Remember for the Both of Us [COMPLETED]

16: Guarded

We stumbled back into the Glade, sprinting straight for the Homestead. "Newt!" I yelled. "Newt! Where's Newt?"

"Gardens!" someone yelled out. "What the shuck are you yelling about?"

But we were gone, panting for breath as we skidded up in front of him. "What?" he asked.

We talked over each other in our excitement. "Cliff--" "Grievers--" "It fell!" "Disappeared--"

"Stop!" Newt tried to shush us. "Just one of you. Tell me what happened. Coherently."

Babbling eagerly, I explained to him our encounter, how the Grievers disappeared, how it must be the exit. His eyes lit up, and he bit his lip. "You're sure?"

"Positive," I said. 

"Show Minho as soon as he gets back," he said. "I'll call a meeting tonight."

Bouncing impatiently on my heels, I stared at the Door. As soon as I saw Minho's form round the corner, I was sprinting to meet him. "What are you so excited about, Greenie?" he asked breathlessly.

I explained it to him, and he furrowed his eyebrows. "No," he said. "Can't be. Do you know how many times--"

"Teresa saw it too! How else could a Griever just disappear? We've known it all along!"

"Fine," he sighed. "I'll come."

We jogged back into the Maze. He didn't even need a Map; his feet traced the way to the Cliff by themselves. I picked up some rocks right before we rounded the corner, ready to show him the spot. He was a little in front of me, and glanced back to make sure I was still there as we turned the final curve.

I screamed and skidded to a halt. He wasn't fast enough. Five Grievers stood there, and one leapt forward, burying its stinger in his leg. He collapsed to the ground like a stone. 

I was frozen. I couldn't leave him there, but if I didn't run, I'd die!

Chancellor, make them go away! They can't get out if we die! The Grievers slowly crept forward. I couldn't move. I couldn't move! Chancellor, please! Help me help me help me please!

Slowly the Grievers stopped, then backed away.

All you had to do was ask, she whispered.

Suddenly able to breathe again, I rushed forward, grabbing Minho under the arms. I started dragging him back to the Glade, but he was too heavy and I didn't know how to get back.

Thomas! Teresa! Help! I need you to come to the Cliff! Minho and I, we got attacked by Grievers! Minho's stung, and he's too heavy. Please! Please...

"Please hear me," I whispered under my breath. "Please let it not be too far for the signal to reach them."

We're coming! she replied. Stay where you are. Don't get lost!

Soon they rounded the corner, and between the three of us, managed to get him back to the Glade. Newt rushed up, face pale. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"Minho's stung," I said. "The Grievers... they were guarding it. They must know... that we found it..."

I sat down on the grass, heart pounding. "I thought we were going to die."

Newt jerked his head at Thomas and Teresa. "Get him to the Med-Jacks." 

He knelt beside me. "Hey, let's get you to your room, okay?"

Slowly, unsteadily, I walked to the Homestead. I sat down on the bed, taking deep shuddering breaths. He sat down next to me. "I'll call a meeting," he said. "We'll talk about it, you can tell them what you found." I didn't realize I was shaking until he gingerly put a hand on my back, rubbing it reassuringly. His touch was warm, and I stopped shivering so feverishly, smiling weakly at him.

"Thanks," I said. "We need to see though--if they're guarding it during the day, we need to look during the night."

"No," he said immediately. 

"Newt, why not? It's not like the Doors close any more. It might be unguarded at night. If we try and escape during the day, we'd get slaughtered!"

"We don't know how many Grievers there are," he said. "They could still be guarding it during the night, and you'd die." The last two words were so soft I could barely hear them.

"Newt," I said. "We all might die. I could die tonight or tomorrow night, or the night after that if we don't get out of here. I'd rather die doing something than doing nothing, you know?"

"No," he said. "No, I can't let that happen. You're staying here. I shouldn't have even let you run today, not with your arm and everything. Maybe someone else..."

I stood up. "Newt, I'm my own person. It needs to be done. Who else is going to do it? Teresa? No doubt she's with Minho. Thomas? He won't leave Teresa. Gally's gone, and Chuck doesn't know the way to the Cliff. I'm the only one. Can't you see?"

He stood up too, voicing rising. "No! And that's final! Now get downstairs. We're having that meeting." Angrily, he strode towards the door.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" I yelled after him, furious.

He paused in the doorway. "I... am... leader... here," he spat. "You will listen to what I have to say, and do what I tell you to." He turned around. "You know who I am? I'm the shank who had to pick up this bloody mess of a place after it was torn apart! You want to know who died to make me king? His name was Alby, and he was my best mate. So don't mess with me. Just do what I say, because bloody hell!" he yelled suddenly. "Too many people here died in vain for nothing! I won't let you be one of them!"

He was gone, angry footsteps stomping down the stairs.

I swallowed, suddenly numb, and sat down on the bed, hard. My eyes stung, and it was only when I pressed my shaking hands to my face that I realized I was mouthing silently, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry.