Mysteries of the Maze » Newt {1}

Four

Just a disclaimer, all these characters and ideas belong to James Dashner. I only own Maya!

I woke up before the sun did. Getting out of my hammock was a challenge with my semi-bruised ribs but I managed to make it to the watchtower without needing to take a break.

Climbing took a little longer than it should have but I made it anyways. Sitting down against a pole, I looked out to the gates of the maze. They were still closed.

The sun slowly started to creep up behind the walls of the maze, lighting up the sky in brilliant red and orange colours. The doors of the maze started to open and looking down, I saw two boys at the entrance briefly before they run inside.

Runners I assumed. They took a left inside the maze and then they were gone from sight.

A few minutes later, the boys were up and working. It was a wonder how they could just start working so quickly.

But then again I was the first one up and doing my job.

***

The afternoon sun was hot on my skin as I sat on the lookout post. I had made a knife from a scrap of metal, wood and a piece of string I saw hanging around and I was quite proud of it.

I heard footsteps on the ladder and tried to decipher who was climbing up and my first guess was Newt. I knew I was right the moment his blond hair poked up from the opening to my right.

"How are doing?" He asked, sitting beside me with a cup and a plate.

"Fine." I shrugged, continuing to stare at the open doors of the maze while twirling the knife in my hand.

"Alby told me to bring you some food." He said.

"Thanks." Still, I didn't look him in the eye.

"Come on Greenie, you need to eat." Newt placed the plate in front of me and put the cup right near my hip.

"Not hungry."

"Undernourishment is not something we want in the glade. Trust me. Eat." Newt said.

I looked down at the bread and meat sitting on my plate and then looked back at the maze.

"Not appetizing enough." I sighed.

"Greenie-"

"If I hear you call me that one more time, I'm gonna stab you with this." I snapped.

"Sorry Gr-" Newt quickly clapped his hand over his mouth as I gave him the deadliest look I could. "I didn't mean that. I promise."

For some reason, I felt a laugh bubbling inside my chest but I shoved it down and settled on smiling. Newt put his hand down and chuckled.

That broke me.

I instantly started laughing and in about ten seconds, Newt and I were crying from laughing so hard. I didn't even know what was so funny it just felt amazing to be with someone like that.

"So Maya, why didn't you come for breakfast?" Newt asked once we calmed down.

"I knew you remembered my name," I shook my head in disbelief and sighed. "I didn't feel like sitting with a bunch of boys."

"Should I take offense to that?" He frowned.

I shrugged. "Take it how you want it."

Newt nodded and pushed the plate closer towards me. Once again, I just stared at it.

"Maya. Eat." It wasn't a request.

So I did. Taking a bite of the bacon, my stomach suddenly growled, telling every nerve in my body that I was hungry and dying to eat. My next few bites were bigger and came more at a time as I got deeper into breakfast.