Injured Feet & Rickety Hearts {Book 1 Completed}

//Chapter 59//

"Hey M, feeling any better?"

Minho asked as he gave her a tight hug before releasing her, I could see the disbelief on Teresa's face as she saw us treat Laya better than her. Malaya didn't cause the end of the world, that's why she's the favourite.

"Yeah, I'm better thanks"

Minho nodded to her before letting Malaya step over to me, she looked tired, sick of being on her own clearly because when she got to my side she wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my shoulder. Suddenly my heart sank as I hugged her tightly.

"Is Bark ok?"

I – disgracefully – had forgotten about that. I loved that dog, not as much as Malaya clearly. She nodded, and I felt a small window of relief. I guess if Bark was dead she would be hysterical, what had happened to the beast.

"Yeah he's fine. I just didn't want to be on my own anymore"

"That's ok, I'd rather you stick with me today anyway"

Thomas cleared his throat to get our attention and I lifted my head, I continued to hold Malaya against my chest, brushing her hair down as I waited for this news that Tommy had for us. This better be good.

"All right, talk. What's so important?"

Minho said a little frustrated as he folded his arms, I was just as annoyed as well. Thomas gave Teresa a side glance and she shook her head at him.

"What? You talk – They obviously think I'm a serial killer"

"Yeah, you look so dangerous. Okay, when Teresa was first coming out of her deep sleep, she had memories flashing through her mind. Ring a bell Newt"

Thomas nodded his head in motion to Malaya, I pulled her tighter, glaring at him in an attempt to tell him to leave her the hell alone. Malaya had grown more curious clearly and turned around. She leaned on my chest as I rested one of my arms on her shoulder.

I wasn't sure I liked her listening in on this, but it wasn't fair that she was locked up. I can deal with her knowing, I like her being closer anyway. I felt like I was constantly expected to do stuff for everyone. At least now I can look at someone who cared about me no matter what.

"She told me later that she remembers, that the maze is a code. That maybe instead of solving it to find a way out, it's trying to send us a message"

"A code?"

Malaya spoke up, her head tilted to one side as something went through her head. Even from where I was standing I could see that she was suddenly in deep thought. Something had struck in her mind.

Teresa looked at Malaya just as curious, something was going on, what was Malaya remembering. I rubbed her shoulder and tilted my head to speak in her ear.

"I can see your gears turning, what's going on in that head of yours?"

I asked but she didn't respond, she just continued to hold that thinking expression while everyone else talked around us. I didn't get this; how could the maze possibly be a code? This is bloody mental.

"How is it a code?"

Thomas shook his head at Minho's question, see he himself didn't even know. How was he supposed to expect us to believe him and think this all through?

"I don't know for sure – you're way more familiar with the maps than I am. But I have a theory. That's why I was hoping you guys could remember some of them"

Me and Minho exchanged a long look. Everyone believed that all the maps were burnt in that map room fire. I looked over at the building, poor Alby had been picked up and helped away. I still didn't understand what happened. We come out here and the Map room's door is open, the smoke plummeting out of it.