Count On Me ➵ Newt [1]

NINETEEN | a night in the maze

▬"What happened to him?" Thomas asked, gesturing to Alby's limp body on the ground.

"What does it look like?" Minho said bitterly. "He got stung."

The word 'stung' seemed to bounce off the Maze walls and the air turned gloomier, the atmosphere darkening. An inhuman screech pierced through the air from somewhere deep in the Maze. There was a constant whirring that had a metallic ring every few seconds, like sharp knives rubbing against each other. It grew louder by the second, and then a series of eerie clicks joined in. 

Panic flared in me and I stepped back nervously.

"That was a Griever," I said, my voice shaking. "We need to go."

"You're darn right you are," Minho said.

"Help me get him up." Thomas gestured to Alby.

"We gotta go," Minho said simply. It might've been my imagination, but was that fear in his eyes?

"What, we can't just leave him here!" Thomas argued.

"The Maze is already changing," Minho said angrily. "You wanna stay here and die, be my guest!"

"But - But Alby-"

Minho stood suddenly, his face barely visible in the dying light. "We have to split up - it's our only chance. Just keep moving. Don't stop moving!"

And then he turned and ran, disappearing in seconds, swallowed by the Maze and darkness.

Thomas and I stared at each other.

"You're not gonna run away like he did, right?" Thomas asked.

For one split second I was tempted to yell 'Sike!' and bolt off into the maze with Minho - then I felt like slapping myself for even having such a thought in the first place.

"No, I won't," I said firmly. "I'll help you."

"Good that," he muttered, a little uncomfortably as though he was still getting used to the words.

Together, we lifted Alby between us, his muscular arms slung over our shoulders. I was smaller and weaker, so I had a little more trouble supporting Alby's weight. Thomas and I stumbled down the corridor, trying not to make too much noise. The screeches and whirring sounds got louder every passing second and though they were still faint, and I felt fear unlike anything I've ever felt before churn in me like a tidal wave.

After what felt like hours, my arms and legs started to ache. I felt my stamina slip away slowly, dragging me down. The Griever sounds were getting closer.

"We need to hide Alby," Thomas said, breathing heavily. "We can't carry him forever."

"Smartest thing you've said since I met you," I said, panting. "Except for one problem - where are we gonna hide him?"