~A/N: 

If you like a good verbal (angsty) fight between your OTPs, then this chapter is for you with love ♥︎

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~Sara~

The Gathering was taking much longer than it should've taken. 

Sara didn't know exactly how many hours they'd been in the Council room, but she knew that it was still going since she couldn't spot any of the Keepers from where the pit was located.

Her impatience was eating her away, and she felt like pulling all her hairs out.

This was it.

She'd either be pardoned and allowed to stay, even if no one ever talked to her again, or she'd be banished for good. If she wanted to be honest, the latter seemed more likely. She always knew this, but the whole depth of the concept hadn't really struck her until now.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a very angry Newt walking out of the Council room—his limp more noticeable than ever—followed by several others with either idle or irritated expressions.

I'm guessing that went well...

"Hey." A pudgy face popped up from the other side of her prison.

Sara jumped out of fright for a moment, before realizing who it was. "Chuck, hey."

"Thought you might wanna grab a bite," he said, smiling sympathetically as he handed her a plate of food through the bars.

"Yes, please," she said, immediately taking it from him to begin devouring it. "Thanks, Chuck," she said in between bites.

Chuck snickered. "Man, I'm sure glad I stole it from Frypan before he noticed. He left the food ready before the Gathering."

"I'm sure that's the least of his problems right now. Everyone's got a good reason to be mad," said Sara, rolling her eyes.

Chuck pursed his lips, bowing his head. "Yeah. I don't see why it's such a huge deal. They shouldn't have locked you up."

Sara gave out an exasperated sigh. "I wish everyone thought like you, especially you-know-who."

"He'll come around, you'll see," said Chuck, trying his best to lift her mood. "That shank is pulling off a tough-guy act with all this, but I know him. He's feeling just like you, and he feels guilty. I'm sure he'll forgive you."

His words made her smile for the first time in so long. For being a kid in the Glade, he was so wise and so under-appreciated. "Thanks, Chuck."

After a few seconds, she mustered up the courage to ask him the burning question. "So... you don't think I'm dangerous or anything like that?"

He scoffed. "Not at all."

Sara tilted her head to the side. "How come?"

"I don't really know," he replied with a shrug. "I don't know all the details. All I've heard is that you remember, and that you're saying you can get us out of here. And... I've spent enough time with you to know that you wouldn't lie about this unless you needed to. And I think you'll get us out. I was waiting for something to hope for, and you've given it to me."

"Yeah, well there's a lot to that. The creators aren't supposed to know that I'm here, except for Rebecca." Sara couldn't believe how horribly things turned out. Nothing like all that planning she and Rebecca had done.

"Who's that?"

Sara smiled, thinking about the woman that took care of her all that time. "A friend of mine, who also hates the creators. She's like a mother to me. When I get us out—if I can get out of this situation alive, that is—I'll be thrilled for you to meet her. I'm sure you'll love her."

Chuck smiled. "I'd love anything that's outside of these walls. It sucks that no one believes you. We'd be out of here in the blink of an eye."

Sara nodded with sadness. Life wasn't at all great outside of those walls, but she didn't want to be the one to ruin that for Chuck. Hopefully they could find a safe haven sooner than planned.

"Let me know if you need anything else," Chuck offered.

"Alright, I wi—actually yeah." She looked over at the walls of the Maze with a solemn look on her face. "Can you please bring me some blank sheets of paper and a pencil?"

"Yeah, sure." He furrowed his eyebrows, yet he still agreed to do her the favor.

After Chuck left, Sara sank down to the floor once again. It was time to reminisce the good times, since that was all she had left to do as she waited for Chuck.

~Newt~

Loss.

That was all he could breathe in the atmosphere.

In one day, he lost his girlfriend, and in the next, he lost his best friend. And he'd already lost his memories to begin with. He'd lost hope a long time ago, and he thought he'd gained it back, but now it was twice gone. Not to mention, Newt was losing his leadership, and he was just about losing his mind to top it off.

"Dude," a voice interrupted his sulking.

Newt groaned internally. "What do you want, Minho? There's nothing you and I have to talk about."

"Maybe not us, but you and Sara," said Minho. "Look, if you'd just listen—"

"I'm done with this." Newt threw his hands in the air. "We had an entire Gathering to talk. Enough was said, don't ya think?"

"But we haven't heard everything she has to say." Minho's voice got quieter. "And we haven't solved anything really."

Newt looked at him suspiciously. "Just say it. Why should I even bother to talk to her?"

"She's had it tough, Newt. And you haven't even noticed," Minho muttered, and Newt was fuming on the inside. "She only told you half the story. It's about time you act like you care and ask her to talk to you."

"She would've told me if she really cared," said Newt. He was curious to hear about whatever had Minho so convinced she was telling the truth, but it also scared him.

"No, she's afraid to tell you. She doesn't want to worry you, and she's afraid of how badly you've been taking things. You're a big boy, though," he said, patting Newt's shoulder, "take note of how she's feeling, and be the person she needs right now."

That feeling that Newt thought was completely gone from the incident with Thomas returned, but now Minho was the issue. "Well, if you guys are so close that you tell each other everything, then maybe the person she needs is you," he replied sourly.

Minho actually laughed. "That's a bunch of klunk, man! You could've been that person that night, but she didn't want to wake you. I just happened to be awake at that time, and she really needed to vent. If you just knew—listen—you'd understand just how much worse she's had it. I'm not joking around, shuck-face. Yes, she made a mistake, but you also need to stop acting like you're the only victim."

Newt stared at him sharply, then Minho drew out his words slowly. 

"Go... to... her."

❀❀❀

"Newt?" The surprise in her voice saddened him.

But he went straight to the point. "I want to give you a chance to talk to me. To me, Sara. You trusted Minho since he's your friend, but I want you to trust me. Please, tell me what's going on. I thought you hated when I kept things from you, but here you are," he said, gesturing toward her.

Sara clearly looked offended, and Newt was afraid he was initiating another fight he could've easily avoided.

"How can I do that when you don't even trust me?" asked Sara. "You said you did, but when I needed you the most, you walked away. I thought you said things would always work out in the end, but that's not true anymore, is it?"

Newt couldn't help but notice the hurt in her voice, yet there was nothing he could really do at the moment. He felt like a coward.

And he wasn't willing nor ready to admit it just yet. "You never trusted me. You always kept things from me. I would've believed you and supported you. I could've defended you in front of those bloody shanks if I'd known all along! But I couldn't pronounce a single word in your defense in that buggin' Gathering," Newt said, defeated, gesturing towards Council Hall.

She shook her head and shrugged. "It would've been selfish of me. You weren't okay at the time—how could I worry you with more than you could handle?"

Now it was his turn to be offended again. "I know what I can or can't handle. You don't decide that for me."

Sara shook her head. "But if I can lessen your burden somehow, you'd best believe I'd do it."

"In case it hasn't dawned on you yet, keeping things from me has the opposite effect," he snapped. "Don't treat me like a child who knows nothing about the life we live," he added, and Sara almost couldn't find any other way to disagree with him. 

She didn't look angry anymore, just upset; exasperated. "Yeah, you're right—but... there's way more. The things I know about our past—yours especially—are things I don't even wish upon my worst enemy. I don't want you to dwell in the past that you don't even remember anymore. We all need to be able to move forward."

Newt scoffed. "Fine, don't tell me. I don't care about my past. I just want you to free yourself from yours. Since you remember everything, tell me. It can make you feel better, and it can help me help you," Newt tried to offer. Realization hit him, and he stopped to think for a second. "Wait... is this linked to your nightmares?"

Her facial expression was unreadable as she only stared at him for a moment, then something in her eyes changed. "I don't need your pity to make my story valid. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't have to tell you anything."

Newt sighed, frustrated. "Sara, you don't understand. I know things between us aren't gonna be the same, but I still care about you."

"You don't have to care!" she yelled. "I know things got this bad, I get it, but it is what it is. You guys need to get out of here, that's all that matters."

Is she giving up? Sara, the mere embodiment of hope, is giving up?

Newt rested his arms over his head in frustration, then brought them back down. "Stop being stubborn and see that I'm trying to understand why—"

But she was having none, again. "Your first instinct was to show how betrayed you felt instead of trying to understand. And you never made an effort to believe me. What makes you think I want to persuade you with sad story-time? That's not how it works."

Newt shook his head and huffed. "Don't put words into my mouth—"

"You just proved to me that you need a more 'valid' reason to trust me," she snapped at him. Newt was about to open his mouth to speak, but she shut him down immediately. "Hear me out very carefully, Newt. I love you, and I always will. But don't you ever ask me to use my pain as a free ticket to gain everyone's trust."

Did she really think that about him? That he was only conveniently trying to help her if her story was sad enough to move him to tears?

"I never said that!" he raised his voice again. "Can you—?"

"Just go away!" she shouted at him, hitting the bars with her fists.

Maybe it was time for him to reevaluate the situation. He didn't know what else to do, but as of right then, the guys wanted to banish her. First, he had to save her from dying, then, he'd worry about sorting out the rest.

"Is it really that hard to understand? Sara, the Council can't decide what to do with you—they're thinking of banishing you!"

"I know!" she yelled. "I don't care."

What?

"I can't have that, okay?" He waved his hands in front of her with frustration. "I tried to talk to them—several of us did. But if you die..." he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, "...I—I just can't let that happen."

Surprising him, she reached out to him, her soft hand resting on his arm. He almost flinched at her touch, given her current mood.

"Don't worry about me. If they haven't decided anything yet, then there's still time," she said, her tone unconvincing. "It's only been one day. Besides, you're not entitled to protect me. Worry about yourself, Newt. Please."

Her words were so full of resolve, screaming 'goodbye' at him from all sides and angles. She was settling down for death, welcoming it as if it were the only thing set for her in the future.

Then, as if things couldn't have possibly gotten worse, the Greenie alarm went off.

"What the bloody—?"

Sara scoffed. "Now the Greenie cycle's broken. Great." Newt shared a look of astonishment with her until she shouted, "Go!"

Before he could swerve around to run toward the Box hole, Minho came rushing in his direction.

"Newt, what the shuck is going on? Two Greenies in less than a week?" he panted.

"I don't know," Newt said, turning to Sara again, but she was heavily engulfed in her own thoughts.

Minho furrowed his eyebrows at her. "I really hope you at least have an idea of what the heck is going on," he said.

She nodded, then eyed the two of them. "Something about Thomas coming here's not right. I didn't know he was coming, but now that he's here, and all this weird stuff is happening..."

"What?" Minho and Newt urged her to speak.

"I think I know who the Greenie is."

Before she could say who, Alby yelled at the boys to come over and help. "Guys, come on!"

❀❀❀

To say things had gotten strange was an understatement. Newt couldn't believe they got another girl, and they'd gotten two Greenies in just one week.

Aside from that, the girl came up with a daunting message written on a piece of paper, and she looked half dead. Then, she recognized Thomas, even though he claimed he didn't know her. And now she was lying in a coma on one of the Med-jack beds.

Alby, Minho, and Newt headed over to the slammer to get Sara. If she knew something, then she should better start talking.

"Sara, I need you to come see the Greenie," Alby told her as he unlocked the door of the slammer.

"You said you might know who the Greenie is, but this..." said Minho, shaking his head. "I'm pretty sure even this is gonna surprise you."

Sara quirked an eyebrow. "Why, where is she?" she asked so casually—too casually even. The three of them stared at her as if she'd grown two heads.

"She? So, y—you do know," Newt stammered.

Sara shrugged, getting uncomfortable. "I had an idea," she said, eyeing the three of them, and Newt was sure she could read their thoughts. "So it's the girl, huh? You guys, everything I've been saying is true, I'm not lying."

They immediately started heading to the Med-jacks and Thomas met up with them along the way.

"We aren't accusing you of lying. At least not now," Newt told Sara.

She remained silent for a moment, then she opened her mouth to speak again. "The girl's name is Teresa, by the way."

"You remember her?" Thomas asked in a curious, childlike voice, but everyone simply chose to ignore him at the moment.

"Well, ain't that nice," Alby muttered.

Sara looked at Alby and rolled her eyes. "Couldn't you guys bring the girl over to the pit instead of taking me out?"

Minho snorted. "See, that's exactly what we would've done, but turns out little miss Sleeping Beauty here is unavailable at the moment," he said as they all entered the Med-jack room.

The new girl was lying on a bed, unconscious.

"And don't worry, you'll be back in there after seeing the girl. We just need any information ya might have about her right now," Alby added, turning to Sara.

"Gee, thanks," her smart-aleck self returned.

Newt drove the subject back to serious matters. "This was in her hand when she came up," he said as he pulled out the piece of paper from his pocket to show Sara.

"She's the last one... ever," she read.

She perked her head up to stare at the guys, and Newt could see something click in her eyes, the machinations of her brain spinning like crazy.

"So, what now? We bloody wait until we all die out?" Newt huffed in annoyance.

"This is crazy," said Alby, scratching his head with frustration, then he turned over to Sara. "First, you showed up and all that klunk that came with that. Then, Thomas comes up, and things start changing mad quickly. We get a new Greenie the next day—another girl. And she brings a message like this? What are we gonna do without any more supplies from the Box?"

Minho stepped in. "Sara, for shuck's sake, just say it! What's going on? And you better talk, shank, 'cause I know you know something."

"I don't know!" she finally shouted, startling them. "She didn't get to tell me any of this, but my next best guess is that they're pushing us to leave the Maze."

"What? But why would they want to help us do that? What if it's a trap?" Newt argued.

Minho nodded, and Newt was surprised to have his support. "Yeah, and there's no way out of the shucking Maze. What d'ya think we've been trying to do for the past two-and-a-half years?" Minho added. "You think that they're gonna magically come rescue us all?"

Sara shook her head, her mind still seeming to churn with ideas. "No, WICKED wants you to leave, but this could be Becca telling us that she's finally gonna help us," she said, with renown hope.

Maybe it was a bit too early to celebrate, however.

Newt studied the piece of paper in his hands more closely. Suddenly, he noticed the ink of black marker that bled through from the other side.

"Guys, look. There's more writing on the back," he informed them, then showed them the paper.

He read what was written on it, aloud:

Maze Trials Sabotage Mission:

Still on course.
The girl is telling the truth. Let her out, or you will never leave the Maze.

-R.P.

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~A/N:

Sooo there are some things I haven't said about Rebecca yet... saving that for later 😉