final moments → THE MAZE RUNNER ✓

s i x t e e n

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
( WARN )

     THE LIGHT FROM THE HUGE fire flickers in front of me, captivating my attention. I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. Why? Well- it felt like the first time that I had ever saw a fire.

After convincing Newt and Minho that I could attend the bonfire, they had left me with Thomas and Chuck, while they were off collecting fire wood. Chuck had been talking my ear off. Thomas, on the other hand, didn't say anything as he sat next to me.

" . . . just what I had thought. So, anyway, what happened today?" Chuck tugs on my sleeve. I glance down at the child, who had grown taller in the past few days. How? I have no idea.

"I don't know, to be honest." I answer, glancing back to the fire. I pull my fluffy blanket closer to my chest, and shiver a bit. "I just wasn't paying attention, and it just sorta happened . . . "

"We were all scared," Chuck sighs. "Especially Newt and Tommy. Tommy over there was freaking out when Alby wouldn't let him go."

My eyes dart to Thomas, who ignores my stare and Chuck's comment.

"Why couldn't he go?"

"Alby said that he didn't trust Thomas to go into the woods. That this could be some kind of a trick. I was forced to stay back here, too, and so were Nik, Garret, and Gally. Newt didn't listen to Alby when he demanded that Newt stay too. Alby was guessing the worst."

"What was the worst?" I question, my eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"Griever sting," Chuck murmers under his breath. "He didn't want 'em to see you like that, me either. That, and he figured that if you had done something with the Creators, he would've had to take care of you, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah," I nod. "I do."

I move over, closer to Thomas, and lay my head on his shoulder. I wrap my good arm around his, and cuddle up to him. "I'm sorry about today. I didn't mean to scare you."

"I would've gone," He sighs. "I should've been there for you. Alby just . . . "

"No." I state. "It's not your fault. I understand. Don't beat yourself up over it, Thomas."

"Still," He shakes his head. "I feel guilty. If I hadn't ignored you, if we hadn't ignored you . . . you would still be okay."

"A broken arm is all I got," I shrug. "It could be worse."

"You're forgetting the sprained ankle, and your almost broken nose," He scoffs. "You can't play it off as if it's nothing."