Deleted Memories (The Maze Runner, Newt)

Chapter 21

We stayed underneath our tree that night. Newt's warmth kept me from getting cold; even though, the glade never got below room temperature. Our alarms went off at the same time the next morning. Newt turned off his before reaching over to my wrist where my watch was still beeping loudly. I liked to try to ignore it for as long as I could.

"Wake up, Princess," Newt kissed my nose, then pecked my lips.

"Five more minutes," I mumble, though I already knew that I couldn't sleep in.

Newt was already up on his feet. He lifted me up into his arms and began carrying me. I opened my eyes only a little and looked up at him. I giggled and rubbed my hand against the rough stubble on his chin. He set me down on the bench of a table and headed into the kitchen. He reappeared with both of our breakfasts and lunches a couple minutes later.

"Good morning, boss," I chimed to Minho as he passed us. He nodded in response and headed into the kitchen. I turned to Newt and kissed him, "thank you." 

Minho soon joined us for breakfast then we packed up our bags for the day. I was excited to be able to actually run the maze today and map it properly instead of writing the same course over and over again.

Newt kissed me goodbye at the entrance to the Maze and I ran through with Minho only steps ahead of me. I had suggested that we ran together today because it would be nice to have the company. The other Runner who seemed to be unfortunately jumping around to run in different sections every day was ordered to run Minho's section. I wind rushed through my hair as I sprinted along the long corridors, through all of the twists and turns. Before I knew it, I had made it to the Cliff that Minho had told me about. Gray nothingness engulfed the world in front of me and a slowly walked to the edge, peering over. I checked my watch and wandered back to a wall, sliding down it. Minho stood by the edge a little longer. Picking up a fist-sized rock, he lazily threw it. He seemed to watch it for about a minute before heaving a sigh and coming over to the wall.  I pulled my bag from over my shoulder and pulled out my lunch and a bottle of water.

I noticed there was one of the plaques on the wall a couple metres down from of us. I finished off my lunch, stood up, and walked over to it. I couldn't help myself as I reached up and touched the cool metal of the plaque. The words were carved perfectly into it. Everything else in the maze looked aged, except the plaques. They looked brand new. No even a single scratch on any of them.

"World in Catastrophe Killzone Experiment Department, why was I part of you?" I mumbled, almost inaudibly.

Minho didn't seem too phased by my behaviour but called to me that we were going to head back. I nodded and tore my attention away from the plaque. I pulled my backpack back onto my shoulders and followed Minho back into the dull grey hallways of the Maze.

We were almost back in the glade when I heard it. The clicking of a Griever.

Thomas? I thought. He wouldn't have sent one while I was with Minho, would he? Besides, he said we were taking a break. There was no answer. I spun around to see the griever rolling towards us. Thomas! I growled loudly in my head. I grabbed Minho and pulled him to the side as the Griever narrowly spun past us. It turned around and started walking back. A disgusting roar came from its slobber filled mouth. Minho pulled me behind him and held out his knife.

"No, Minho!" I yelled and stepped in front of him, pushing him up against the wall. I stared sternly at the Griever and focused all my energy on controlling it. It stopped walking as stared back. "leave!" I screamed. My voice commands worked better than my brain commands because it was using both forces instead of just one. The griever turned down the closest corridor and disappeared. I sighed in relief and turned to Minho who was staring at me with wide eyes. Crap, he knows now.