Whatever It Takes ↠ Newt [The Scorch Trials] ¹

NINETEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN
Unfold

          ONE, TWO, THREE Mae counted in her head as she watched the clock in the vehicle she was now in, completely mesmerised by the numbers. TICK TOCK. The quiet sound echoing in her ears, not hearing Newt calling her name. All she kept thinking about was the letter Calista left her. It was the second time she had been told her and Thomas were important, but she still didn't know why and it killed her not knowing the answer.

It wasn't until Newt's hand landed on Mae's shoulder that the girl snapped out of her daze, getting sucked back into reality. She turned to the boy, taking a deep breath.

"Sorry to snap you out of ya little daydream, but Harriet's been calling you for the last 20 seconds." Newt smiled sheepishly while jabbing his thumb in Harriet's direction.

"Oh," Mae breathed before looking to the passenger seat to see Harriet with an arched eyebrow.

"You alright there, M?" The leader questioned.

Mae nodded, pressing her lips into a straight line. "Yeah. Perfect."

Harriet and Aris shared a glance before the girl squinted her eyes. "Tell me later." Before Mae could reply, Harriet turned to the Gladers, who consisted of Thomas, Newt and Teresa, the rest were in the other car with Sonya, Aris, Jorge and Brenda. "Were you guys the only ones to get out?"

Thomas and Newt exchanged a reluctant glance. "No." Thomas responded, his voice raspy. "We lost two in the Scorch."

"I'm sorry." Harriet said.

Mae huffed turning her head to the driver who scowled as he kept his eyes on the sand in front of him. The girl drifted her gaze to the shot gun that stood by his feet, wondering where he got the weapon and silently wanting one herself. After explaining that the Right Arm rescued Sonya and Harriet, the Gladers and Mae and Aris were now being taken to their base.

"How did the Right Arm Get you out without creating chaos?" Mae questioned, leaning forward in her seat.

"What do you mean no chaos?" Harriet exclaimed. "The building was practically on its last bolts. Cranks were coming in everywhere and there was a hole in the side of the wall."

Sharing a glance with Newt, Mae furrowed her eyebrows. "Then how come Aris and I never noticed?"

Harriet narrowed her eyes. "You should've."

Mae slouched back down in her chair, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. How did the Right Arm create chaos when rescuing Harriet and Sonya without anybody noticing? How was that possible? Something was missing and Mae felt it, she could feel it picking at the back of her head, but she couldn't put the pieces together.

The car then came to a sudden stop and Mae lurched forward, hitting her head on the back of the front seat. "Ow!" She hissed, rubbing her forehead. "Are you kidding me?"

"Are you okay?" Newt questioned, on the verge of laughing, his grin reaching the corner of his eyes while his hand reluctantly reached out to her shoulder.

"It's not funny." Mae deadpanned, looking between Harriet and Newt, who were both trying to hold in their chuckles. Newt pressed his lips together and looked to the ground. "If you laugh Newt, I'm gonna hit you across the head."

Newt nodded before a small chuckle passed his lips and before Mae could actually carry out her threat, the boy climbed out of the car after Thomas with a smirk.

"C'mon, M." Harriet smiled. "There's something you're gonna wanna see."

Mae opened the door and jumped out of the car, adjusting her jacket and putting her hands in her pockets. She looked to the left to see the others climbing out of the other car, looking just as confused and filled with anticipation as Newt and Thomas.