Nepenthe (TMR FF) UNDER EDITING

Chapter 37

Every noise in the room stopped, as every single Keeper there gaped at me in shock. Newt very calmly stood up, walked over to Thomas and I, and pulled us towards the door by our forearms. "That's enough of that. You're leaving. Now."

Thomas looked stunned as his eyes shot between Newt and I. "Leaving? Why?"

"Think you've said enough for one meeting, Tommy. We need to talk and decide what to do—without you here." We had reached the door and Newt gave Thomas a gentle push outside. He then turned to me, raising his eyebrows. "Wait for me by the Box. When we're done, you and I'll talk."

I swallowed audibly, but nodded without protest. Newt turned, but before he could walk away and join the other Keepers, Thomas reached out and grabbed his wrist. "You gotta believe me, Newt. It's the only way out of here—we can do it, I swear. We're meant to."

Newt's patience visibly snapped, and he pulled his wrist out of Thomas grasp and stepped closer, his eyes hardening. He was no longer calm. "Yeah, I especially loved the bit where my girlfriend and your sister volunteered to get herself killed." He spat in an angry whisper, gesturing wildly to me. I bit my lip and looked away. I hadn't realised how my decision could affect Newt, or anyone else for that matter.

"Newt, I need to do this. I need to redeem myself." I almost pleaded, watching as Newt's eyes narrowed significantly.

"You don't need to do anything, Emma. For once in your life, can you stop and think about what you're actually considering? This is a death wish." Newt told me, looking irritated.

I raised my eyebrows, resisting the urge to spit out a mean comment. He would know about death wishes, wouldn't he?

I took a breath, in an attempt to compose myself. "It's my fault we're in here, Newt."

The blonde boy frowned, his eyes softening. He placed his hand gently on my lower back, his thumb rubbing up and down comfortingly. "If you really did help design the Maze, Love, it's not your fault. You're a kid—you can't help what they forced you to do."

I hesitated before looking him right in the eye, my own watering. "But what if they didn't force me?"

Newt rolled his eyes, grabbing my shoulders with his hands so that I was forced to keep looking right at him. "Emma, don't give me any of that klunk. You are the most kind, generous and trust worthy person I know. You would never, ever hurt any one of us on purpose, just like you said. It doesn't matter what the Creators make you do. It doesn't matter that you tried to bloody stab me in the back with a point stick—"

"Why have I never heard about this?" Thomas asked, looking extra confused. Newt shot him a look telling him to shut his mouth.

"—What does matter is that you're still Emma. You said before that you put yourself in here to help us. Prove it. Help us fight our way out of here. Now, I don't want another buggin' word about you dying and all that heroic klunk. I need you, Emma."

Thomas sighed in relief, happy that Newt was going to go along with his plan. I nodded, my whole body turning numb. Without another word, I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and brought him in for a hug.

"Thank you for believing in me, Newtie." I whispered, pressing my lips onto his cheek. Newt squeezed me before pulling back from the hug, a laugh escaping his mouth.

"Always."

~

I sat on the grass, a couple of metres away from the box. I had felt Aris' presence minutes before, so I moved to someone a little more private. I didn't care that people knew that I talked to him, but I just didn't want them to think I'm crazy when they figure out I'm having a mental conversation with a boy I knew before the Maze. Plus, Newt really hates the idea of me having a telepathic connection with a boy that isn't him. Gally was bad enough.