The Maze Runner

Chapter Twelve

  "Oh my God..." I whisper, tears falling from my cheeks onto the dirt ground. "He's gone. They're gone. All three of them. Minho..." I collapse into Newt's arms. I look up at him to see a blank expression on his face, except a single tear carefully falling down his left cheek.

  "Newt... what do we do?" One of the boys asks. I don't know who though because I'm so focused on the fact that my best friend is as good as dead. I hear Newt clear his throat behind me and take his hand off of my arm to get rid of the water on his cheek.

  "We go about our business. We've lost runners before-"

  "But what about Alby?" I hear Frypan ask. I look over to him.

  "And Thomas..." Chuck says in a quiet whisper.

  "We've lost people before. We replace their jobs and keep going. That's all we can do. Let's call it a night, boys." He gestures for them all to get on with getting ready to go to sleep.

"Newt?" I start to ask after the boys are all gone. He starts to walk towards the hammocks before I grab his wrist.

"Don't walk away from me," I look into his eyes as he whips around to face me.

"We just have to keep going, Beth-"

"Come here," I say, somewhat angrily, as I drag him over to the medtent. Once the flap falls shut I turn to him.

"We're alone now," I tell him. He runs his tongue along his bottom lip and looks at me before tears start falling from his eyes.

"Baby..." I pull him into my arms.

"I can't believe they're gone," He opens up.

"I know, I know," I try to console. "But who knows, I mean I survived out there for days, maybe-"

"That was different. You were concealed underground. The grievers couldn't get to you," He argues. I sigh.

"But until then, no one ever survived out there. Maybe this time it'll be different," I try to have any sliver of hope.

"Beth-"

"Look, baby, we have to have hope right now. We have to keep it together for everyone out there, and we're sure as hell not going to be able to do that by accepting the most likely fate. As of now, there's still a chance they can survive. It may be a small chance, but it's a chance. And we have to hang onto that little piece of hope that we have. I know out there we can't get their hopes up, but right here, right now, between the two of us..." I move closer to him and grip his shoulders. "We have hope. There's still hope. We can't give up on them yet."