "Whatever, I'm not really interested in talking about possibly being sent out to the Maze."

"Thank god," he sighs.

"So, the next Greenie comes up in about a week?"

He nods. "Six days."

I sigh again. "I feel really bad, my little brother's been here almost a month and I've hardly gotten to see him."

"He understands, love. He knows that you're sick."

"I don't wanna be sick anymore." I look down at the ground. "I wanna get better so I can go out and help in the Gardens, and so I can spend time with Chuck, and sleep in my hut again, and so I can spend time with you for more than five minutes while I'm awake between mini-comas."

He runs his thumb over the back of my hand. "I want you to get better too, but we've done all we can. Chuck and I have been putting notes in the Box every day asking for a cure to whatever's wrong with you. Maybe they'll send it. Maybe we can fix this."

I look up at him and see that he looks exhausted. He's got dark purple circles under his eyes, and his eyes are a much darker shade of brown than usual. "Have you been sleeping lately?"

He sighs. "No, not really. I can't sleep. I'm too worried."

"About me?"

He nods. "I've been worried for almost a month. It's starting to take its toll."

"I don't want you to lose sleep over me. Go to bed."

He shakes his head. "No-no you're awake now, I wanna spend this time with you."

I sigh. "Newt you need the rest. Please go to sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up, it's not like I'm gonna die suddenly or something. I'll probably just be asleep when you wake up. But please, I'm begging you, go to sleep."

He sighs and points his head down to the ground, but I can still see that he's looking at me from the tops of his eyes. "Just for a little while..."

"Thank you." I give him a reassuring smile and sit back.

He kisses the back of my hand and says "I love you."

"I love you too."

He sits back in his chair and closes his eyes, holding my one hand in both of his. After a few minutes, he falls asleep.

And I follow suit, not even an hour later.

**A/N hey guys, I'm just wondering, who's still reading? Vote for this chapter or comment if you're still reading, because I don't even know who half my fans are because they never say anything or vote! I wanna thank you all, so please be recognized! Vote, comment, send me a message, something to let me know that you're there. Please? :)