~~~Author's Notes~~~

Fast update!!! Wooo! It's shorter, but I also updated two days in a row, so I think it evens things out. The next chapter will be better and more thought out, I promise! Also, ignore grammatical errors, I'm fixing them later.

But okay, in case anyone missed it in my last update, I'm making this "Positivity Jar," where I write down everyone's account names and I pick one (I'm gonna say once a week) and I send you an encouraging message and, if you want me to, I'll read your Wattpad book. This is not some scam into getting a shoutout. I genuinely enjoy reading and all of you are extremely talented. I just wanna spread love, haha.

So if you haven't already, comment on this little section and I'll write your account name down :)

Question of the update will be at the end!! Switching things up! YAY!

~~~~~

~~~Brianne's Pov~~~

"I assigned you to the room that has Thomas in it," Newt said, pulling the door to the homestead closed, "I would love to be with you, but I need reliable people on both levels of this place."

"Awe, are you calling me reliable?" I smiled, kissing Newt's cheek.

"Yes, I am," Newt led me to a hallway I'd never been down before.

"This is new," I commented on the different rooms. A portrait of a woman hung on one of the walls, "Who the heck's that?"

"Don't know, and I've always been too lazy to ask," Newt laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

Voices echoed from inside the rooms that we passed. As Newt walked by, he closed the doors.

Newt stopped fully at the fifth door.

"A-alright, this is you," Newt whispered, his face suddenly pale.

"This isn't goodbye," I said, trying to cheer him up.

"It sure as hell feels like it," He pouted, taking my left hand in his. His fingers glided over the ring, "Watch Thomas, okay?"

"Okay," I assured, looking into the room.

"He isn't very reliable," Newt warned, giving my hand a quick squeeze, "Be safe."

"You too. As scared as you are for me, I'm doubly scared for you," I awkwardly giggled.

"I still wanna know what Gally said to you," Newt mumbled, looking down the hall, as if expecting Gally to suddenly appear out of thin air.

I wouldn't be surprised, honestly.

"It was nothing. He said some messed up stuff about all of us," I tried to play it off as meaningless once again, but his words had dug a special spot in my heart. I was curiously confused. Why was I different? Why was I hated? Why did Victoria believe I was one of the creators favorites? If so, am I safe from trouble? Or does that put me in more danger?

"If it was nothing, why won't you just tell me about it?" Newt brought his other hand up to caress my face.

"Because the truth scares me," I breathed, hearing the shuffle of feet above me, "There's a calmness in not knowing the answers to some questions."

"How do you know what the truth is?" Newt questioned.

"It's hard to lie about things that you shouldn't even know about. Gally just scared me. The creators told him stuff."

"I'm starting to wish that the creators would talk to me," Newt half-joked.

Someone appeared at the other end of the hallway, "Hey, Newt, sorry to interrupt, but you're needed upstairs."

"I'll be up in a minute," Newt shouted. He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering on my skin for an extra moment, "I love you. And I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight," I tried to smile, as I entered the room I was staying in. Newt closed the door behind me, and I could only hope that he'd be there tomorrow to open it.

This room was larger than Newt and I's bedroom, and it had three couches and no beds in it. Thanks, Babe, I'm really roughing it aren't I.

But jokes aside, this was okay. This proved to everyone that I was not favored by Newt or the creators. I was normal. I didn't get a special room or special bed. I was going to sleep on the floor like everyone else.

I awkwardly waved at all of the people in here; there had to be about eleven.

I went to sit down next to Thomas on the floor in one of the far corners of the room, but then Andrea called to me, "Newt assigned you to this couch."

Bloody shucking shank klunk slinthead hell.

I almost groaned in frustration.

I should be happy. Newt treats me like royalty. But it makes me feel bad.

"Yay," I mumbled, plopping onto the empty couch.

"You seem less than thrilled," Andrea stared at me from her spot on one of the other couches.

"I'm just tired, that's all," I sighed, unfolding the blanket that was next to me.

"Well, props to you if you can fall asleep," Andrea laughed, rolling onto her side, so that I couldn't see her face anymore, "I'll be trying all night."

I glanced over at Thomas, who was sitting in the corner with his arms wrapped around his knees. He looked out of it.

I still wanted to know why he'd acted so strangely earlier. And why he ignored everyone and hid all day.

And I wonder where Minho is and if he's still sulking at his lack of findings in the maze?

Both of them, Thomas and Minho, need to smarten up. Newt needs the support and wisdom of clear headed people, not teenage boys who are acting out of personal frustration.

Speaking of Newt, although my opinion might be completely biased, he is quite literally the only person in the Glade who keeps things running smoothly. He's the only one that can be faced with immediate danger and think rationally. I definitely cannot. I've proven that many times.

But the only times I've seen Newt's judgment impaired, is when he's really depressed. Even then, he just sees the truth in a magnified light. Are things possibly hopeless? Of course. Does everyday seem like a struggle? Yeah. Would death be an easier option at times? Probably.

I don't agree with his thoughts, but they aren't necessarily crazy. Newt isn't crazy, although he probably feels like he is. He's smart and calm and sweet and understanding and beautiful-

"What's got you smiling like that?" Thomas asked, looking at me.

"Nothing," I lied, blushing. Thankfully the darkness of the night and lack of lights, concealed my color from being on full display to anyone who cared enough to watch.

I need to stop thinking about Newt.

Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

"Can I come sit?" Thomas pushed himself onto his feet, assuming that I would say yes.

I nodded, patting the space next to me. Hey, this'll work. I won't look as bad if I'm sharing the couch.

"You okay?" I asked, as he sat down. He pulled his knees up to his chest.

"Eh, I've definitely been better," He answered, honestly, "I'm nervous."

"We all are, don't worry," I reassured, touching his shoulder.

"No, it's something different," He mumbled, only loud enough for me to hear. Now that I think of it, most of the people in this room are silent.

"Something other than the impending griever attack?" Maybe I can get Thomas to tell me what he was so shaken up about earlier.

Thomas shook his head, tucking his chin down to his chest as he did so. This made him appear very small, almost childlike.

God, he really needs to grow up a little.

"If you wanna talk about it, I'm all ears," I said, "Well, not really," I laughed.

"I don't think you'd understand," Thomas explained, "I don't even understand," He huffed.

"Try me. You might be surprised."

I was getting nervous, now. What was Thomas about to tell me?

"I have a crazy idea."

"No idea is crazy," I said, intrigued.

"This one is, trust me," Thomas sighed, before freezing.

I heard the distant echo of groans and clicks coming in through the boarded windows. The grievers.

I looked around at everyone in the room. Nobody was asleep. Even Andrea was wide awake now.

I turned back to Thomas. And I'm not too sure, because it was quite dark in here, but I think I saw the shimmer of a tear glistening on Thomas's cheek.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to draw attention to the fact that he was crying. And if he wasn't even crying, that's so awkward for me to point out something that wasn't even there.

Then a loud bang erupted from upstairs, and the whole building shook, almost as if an earthquake was commencing. I heard a few screams and then the thundering stomps of running feet, most likely the Gladers moving to the first floor.

My heart felt as though it had stopped. I could only hope and pray that Newt wasn't in the room that was being attacked.

"It's got Dave!" I heard someone yell in a horrified squeal. I couldn't help, but slightly relax at the fact that it wasn't Newt being taken, as awful as that sounds.

Nobody in my room moved or made a sound. We all remained silent, anxiously waiting for peace to return to this place. A peace we knew would never actually come.

I drew in a quick breath, as another loud jolt of sound and movement resounded right outside the door to this room. I could literally hear the wood of the homestead walls being ripped apart by the grievers.

Thankfully, the noises eventually moved further away from us. I assumed the grievers had taken someone and were now leaving.

Thomas exhaled shortly.

I went to look at him, but then he jumped up and ran for the door.

"Thomas!" I shouted, not thinking, "Stop!"

Stupidly, I ran after him. He sprinted down the hallway and out the front door.

I passed by Newt who was out in the main entrance of the homestead anxiously trying to calm the Gladers who had been in the room that was attacked.

But then he saw me run by, and sharply turned to face me, "Where are you going?" He shouted in complete shock.

I yelled, "Thomas," As I left the building.

I heard Newt following close behind me.

"No! Go back to the homest-" Newt paused, "Why is Thomas running after the grievers- Thomas!"

Then I watched in horror, as Thomas threw himself at one of the grievers.

I stopped, absolutely frozen with fear.

Why in the world?

I felt the presence of someone right beside me. By the light touch of the person's fingers moving across the skin of my wrist, I knew it was Newt.

"What in the bloody hell is he doing?" Newt barely breathed.

Thomas began attacking the griever holding Dave. Three of the grievers started fighting back, stinging Thomas multiple times. But Thomas flailed his arms and legs in retaliation.

Is he trying to be taken or?

I went to help him, but Newt tightened his hold on my wrist, keeping me back.

I didn't try to fight against him.

Why is Thomas fighting the grievers, if he threw himself at them in the first place? My mind was actually blown. What was happening?

Thomas screamed, as he broke into a run in our direction. The grievers, already taking their Glader for the night, left the Glade as soon as Thomas fled.

At this, Newt ran ahead, just as Thomas collapsed to the ground.

Several other people that I hadn't even known were here, gathered around the faint Thomas.

"Get his legs!" Newt shouted, lifting Thomas up by the shoulders.

Minho grabbed Thomas's legs and hoisted him up off of the ground. The pair carried Thomas into a small room in the homestead, placing his limp body onto a couch.

Newt leaned down next to him, "What were you doing! How could you be so bloody stupid!"

I stood a few feet back.

Thomas barely stuttered, "No," A breath, "I-I- you don't understand-"

"Shut up," Newt scoffed, clearly angry. I was too. Why did Thomas just do that, "Don't waste your energy."

I moved closer to Thomas and begin examining his body for wounds.

"He's been stung at least a dozen times," I muttered, wondering if he was even gonna survive something like this.

"Go get the grief serum!" Newt yelled at Clint. A few minutes later, Clint ran into the room holding the needle. He stuck it in Thomas's arm.

This was awful.

Newt stood from where he was crouching and walked towards the door. Clint and the others did the same, but they were still close enough to hear Thomas's final words before he passed out, "Don't worry," He whispered, "I did it on purpose."

~~~~~

~~~Author's Notes~~~

Question of the Update: In honor of my upcoming sequel To Live, if you could live anywhere in the world where would you like to be?

Honestly, I love America, but I love the city and I think that I would enjoy someplace like London, England or Paris, France. If not a foreign country, for me, I would live in L.A. or New York City.

So yah, honestly my goal is to travel to as many countries as I can and experience as many cultures as I can, because I just find the world so fascinating. Like there are hundreds of languages that I don't speak and thousands of foods that I haven't tried and that makes me lowkey sad, haha. I don't know, I'm rambling.

BUT OKAY, I'm done for now. I will talk to all of you in the comments section! Byyeee!!!