Amaurotic \\ The Maze Runner [Newt] [1]

Chapter Twenty-Six

[ P A S T ]

[Y E A R - O N E, M O N T H - E I G H T ]

Nova rested on the tree that she'd claimed to be hers, her thinking place, in the deadheads. Though all was blank enough, she closed her eyes and began to relax on the bark of one of the many thick branches. It was rough when she got to the Glade on the first week, but after a year, it began to feel softer as she got around to getting used to it. And this made her feel content, not fully, but it was enough to bring a small smile to her face at least.

She had many thoughts on her mind. What color is the grass? What color is the sky? How big is the Glade? What does she look like?

These were the questions that would never get an answer, sadly.

And for a moment, all seemed peaceful in the Glade. Until someone decided to disturb her own version of Paradise when she felt a slight tapping vibration. Nova scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion, and shook her head from the annoyance of the small sound.

She looked down, only to see black particles that formed a stiff frame, a boy that was strong in emotions and a heart as hard as stone.

Gally...

And for once, Nova smiled down at Gally. He learned to be more careful around her, since she cannot see. He tapped on the tree, to send vibrations her way. To give her a heads up that someone was there. And she thought it was nice of him, despite his cold hard ways.

Rule-one of the Blind: Never sneak up on them. It's a very bad idea. Make yourself known beforehand, it'll make it easier on their life as well as your own.

"Has anyone ever told you how you love trees way too much?" Gally asked, leaning on his side against the tree she sat on, crossing his arms.

Nova scoffed with a small grin, knowing very well that the person who has, was himself. "Only a million times."

And for once in a long time, Gally smiled, only a small smile. He began to think that maybe, just maybe, Nova wasn't so bad after all. At though it may not be right at this moment, but he thought maybe sometime in the future, they could form a sort of small friendship. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves. He'll think about it.

Hours go by as the day grows old. Nova is now hanging on top of the tall wooden lookout, laying on her back, facing the night sky. Though she didn't know what it looked like, she tried to paint the still image in her head. Recreating how she thought it looked like, wondering, feeling, conjuring.

Nova felt horrible when she actually felt jealous of everyone else. They could see, but she couldn't. It just wasn't fair... she wanted to see everything, what it all looked like. Hell, she even wanted to see what the Grievers looked like, as dangerous as that sounds.

Nova heard the little tapping sound again, as she angled her head down to see that the particles were of a blue figure that had decided to share the night with her. She smiled, knowing exactly who it was, as always.

The boy brought himself close to Nova, and laid down next to her, staring at the sky as well. Never realizing how interesting it was, it was both beautiful yet haunting. It almost seemed too real to be true, but yet, materialized at the same time, as though none of it existed. And there he was again, questioning life and its purpose.

The sky looked so real to him, in a way, that it was fake. But, that analogy in its itself confused him wholeheartedly.

 Poor Nova will forever be fooled in this life of lies, as her dysfunctional eyes keep her from witnessing the truth that lays before her very soul.

She lets out a quiet sigh, "Newt..." She continues to stare up into blank space. "What do I look like?"

Newt turned his head toward her, and gave her a nice long stare. "A beautiful Summer's day." He didn't know if that made sense. He didn't even know what that looked like. He didn't remember if he'd ever experienced such a thing in his past life.

"No, I mean really." Nova scoffed. "What do I actually look like?"

Newt gave a tiny smile, "Human. Nova, you look as human as could be. A beautifully sculpted group of cells, with the purity of a thousand stars." He surprised himself with his own words. But, he meant every single one of those words. And that's what he lived by.

Nova didn't know what that meant, but it made her blush all the same. She couldn't stop smiling, the pace of her heart speeding up by a few beats, as though she were running the Maze with Minho for hours on end.

But then her smile faded once she remembered about her one flaw. "But, Newt, how could you say that when I'm missing one important sense?" She referred to her blindness.

Newt sat up on his elbows, and looked down at her. He looked at her straight in her blank eyes, her grey pupils that hold all the faults in the world.

"Nova," Newt whispers to her, and to her only. "There's no flaw about you, I don't see it. And if that really is a flaw in your mind, then, its a perfect flaw. A beautiful wander of yonder."

Nova smiles big at his words of compassion, feeling her eyes well up with moist. But she holds it in, as this was no place to cry at this hour. Not right now.

Newt then laid back down, and now Nova sat up on her elbows. As she leaned to her side, hovering above Newt just slightly.

"Newt," Nova began. "What do you look like?"

And just by the way he was silent, she could tell he didn't know how to answer.

She raised her hand, "Um..." She spoke nervously. "May I?"

Newt knew her intention, he trusted her. "Go for it, don't be afraid."

Nova glided her hand over his cheek, pressing her fingers against his soft skin. Feeling around his cheeks, nose, eyes, forehead and even lips. She felt every crevasse of his head, she even ran her hand through his hair, just to test how soft it was. As she then brought her hand back against his cheek, and holding the back of his neck.

Looking straight into his soul. Though, all was blank, she tried to imagine what he looked like, the best she could.

Though, this was actually a myth. The blind don't touch other people's faces to decipher their looks, that's completely false, untrue, an utter lie. She doesn't know where she learned this or how she knows this, she just does. Like a distant memory that has been shattered, in her endless stream of thoughts.

So, sadly, she would have to stick with just trying to imagine what he looks like. But, that was okay with her, for now.

Truth be told, she made that excuse to touch his face, just so that way she could get even closer to him. And well, one thing led to another, and before she knew it...

Her lips touched his. And at first, Newt was a bit shocked, but not in a bad way. But either way, he accepted the small kiss, and enjoyed the moment.

And it was at this moment, Newt felt at ease. Newt felt a reason to live.

The Glade was their Paradise.

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Here's chapter 26!

What was your favorite part of this chapter? :)

Xoxo <3