Free (Maze Runner fanfic Newtmas Newt x Thomas)

Chapter 21

Voices... yelling... bright light... screaming? Everything felt so heavy. Thomas' chest felt like someone lit a fire inside him, he could only see his surroundings for a few seconds at most.

The first thing he saw was a singular light bulb inside of a cupboard; then faces, lights rushing by, a bright light, more faces.. It was an endless cycle, his chest stopped feeling heavy and everything went quiet. No voices, no lights in his face, just.. silence.

His eyes opened to a much dimmer light. Something started beeping, breaking his silence; there was also a tube in his arm and a large plaster on his chest, but that seemed to be it. The room was small, with one side being glass with nobody stood behind it, and nor was anybody in the room with him. Wait... He looked back down at his chest, then felt his heart drop. Right... he tried to kill himself, and he ultimately failed- Newt!

Thomas bolted out of bed, thankful to see he was wearing his own trousers. He ripped out the wire in his hand, causing it to bleed, but he just darted out the room and almost ran smack into a wall.

The sound alerted someone, running towards him before Thomas could get too far. "Newt!" He cried, struggling against their grip. "Where is he!? Where's my Newt!?"

"Now isn't the time for him, get back in bed!" The person shouted at them, sticking something sharp into his arm. "You're tired."

Thomas tore from the person's arms, but he stumbled and quickly slapped a hand at the wall to stay standing. "Newt. I have to find him. I have to see him! Is he alive? Where is he!?"

"Bed."

"Newt..." He fell backwards into the person's arms, exhausted. "Please..." He felt his legs buckle and he closed his eyes.

The next thing he knew, he was waking back up in a bed. A different bed... The dorms?! "Morning, shank." He heard Minho say, malice in his tone. "You're a real slinthead, you are."

"Newt-"

"Is alive." Thomas sighed in relief, hands going over his face. "I got back a day after your stupid act in that little cupboard, and we managed to get Newt the cure in time. As much I hate saying this, because you.." Minho couldn't say it. "It slowed down his brain activity so the darkness didn't take him while we were gone; but that doesn't give you justice for what you did!"

"Newt asked me to... He asked me a while ago, but I said no; I refused to do it unless he was begging and crying and not being himself. He was-" Thomas stopped. "It was just a spur of the moment, I just didn't feel like I could go on... I'm sorry." He couldn't tell Minho what Newt was like in there; he was their best friend, but Newt's mental state just felt too personal.

"Glad you thought about me. Thanks for almost leaving me behind." It was only fair for Minho to be angry, he almost lost his two closest friends.

"Is Newt awake?" Minho scoffed. "Sorry, sorry.. Are you doing okay?"

"I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking. Newt's still in the infirmary, you got him at the base of his neck; he only just got his breathing back yesterday, so he's not awake. As much as I want to punch you right in the face, I have to thank you for having such a terrible nerve. If you had even been an inch to the left, he wouldn't be here, and neither would you." Minho paused. "If Newt really did ask you..." He didn't finish his sentence.

"All I remember is holding that gun, and my hands were shaking... Then..." Thomas sat up, swinging his legs off the bed. "I have to see him. See what I did."

Minho was sick of being ignored, so he just gestured for Thomas to leave. The infirmary wasn't far away, and all the rooms had windows so Thomas found him in the third one along. Like his own room, it was empty, but inside there was the beeping of a heart monitor. He wore an oxygen mask, an IV in his left arm, and stitches in his neck; so that's where he hit... "Newt? Are you awake?" He whispered, entering the room fully and sitting beside the bed. "Newt?"