The Cost of the Cure

Chapter 64

As you work in the kitchens the next day, you can't help but think of Minho and Alby. Why would a Griever be dead? As far as you knew, there was nothing to kill it. And if there was something worse, terrible enough to kill a Griever... you shudder. You can't even imagine something so horrible.

You check your watch once again. Only five minutes had passed from when you had checked it last, but it's five less minutes before they should be back. You sigh.

Thirty more minutes pass as you slice vegetables and cooking the meat takes thirty more. You eat lunch without saying a word. Two hours later, you join Newt at one of the tables, watching the West Door with him.

His eyes are bloodshot, probably from the stress on top of no sleep the night before. His brows knit together in obvious concern.

You don't say anything, but just stare as he does at the Doors, willing them to come back.

"What's wrong with them?" you hear Chuck whisper several minutes later. "They look like you did when you popped out of the Box."

"I don't know," Thomas whispers back. You can't believe how terrible their whispering skills are. No wonder you hear so much gossip about Thomas. Anyone within a mile radius would be able to hear him. "Why don't you go ask them?"

"I can hear every bloody word you guys are saying," Newt calls, still staring at the Doors. "No wonder people hate sleepin' next to you shanks."

"What is wrong with you?" Chuck presses. No offense, but the both of you look like klunk."

"Every lovin' thing in the universe," he answers. His gaze returns to the door and he falls silent for a long moment. "The girl from the Box. Keeps groaning and saying all kinds of weird stuff, but doesn't wake up. Med-jacks're doing their best to feed her, but she's eating less and less each time. I'm telling you, something's very bad about that whole bloody thing."

He lets out a sigh. "Shuck it. But that's not really what has me bugging."

"Then what does?" Chuck asks. You almost look at him in disbelief. Could it get any more obvious?

"Y/n!" you hear Frypan calling. "Break's up! We need you back here."

You get up, hating that you can't stay with Newt. But even more, you hate that you can't do a thing for Minho and Alby.

"Gotta go," you whisper.

Newt nods. "Thanks for staying."

"No problem."

"Then what does? What's got you?" you hear Thomas ask as you walk away. You wish they'd stop pestering Newt about it when he's so close to snapping, but maybe, just maybe it might help him to talk about it.

"Alby and Minho," Newt mutters. "They should've come back hours ago."

With that, you force yourself to walk into the kitchen. In seconds, you're hard at work with all the other Cooks trying to make a meal for sixty hungry Gladers.