Touch Of Memory

Chapter LVIII

Newt and I were trying our best to protect Thomas. A mix of screams and metal clanging noises echoed through the Maze. That reminded me of the day I'd found Newt and the others.
Thomas looked frightened, and I expected him to freak out at any moment.

But he didn't. I tried not to look at the others; if Thomas got to the Cliff safely, less people would die. But I felt like a coward again.
We were about to reach the Cliff when a Griever appeared right in front of us.

'You two go. I'll hold it back,' Newt said.

I did as he said, and we dodged the Griever. We had to hurry. I would never be able to live if Newt died. Thomas jumped first, and he didn't hesitate. I saw him get swallowed by an invisible hole. I jumped, and all I could think of was if I'd miss the hole.

Luckily, I didn't. I felt like I'd just jumped into a freezing lake. I landed, my body absorbing the impact, right next to Thomas. He seemed to be alright. It was almost pitch-dark, but it was enough to see a computer right next to us. Although I couldn't see well, the Hole seemed to be huge, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being closely watched.

'ENTER THE CODE!' I screamed.

I shouldn't've screamed. That must've woken up a Griever, who was coming to us.

'Enter it. Now,' I said.

Thomas kept typing on the keyboard. The Death Creature was right in front of me.

'What's taking you so long?' I asked desperately.

He didn't answer. I was about to stab the Griever, when it collapsed, shutting down completely. A sound of a door sliding open came from somewhere in the Hole.

'You did it!' I said, hugging him.

'What were you expecting?'

Anne and Teresa came through the Hole, and Thomas couldn't help but run to her, squeezing Teresa in his arms.

I kept looking up. Rita came through, followed by Cam and Sofia. They seemed fine, besides some cuts and bruises.

'How bad was it?' I asked.

'Very,' Rita said.

Minho fell in, followed by Zart, James, and some other Gladers. But Newt didn't come. Louise landed on her back, she seemed to have a broken leg. Cam, Clint and Jeff immediately tried to help her, although there was not much they could do.

It had been about 15 minutes since Thomas had entered the code, and yet, no sign of Newt. I began to cry.

'How can I get back there?' I asked Thomas.

'You can't,' he said.

There had to be a way. I had to save Newt. Otherwise, my life would be meaningless. I collapsed to the ground. I heard someone come down. But it was Ben. I grabbed the dagger Newt gave me, and I was about to stick it in my heart, when someone stopped me.

'No,' Rita said, taking my dagger.

'I can't live without him,' I said, tears streaming down my face.