Escaping This Ivy Nightmare

Chapter 6

Things had been tense in their group for the past few days. Minho and Thao talked less than usual, to each other, or anyone else. Newt and Minho barely spoke a word to each other, which left Audrey wondering what had actually happened in the maze room that night. The runners had already left for the day, all four of them went out.

Audrey knew today was different. With all four runners gone, the place felt empty, there was no laughter from the slicers, none of Gally's dumb jokes as he walked through the Glade. Newt had told her, before he slipped off, that the four of them never went out together, unless it was important. Audrey figured it was a classic example of safety in numbers.

She was sterilizing their makeshift doctor's tools. There was no one hurt today, so Audrey was particularly bored. She wished someone would come in needing a bandage or something.

But when Zart came in helping Newt to the bed, she instantly took it back. "What happened?: She asked, dropping what she was doing and rushing over. 

"It's nothing, I just tripped over one of the plant roots and twisted my bad leg." Newt waved it off, but hissed as he brought both legs up onto the table. 

"He couldn't stand up on his own, so I brought him here. Against all of his demands not to... " Zart explained, earning Newt a glare from Audrey. 

"Thanks Zart, I got it from here." She smiled at him, and he left rather quickly after that. 

"Honestly, it doesn't hurt that ba-" 

"Don't you dare lie to me right now. Where does it hurt the most?" Audrey said, interrupting him and examining his leg. 

"Near my knee, but honestly Auds, I don't need you to look at it. I just need some cold water and a break and I'll be good to go." 

"Once I've looked at it, you can do just that." Audrey insisted, refusing to let him up.

"Audrey you don't have to. It's fine." 

"I want to see it myself, make sure you aren't lying just to get out of here." 

"Why would I do that?" 

"Because you've been avoiding me since what happened with Chuck, and you refuse to tell me anything of importance that happened before I got here." Audrey sighed, rolling his pants leg up to inspect his leg. He winced ever-so-slightly.

Audrey could see a long scar in his leg, and noticed that the bone seemed to be at a weird angle. "Tell me, what happened to-"

"Newt." It was Thao. She was standing in the doorway, face flushed, panting heavily. "What- What did you do?" She asked, stepping into the room. In one hand she held a second set of runner gear, it looked dusty, like it hadn't been worn in months.

"I bloody tripped, it's fine." He snapped, surprising Audrey.

"Can you run?" Thao asked, holding out the gear.

"Yes-"

"No." Audrey protested, not wanting the boy to hurt his leg any further. The pair ignored her. Newt was already bucking his gear and getting out of the bed. "No, Newt, I don't care what's happened, you need to rest."

He ignored her.

"Prepare for a sting. And another with a whole lot of blood loss, and a nice head injury." Thao called over he shoulder as Newt followed her out of the tent. The pair took off running hard towards the doors.

"What happened?" Newt asked, his leg already in a lot of pain. "Who got stung?"

"Nick." Thao answered shortly, breathing very heavily as the sound of their running footsteps bounced off the walls. "The grievers, he-he told you they weren't sleeping. They attacked us, three of em Newt. Ben's guarding the two of em right now, but there was no way we were gonna get both of 'em back and fight off any grievers."