Injured Feet & Rickety Hearts {Book 1 Completed}

//Chapter 20//

About a week and a half passed, everything was going fine, I did my job and went with Minho every morning and returned every night. Life hadn't changed, I did my job, I came back from the maze, hung out with Newt screwed to my hip, had dinner, then went to bed. It was the same every day. Nothing had changed, but I guess it was a good thing.

I had finished my Map early today, so I was laying on the grass, the fleeting sun still warming my skin, even if it was getting darker and there was in fact, no sun in the sky. Newt was with me, his head near mine as his body laid diagonal from me.

It was so peaceful, no words exchanged, just silence as we relaxed, lounging in the vanishing light like this was the most normal thing to do since sliced bread. I wish everything was this peaceful, I wish life in its self was peaceful.

I couldn't see any birds in the sky and it made it look even more fake, but I guess nothing here made any sense. I wish there was some sort of life other than people, I wish there was deer's dashing through the woods, birds squawking in the air, crickets. Anything, but it was just us and the grievers.

As if I was wishing upon a star, there was a red light flashing on the tree of the deadhead near us, but I had seen it before, I never thought much of it, I never thought it was such a big deal, but now I could see the flicker of silver. What was it?

"Newt... what are those flashing red lights? I've seen them around before, but I never asked"

Newt hummed like he had been dozing off this whole time before sighing, sucking in a deep breath of fresh air before speaking as he let it go, sounding more and more at peace as he did so.

"It's a beetle blade... Won't hurt ya unless you're stupid enough to try and touch one of em'. Bloody quick bugger's they are, tried to catch one myself, spent half my shucking time runnin"

I snickered and Newt scoffed, he seemed offended that I found it funny. But it was, could you imagine Newt darting around trying to catch a little mechanical bug, I'm sure Minho laughed. Or was he running around with him like a pack of dogs snapping at a butterfly.

I stifled another laugh as I watched the lizard like creature, its body pressed against the bark as if it was trying to hide, but the beacon like light blaring from it's torso gave away its hiding spot.

"The glader's think it's them Creators keepin an eye on us."

"Spies?"

I asked with a bit of shock as I screwed up my face, why would they need spies? What could we possibly do in here that would make a spy necessary? But then maybe they want to know what we're doing, there has to be a reason we're all in here, maybe the beetle blades have something to do with it.

Once again when I looked over to Newt he was dozing off again, I have noticed bags under his eyes lately and his posture slowly declining, why was he so tired lately? Doesn't he get enough sleep? But he goes to sleep and wakes up at the same time as everyone else, what's changed?

"Tired Newt?"

I slipped before rolling my head in regret, maybe I shouldn't have asked, it might have been personal, I know for a fact that I have some horrible nightmares. Maybe everyone gets the just like I do, how awful.

Newt let out a tired sigh but didn't open his eyes, he just left his hands resting on his chest as he breathed steadily. Not once moving from his dead vampire position.

"Definitely"

He muttered and I furrowed my brows, why though?

"Why?"