Maze Runner: The Subject Experiment

28 ❀ Track-hoe

Sky waited with Jeff and Jackson for the keepers to emerge from the Council Hall. She was a bag of nerves.

Tonight she would finally find out what job the keepers had decided she would have.

She hoped she would get to be a med-jack. She was proud of how she'd helped Ben recover and as long as there wasn't much blood she would love helping Clint and Jeff.

"Do you think I'll get to be a med-jack?" she asked Jeff hopefully.

"I've got no idea, don't ask me," he said.

"Did Clint say anything about me?"

"No way, he's supposed to keep his thoughts to himself."

"You'll be lucky if you don't become a slopper," grumbled Jackson, sitting across from them.

Sky sighed.

"Hey," comforted Jeff. "Who knows, maybe you'll get med-jack after all. I wouldn't mind working with you." He smiled kindly.

"Thanks, Jeff," she replied, looking up at him with a nervous smile.

"But that means Clint would be your new supervisor..." added Jeff. "Wouldn't you miss Newt?"

Sky shrugged. "I guess...but it's not like I'd never see him again."

"So you would miss him!" teased Jeff.

Sky blushed, knowing she was caught out.

"Stop it you little shank," she said, laughing it off.

Finally, Alby, Newt and the keepers emerged.

"Shit," muttered Sky. She wasn't ready to find out.

Alby approached her first.

"Well, Sky, we've come to a conclusion."

"And?" she asked.

Alby looked to Newt who was standing just behind him to the side.

Newt looked panicked and nervous.

He looked like he was about to break some bad news - news she wouldn't take well.

Oh no.

What are they gonna tell me?

Something bad I bet.

I bet I'm a slopper.

Oh please no-

"Urm...well we decided that..." Newt scratched the back off his neck with one hand.

Sky looked at him expectantly.

"What?"

Newt looked down at the ground.

"That you should be a track-hoe," finished Newt.

He sounded guilty, but why? And why did he look so unhappy?

"So Zart is my supervisor?" she asked.

"No," replied Alby.

"Then-"

"Newt will remain in that position," confirmed Alby, giving Newt a warning glance.

What was going on?

Maybe that was why Newt was so unhappy. He'd wanted to get rid of her.

She stared at Newt, hoping to gauge his reaction. He just kept staring at the ground.

She convinced herself that she was right. He wanted nothing to do with her.

Sky's eyes welled with tears. Her voice was quivering with emotion.