Griever [Newt V.S Thomas]

III

In Newt's opinion, it was hard to sleep over the sound of the maze anyway, but being so close to it was deafening.

He could hear everything. Every shriek of one of those disgusting Grievers, every groan of the walls as they moved against one another, closing up spaces and making up a whole new combination of paths to follow for the Runner's when they entered in the early morning. He could literally hear the footsteps of the monsters, the way they tapped along the stone, crawling along the ground, bouncing from the walls, searching, scouring for their prey.

He breathed out slowly, his dark eyes watching as the flame of his torch flickered in the gentle breeze and he was so suddenly reminded of that girl with her fiery red locks. Even from the distance between them he could see the determination in her eyes, he could see it because it almost screamed out at him, beckoning him, pleading for him to aid in her sprint, he supposed that that was why he had called out, attempting to motivate her, desperate to hurry her up.

He was surprised actually, her screams had been so unforgivably loud, how had no one else heard them? Why was it only him that had witnessed the terror-filled cries? Who knows. Perhaps she was a figment of his imagination. A false hope that his mind had tickled him with, giggling at his acceptance of the impossible event.

No one could survive a night in the maze. It was impossible. Plus, how on Earth would she have entered? Was she just a trick, a diversion? Trying to lure him in so that he might fall prey to the creatures of the night? No. He could tell in the way that she was running towards him, she wasn't hoping to coax him in, she was bent on getting out and now she was stuck in there, at the most dangerous part of the day, destined to the jaws of the Grievers.

He shuddered, combing a lean hand through his blonde tresses as he heaved a deep breath. He had to have hope. If there was any possibility that she may be alive, the least he could do was meet her at the gates. Newt fell backwards, his head gently falling upon the soft blades of grass, his blonde locks creating a hallowed effect around his head. He stared up at the night sky and allowed his mind to wander.

He imagined a place outside of these walls, a place where all we free to do as they liked. Where all men received the soft touch of their women, where children were not endanger and were protected by their loved ones, where the worst thing that could possibly happen was that someone bought the last carton of your favourite brand of Full-Cream milk. It was a world so far away from the one that he lived in, a world that he longed for.

"Hey, Newt. . ."

Said male flinched at the unexpected mention of his name, tilting his head backwards to catch a glimpse of the childish features of the newest addition to the Glade, a young boy who went by the name of Chuck, although, until the next group member arrived, via the box, he was known by most as 'Greenie.'

Newt managed a small smile, lips quirking up into a crooked tilt.

"Hey buddy."

Chuck flexed his hand, kicking the toe of his shoes into the dirt awkwardly before he gestured to the space beside the blonde, "mind if I join you?"

"Go right ahead."

In an instant, the young boy was grinning widely, his wild curly locks bouncing as he sat next to the taller boy. Chuck was a large kid, perhaps a size or two larger than what some may consider 'attractive', but honestly, the kid had the kindest of hearts and a will strong enough to overpower three to four perfectly sculptured men. He had a baby face with large cheeks and a cheeky smile, and despite being a big boy he was admired and adored by the other members, thought of as the little brother of the group.

"So. . . You really saw a girl, huh?" Chuck blurted, scratching the back of his neck.

Newt stifled a chuckle, folding his arms behind his head as he returned his attention to the star filled sky.

"Yeah. . . I think I did, at least."

". . . Was she pretty?"

Newt's eyes snapped towards the boy, watching as Chuck's cheeks heated up immensely and before he could stop himself he laughed out loud.

"What a ridiculous question!"

"Hey! I was just askin', I was curious!"

"Sure you were you little pervert!"

-

Newt's dark eyes were hidden behind pale lids as he revelled in the caress of sleep, the sun was steadily rising, although not high enough in the sky for the other members of the Glade to consider it the appropriate time to get up. The torch that Newt had dug into the ground the previous night was long since extinguished. Beside him lay Chuck in whom was snoring loudly, his mouth agape as drool drizzled down his chin.

A soft groan left the blonde-headed male, reaching a hand up to rub at his left eye, reluctant to banish the whispers of sleep, that is, until he heard the sliding of concrete.

Within mere seconds, Newt shot up, dark hazel eyes wide as he struggled to get to his feet, his senses clouded and his movements sluggish from only just being kicked into motion. He craned his neck, peaking through the steadily growing gap as he peeled a hand through his hair in which was mashed to one side and covered in freckles of dust and dirt.

He stared, biting into his lip roughly as he was greeted with the sight of absolutely nothing. The Maze was bare. Empty. His brow furrowed, a lump growing in his throat as his gaze dropped to the ground.

What was he thinking? It was useless to believe that she would make it. She was a goner the very moment she entered that hell hole.

He was brutalised by a sudden wave of disappointment and distraught until he heard the weak dragging of feet sliding against concrete.

His head shot up, eyes wide as he stared directly at the approaching figure of a girl, eyes as wild as her unruly red hair. She shuffled forwards, her clothing a tattered and torn mess on her slender figure. Her crimson tendrils clung haphazardly to her forehead, falling down her shoulders in a messy flame. Her body was littered with whelping dark bruises and scrapes, her legs buckling together as she used the walls to aid herself towards the exit.

Newt stepped forward unsurely, oblivious to the gasp of his young companion in whom had stood and bolted back to the huts after seeing the strange girl.

"She's real! She's actually real!" The boy screeched, although his words fell onto the deaf ears of Newt in whom couldn't tear his eyes away from the struggling girl. He now stood at the very edge of the maze, torn between helping the obviously pained girl and obliging to the rules of the Glade.

However, once she fell to her knees with a pathetic whimper, all past thoughts were banished from his mind and he was stepping past the boundaries and barriers of the Glade and into the world of the beasts, his arms looping around a thin waist and hoisting her forwards, into his arms before leading her to safety.