Injured Feet & Rickety Hearts {Book 1 Completed}

//Chapter 72//

My heart jumped as Alby started to walk forward, he looked like a robot, he looked dead, like he didn't really care anymore. I shot my hand out, desperate to grab a hold of his arm, but he was out of reach.

"Alby, get back here!"

Newt yelled after him, but Alby had already started running through the crowd. He pushed and shoved, me diving after him, in the process I found myself sprinting after him. I can't let him do this.

My heart was rapid, he was cruel, but he didn't deserve this. I cried out to stop him, Newt cried out to me. It was all a mess. Both me and Alby broke free from the crowd and into the open, but there was nothing I could do.

I watched helpless as Alby threw himself onto a griever that blocked our path from the griever hole. My whole mind started to burn as I watched the brutal slaughter, my hand tightening on the bow.

Alby tried to sink his knife into the griever he attacked, but the screeching and whirring filled the maze as the grievers attacked Alby. I wanted to scream, but anger filled me more than fear. They attacked Alby as he was brought to the ground. I don't know if what I'm hearing is true, that Alby wasn't screaming in pain. Had he died before the brutality had happened.

Was he dead?

I heard yelling from behind me. It was Newt's voice, he was telling someone to let him go and his voice also called my name. But I found myself frozen, unable to move. I couldn't do anything as I watched more grievers jump onto Alby, attacking viciously and violently.

My hands itched to pull the bow, I couldn't control myself. I couldn't handle it anymore. I pulled the bow out and drew the string, I almost let the arrow fly, But once again Newt had yanked me back, holding me so close to his chest that air escaped my lungs.

It crushed me, to feel how much Newt was shaking, that when he spoke to me, that his entire voice sounded like it was on the edge of breaking.

"What were you thinking!?"

"I-I-I"

"I can't lose you too Malaya, don't be reckless!"

He yelled and tears stung his eyes, he was so afraid. It crushed me, I looked deep within his eyes and wished upon all that was left that he was gonna be ok.

"We'll fight 'em if we have to, make a path to the cliff for you and Teresa. Get in the hole and do your thing – we'll keep them off until you scream for us to follow."

Newt looked distraught at what Minho had just said, I knew Newt and Alby were close friends. My heart raced, my eyes stung as I saw these creatures rip him apart. He had sacrificed himself for us, for all of us.

All I could think about was before, only an hour ago I had hugged Alby, now he had gone rouge and thrown himself into the claws of the grievers. And now we were all standing here waiting for... nothing! Why were we still standing here!?

I growled and struggled against Newt's arm's, but he only growled back at me, ordering me to stop. I can't take this anymore. Everyone was dying around me, and these creators thought it was funny.

"How could you be so heartless?"

Newt growled but Minho turned on him, I still desperately tried to get free, I didn't know what I would do if I did. I was prepared to fire at the griever before. But what good would that do? I just wanted to cause pain. Alby deserved a lot of things, but death was not one of them.

Not like this.

"What do you want Newt? Should we all dress up and have a funeral? Alby didn't wanna go back to his old life. He freaking sacrificed himself for us – and they aren't attacking us, so maybe it worked. We'd be heartless if we wasted it"