The Cost of the Cure

Chapter 84

Several hours later, you find yourself crammed in the Homestead with the rest of the Gladers. You can hardly force yourself to stay still as most are doing, but instead pass out blankets and occasionally talk to the ones the most anxious.

Newt had kept a place for you in the room he, Alby, Minho, and Thomas were staying in, but when you finish your rounds, you find yourself looking for Chuck instead. It doesn't take long to find him. After all, the Homestead isn't very large. He's sitting in a small room with his back against the wall. He's hugging his knees and tears shine in his eyes.

Your heart melts and you sit beside him. "You okay?"

You already know the answer even as you ask it, but don't know what else to say.

"Yeah," he whispers.

"Chuck," you say, placing a hand on his knee. "You don't have to lie. None of us are okay. We're all terrified and there isn't anything wrong with that."

He nods.

"So..." you start. He doesn't want to talk about it, and you can't blame him. You're not sure you want to, either. But what you do want to do is distract him. "Any good gossip around the Glade?"

He shakes his head.

"Okay, I get it. Do you want to talk, or just sit?"

"i don't know," he whispers.

You nod and hug his shaking body to you. Sometimes you forget the fact that he's just a kid. For all you know, he could be your younger brother.

"It'll be alright," you whisper, not truly believing yourself. "We were put here for a reason, yeah? They wouldn't just kill us off now. They still must need us to do something. If I'd have to guess, it's for us to figure out how to get out of here. They're probably just trying to speed it up now.  We'll get out of here. I promise we will. It's only a matter of time."

He finally starts to cry and he clings to you as he sobs. You rock him back and forth. If there's anyway to somehow protect him, you will. He shouldn't have to be going through all this.