WCKD Love | A Newt Fan-Fiction

Chapter 5 - Leaving So Soon

Everything around me is fading away into nothing. Darkness is covering every inch of my bedroom. The only sound is my own breathing. I squint my eyes to see through the gloom but can't make out any silhouettes. I know that in the far right corner, Fluffles should be in his bed sleeping until his little heart's content. I turn over onto my side and close my eyes. It will take hours until I'll be able to fall back to sleep. 'So, I should start, I guess.'

Just as I'm about to doze off, there's a crash outside my room. I jump out of bed and go to investigate, slowly inching towards the door. I place my hand on the doorknob and curl my fingers around its spherical frame. Pressing my ear against the hardwood door, I can hear rustling and suddenly a loud thump. I step back and think about who it could be. 'It's probably just ad coming in from another meeting with Chancellor Paige.' I slowly turn the handle and walk through. Through the inky blackness, I can see a figure near my father's dresser.

"Dad? Is that you?" I ask, realising I didn't grab anything to defend myself. I shuffle over to the light switch and flick it on. Immediately, the room flashes bright and even though my eyes have to adjust, I can still make out the intruder. "You scared me to death," I say, rubbing my eyes to try and help them adjust to the sudden change in light.

"Oh. Sorry, Honey. I didn't know you were still up." I exhale the breath I didn't know I was holding in and head back to my room. When I reach my bedroom door, I turn around and look at my dad.

"Why were you out so late?" He looks at me, and I can tell he doesn't want to talk.

"Why don't you just go to bed? I'll tell you in the morning."

'What is he hiding from me?' I stride back over to him and place my hands on my hips. "No. Tell me now. I can tell you don't want to, but I'm not moving until you talk," I state, challenging my father. He gawks at me for a moment before shaking his head and placing his watch on his bedside table. He sits on his bed and unties his shoelaces. "Dad, tell me why you were out for so long." I move my hands from my hips to cross them in front of my chest. I'm not going to back down, and he knows that. But he doesn't answer. "Are you planning on answering me or not?"

He shakes his head before looking up at me. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I was in a late meeting, and we learnt who we are sending to the 'better place'. The subjects chosen for the trip in two days include Aris and Newt." My heart shudders at the mention of their names as part of the list to go. Newt and Aris. I don't want to lose them. I can't. My life would be turned upside-down all over again if I lost them both again.

My breathing becomes ragged, and I lean on the dresser for support. Struggling to catch my breath, I feel as though I'm trembling all over, and I'm starting to get light-headed. I'm having a panic attack. My legs are shaking, and I have to hold myself up to stop my knees from buckling.

"Kat, Sweetheart. Are you okay?" Janson is used to me having these. Ever since Newt left, I've had one at least once every two months. "Okay, Katya. You have to breathe for me, Honey. Deep breaths, and we'll get you to Ava." I nod and lean against his arm. But, instead of holding onto me, he picks me up and carries me to the lab where Ava should be. We rush down the halls until we come to a stop. I look in front of us and see Minho standing there. My breathing hasn't gotten better, and now someone has seen us when I was hoping we would go unnoticed.

"Hey, Ratman. Watcha doing?" Minho asks, noticing my struggle for air.

"Getting my daughter to the doctor to stop her panic attack. Now, if you can get out of our way, I won't mention that you were out during curfew," Janson snaps, trying to maneuver around the curious Glader.

"Alright. I hope you're okay, Katya," Minho calls from behind us as I'm rushed through the halls.

"Thanks," I wheeze, unsure if Minho heard me. 'Newt must have told him my name.' When we get to Doctor Paige's lab, my breathing has gotten better, but not by much.

Dad sets me down on an operating bed and tells a staff member to get Chancellor Paige. She arrives only a few minutes later, but by then, I can breathe enough to get a whole sentence out, and I no longer feel light-headed. "What caused this attack?" Ava asks, sitting on the operating bed beside me.

I look at her with tears in my eyes. "Dad told me that you're sending Aris and Newt to the safe place," I mutter, fiddling with my fingers.

"And you're scared about losing them both again?" Doctor Paige has always been like a psychiatrist when I have my attacks. I nod in response and look down at the floor. "Well, don't you think it will be good for them to go to this Safe Haven?" I look up at her and frown.

"You think I'm that stupid? I know that they don't leave this God-forsaken place. I know you string them up and harvest them for your stupid cause. How could you think I'm that clueless?" I stand up and clench my fists. I am not as oblivious and dumb as they think. They clearly haven't noticed when I sneak off to their meetings, when I'm standing on the other side of the wall with my ear pressed to the door, listening to everything they're saying.

"How long have you known?" Dad asks, glaring down at me with anger clear on his face.

"Long enough to know that the Maze isn't the end of your stupid Trials."

"Have you told any of the others?" Ava questions, standing up from her position on the operating bed.

"No. But I might tell Aris. I mean, why would it matter? He's going soon anyway." They both look at me with complete and utter terror written on their faces.

"Katya. Please don't tell him. Or the others. This could be very bad for us." I look at Ava as she clasps her hands together.

"That's all you care about? You're reputation? YOU ARE LYING TO INNOCENT PEOPLE!"

"We're lying to find an antidote." Ava stands and puts her hands on my shoulders, but I pull out of her grasp.

"You're killing the people that are immune to cure people who won't recover. It is a lose-lose situation here. You both have your minds twisted around to believe there is a cure when there isn't one." I can feel my face grow hot in frustration.

"Katya, stop it. I promise you can visit them whenever you want. You can still talk to them." My dad's poor attempt at reassurance only brings tears out of me.

"What's the point? It's not like they'll be able to hear me. It's not the same as them being here," I mumble, the tears trickling down my face, the drops landing around my bare feet.

"Katya, Sweetheart. Come back to our room. We can talk about this in the morning." He grabs my wrist and guides me to the door.

"Please. Just don't take them away so soon." I leave the lab and head back down the halls to our room. When we turn the last corner and take the final few steps to our door, we stop. Dad's shoulders slump. He looks at me from the corner of his eye.

"What is it?" I look up at him, raising an eyebrow. My tears have dried up, but I don't feel any better.

"Promise me that you'll be okay if they do leave. Promise me." I stare into his eyes and see that he is starting to tear up.

"I will not promise that." I enter our apartment.