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

Chapter 16

Edited: 21-03-25

~.~.~

Cally

During the years of training it had taken me to become somewhat good at parkour my muscles at ached and protested. Especially after I'd made particularly nasty falls or pushed myself further then I probably should have. Even so, that did not compare to running in the Maze for seven hours straight. Don't get me wrong, I do not regret becoming a Runner, but although I absolutely love the feeling of the adrenaline and the wind on my face, I miss the thrill of climbing buildings and jumping down stairwells. Besides only running will definitely throw off the balance in use of the muscles in my upper body, that besides from cutting off some strings of ivy and making a drawing hadn't had any exercise, not compared to my legs, which ached with exhaustion. Even now, as I sat on a bench eating beans and backed potatoes my legs still protested.
     Minho and Alby had been talking about something related to some Builders, but my attention turned to my plate rather quickly. Not finding any interest in their topic of conversation and using the time to arrange my own thoughts after today.
     Even though I had been in the Glade for quite some time now, it still felt so surreal. Especially now I've also been inside the Maze. I mean the Maze itself! When I watched the movie for the first time, I had been so happy it was all fiction and felt a particular amount of gratitude that people weren't actually being forced to run around in between those creepy old walls infested with those terrifying, bio-engineered freaks of nature- But now? All of that would be part of my daily routine. And it had been my own choice. Of course with good reason, I had to find a way out of here, and right now I was everyone's best bet. They may not know it, and I might not have remembered anything just yet, but I would. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but eventually.
     Something flashed across my field of vision, way too close to make out what I shot back on reflex. Only just able to grab the side of the table to not fall off my seat.
     "Wow, Cally, calm down." Alby said through a laugh.
     "In which universe were you, Greenie?" Minho, who had been the one to wave his hand in front of my face a second ago, asked with an annoyingly smug smirk on his face.
     Realizing there wasn't any danger I relaxed again, leaning my head on one of my hands as I answered, the other one poking some beans with my fork. "One with dragons eating from cotton candy trees that sparkle in the sun."
     My remark earned me weird looks from Minho and Alby. "You sure you're not jacked in the head?" Minho asked me with a raised eyebrow.
     I smiled at him as I got up from the table, "Never said I wasn't, Pretty boy." I petted him on the head before walking away. To say my social battery of today had been drained would be an understatement. I needed to be alone, away from people and Minho's sarcastic comments. A girl can only handle those for so long without snapping.
     The moment I set foot outside of the Homestead, my legs got attacked by my absolute favorite Glader. Bark, completely lost in her enthusiasm jumped up against me with her full weight and before I knew what was happening, I found myself on my back in the grass, a dog standing on top of my chest. "Oh my god, Bark, you little monster." I half laughed and half groaned at the pain of the collision with the ground. Bark did not seem to notice my slight struggle, way too busy trying to lick my face.
     "You okay?" I couldn't see the boy the voice belonged to at first, not with Bark blocking most of my vision. Not until I'd pushed her off of me did I recognized Gally looking down at me. The black haired boy stuck out his hand to help me up, which I accepted. The boy pulled me up as if I weighted absolutely nothing.
     "Yes. Yeah, I'm fine," I said as I knocked some dirt from my pants. "You're doing better, I see."
     Gally nodded once, clearly not knowing why he had started to have a conversation with me of all people. "I'm working again. Good thing too, those Slintheads were bugging lost without me."
     "I bet. Just take it easy, you'll still have to get back to full strength."
     "Slim it, Greenie. You're not a Med-jack, so don't act like one."
     I honestly could not place if Gally was snapping at me or messing with me, so I just smiled, hoping it would come across less awkward then I felt. "Yeah... I guess I just can't help it, so you'll have to deal with it."
     The ghost of a smile flickered across Gally's lips, just for a split second before it disappeared again, but I'd seen it.
     "Hey, umm.." The guy started, sticking his hands in his pockets. He seemed in some kind of conflict with himself as he thought about his next words, determined to look up at the sky or the ground, as long as it meant not look at me directly. "I umm... I wanted to thank you." He eventually managed to push over his lips. "For... you know." It sounded like saying those words actually caused him physically pain. But realizing this would be about how sincere as it would get coming from Gally, I smiled at him.
     "You're welcome."
     Gally shot me a tight lipped smile, eyes now also actually meeting mine. "Well, I'm heading inside."
     I nodded, answering while he'd already started to walk away. "okay, well, see you around."
     Fucking finally. I thought ones the guy had left my sight. Not that I didn't appreciate his gratitude, I just wanted to be left alone for ten fucking minutes.
     I turned, about to head towards the Deadheads, my dog in tow, only to spot Newt. Clearly he'd just finished in the Map-room, the guy waved at me. I forced a smile as I stood there, hating that I'd decided to go outside instead of just locking myself in my room. The last thing I wanted was for Newt to start talking about last night or confront me with the fact that I hadn't found anything useful today.
     "Hey Cals, was Gally botterin' ya?"
     A bit surprised by his question, It took a moment to process. "What? No, he just thanked me."
     "Gally... thanked you?" Newt repeated slowly as if he barely believed it himself.
     "Yes, Gally thanked me. I think it cost him more effort than cutting down a tree with a butter knife, but he did."
     My words earned me a snicker from Newt. Somehow, it eased the tension I felt a little bit.
     "Never thought I would hear that." The disbelieve in his voice clear. "Anyway, did ya have a good run?"
     "Yep," I let the p plop. "I'm exhausted, but fine. How about you?"
     Newt let out a short huff, his shoulders sinking a little for a moment. "It was fine, nothin' special. But everythin' went well with ya guys? No Grievers?"
I shook my head no, "Nope. No Grievers, just walls covert in ivy and a bunch of Beetle Blades like, everywhere."
     "Okay, well, good."
     Even though Newt tried to hide it, I could see he wanted to ask me something else. Finding the silence more awkward than having to answer the question, I signed, "It's fine, you can ask."
     Newt glanced at me, scratching the back of his head. "Well.... I was wondering...." He stopped, thought about it, and then rearranged his thoughts. "Ya will tell me when- ya know?"
     I couldn't help the slight amusement tugging on me watching this tall guy, the Glade's very own Second-in-Command, stumble over his words. With a little chuckle I held up my hand, sticking out my pinky. Newt copied my laugh, realizing my intention, reaching to hook his pink with mine, only for me to quickly pull my hand back. "And you aren't telling anyone what I told you?"
     "Of course, I promised, didn't I?"
     Satisfied, I brought my hand forward again, hooking our fingers together and sealing our pinky promise.
     And with that, Newt seemed to be satisfied. "I'm gonna eat, ya comin' with?"
     I shook my head, "I already ate, and to be honest with you. I'm kinda done being around people. I'm heading for the Deadheads with Bark. At least there it's quieter than everywhere else in this fucking place."
     Newt nodded that he understood, "Well, good luck avoiding everyone. See ya later."
I smiled at him as I started walking away, "thanks Newton."