The Lost Glader || A TMR Fanfiction

Chapter 31 || The Code

Newt unlocked the door of the map room, opening it to let me go in first. My eyes darted around the dimly lit space, first seeing four boys gathered around maps, wax paper, and pencils. All of the tensely working, their eyes barely staying open. Then my gaze was drawn to the mysterious coma girl who now stood wide awaken staring at a piece of paper her lips pursed in thought.

I knew who she was immediately. Visions of her in my memories from my month at Wicked, plus a few from a time... before.

The gladers looked up when we walked in and their eyes went wide.

"Yooo Nicole you're back!" One, whose name escaped me, exclaimed. I grinned.

"Hey I'm you had to know you wouldn't be rid of me for too long." They chuckled and the glader moved to give me a welcoming fist bump.

I turned towards the girl who was watching me curiously.

"Hey we haven't met in awhile. I'm Nicole." She raised her eyebrows.

"Teresa... have we met before?" Her confused expression made me laugh softly.

"Uh not here, I suppose. My memories are still a little jumbled, everything is coming back in pieces." I shrugged, turning away before anymore questions began. "So what's going on here?" I asked looking at the table that the Gladers worked around.

Newt stepped up next to me and began explaining the process of finding the code within the mazes walls. I shook my head in disbelief as I watched an obvious letter come into focus when the maps, traced on wax paper had been placed on top of each other.

"All that time... and it's been right under our noses." I ran a hand through my hair, placing the other on my hip.

"If it wasn't for your clues, we never would've been able to figure this out... or even try it." Newt placed a hand on my shoulder and I smiled up at him, a warmth forming in my heart.

"I'm just glad I was able to do that much. But what did all the letters form?" I asked and he sighed. As if on cue Teresa handed him the paper she had been studying to which he gave to me. The 6 words sent a chill through my body.

Float
Catch
Bleed
Death
Stuff
Push

"We have no idea what it means." Newt groaned, studying my expression for the answer. Familiarity poked at the back of brain. I had seen these words before. Despite intensely focusing, the information was just blocked by some wall in my mind. Probably one placed by WICKED scientists.

I sighed, lowering the paper to my side. "I don't have all the answers... all I know is that these words, shut down the entire Maze. But they don't show us where we escape at. I just remember that it's dangerous..."

"Well how do we 'shut down the maze' with those words?" Teresa asked "Just scream the words in the middle of the Glade hoping that whoever put us here, listens?"

"No... it's simpler than that." There was a hint of frustration in my voice. Knowing the answer was so close yet just out of my reach. I hated what those people did to my mind!

Newt placed a hand on my shoulder. "Just keep thinking about it. We're so close." I released a long breath, bobbing my head in a nod.

"Yeah I'll keep trying."

***

Spending the next 20 minutes in the weapons room, was unproductive. I stared at those words 'til my eyes hurt, and then for a little longer. I hoped against all the discouragement that somewhere in those letters lied our escape.

I groaned, letting the paper fall to the ground, putting my head in my hands.

"I just don't know." I whispered to myself from my place on the floor leaned against one wall.

"Niks..." I raised my eyes to look up at Newt who now stood in front of me holding his hand out to me.

"I'm sorry... I just can't remember." My voice cracked and he shook his head. I grasped his hand and he pulled me up.

"Don't be. We'll figure this out, it's not just on your shoulders. So stop caring the weight of the world all the time. Look you just woke up from a four day coma. Grab a shower, get some food in ya, and take a break. You'll feel better. And then if you up to it you can come back and see if you remember anything else." He squeezed my hand and I nodded trying to brush away all the disappointment in my head.

Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. Newt let go of my hand, turning towards the entrance.
"That must be Tommy." He unlocked the door and sure enough Thomas stood on the other side.

My memories of him were immediately triggered in a wave of good and bad, finally focusing on the day he told me how to escape. Despite the refresh, parts of that day still were omitted, leaving gaps of key information.

As he walked into the room his eyes were first landed on Teresa who waved him over. He took a step in her direction when he spotted me. His eyes went wide in shock.

"You're awake!" He changed courses and pulled me into a surprising hug. I laughed, feeling the wind knocked out of me.

"Dang slinthead, didn't realize you'd miss me so much!" I patted his back and he scoffed releasing me.

"Hey after you survive a super near death experience with someone, you get pretty close." I grinned at his response and punched his arm.

"Yeah, we are."

"When did to wake up?" He asked and I shrugged.

"Probably only an hour ago. How was your 24 hours in the Maze?" He sighed.

"Unproductive." He shook his head but then looked up. "But maybe this will turn things around." He looked over to where Teresa held on of the papers in her hands.

"If anyone can figure it out, you would." I said softly. He glanced back at me.

"Yeah speaking of, we have some things we need to discuss apparently." I sarcastically laughed, nodding my head.

Newt had dismissed all the other gladers when Teresa handed Thomas the sheet of paper and he quickly scanned it over. After a few moments he looked at us each in turn.

"That's all? Are you sure it's in the correct order." He asked. Teresa sighed and explained to him how the after awhile the Maze just kept repeating itself, always starting with the word float. He shook his head, looking back down at the paper.

"Cheerful isn't it..." Newt mumbled placing his hands on his hips.

"Yeah," he began before looking up at me. "And you don't remember anything either?" I solemnly shook my head.

"All I know is this shuts down the Maze, just don't know how exactly." I purses my lips staring at the back of the paper.

"We should get Minho down here. He might know something we don't... if we just had more clues-" before he had even finished a thought popped into my mind. A bad idea... but possibly our only way.

I looked up surprised to find that Thomas had frozen, his face pale. I could see the gears moving in his head. He appeared as if he was about to be sick.

"You ok?" I asked and he focused on me briefly.

"Uh, yeah sorry... I think I just need some sleep." I still stared at him suspiciously. Something wasn't right, and if I had a vague idea what it was.

"Go take a nap." Newt said clapping him on the shoulder. "You did just spend a night in the Maze."

Thomas looked at the three of us before nodding and began to head out of the room. I watched him for a moment before glancing at Newt.

"Hey I'll catch up with you later!"

"Wait-" I ignored his call and hurried after Thomas. Catching up to him I linked my arm with his momentarily surprising him.

"You wanted to talk, right?"

"I'm not feeling very well I-"

"I know you're going to try and get stung by a griever." I said, my voice low.

His eyes went wide. "How'd you..."

"Let's just say I know you pretty well. Now are we going to talk or what?"