Count On Me ➵ Newt [1]

PROLOGUE

"I don't want to go," I muttered, my voice croaky from crying.

"Trust me, Rose, I know. I understand. But ya know we don't have a choice."

I clenched my teeth. I hated it whenever someone said that―we always have a choice, even if we don't realize it at the time. But Newt was right this time. We don't have a choice.

I took a deep breath to steel my nerves, then slowly stood up from my seat. I glanced around the cafeteria for what may be the last time. It was empty now―everyone else had left. Finally, I turned around and faced Newt.

"Let's go," I whispered.

He nodded, and led me out the room. We walked down hallway after hallway, our footsteps echoeing off the walls eeriely. As we neared our destination, faint voices and noises gradually grew to a crescendo. Newt and I turned left and were greeted with the sight of a group of boys crowding the hallway. I spotted Alby immediately―the guy was kinda hard to miss. He leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest, looking sullen. Minho was right next to him, and I almost couldn't recognized him. He still had the same black hair and Asian complexion, of course, but the usual confident expression was gone, replaced with one of worry and surprisingly―fear.

Newt and I joined the line of waiting boys, passing by our other friends, all of whom were either brooding or talking nervously. The two of us said nothing as we waited. Occassionally, our gazes would flicker to each other and meet, but then we'd look away just as quickly. Neither of us had anything to say, and for once, I was grateful for the silence between us, however unnerving it may be.

"It's okay," a familiar voice beside me said. I jumped a little and looked up―Teresa was consoling Minho, with Thomas right behind her. "Don't make it worse by fighting them. Everything will be fine inside the maze. You'll see."

"Aren't you going in with us?" Minho asked.

I watched as Teresa and Thomas blinked in surprise. They glanced at each other furtively. My heart dropped. They weren't joining us.

"Uh, w-well..." Teresa stammered.

"Not yet," Thomas said quickly.

Unsurprisingly, Minho argued with them, accusing them of being 'best buddies' with WICKED. Alby chimed in as well, pushing the blade of their accusations deep into Teresa and Thomas. The two tried to defend themselves, looking alarmed and desperate. Thomas glanced in Newt's direction, obviously hoping for him to stand up for him―Newt had always been peaceful and protective, after all. But the blond merely glared back angrily. Thomas' face fell.

His gaze shifted to me, and I quickly looked away.

"Rosalind?" He said softly.

I crossed my arms across my chest and said nothing.

Minho flared up his accusations again, and Teresa tried once more to reassure him.

"Minho, listen―" she said.

"Get out of my face!" He yelled.

Thomas and Teresa looked crestfallen. Their eyes brimmed with tears and their lips wobbled―but Alby, Minho and Newt glared at them resentfully, not a drop of pity left in them to spare. I felt bad for the two―they were my friends, after all―but still, I said nothing. I couldn't even bring it in myself to look at them.

―

I was at the front of the line now. The boys before me had already been escorted into the medical rooms. In just a few minutes―or maybe even seconds―I would be next. I snapped my eyes shut, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat down. I took slow, deep breaths, trying to even my breathing.