When The Darkness Comes // Newt

Part twenty, "Let's go home"

Before you have time to study it, you yell, "Get up here! Now!" Apparently Newt saw it too, because he already started climbing the wall. You climb higher and higher, ignoring the blood that trickles down your wrists from the cuts on your hands.

"Hurry!" You don't look behind to see how close the Griever is, you can't afford to waste any precious seconds. By this time, Newt is already beside you, and you both climb higher and higher until you don't see any more vines to hold onto. Strange. You hurriedly glance at him and see that he notices the same problem. Knowing deep down that this is the end, you glance back and see the slimy monster at the bottom ram one of it's sharp pointed legs into the wall. It latches on, and climbs higher until it's fifteen, ten, five feet below you. You force your eyes to stay open, staring at the stone wall. You have to be brave. But now you know that Newt was right when he objected to your idea of running from this horrible creature. And, like he said, your stubbornness cost both your lives.

"I'm sorry," you whisper, clinging tightly to the vine as you wait for the Griever's raised stinger to inject you with venom.

Your fate is almost upon you, and your heart is pounding so loudly in your ears, but you clearly hear the two words he replies with.

"Don't be."

And that's it.

That's the last thing you remember before you pry your gaze away from the stone wall to see why you haven't died yet. Your mind can't function properly for several minutes, but you gather bits and pieces. The Griever is gone. You're alive. Newt's alive. The first few rays of sun are shining on the wall you still cling to.

It's morning.

"It's gone," you hear Newt say out loud, looking around to find some answers. "The Griever- it's gone."

You let out a laugh, shocking yourself. "It worked!"

"What worked?"

"My plan!"

He raises his eyebrows. "You had a plan?"

"Yeah, no shuck. You think I would lead you up this wall if I didn't have a plan?"

"That's certainly what it seemed like."

"Shut up and let's go home." Home. "I mean, the Glade."

You both slide down the vines, ignoring the burning sensation that seeps through your bloody fingers. You shake out your hands when your feet land on solid ground once more.

"Wait- did we just- did we-?"

"Survive a night in the Maze?" you finish. "That's what it looks like."

"Nobody's ever done this before- wait- what was this plan you say you had in mind the whole time?"

"I mean, it wasn't the whole time. Just when I stopped and went over to climb the wall. I saw that it was almost morning, and you said the Grievers go somewhere during the daytime. I thought if we lasted until the wake-up, it would leave. But come on, it might come back," you explain.

"Wow," is all he says in response. You want to laugh as you watch him, stupefied from the words you just said.

"I know, right? I'm so smart."

He finally rolls his eyes and nods toward the passage you came from. "Let's go home."

"You said it."

"And please, for the love of the Glade, let's not run."

You snicker. "What, one of the Runners is getting tired?"

"Oh please, you're not even a little bit winded after spending half the night hiding from those nasty buggers?"

"Never said I wasn't."

"Never said ya were."

"Let's just discontinue this argument because my opinion clearly makes the most sense." You grin at each other and head back to the Glade.

Back home.