In the Scorch (Newt x reader)

One

~ Newt's P.O.V. ~

"Come on, you shank! We're here. We have to go." I opened my eyes to Minho shaking me roughly. I blinked a few times, then looked down at (y/n). I gently shook her awake as the helicopter was lowered down towards the ground. Her eyes opened slowly. 

"We got to go, love. Hold on, okay?" (y/n) nodded, wrapping her arms around my neck. When she was secure, I clambered out of the helicopter with the rest of the Gladers, then ran with them towards a large building. Along the fence lines were people with ripped clothing and covered in sand and dirt. They reached through the holes in the fence, growling and screaming. (y/n) whimpered and tightened her hold on me, staring at the people. Her hold didn't loosen until we ran through a large entrance to the building and a metal door slid shut behind us. We stood there, catching our breath and looking at one another in the quiet, until a door opened at the front of the room. A man and a woman stepped through, smiling at us. 

"Welcome. We know you have had to go through much suffering from WICKED's trials, but you are safe here now. Before we take you to eat, and then your rooms, we would like to do check ups to make sure all of your injuries and vitals are okay. I need ladies to the left, boys to the right." The Gladers looked to each other, then began to move as she directed. I stayed standing in the middle, frowning down at (y/n) momentarily. The woman approached us.  

"What's wrong here?" I looked up to the woman.

"She can't walk on her own. She was hurt." The woman looked back at the man, a look I couldn't decipher crossing both of their faces. 

"I'll help her." I looked to Teresa, hesitating, but I still slowly let (y/n) down. Teresa leaned towards me as she took on (y/n)'s weight. "Don't worry, I'll watch her." I nodded, smiling in thanks. When I let (y/n) go, I stayed for a moment, watching Teresa adjust to the weight. 

"Don't fret. You will see each other again when you eat." I nodded, stepping back to join the rest of the guys. (y/n) smiled at me, giving me a thumbs up as the woman turned Teresa and (y/n) around, leading them away. I watched with narrowed eyes. Why wasn't the woman helping at all?

"Come on, Newt, they're leaving us." Someone nudged me forward. I looked back to see Dan. I nodded, looking briefly back as (y/n) and Teresa turned the corner, then I followed the rest of the Gladers.

~

"Don't worry, this is the last one." I winced at the prick of the needle in my skin, immediately finding a relief and hate at the several needles the doctors used to give me shots. The doctor turned, placing the needle down, and grabbing a band-aid with a smiley face on it. Ah, yes, that makes it all bloody better.  I glared down as the doctor placed the band-aid against my skin. The red light above my door turned green. "You're all done! I'll show you to the showers, then after you'll be led to go eat." 

~

I stepped out of the shower, hair dripping. To the side, a white shirt, underwear, and gray sweatpants had been set aside. I quickly got changed, then stepped into the hallway. I barely made it a foot away from the door before the doctor appeared again, smiling brightly at me. 

"Great! You're out. Now I will lead you to the dining area. Some of your friends are already there, but don't fret. The rest will be there shortly." I frowned at the back of the doctor's head. He seemed very mechanical in his movements and speech. It was all very odd. 

The doctor led me through several turns and different hallways, but soon we got to the dining hall. There were five tables, but three of them had different kinds of foods and drinks laid across them. Only five of the Gladers were already here: Minho, Winston, Frypan, Clint, and Jeff. I sighed, noticing (y/n) wasn't here yet. I went to grab my own plate of food, then sat down by Minho when Dan came in, then Tommy quickly followed. 

~

I had eaten most of my food, but the rest I pushed around. Several times within the hour Minho and Clint insisted (y/n) was fine and they were probably taking longer because of her leg injury, yet I still found worry settling in the pit of my stomach. There was a small tugging there, and it grew stronger with each minute, to the point I almost got up to tell the guards I needed to see her, but then the door opened and Teresa came in, pushing (y/n) in a new wheelchair. Along her leg was a new bandage that led underneath the edge of her shorts. I got up without a second thought, immediately going over to where Teresa and (y/n) were. 

"Thank you, Teresa." Teresa nodded with a small smile as I knelt in front of (y/n)'s chair. Teresa left us to give us privacy, and most likely to talk to Tommy.  I turned to (y/n), cupping a hand to her face. 

"How do you feel?" (y/n) smiled, placing a hand against mine as she leaned into my touch. 

"I feel better. They fixed up my leg really good, lots of stitches. That's what took so long, but Teresa was there the whole time. I don't think I'll be walking for a while, though, if at all. The doctors said the same thing, but I told them I'd be okay because I had a really sweet guy who'd watch over me." I felt my face grow warm as I smiled. 

"Oh, yeah?" I leaned forward, pressing a kiss against her forehead. "Well this really sweet guy is going to help you get food to eat, all right?" (y/n) lightly poked my nose. 

"Sounds wonderful." I stood, smiling as I led her to the food tables. 

~

After a few hours of the Gladers eating and goofing off in the dining hall, the man and woman came in to tell us they would be leading us to our rooms. (y/n) was leaning against the table, eyes closed. I shook her gently, rubbing a hand along her back. 

"Don't go to sleep just yet, I gotta take you to bed." She nodded, opening her eyes slightly. I stood, getting behind her wheelchair and wheeling her out of the room and following behind the woman and man with the rest of the Gladers. We walked down the halls and soon, the woman stopped us. 

"This is where the girls will be sleeping." The woman tried to grasp the handles of the wheelchair, but I pulled back, staring at her in warning. The woman looked to the man, the same look from before coming onto both of their faces. She turned to me again, a fake smile on her face. "I guess (y/n) can stay with you for now." I smiled, looking to Teresa who was opening the door. She waved to Tommy as she entered the room, then closed the door behind her. When the doors were closed, we were led to where the rest of us would be staying. 

When we got to the room, the man held the door open for us, staring at us with wide eyes and the same mechanical smile the doctor had. I tried to shrug it off as I looked at the room filled with bunk beds, except for one normal bed that was close to the door. I led (y/n) to the normal bed, helping her out of her wheelchair and onto the bed. Around us, the other Gladers called dibs on who would get top or bottom bunk. I sat down beside (y/n) on the bed, pulling her close to me. When everyone settled, Dan turned the lights off. 

"Newt, I better not catch you and (y/n) making out or doing anything else throughout the night." (y/n) huffed a tired laugh in the darkness at Minho's comment. 

"Slim it, Minho." Some of the Gladers laughed, then it was quiet. I pulled (y/n) against my chest, kissing gently at her forehead. I waited for her breathing to slow, then closed my own eyes, going to sleep myself.

Author's Note: As some of you may know from the first book, I am also rewriting this book and possibly what I have already written for the third book. I hope you enjoy, and as always I hope you have a wonderful day/night. :)

Original Publish Date: December 31, 2016