A Way Back - The Maze Runner (♡Newt) UNDER EDITING/REWRITE

Chapter 14

Edited: 25-02-25

~.~.~

Cally

Avoiding Ben on my way to the Homestead proved tricky, but manageable seeing the guy got easily distracted, having short conversations with almost every Shank he passed by.
     The common room and kitchen were mostly empty, except from Frypan, Fred and some other Cooks. I greeted them quickly and almost ran up the stairs. Finally I opened the door to my own little abode, only to stop in my tracks when I found not just Bark lying on the ground by my bed. Beside her, on the ground, still looking pale and sickish, sat Gally.
     "Uh... hey..?" My surprise at seeing the guy in here reflected on his face as well. He probably hadn't expected me to be back so soon. "Last time I checked, this was still my room? Unless there were some renovation plans I didn't know about?" The joking manner I'd meant those words didn't reach Gally, or maybe we had a very different sense of humor because he glared at me and snapped at me through a clenched jaw.
     "If you wouldn't have locked up the shucking dog, it wouldn't have bothered me with her barking."
     I sucked in some air through my teeth, rubbing my upper arm with my free hand. "Sorry about that... But in my defense, Minho dragged me out of here before I even know what was happening."
     "Cally?" Ben's voice called from downstairs. Quickly and without thinking I shut the door behind me, jumped over my bed and hid behind it. Spilling some of Frypan's drink over the ground.
     "What the shuck are you doing?" Gally craned his neck to look at me, the anger replaced by a new found confusion.
     "I'll explain later," I whispered, hoping my urgency came through. "But I'm not here. Good that?"
     The black haired guy's eyebrows crossed, but before he could answer, the door opened to reveal Ben, holding two cups. He also paused the moment he realized it was Gally in the room and not me.
     "Hey Gally, I didn't know you were here." An awkward laugh sounded from the blonde, making me question if even big, muscular Ben got unsettled by the Keeper of the Builders. "Have you seen Cally? I've still got some of Frypan's for her."
     Gally hesitated for a moment as he glanced at me. My eyes widened as the possibility of the guy ratting me out became very big. But instead, Gally just shrugged, "Haven't seen the shank. Maybe she went to the bathroom or something."
     "Okay, thanks, man."
     Relieve washed over me when I heard the squeak of my door closing, only for Gally to speak up again. "Hey Ben."
     I froze, what was he doing?
     "When you see the Shank, tell her to come get the shug dog, the thing wouldn't stop bugging me."
     Ben nodded, "You got it."
     When I finally heard the door closing again, I peaked up from behind the bed, moving on top of it now the cost seemed clear.
     "What was that about?"
     I pulled my hand through my hair, letting out an exasperated sign. "Ben has been... a bit.... clingy, tonight- let's just say it that way. And the only person I don't mind clinginess from is Bark." By the mention of her name, Bark looked up at me, only to lay her head back down after I gave her a few scratches behind her ears.
     "Just tell the shank to back off." Gally spoke as if his solution were the only logical one and I was stupid to not have realized it sooner.
     Even though his tone did not sit well with me, I kept my snarky remark to myself and just nodded. "I could... but why do that when I can just avoid him the rest of the night so I won't have to deal with it?"
     Gally looked at me with crossed eyebrows, clearly not agreeing with my plan of action. "That's the stupidest shug plan I've heard since that Shank went down the Box."
     I took a big sip from my drink, irritation at Gally's unwanted opinion bubbling up inside of me. "You know what? Let's change the subject. How are you doing, Gal? Haven't seen you down there all night."
     "That's none of your business." The guy snapped at me before I'd even finished my sentence. Again I took a long sip, not sure if I should ask anything at all if that would be the response.
I stared at the liquid in my cup during the silence that followed and decided to risk another verbal stone being thrown at my head. "Do you want some of Frypan's special- whatever?"
     This time, Gally did not snap at me but took the cup from my hands. He didn't thank me, which I'd started to realize would be too much to ask from this guy, but then his eyes fell on the watch around my wrist and paused for a second.
     "You're a Runner, huh?" He took a sip and handed the drink back to me, mumbling half to himself. "Should've seen that coming. Bunch of shug jogs. Always think they're so much better then the rest of us."
     I couldn't help but laugh, "Well, fuck, tell me what you really think." When all he did was take another sip, I continued without really thinking things through. "Is that why you went into the Maze? To show them up? Proof they're not special?"
     A deep, angry growl came from the back of Gally's throat before he snarled at me."Just shut your hole, Greenie! You have no idea what your talking about!" Gally turned his head away from me immediately after that, and I could swear I saw some traces of shame or fear mixed in with the anger.
     Startled by the respond I stuck up my hands in surrender. "Okay, sorry, I won't ask again." Kind of just wanting to leave, but also not wanting to give in to this guy scaring my out of my own room I just got up from my bed and moved to the window. Pulling aside the curtain to look through. I could see Newt and Minho sitting by the same tree trunk near the fire. After some time, I also spotted Ben again. He walked up to the other two Runners, they spoke for a moment and then he walked off again. Maybe Gally is right, I thought watching the blonde dude disappear out of my line of sight, I should just be honest with the guy.
     When I turned around, already breathing in to say something, I was just in time to see Gally close the door behind him as he left my room without saying another word.
     I pursed my lips, letting out a huff, "Fair enough." Bark barked one time, looking up at me as if she agreed with my statement. I knelt down beside my girlfriend, softly rubbing her head between my hands. "What do you say, girly? Lets go explore outside a little longer before going to bed?"
     It had become pretty late when I decided to go back downstairs. Most Gladers had retreated to their rooms or lay outside in the grass of their sleeping bags, either talking or slowly falling asleep. Still there were a lot of guys still standing around, talking or playing games with their friends.
     As I made my way towards the still burning fire, Minho passed me by on his way to the Homestead. The moment he recognized me he shot me a smirk, "So you decided to leave your hiding spot? I think your new boyfriend is already asleep somewhere."
     I turned around so I could glare it him, he also stopped and turned to face me. "Okay, Pretty boy. Two things, first: never, ever, call Ben my boyfriend again. Ever." Minho snickered, but did not shot any remarks back for ones. "And second: thank god." I finished with a deep sign of relief, just making Minho laugh more before he responded, big grin on his face.
     "See you tomorrow, Greenie." My new Keeper lazily waved as he continued his way towards the Homestead. " And don't be late! Or I'll drag you out of your bed myself."
     Laughing to myself, I shook my head, calling a "Good night, Minho," after him.
     "You too, Greenie." He called back before disappearing within the building.
     I turned myself to Bark as I walked closer to the fire, close enough to feel the warmth on my skin. "You know what, Barky? I think this place could be worse. I mean, synthetic happiness is a thing. Right, girl?" Bark just looked at me, eyes blank, tongue hanging out of her mouth. The shadows of the fire dancing on her little face. "Yeah, you're right. Probably not the best kind of happiness."
     "Ya know she can't talk, right?" I looked up, squinted my eyes against the bright light from the fire to try and find the source of Newt's voice.
     "That's where you're wrong, my friend." I responded after finding the Glade's Second-in-Command sitting against a log not too far from me. "She can talk, you just can't understand her."
     Newt raised his eyebrows at me, eyes following me as I walked closer, sitting down on top of the log he leaned against. "Oh, and let me guess, you can?"
     "For a matter of fact, yes. I speak dog." It took a little effort to keep my voice and expression as serious as I could, especially while watching the expression of disbelieve on Newt's face turn into a soft chuckle as he shook his head.
     "Of course ya do, Cals."
     "I really do." I surprised myself with how serious I still manged to sound.
     Newt send me a playful glare while looking up at me through some loose hanging strands of his hair. "Exactly how much of Frypan's drink did ya have?"
     I scoffed, glancing at the cup in my hands before turning my attention back to Newt, who seemed to be trying to keep in his amusement at my expression, and failing pretty miserably. "I will have you know, Newton, that the amount of Frypan's drink I've consumed this evening has had no influence on my perception of reality."
     This time, Newt did laugh. "But ya can talk to dogs?"
     "Obviously." I tried to keep a straight face, but this time it didn't last longer than a few seconds before I started to laugh. I let myself slide down from the trunk, taking place beside Newt in the grass. "Okay, there is a slight possibility that I do not."
     "Just a slight?"
     "Okay, maybe more." I stirred the liquid in the cup in my hand by turning it in circles, watching it form a little whirlpool. After drinking about a cup and a half I'd started to feel the slight influence of some kind of alcohol that definitely was mixed into it to some extend. My body felt a little lighter and socializing came a little easier to me. Part of me knew that that also meant that slipping up would be a lot easier, too, but the other part of me did not really care that much. Even so, I offered the cup to Newt. "You want the rest?"
     Seeming a little surprised he took the cup from me, eyeing the liquid for a second before taking a sip. "Didn't think I would get some from you for a change."
     I waved it off. "Well, I took yours. Twice. So, you know. Now drink before I change my mind, Newton." His eyes smiled at me over the cub while he drank some more. "You know what," I started, "let's find out what's inside of it. I wanne know, and I'm sure you want to too." Newt seemed to consider my words, but I just continued before he could say anything. "Come on, Newt! You can't deny that you're at least curious."
     "I may be, but a lot of Shanks already tried to find out, and Frypan wouldn't say a single thin'. It's practically the best kept secret in the whole shug Glade."
     "I don't believe that Frypan is the only one that knows. Maybe Gideon knows too, or Mickey or Fred. Someone who is a little more loose lipped."
     "Even if that's true, none of those Shanks would be stupid enough to cross their Keeper. Unless they wanne risk getting their heads smashed in with a pan."
I let out an amused scoff, "What happened to 'Never hurt another Glader'? Or do the rules not apply for Keepers?"
     "No, they do. Everyone has to follow the rules, or none of this would be possible."
     "So they won't actually be taking a risk." I continued, happy Newt proved my point by answering my answer seriously. "Which means there is a chance someone will talk. I mean, I am friends with some of the other Cooks." I leaned back against the trunk, watching the remaining flames dance around on the logs. Now most Gladers had retreated the noises from before had as well. Sitting here now, the fire no longer blazing, without the loud drums or shouting boys around the circle, I felt a lot more at ease.
     "I think I'm gonna start with Fred, he's nice enough."
     Newt laughed, shaking his head. "Wow, Cals, didn't expect you to go that low that fast."
     Bark lay her head in my lap and in response I lay my arm on her back, softly smoothing out her fur. "How's that low?"
     Newt looked at me from the corner if his eyes, one eyebrow raised. "You know."
     I returned a confused look, "No? I don't? How is asking a friend for a favor low?"
      "Oh, come on, Cally. We all know the bugger has a bloody crush on you. Asking him for somethin' that could end him in Fry's bad graces-"
My eyes grew wide as Newt's words sunk in. "Fred does not have a crush on me." I interrupted the blonde.
      Newt stopped for a moment, trying to figure out if I was being serious or not. "No, he does. Almost everyone knows it at this point. Did ya not see the way he gaped at you during your test? Sure some Gladers were more then a little impressed watching ya climb the Bloodhouse like it was bloody nothin', but he stared at ya as if you just killed a shug Griever with a pocket knife."
     I scoffed, letting myself fall back against the log again. "Don't be ridiculous, people don't have crushes on me."
     "Says the person who's been trailed around by Ben all night."
     Another scoff sounded from me as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Not sure if Ben is into me, or just into getting attention."
     Newt shrugged, taking another sip. "Yeah, alright, ya got a point there. But still, Fred does, and it wouldn't surprise me if Jeff does, too."
     "Okay, Newton, first, I'm pretty sure Jeff is not interested in the opposite sex. I mean did you see him and Clint tonight? They were practically all over each other."
     "Oh, so that ya do notice?"
     I ignored Newt's comment as I continued. "Second, I've been here for what? A week? No offense but all of you barely know me. So if those Shanks really think they like me like that, it's because I'm the only girl they've ever seen. So it doesn't count."
     Newt laughed while shaking his head, continuing in a teasing tone. "Even so, I'm pretty sure if ya would flirt with the Shank Fred'll tell ya what he knows."
     "O my god." I couldn't believe my ears, joking or not, the idea on its own disgusted me. "I'm not flirting with anyone to get anything, that's just wrong. Besides I am a horrible flirt. I can guarantee you that any kind of feelings Fred may or may not have for me before will be gone the moment I try to flirt with the Shank."
     Another wave of laughter came from the guy beside me, probably thinking I was joking. I really wasn't. "Ya can't be that bad."
     "No, seriously, I am."
     "Well then, maybe ya should practice." There was a genuine curiosity in the Runner's voice, mixed with the same teasing tone from before that I couldn't ignore. "I am sure Ben would jump to the opportunity to be your little lab rat."
     I rolled my eyes, slapping the guy on his shoulder, only earning another laugh from him. "Oh shut up, Newton. I ain't flirting with anyone. Not to get information and definitely not for practice. Lilly tried to teach me ones and believe me, it was a total disaster."
     Newt's laughter stopped, all amusement gone from his voice. "Who's Lilly?"
     The blood drained from my face as realization hit me. "I... Who?" Newt turned to me fully, his normally calm, hazel eyes now held an intimidating urgency that made a wave of prickling fear run down my spine. "I don't know-" I managed to push past my lips, trying not to break under Newt's stare, but my high pitched voice gave my nerves away. I cleared it, taking a deep breath before forcing a laugh in the hopes I could wave it off. "Sorry, I meant Billy, not Lilly. Or... I- um- I think his name was Billy? I'm not sure. There are so many people here I have no idea who is who and uh... well... Don't know a Lilly. I mean, I've heard of the flower, obviously, but a- a- a person? Not a person, I mean..." Newt's face did not change, no hint of amusement or confusion or a trace that he believed me. I knew the rambling flood of words leaving my mouth did nothing to make up for my mistake. For a split second I considered throwing all my pride out of the window and try to flirt my way out, only before I could embarrass myself even more, Newt got up.
     "Come." One word. Just one word. But it held all of the authority of a Second-in-Command.
     I hesitated, leaning closer to the trunk behind me, making myself smaller as if somehow I could merge with the dead wood and disappear from the entire situation. "I don't think I want to..."
     Newt knelt in front of me, the same intensity in his features as before. "You either come with me right now, or I'll drag your butt straight to Alby, good that?"
      Swallowing loudly, and not knowing what else to fucking do, I gave in. My voice slightly shaking as I answered. "Okay... fine..."
     Newt got back up and I followed his example, Bark, who had been lazily laying beside me the entire time, now also pushed herself back on her four feet and followed us.
     Part of me wanted to ask where we were going after realizing we were not heading towards the Homestead. A million possibilities shoot through my mind, trying to figure out what to do if he would attack me or lock me in the Slammer, or what to say if he asked about Lilly. The jumble of thoughts kept coming and going and before I could form a coherent plan, Newt stopped walking when we'd reached the Graveyard inside the Deadheads and turned to me with crossed arms. On my turn I'd started to rub my upper arm in an attempt to calm myself a little.
     For a moment, we just stood there looking at each other in silence. Then, Newt spoke up. "What 're ya waiting for, Cally? Shoot."
     I didn't say anything, just looked at him with eyebrows crossed. He means tell him? I thought. What am I even supposed to say? I lied, I am actually from a different dimension where all of this is fictional and I have no idea how I got here or how to get back? Yeah... no... He will think I've completely lost it.
     "Com'n, Cally." Newt started again, frustration starting to sound through his voice. His tone becoming harder and more urgent with every word. "You remember things, don't you? What do you know? Who's Lilly? Is she one of them? A Creator?"
I opened my mouth, only to close it again, unable to bring out a sound. I pressed my arms closer around me, hugging myself tighter in the hopes it would soothe the tension in my body or the tightness in my chest.
     It didn't.
     Agitated at my lack of response, Newt pulled his hand through his hair. "Cally-"
     I jolted back the moment Newt took a step closer. My back hitting a tree, but I did not look away from him. No matter how nice he'd been to me so far or how at ease he'd made me feel before, I did not know him well and I did not know what he would be capable off when angry.
     Newt froze at my response, his features softening a bit as he seemed to recognize the fear in mine. He took a deep breath, the tension in his shoulders lessening and letting his arms fall beside his body. When he spoke up again, he didn't sound threatening, just desperate. "Sorry. I just... If you know anything. You've got to tell me."
     I started rubbing my thumbs over my arms without unfolding them. "I..." My next words immediately got stuck in my throat. Every fiber in my body screaming at me to just shut the fuck up.
     "Yes? Yes, what did you wanne say, Cals?" A hint of hope sparked in his eyes, making my stomach drop even further down. I didn't know what he expected of me, what kind of answers he imagined I had. I would only disappoint him and put myself in more danger because of it.
     I couldn't look him in the eye although I never let him leave my field of vision as I managed to push words out of my throat, my voice barely louder then a whisper. "I don't know anything."
     "Cally," Newt started carefully, "y'know. Keeping secrets in here, big ones, are gonna get ya in trouble. We have to keep order, or everything is gonna blow up in our faces. To make sure that doesn't happen, we need to trust each other. So, if you decide you want to tell me, I'll listen." I didn't react, I just stared at the ground. Not knowing what to do. "I'll leave ya alone now. You know where to find me."
     The moment he started to walk away, my head shot up and the words left my lips before I could stop them. "Promise me you won't tell anyone."
     Newt stopped in his tracks, turning to me with a new found curiosity. "I can't do that."
     "Than I can't tell you."
     "Why?" The frustration started to flicker on again. "Why can't you just bloody tell me?"
     "Because you'll think I fucking lost it!" I didn't mean to snap, but I couldn't help it. My voice shaking with every word. "Because honestly I think I did and I don't know what to do. Nothing makes any fucking sense." Tears of welled up fear and frustrated stung my eyes, but I forced them back down. I couldn't cry. Not here. Not now. Not in front of him.
     I could hear a group of Gladers laugh from a distance in the silence that followed as Newt seemed to consider my words. "Okay."
     "What?"
     He took a careful step back towards me, when I did not flinch back, he took a few more. Stopping with room for multiple people between us. "I promise I won't tell a soul. Not without your say so. As long as ya promise to be honest with me. Good that?"
     I felt my body relax ever so slightly as his words sunk in. "Okay." I mumbled, nodding my head a few times, swallowing some of my emotions further down. "Okay, I can do that."
     "Okay then," Newt leaned back against a tree a few feet away from me, his voice a lot calmer then before. "Who is Lilly?"
     I took a few shaky breaths, suddenly finding it very hard to breath again. Not able to look him in the eye, I also leaned back against a tree, looking up at the branches as they softly swayed in the wind. "My sister. Lilly is my sister."
     "You remember your sister?" I nodded, not sure what else to say on it. "How?"
     "I... I lied. At the Gathering, I mean. I still have my memories-" Noticing Newt was about to chime in, I quickly continued. "Long term- I don't know how I got here or where here is. I don't know who the fuck the creators are or-" I took a deep breath, feeling my breathing becoming shallow as I spoke. "Or what they want... I just remember where I come from."
     When Newt didn't respond for a while I glanced back at him to find him analyzing me with a deep frown on his face. I could only guess at what he must be thinking, and neither of my guesses had expected the question that came out of his mouth when he did decided to speak up. "Tell me 'bout her. Lilly, what's she like?"
     I stopped for a moment, considering if I'd heard him right. I had expected him to ask about the world or Wicked or anything to do with what they were locked in here for, definitely not my home life. "I... Sure... Um..." I thought about my older sister, not sure where to start. "Lilly is um, two years older then me. She studies Neuroscience," I couldn't help the little, sad, chuckle as memories of my sister and the rest of my family came to the service. I let myself slide down the tree, sitting down between the leaves instead, not trusting my shacking legs to hold me much longer.
     Bark, noticing my distress, forced herself between my arms, pressing her head against my chest. Giving in immediately I started to pet her, hoping the distraction would help me push the tears back down. "We always talked about biology stuff whenever she'd visit from College, telling each other what we'd learned during dinner, everyone else hates it. One time, Ezra-"
     I chocked on the words, pressing my lips closed before the sob could escape my throat. I took a deep, quavering breath, balling my hands into fist in a desperate attempt to stop them from shaking. "My- my twin- he- um... he-" With every word the pitch in my voice went up and it became harder to breath or form words.
     Ever since the day I'd realized all of this was really happening, I'd managed to suppress the memories, staying occupied to not think about my family or how much I fucking missed them, how desperate I wanted to be with them, to be home. To fight with Darren over the stupidest things like which Pokémon was the strongest, for Ezra's horrible jokes and to just hear mom's voice, to hear her heartbeat as she holds me and tells me everything would be okay.
     But instead of mom, Bark let out a little wine as she nuzzled her head into the crook of my neck, her wet nose against my neck making me flinch, some goosebumps running down my spine. Taking all the comfort I could get, I wrapped my hands around her and pressed my face against her fur. Involuntarily the first sob escaped my throat together with the tears I could not keep down anymore. Bark stopped moving around, leaning her head on my shoulder, letting me cling to her.
     Too overwhelmed by my own emotions and the static of thoughts rushing through my brain, I did not notice Newt coming closer. Not until I felt a hand on my free shoulder. With a jolt I sat up again, I could barely see the guy's expression while he sat down beside me, eyes blurry from the tears. Immediately I started to frantically wipe the tears from my cheeks, not wanting to make a bigger fool of myself.
     "Sorry." I mumbled, voice still shaky. "Sorry, I-" I stopped talking, realizing Newt had opened his arms, offering me a hug. If I'd been any less upset, I'd have turned it down, but desperate for physical contact I practically shot towards him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I'd done to Bark mere second ago. The dog, now released from my grip, walked around the two of us, not leaving my side even though she could.
     Newt hesitated a little before closing his arms around me. Tightening his grip a little after my body started to shake with more sops, tears soaking through his shirt. I tried to slow it down, control my breathing, but it only seemed to make things worse. I couldn't stop the tears just as I couldn't stop the overwhelming flood of emotions washing over me.
     "I'm sorry." I manged to crock out between rapid breaths.
     "It's okay." Newt soothed, one hand going up and down my back, although a little awkwardly. Clearly not knowing what else to do, but I was grateful for it anyway.
     After a little while, my breathing calmed down again, and the tears stopped coming. The shaking in my body still present, although a lot less intense. Taking another deep breath, I pushed myself away from Newt. Wiping my eyes a few times, and pulling my hand through my hair to smooth it out a little.
     "Sorry... I um, miss them. A lot." I didn't look him in the eyes, but I could see him nod.
     "I imagine." A short silence followed. "So, you're a twin?"
     I nodded, smiling softly, somehow after letting it all out, thinking about my family came easier. "Yeah. Ezra and I were a menace when we were kids. Always getting into trouble. Why mom and dad decided they wanted another kid after us I will never understand."
     "So, there's four of you?"
     "Yep. Me and Ez, Lilly and little Darren." I picked up a stick from the ground and started to pick at it absentmindedly.
     "Your parents got busy."
     A sad sounding laugh escaped my throat, "You could say that. I..." I trailed off, loosing whatever I wanted to say next. "I got to get back to them. They must be worried sick. What if they think I ran away? Or had an accident or..." I did not finish my sentence, not wanting to think of that possibility.
     "You'll get back." The blonde spoke up again. "We're gonna get out of here, and you'll see 'em again."
     I glanced up at him, daring to look him in the eyes again. I don't know what response I'd been expecting, anger, maybe? But when I met his eyes all I saw was sympathy. "You believe me? And you're not angry?"
     He shook his head, "No. But why didn't ya just tell us you remember?"
     I threw the stick back to the ground with a frustrated huff. "I told you my last name and half of you were ready to Banish me. I- What else was I supposed to fucking do but lie? Better to blend in then stand out." I pulled up my legs, wrapping my arms around them. "Not like I already stand out enough as it is."
     Newt pulled his hand through his hair, leaning back on his other hand with a deep sign. "Good that... Rolls reversed most of those buggers would've done the same. Shuck, I'd have done the bloody same. But still, you remember. If not how you got here, ya remember the world. You can give us answers. Ya've no bloody clue how badly we've-"
     "No." I started to shake my head furiously, some tears springing back in my eyes. "No... No, you don't understand."
     "Then explain it to me." Newt sounded so sincere, it made me want to trust him. To tell him everything and finally be able to share the impossible situation I'd fallen into. But what good would that do?
     "Please?"
     I held his gaze for a moment, not sure what to do. "You'll think I'm crazy, and honestly, I won't blame you."
     "I won't. Well, not more then before." I forced a small laugh at his attempt at a joke. My laugh making him smile down at me. "And the promise still stands. I won't tell a single Shank."
      "Okay..." I nodded slowly, realizing I was actually about to do this. "Well, this is me trusting you... I... um... okay. This is going to sound crazy. But, I- I'm not from this... place."
     "Yes... none of us are." Newt tried carefully.
     I rolled my eyes, letting out a frustrated puff of air. "That's not- I mean, I'm not from this world."
     Newt stared at me for a moment, I could almost see the wheels in his head turning. "Ya mean, you're like an alien?"
     "Fucking hell..." I mumbled to myself. "No, I'm not an ali- I am human. I mean..." I trailed off, rubbing my eyes. Realizing I needed to rearrange my thoughts to explain it better. "When I came here, when I woke up. I thought I was dreaming, remember?" Newt nodded, waiting for me to continue. "That is because, well, I am from a place- a world- where this, the Glade, the Maze, all of it, is a work of fiction. A book. Five of them, actually. And three movies. I- I watched some of them, Jenny loved them, she dragged me along and- well- I didn't pay much attention. And I hate that I didn't. If I had and I could remember more about this place maybe we could've been out of here by now-"
     "Hold up, slow down." I hadn't even noticed I'd started rambling until Newt interrupted me, the confusion on his face had only grown more intense. He didn't say anything as he processed my words, clearly considering the possibility that I had completely lost my mind and probably should be better off in the Slammer.
     When the silence dragged on, I crimped in on myself. "You think I lost it, don't you?"
     The blonde considered his answer, his voice very careful when he eventually did. "I think that if you could proof it, it would be easier to believe."
     My face lit up, "Okay." Immediately I opened my bag, rummaged through it for a moment before puling out my phone. "Look." I turned it back on, it'd been off ever since I'd got here, wanting to spare the battery in case I'd need it later. When the screen lit up, Newt leaned over my shoulder to take a better look while I unlocked my phone. The background displaying a field of cornflowers, shimmering with the frozen morning dew made place for a picture of me and my siblings. I tried not to linger on their faces as I opened my gallery and scrolled down until I found what I'd been searching for.
     "Here." I turned the screen to Newt. Showing a picture of me and Jenny, standing in front the Maze Runner movie promo poster. We'd taken it on the day we went to see it for the first time in the Cinema. "Here it is."
      Newt scanned the picture, clearly confused that I just handed him a mobile phone. A thing he probably knew about but had never seen before. "Who's that girl beside you?" He asked, eventually, pointing to my blonde haired friend.
      "Jenny. My best friend. And yes, I know, she's gorgeous and very skilled with a bow and arrow- might I add-" I shook my head. "But that's not important right now. You see what we're standing for? It's the promo from the first movie. The first movie about you guys."
      Newt squinted, trying to focus better on the poster. "Who are those people on the photo?"
     I took my phone back, double tapping the screen to zoom in. "You guys. That's Minho, that's you, that's Alby." Granted, they did't exactly look the same, although Minho's actor turned out to be pretty accurately cast. So was Alby's.
     "Is that you?" Newt pointed at the only girl on the poster I knew to be Teresa, but I shook my head.
     I shook my head. "What? No. I'm not in the movie, nor the books."
     "But, you're here, you're in the story." A bit of relieve washed over me now Newt seemed to go along with what I'd told him.
     "No! That's the point! I'm not." A bit of energy found it's way back into me, finally able to get it off my chest. "This, this isn't supposed to happen. Everything is different from the movie. It shouldn't be like this."
     The blonde leaned back again, processing all of it. "You're right." He eventually said. "This does sound bloody bonkers."
     My heart sank, the bit of hope I'd felt for being taken seriously evaporating. "You... you believe me? Right?" I didn't even try to hide the desperation in my voice.
     Newt's eyes scanned my face as if he somehow could figure me out by simply looking at me. Then he seemed to settle on a conclusion. "You know what? All of this, us being put in here. Those Grievers out there, the walls moving. All of that shouldn't be possible, but it's still bloody happening."
     "So?"
     "So, I think you're not lying."
     I let out a relieved sigh. "Oh thank god."
     "God? Maybe you are going crazy." Newt joked, making me smile and roll my eyes.
     "You know what I meant, Newton."
     He smiled back at me, only for his face to turn serious again. I could see him trying to be casual about it, but his desperation for answers could not be hidden. And I did not blame him after being locked in here for who knows how long, with no memories except for a name. "So... Cals. Those movies... What do they say? 'bout this place, about us? Does it say way we're locked in here?"
      I took a deep breath, thinking about everything Jenny had told me about the movies and books. They were very different if I must believe her. Which already makes it hard to tell what would apply in here... "I gotta be honest, I am not sure what to believe. Everything is so different then what I remember. But, I know... I think. It's an experiment. We are being tested. Something is wrong, and somehow we are part of the solution. Or... you guys are... I don't know how I fit into all this."
     "A solution? For what?"
     I shrugged, "I don't know. But the series is Dystopian, meaning the world is probably not in the best state. Somehow all of this is supposed to fix it."
     For the first time, Newt let out an angry growl, "Nothing's worth any of this."
    A little taken aback by the sharpness in his voice, I looked at him to find a mixture of emotions i could not entirely place. Gently I placed my hand on his arm. "No, it's not." When he didn't pull away, I dared to give a soft squeeze. "But let's first get out of here. Then we can think about getting some payback on those assholes out there for putting us through this hellhole."
     The boy huffed, "Ya don't happen to know the way out, do ya?"
     I pulled my hand back, "Not exactly... But I know the way out is out there, in the Maze." I nodded towards the closest, gigantic wall. "And I'll find it. I just gotta jog my memory. Good thing that exercising activated our brain activity."
     "That's why ya wanted to be a Runner so bloody badly, isn't it?"
     I nodded, "Yeah... If I could just remember, we could be out of here in no time." Then, almost inaudible, I mumbled, "And hopefully solving this will take me home as well."
     "Not the worst bugging plan I've witnessed. But I think we should tell Alby."
     "No!" I shot up, turning to Newt fully, "No, please, don't tell him. Don't tell anyone, you promised you wouldn't tell anyone."
     The boy's expression changed again, a frown on his face and a hint of worry in his eyes. "It'll Okay, Cally. He wouldn't hurt ya because you lied to protect y'self, he will understand."
     "But will he believe me?" I saw the flicker of hesitation in Newt and immediately continued. "He won't. You know he won't. We'll tell him and he won't believe me and then what? He'll lock me in the Slammer or whatever you guys do when you think someone's lost it. Please, just, keep it between us for now. Tomorrow I'll start training to be a Runner and then I could use what I know to find a way out. Just give me some time, please."
     I could see the conflicted feelings mess with him, considering everything I'd told him and what to do with it. Eventually, he closed his eyes and signed. "Fine. Greenie. I'll keep my mouth shut. But you'll tell me when ya remember somethin', and if it gets out of hand, we'll talk to Alby. Good that?"
     Relieve washed over me. "Yes, absolutely. If things get really fucked, we'll go to Alby. I promise."
     "Okay then." Newt pushed himself back up, brushing the leaved off his pants before offering me a hand. I took it, letting him help me up. "It's gettin' late, and you need as much rest as ya can get. Big day tomorrow."
     I nodded that I agreed. "Yes, you're probably right." With one last smile, Newt turned around and started to walk away, only for me to stop him. "Wait." He turned back around, looking at me while I made my way over to him, waiting for me to continue. "Thank you."
     His smile grew, a little huff of air leaving his nostrils. "No problem, Greenbean."
     On my turn my smile turned into a glare, "When are you gonna stop calling me that?"
     The blonde chuckled, "you'll get used to it."

~.~.~