The Lost Glader || A TMR Fanfiction

Chapter 30 || The Awakening

I woke with a start, my eyes staring up at the wood ceiling. My brain felt foggy as I tried to remember anything. I groaned, slowly sitting up and taking in my surroundings.

The room felt unfamiliar. Maybe I knew what this place was, but at that moment I couldn't even remember my own name.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, letting my bare feet touch the hard wood. I took a long breath, hoping to clear my mind.

"Nicole." I whispered my own name, the only piece of information that I knew was true.

"My name is Nicole." I whispered again, hoping to grasp some other piece of reality. As nothing else was revealed, I sighed and turned, looking around the barely furnished room.

Besides the bed I currently sat upon, there was only a rickety chair, a tiny chest against the opposite wall from me, and a small night stand atop of which was a notepad with only a few lines written on the first page.

Standing, I noticed a  subtle soreness in my right ankle, a recent but healed injury, I'm sure. I looked at my arms, filled with old and newer scars. So many times I've gotten hurt, but how exactly, I wondered.

I squatted down in front of the small chest, curious of its contents as I opened the lid. My eyes immediately resting upon dual leg knife holsters, along with two impressive blades rested beside it.

I picked up one of the knives, noticing how perfect it felt in my hand. I skillfully began to twirl it, this a weapon I clearly had much experience in. A pang of familiarity at the back of my brain, but nothing concrete.

I sighed pushing myself to a standing position, my attention turning towards the notepad on the tiny nightstand. I closed the distance, lifting the papers to read it's few lines.

"Maze, codes, maps...
The maps, they're a code, the code to shut it down, the maps are the key, together" as soon as I read those words, a wave of pain racked through my head, all my memories from the past two and a half years coming in a tsunami, sending me to my knees.

I gasped as the pain slowly began to cease, panting. I looked back down at the paper still clutched in my hands.
They had gotten my message. If only part of it.

I clearly recalled desperately fighting to wake up. Hearing their voices talking to me, urging me to wake up. The pure pain of them being right there but not being able to reach them.

I needed to find them!

***

I stumbled out of the Homestead freezing as my eyes caught sight of the slate grey sky. My heart dropped. What was happening?

I couldn't help but feel that this was all coming to an end, and not in the way we would have all hoped. No, our time in the Glade was ending, and I had the most sinking feeling that most of us wouldn't make it out alive.

My stomach twisted into a knot and I swallowed down the lump in my throat. I couldn't focus on things I didn't know. I needed to find the guys.

The door of the Homestead opened and slammed closed behind me. There was a lack of footsteps, the person freezing where they stood. I looked over my shoulder from where I stood at the edge of the porch.

Instantly, my face lit up with a smile, all my previous worries falling from me, as tears built in my eyes.

"Hi, Newt." I whispered staring at the blond's shocked expression. Words failed to escape his mouth. Instead, he rushed forward, scooping me up in his arms, holding me tightly.

He didn't speak, and neither did I. Completely enraptured by his embrace, the rest of my fallen world faded into the distance.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, silently holding each, before Newt finally spoke. His voice was broken and strained but at that moment it was the most beautiful sound.

"I never want to let you go again." He whispered, squeezing me tighter against his chest. "I began to wonder if you would ever wake up again...I—" he sighed gently pulling away just enough so he could look me in the eyes. I was surprised to see tears in the brown ones holding my gaze.

"God, how did I ever make it without you before? I've missed you so much."

"Newt..." I mumbled reaching up and brushing the tears from his cheeks. He leaned into my hand smiling warmly.

"I'm just really glad you're back." The warm comforting feeling I had gotten so familiar with rose up in my chest. Something was different... or maybe, I was starting to understand it for once.

"Newt... I-"

"Nicole??" I looked over my shoulder. My eyes widened when I saw Chuck running over to me. I grinned, releasing Newt and rushing to hug the chubby boy.

"Chuckie!" I exclaimed squeezing him tightly.

Images flashed through my brain.
Chuck's head rested in my lap, sound asleep in a dark basement, my eyes darting around fearfully at the strange sounds all around.
Me grasping a small Chuck's hand as we watched our childhood home become farther and father away as we were carted away.
The two of us sobbing as guards pulled us apart.

I blinked a few times, trying to process all I had just seen, not even realizing Chuck was rambling about something.

"And grievers every single night! They've already taken like 3 boys!"

"Wait what!" I snapped back into reality furrowing my brow, unsure how much I had missed.

"Yeah... speaking of, Niks, we have some serous work to do. Think you're up to it?" Newt interrupted. I looked up at him and nodded.

"Yeah as long as you fill me in on what's going on around here!" He sighed.

"As much as I can." I looked him over, seeing how tired and haggard he appeared. I didn't know how long I had been in that coma, but I knew I missed way more than I probably wanted to know.

"I'll find you later, ok?" I added turning back to Chuck, who enthusiastically nodded.

"Ok!" I smiled at him, before following Newt, who began to explain the past few days of what was going on.

As he concluded with the last two nights I stopped in my tracks, placing a hand over my eyes, my breathing shaky.

"Oh my god..." I whispered letting my head drop.

"I know... it was feeling pretty hopeless. Until Thomas figured out your clue." After a beat I raised my eyes to him.
"He pieced it together, and we've made some progress. I'm really hoping you're able to fill in the blanks though."

Despite his worn look, there was a slight hope in his eyes. I chewed on my bottom lip, praying I had even a little bit of a contribution left in me. I took a long breath and rolled my shoulders back, attempting to portray as much confidence as possible.

"I'll do my best."

UH OH! It's back! I know I know... it's been forever! I had written chapter 30 a long time ago, but then I hated it so rewrote the whole thing. But now here we are! With not one but two new parts!! Don't forget to like and comment(if I even have people still reading this)