Stealers (Newt x Reader)

Chapter 23: The Code

"What? You can't just cut me-"

"No look! I'm sorry but look," I gave him a shy smile before holding up the paper to him, letting the light that came from the singular bulb in the ceiling shine through it, which made the number '4' that had appeared even more visible. Amongst the little lines I had drawn which represented the walls, some of them had overlapped, making the lines darker and here they showed a four. He looked at me and then back at the paper, a smile appearing on his face.

"Woah you did it," he laughed slightly, taking the sheet from hands, holding it up to the light.

"Guys, I have something," I alerted the others in the room, pulling them out of their own work and then passing the square piece of paper around the gladers so they could see. "My guess is that there are eight numbers for each section of the maze but there's an order, and I guess four is first. Now we know what we're looking for and that there's something worth looking for, should be easy." I felt the atmosphere in the room become a little lighter at the find, a fresh layer of hope coating everyone's mood and attitude. I smiled at Newt and he grabbed my hand, rubbing his thumb on the top of it. Fortunately, he didn't pick up on my initial shock and just smiled back.

"Well done," he smirked.

"Thanks," I felt myself blush and took my hand from him. I wanted him to hold it but my feelings had suddenly burst inside me and they were overwhelming. They were harder to deal with when I didn't even know what was really happening and what it really meant. I opened my mouth, looking at him, actually considering letting it all out. Maybe the truth was needed... but I closed it as quick as I opened it, putting my head down and getting back to work.

The code was eventually figured out, each number rolling in from a different person with a different set of days and before we knew it we had eight numbers in front of us. We realised after a while that the numbers repeated after the eighth one and stopped, standing around the largest table, the code in front of us. The code. It was real and it was here.

"Can't believe that bloody shank was right," Newt said, a triumphant smile on his face as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yeah I trust it now," Winston said. I turned to him and smiled, things were seeming to get brighter by the minute. Not that I had much faith in it, I was too damaged to believe that it might last. Everyone else soon left, complaining that their brains hurt from the hours of concentrating. I playfully rolled my eyes at them, knowing that they were pleased with how the day had turned out. Either way, they deserved the rest. Me and Newt stayed in the dimly lit room, waiting for Minho and Thomas to return from the maze but mostly just enjoying the other's company. 

"And you fell right into the mud, oh my god!" We burst out laughing again as we reminisced on the good times we had in the glade, the funny moments, distracting us for a little from the situation we were in now.

"That was literally your fault," I sighed, trying to find a breath between the uncontrollable laughter. Every time I managed to calm down, Newt said something else and I would be set off all over again.

"Oh you looked beautiful that day," he had said it without realising and was looking away from me in his own thoughts. I stared at him though, unsure of how to respond. Too shocked to even do so. I felt a strange urge to tell him everything I felt, it suddenly felt... right. My heart raced at the thought.

"Newt," I put my hand on his arm, making him look at me, "I have something tell you." I smiled, letting him know it wasn't anything bad.

"Yeah, go on," he gave me a kind smile back. I readied myself to say it, mentally building up the courage. I opened my mouth.

"Heyyy! Heard you guys were down here and I also heard we have good news," I heard Minho's voice echo in the room as he and Thomas bounded down the stairs, they had way too much energy for people who had just spent hours running the maze. I sighed, glad they were okay but I still had everything I wanted to say to Newt on the tip of my tongue. 

"Yeah, let's talk," Newt said, squeezing my shoulder as he stood up. I felt a bitter feeling begin to linger in my stomach. 

"Okay but can we go up?" Minho said, pointing up the stairs to the glade.

"Sure," Newt said, going to follow them, "you coming?" He turned to me, one foot on the step, the other on the floor.

"Yeah. Sure." I replied bluntly. It wasn't his fault but I had nothing else to direct my annoyance at. I stood up and went to walk past him but he stopped me.

"What did you wanna tell me?" He asked, clearly curious to know. I sighed and looked away, a little sadness mixing in with the irritation,

"Nothing, it doesn't matter," I shook my head slightly and smiled, swallowing the lump in my throat that would have stopped me from saying anything. He furrowed his brow but then shrugged, continuing up the stairs and into the glade.