Stars ➳ TMR, Thomas [1] ✓

Chapter {8}

Last day's events have already faded from my mind, it being preoccupied by the thought of Deadheads; what Chuck told me it is used for. An eerie graveyard or a hang out place for Gladers. In the early morning of the next day, I was walking silently next to the crystal clear, blue stream of water. It rippled on light rays of sun, reflections of trees on its surface like a mirror.

I crossed it in one leap, finding myself amongst the thicker canopy of trees. The air's ashy and stale composition creeped into my nose like dust from an old and rarely used object. The ground covered in dead leaves and dry branches, a cemetery like atmosphere coming from them. I looked around, freezing on spot in the dead grass as three makeshift crosses came into my sight. An uneasy feeling creeped in the pit of my stomach, curiosity being stronger than it so I pushed it away as well as I could and solemnly walked toward the crosses, eyes never leaving the wood.

Eric. Read the name on the wooden engraving, the uneven letters already faded from their spot on the cross as I crouched down by the grave. My hand reached up, almost as if it was drawn to the name somehow.

"See you found the three mysteries." Minho's voice made me flinch and almost stumble over the branches laying close to the grave.

"Were you following me?" I stressed out uneasily, turning my head to meet the boy.

"Nah, saw you go into the Deadheads. Thought to join you since Thomas is still half asleep and probably won't be running for another hour." He shrugged at the mention of his friend's name on which I felt like something danced in my stomach.

Minho joined me in my position next to Eric's grave. He observed it, thinking like he had forgotten who the dead boy was. His eyes narrowed.

"Why do you have that face?" I asked, after minute of his staring passed.

"What face?" Minho tried to play it casual, but a deeply concentrated tone in his voice gave him away.

"Like you're trying to remember him." I continued.

"Because I am. He's a complete mystery. He came with the group I did, ran into the Maze a month later for completely unknown reason, Newt and another Runner found him dead in Section 2, brought him here. Next day, after funeral nobody remember anything but that he died in the Maze." Minho told me the whole story, his face not revealing any emotion, maybe because he couldn't remember what Eric used to be like, but even if I haven't met or never will meet this boy I still felt sadness engrave in my heart.

"What about him?" I pointed at the grave with a name Jamie written on and Minho crouched next to me, hands on his knees.

He rose his eyebrows as almost fear of something crossed his face. He shook it off, putting his normal expression. "He's honestly the saddest story. He was Chris's best friend. Good, hard-working, would never harm anyone. Just like you. I think that's the main reason Chris is that way toward you. He's afraid because you remind him of Jamie. Anyway, Jamie was deep down a sad person, and his shyness wasn't helping. He wanted to be like Gally or Alby, so he ran into the Maze in hopes of proving himself to the leader. Next day I found him just around the corner, throat slit, dozens of sting marks and a broken arm. I carried him back, did everything to help Chris afterwards, but the anger and sadness Jamie's death filled him with couldn't be controlled. We let him be, buried Jamie here and made a promise to tell Greenies the story on how he died. Just for their sakes." This time a flash of sadness crossed Minho's face, as quick as it was before he wiped it away. I though, let my heart ache, even if I haven't met Jamie I have realised how much people you lose can affect you and how much it had affected Chris. Before, I thought his hate was because he hated changes, because he hated seeing something different for the first time or since the last time he could remember seeing it. But I'd never guess his hate had grown from pain and sadness, I'd never guess his best friend who he had lost and our similarity were the things affecting him in this way.