CH. FORTY - SIX
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To her surprise, she fell asleep almost immediately. She doesn't remembering having to send the Grievers at Ben, at least.

Which still means he's probably dead.

Just not because of her.

With a groan, she sits up. Looks around only to find Gally already gone. Her dinner plate from last night is still on her desk. Next to it, something she hasn't seen yet stands.

Frowning, she takes the little bottle. Twists it in her fingers until she reads the label.

Sleeping pills.

He gave her sleeping pills.

She assumes, at least.

Her stomach twists at the thought of him doing that without her knowing, or even noticing, but then she reminds herself it was probably just to get her calm.

Quickly, the girl dresses into her run clothes. It must be late, since Gally's gone. All the Runners have likely left, too.

It's the first time she runs after a week of not doing so. She spend a few days training Chuck, and yesterday she wasted her time on trying to save Ben.

Right. Her leg is even messed up now. She can't even run.

So she takes a deep breath to cover the disappointment; perhaps if she could run her feelings off, she wouldn't have to grieve about Ben.

Trying to forget, she eats a fast breakfast, then heads off to Chuck, who she finds sitting on a tree trunk with Thomas. Newt's in front of them.

"Hey, Bud." She hops down next to the kid. "What're you doing?"

"Trying to carve," he murmurs, eyes focused on the wood in his hands.

She peeks at his work. "It's looking good already. You're a natural."

"I'm not. Gally taught me," Chuck explains, reminding her of that one time she saw them sitting together. "My first few nights. When I couldn't sleep. And when he was supposed to teach me how to build. But we figured out I'll hammer my own fingers off if I even try, so that's why he came up with this."

Her heart melts. "That's kind of him."

"He's a tad grumpy, though," he adds quickly, as if he has to prove that he doesn't like Gally.

A laugh leaves her mouth. "Yeah, maybe sometimes." She turns to the other two boys. "What are you lovebirds talking about?"

With a roll of his eyes, Newt ignores the nickname. "About Alby and Minho. They went into Maze to retrace Ben's footsteps."

"What?" Her face falls in surprise. "Why?"

Thomas shrugs. Points at Newt. "He says it might lead them closer to a way out."

"Yeah. Runners are awesome and smart, especially Minho, and Alby is, too," Newt says. "They have high chances of figuring it out."

"Why aren't you a Runner, then?"

"Smooth, Thomas." She groans. "So smooth."

"I didn't- well, maybe- no, I- whatever," he stammers, stabbing his knife into the dirt. "I'm kinda curious about the Maze, though."

"It's boring," she says fast.

"Then I'd definitely like to figure out why it's boring," he shoots back. "I mean, maybe if I see the Maze, I can-"

Her eyebrows fly up. "You think you're gonna figure it out while we've been trying for years? Because you won't."

"You haven't been trying," Newt points out. She hisses at him, motions at Chuck, who isn't supposed to know the reason she joined the Runners, but the blonde doesn't seem to care.

"What?" Thomas's head snaps at her. "Why not?"

"Because the outside world is ruined. I believe we're here to be kept safe. To continue living here, and not burn down to ashes or get killed by creatures," she says.

"Well, if you're not running for a purpose, can't I take your place?"

"Absolutely not."

"How do I even become a Runner?"

"Do something brave or something." Camil wheels closer the them. "Well, actually, I don't even know."

"You have to be strong and fast."

"I can be strong and fast."

"I thought by now, you'd know that, Newt," Camil comments.

Offended, Thomas shoots him a glare.

"Yes, that's the right way to prove you're strong and fast!" She claps in her hands. "Newt's the Second-In-Command, after all. He can judge."

"You're traumatizing Chuck," Newt replies, face bright red.

Joan turns to the kid. "We're not, right?"

"You're not," Chuck says, unbothered. "Thomas's questions were more traumatic."

"Excuse you?"

"That's another question," Chuck points out, tone dry but smile mischievous. "Watch out, I might get a panic attack. Gives me flashbacks."

Camil snorts. "Chuck, you're awesome."

"I know." And then he's back to carving.

With a deep sigh, Thomas looks back at Newt. "Seriously, how do I become a Runner?"

Newt's about to reply, but his mouth stays open for a few good seconds. Then, he looks up with a frown. "You feel that?"

"A meteorite is gonna blow us all up?" Joan wonders.

"No, it's... rain," he says, frown increasing. "It never rains in the Glade."

A bad feeling bubbles up in her stomach. Why now? Right after Ben got stung? And why did Thomas arrive that early?

It can't be a coincidence.

"We'll take cover," she suggests.

❀

"Why aren't they back yet?" Thomas urges after a while. It's ten minutes to six. Ten minutes left for Minho and Alby to return. Thomas has been questioning it since an hour ago. By this time, the rain has calmed and her nails are bitten off from stress.

Minho always returns half an hour before the Doors close. To make sure he's back at the right time.

"They'll make it," Newt assures, rubbing his chin.

"But what if-"

"They'll make it," he repeats, but there's not much assurance in his voice. Almost as if he's just trying to convince himself.

Chuck tugs at her sleeve once he notices the rain has stopped. "Come on. We'll wait in front of the Doors."

Nodding, she follows him. A small group of boys is already standing in front of the stone walls, and she also notices Gally.

"Hey," she murmurs as she takes her place besides him.

"Hi," he greets, taking her hand.

After a few more minutes of anxious waiting, Thomas raises his voice again, "Can't we send someone after them?"

"That's against the rules," Gally says. "And it's too dangerous. Will only make us lose more people."

She's not sure if she's supposed to agree or not. It is Minho and Alby in there. The Keeper of the Runners and their leader.

The Keeper of the Runners- if he dies, she's the only Runner left.

Isn't that what she wanted? To make all the Runners quit?

No. Not like this. One death is already one too many.

Shaking her head, she glares at the watch on her wrist. One minute left, and they're still not-

"There!" Thomas's finger reaches toward to point into the distance. With squinted eyes, she can see two figures approaching.

"Something's wrong," Newt mutters. When both of them take a closer look, they realize; Minho is carrying Alby.

"Come on, Minho!" Chuck is the first to start encouraging. "You can do it!"

Then a lot of boys follow. She watches in silence, her heart slamming against her ribs so hard it makes her breathing hitch.

Alby's limp body slides off Minho's. A hand slams in front of her mouth, and Newt shakes his head, face full of so much pain that she can't even bare to look at it for a second.

"They're not going to make it," he realizes in a whisper.

Her mind's spinning. There must be something she can do. Control the Grievers, yes. With her leg, she won't be able to run into the Maze, but she can protect them.

Yet Alby- he seems to be stung. She's not controlling the Grievers every second of the day, so it's possible that it happened. And if he wakes up, will he go crazy on Minho like Ben did on Thomas?

"Thomas, no!" Chuck's yell shakes her out of her thoughts.

But Chuck's too late, and Newt is unable to pull Thomas away- he has already disappeared between the closing walls.