After the Death Cure ( The Maze Runner )

Chapter 36

I stand at the computer as I wait for Margaret to get here.

I decide to start creating the test as I wait. I hate doing this. I hate having to make her go through the same thing I did. I guess it's better than slowly losing your mind, though.

About ten minutes later, Margaret and her son, Sterling, arrive. "Good morning. Ready for training?" She just smiles at me, and makes her way towards the door. "And how did you sleep?" She only looks at me, and this time, she doesn't smile. There goes my "good day". Maybe Sterling is in a better mood. I press the purple button once she takes a seat on the floor. I don't see the need for the table today. "And how are you?"

He smiles at me, "I'm alright. You?"

"Great, actually. Glad I have someone to talk to, at least." He gives me a courtesy laugh. "Listen, don't stress about your mom."

"You think I haven't seen your training videos?"

I freeze. What? "Who showed you those?"

"Joshua. I wanted to know what they'd be doing to my mom."

I swallow hard. But not hard enough to get past the big lump in my throat. "If I could go back, and start over...I wouldn't be such a wimp. I should have just-"

"I don't care how you acted. I just don't want you lieing to me, and telling me 'she's going to be ok'. I know she is, just not now."

I have no words. The conversation ends. There goes having someone to talk to.

Half an hour passes.

Half an hour of awkward waiting. And silence. Oh, I hate the silence. "Where's the rest of your family?" Seriously?

"Umm...dead. You guys killed my dad, and my older brother."

"In the battle?"

"Yep."

"Oh..." I shuck. "Look, I-"

He holds up a hand, "No, it's fine. Don't make it worse than it already is."

I close my mouth, and look straight forward. No...actually. I'm tired of getting shut up. Let me speak my mind! "No. If you thought I was going to pity you, you're wrong. Look, I'm sorry that your dad and brother turned into mindless Cranks, but I am not sorry for killing them. And I am not sorry that they tried to rebel against us when we tried to save your shuck butts. Got it?" I regret the words as soon as they come out, and purse my lips as I close my eyes.

I open them back up, "I am so-" He smirks at me. "What?"

"It wasn't the nicest thing you could say, but I think it made me like you more."

"How?"

"I thought you were going to tell me how sorry you were. And how if you could stop all of this you would," he says in a sarcastic tone.

"I'm blunt..."

"I noticed. It's totally ok with me." I can't help but smile. Finally, someone who gets me..."So what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your family."

"Oh...they're dead, too. I was like twelve or thirteen. Newt and his family took me in, though."

"Newt...you mean the guy who was with you when you guys picked me up?"

"No, that was Thomas."

"Guess you'll have to introduce me."