Family Isn't Always Blood (The Maze Runner Fanfic)

Chapter 4: What the Shuck?

I let out a blood curdling scream and fell to the floor with a loud thud. I couldn't stop screaming and shouting and I could feel hot, wet tears running down my cheeks. Then all at once there were hands on me, trying to pin my writhing body to the ground. I cracked my terror filled eyes open to see Newt pinning down my arms and Minho attempting to sit on my legs. I arched my back in pain and squeezed my eyes shut painfully tight. All of a sudden, the pain stopped. Just like that. Newt pulled me into his lap where I sobbed quietly for what felt like hours. He wrapped his arms around me and whispered words of comfort in my ear. I tucked my arms close to myself and cried into his broad chest. My wails slowly died down, and I was exhausted. I was falling asleep on Newt, until I felt myself being lifted and carried someplace. With that, I slowly drifted off into a cozy sleep.

When I awoke, the first thing I noticed was that I wasn't in my room, and I most definitely was not in my sleeping bag. Sitting up, I looked around. I was in a queen sized bed underneath lots of blankets. I swung my feet over the edge and jumped down, but let out a soft yelp when I landed on something soft and squishy instead of a hard wooden floor.

"OOOF". I looked down and saw Newt lying there clutching his stomach. I must have knocked the wind out of him when I jumped down.

"Why..would..you..do that?" he gasped. It all made sense now. Newt carried me to his room after whatever the hell had happened last night, so I was in his bed in his room, and he slept on the floor. Such a gentlemen. Newt jumped up all of a sudden and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me slightly.

"Are you okay?" He questioned urgently, " What the shuck happened to you last night?".

"I'm not sure, but it felt like someone was driving a knife through my head" I replied simply. He gave me a perplexed look, but continued talking.

" Well, if you feel alright, we should go grab some breakfast from Frypan". I nodded vigorously, food sounded absolutely AMAZING right now. We walked down the stairs and out of the Homestead, to a small building next door with a huge line of boys in front of it. We hopped on the caboose of the line and made small talk with the boys around us. They seemed nice enough. Wait a second. Something's off. I looked around. The walls were closed. THE WALLS ARE CLOSED WHY ISN'T THIS PLACE CHAOS???

"Uh N-N-Newt...." I stammered quietly.

" Mmhmm" he replied tiredly.

"Why are the walls closed?".

" They close every night and open every morning, to protect us" he stated easily.

"From what?" I questioned.

" The Grievers. Those are the monsters that live in the Maze that surrounds us, and they will kill you. Only if you leave the Glade at night though. That's why the only people allowed to leave are the Runners, and only in the day time."

"So..... We're surrounded by a giant maze filled with deadly monsters...?" I whimpered. He gave a worry-filled smile, but a smile nonetheless.

" Yes love, but you're safe in the Glade. Plus, you've got all these shanks to protect you" he smirked. I smiled and nodded before turning back towards the line.

When the walls began to open around me, I only stared in wonder, but not fear. I was safe here, there was no doubting that.

We slowly moved up the line until we hit the front. Behind a counter, scooping food onto trays was a boy who was very hairy and looked to be about seventeen.

"Kayla, meet Frypan. Keeper of the Cooks" introduced Newt. I gave a small wave, which Frypan returned. He slapped some food on each of our trays, and we were on our way to the small crowd of picnic tables. I searched the crowd until I spotted Minho, sitting with two other boys I didn't know. I plopped down next to Minho, who quickly stole a piece of bacon off my plate as soon as I sat down. I glared at him playfully and punched his arm lightly. He just laughed at me. I hadn't noticed until then that the two strangers across the table were staring at me as if I was an alien.

"Um ........hi? I'm Kayla" I said awkwardly.

" I'm Ben, and that's Jeff" replied the taller, light skinned boy. I nodded to them in acknowledgment.

"Shakdjsjncbslajejdu?" said Minho through a mouthful of food. I stared at him blankly until he swallowed and gave a cheeky grin. I rolled my eyes before he continued.

" I said, what job ya want Greenbean?" he clarified. I shrugged.

" She has to bloody try them all first shuck face" said Newt as he stood up to clear his tray, along with Ben and Minho. He began to jog towards the West wall, while Minho and Ben went toward the North and South walls. I looked at Jeff across from me.

" Where's Newt going?"

" He's a Runner, so into the Maze" he replied.

"Newt's leaving?" I asked incredulously. Jeff just nodded before clearing his food too. Newt was the only person I really trusted here so far, what am I gonna do now? I don't really even know anyone else! I looked back over towards the West wall, where Newt sat on the ground stretching his long legs. I took off towards Newt in a full sprint across the Glade, my new home.