Mysteries of the Maze » Newt {1}

Fourteen

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

Jeff and Clint helped me get the new Greenie into the infirmary. They let me do all the work as their uncertainty just bled off them like water.

She was a girl and I could relate. Making sure she was comfortable, I kept an eye on her as she slept. Thomas' name came out of her mouth frequently, and I wanted to wake her but I wasn't sure if I could. Or... should.

Thomas, Newt and Minho came in a little later to check on her.

"Hey Jeff, what's wrong with her, why won't she wake up?" Newt asked.

"Dude, I got my job the same way you did." Jeff shrugged and walked out.

"It's probably not because she's tired," I interjected, standing up. "She's dreaming."

"About what?" Thomas asked.

I looked at him and felt like I should tell him but I couldn't. Not with the others standing around.

"I don't know." I lied.

"Do you recognize her?" Newt pressed.

"No." Thomas shook his head and stepped back.

"Really? Cause she seemed to recognize you." Newt retorted.

"What about the note?" Thomas asked.

"We'll worry about the note later."

"I think you should worry about it now." Thomas pushed.

"We've got enough to deal with right now." Newt shrugged.

"He's right Newt." I said, quietly

"Yeah," Jeff muttered. "If the Box isn't coming back up, how long do you think we can last?"

"No one said that." Newt gave us all a small smile, trying to keep the hope in all of our hearts. "Let's not jump to any conclusions we just... we'll just wait until she wakes up and see what she knows. Somebody has gotta have some answers around here."

"Okay." Thomas nodded and walked out.

"Where are you going?" Newt asked.

"Back into the maze." Thomas answered.

Minho sighed and chased after him. Newt looked back at me and I caught what his eyes are trying to say.

"Okay guys, let's give her some room. We can still watch her and take care of Alby." I told the med-jacks.

Jeff and Clint just nodded and got back to work, leaving Newt and me alone.

"Don't lie to them." I said quickly.

"What are you talking about?" He scowled.

"It's okay to be scared." I shrugged and stuck my hands into my front pockets.

"No it's not. Not when you're in command." Newt argued.

"No especially when you're in command. Newt you may be protecting everyone but after a while, the tough guy act wears thin, and then you'll have no idea what to do." I told him.

"You think I asked for this job?" Newt replied quietly, but harshly.

"No. But do you think these boys asked to be here in the first place?"

Newt sighed.

"Take a breather. Cry. Scream. Let it out. Because trust me, holding in your anger will result in a fight with Gally. And not a verbal one." I gave Newt a peck on the cheek and left him to his thoughts.

***

Newt asked to meet me in the council hall once Thomas and a few other boys came back from the maze. They brought back this weird cylinder thing with a tiny screen that had the number 7 on it. And underneath that was a sticker with the letters W.C.K.D.

"It was inside a Griever." Thomas explained.

"These are the same letters we get on our supplies." Newt frowned.

"Yeah. Whoever put us here obviously made the Grievers. Now this is the first real clue, the first anything you've found in over three years right, Minho?" Thomas pointed out.

"Right." Minho said, quietly.

"Newt, we gotta go back out there." Thomas said. "Who knows where this might lead us."

Newt and I looked at Gally for some insight and of course he opposed it.

"You're not seriously considering this are you?" He exclaimed angrily. "First he breaks our rules and then he tries to convince us to abandon them totally? The rules are the only thing that have ever held us together, why are we suddenly questioning that?"

"Gally-" I tried to cut in.

"No! If Alby was here, you know he would agree with me. These shanks need to be punished." Gally continued.

Newt looked at Thomas and me before handing the object back to Minho.

"You're right," He said. "Thomas and Maya broke the rules. One night in the pit with no food."

"Come on, Newt! One night in the pit?" Gally protested. "You think that's gonna stop him from going into the maze or putting a lid on her mouth?"

"Hey!"

"I am one step closer to beating the living klunk out of you, Maya." Gally said, harshly.

"Bite me."

"Stop it!" Newt yelled. "Gally I know it's not gonna stop him and we can't have non-runners just going into the maze when they feel like it."

"Exactly!" Gally agreed.

"And for Maya, she needs to learn to hold her tongue. But they're both useful. So whenever we make a decision, ask Maya for her opinion and starting tomorrow Thomas is a runner." Newt commanded.

"Wow." Gally shook his head in disbelief and walked out with Frypan at his heels.

"Thanks Newt." Thomas muttered.

Newt just nodded and looked away.