The Maze Runner -Flare In Flames- |Newt X Reader|

Chapter 25~Temporary Solution~

       Minho, Thomas, and I are all sitting around a campfire. Beautiful shining stars above. Water surrounds the island as they smoothly crash into the shores. Suddenly Thomas and Minho stand up looking in the distance at something. I turn my head to the right to see his dirty blonde shaggy hair. His fair complexed skin. His dark brown eyes. Newt limps over to the three of us nonchalantly, so calm. It's almost like he never left. "Now what are you shanks doin' sittin on the beach like a bunch of emotional teenagers?" Newt chuckles as he hobbles up to Thomas and Minho. They're not even excited to see him? What on earth is going on!? The three of them begin to talk when I jump up from the sand darting over to the lost boy. "Newt!" I shout hugging him. The warmth of his chest is just as I remember it being. "Woah." Newt laughs seeming almost hesitant to put his arms around me. "I was so worried about you!" I state looking up at him as he's smiling at Thomas and Minho. He lets go of me stepping back a little bit. "I'm sorry." Newt laughs putting his hand on his face. He use to do that sometimes when he was embarrassed or annoyed. "Do I know you?" The question hits like a knife carving into the center of my heart. "What?" I shudder looking over at Thomas and Minho. All they do is shrug their shoulders. "What do you mean 'do I know you'?" I mimic him. "Its me... Y/N." I try and remind him. He just smiles glancing back and fourth between Minho and Thomas. "I'm sorry." Newt starts, "The name doesn't ring a bell." My heart begins to ache just a little. Newt just stares at me with those familiar dark brown eyes. "You are very pretty though, I will say." Newt adds as my brain wraps around the situation at hand. This is a dream Y/N. Wake up. I close my eyes trying to trigger the waking process, but nothing happens. I stand here on the sandy beach with my 2 best friends as well as the corpse that I once loved. I look back up at him frightened. As if my own mind heard me, crank Newt stands before me with a knife in his left hand. "It's time to take your daily injection." Crank Newt announces walking towards me. I can't seem to identify my emotion: fear, frustration, sadness, or confusion. "What did you just say?" I stand starring at the make-believe version of the British boy. "It's time to take your daily injection." A female voice repeats his words in the air around us. I start to scan the area. Everything is as it was that day. Dark. When I turn back to Newt, he has vanished amongst the dust filled with smoke and debris. "Good Morning. It's time to take your daily injection."

Y/N's POV
       My eyes flutter open to the white bed sheets around me. Sunlight is barely breaking through the window, and the smell of lavender laundry detergent fills my nose. "It's time to take your daily injection." The female voice repeats again. I freeze with realization. Someone is inside my room. I have no disguise, no defense. I'm as good as dead. "It's time to take your daily injection." The same monotoned voice repeats the phrase from my dream... at least what I though was my dream. Where is that voice coming from? Silence erupts around me as I listen for any indication of another person inside my room. "It's time to take your daily injection." The female voice repeats again. I uncover my face from the covers glancing at every object in my room. No sign of any life form. Everything is exactly as it was when I fell asleep last night. "It's time to take your daily injection." The voice repeats over again. I slowly stand up from my sitting position with caution. My legs feel like jelly, shaking every step I take. I notice a white machine sticking out from the bland wall. This was not here last night. Although it was dark, I would have seen it even when we first got here yesterday afternoon. "It's time to take your daily injection." I squint my eyes at the odd object. It exceed the wall by a couple feet. There is a large hole parallel to the wall that goes into the machine. I glace up at a screen. It demonstrates a cartoon of a girl putting her arm through the hole. "It's time to take your daily injection." The annoying reminder states. "Okay, okay. Just shut up about it." I argue back to the machine unable to actually communicate. I hesitate, starring down at the white box imbedded in the wall. I have no idea what's going to happen. What if they actually know who I am, and they're getting ready to tranquilize me. "It's time to-." The machine tries. "Fine!" I shout shoving my arm in the designated spot. A green scan runs across my arm before I feel a prick on the inside of my elbow. I gasp, instinctively jerking my arm towards my torso. A green smiley face appears on the screen. "Thank you for your cooperation." The voice finalizes as the machine is sucked back into the wall. I am left standing starring at a device that might've just poisoned me.
       I step outside of my door in full disguise. Abby and Airs are already here along with the guard who showed us to our rooms yesterday. "I hope you are all rested. You've got a pretty big day today. We better get going. Don't want to be late on the first day." The guard greets before walking toward the elevator. Abby follows him and before Aris does, I pull his arm back. "Ow." Aris whispers with sass. "Sorry." I match his volume, releasing my grip. "Sometimes I don't know my own strength." I admit as he slightly chuckles. "Y/N, I've known you for years now. I know this." In that moment, I am brought back to the Maze. Aris and I, inseparable. Now I hate how awkward we are sometimes. "Y/N?" Aris questions, pulling me out of my mind. "Yes?" I instantly question, sounding somewhat paranoid. "Why exactly did you grip my arm?" He asks. We begin to enter the elevator. "Hold that thought." I respond stepping into the box. I stare down at my arm. The small visible prick on my arm. It feels as if nothing happened. No numbness, tiredness, or dizziness... but what was it for? The door slides open leading to the first floor of the building. Without a word, the guard continues the trek to our work facility. Aris and I fall back just a few steps so we can talk. "The injection? Did it make you take it too?" I automatically ask once he's in hearing range. He nods showing me the tiny spot on his arm. "What is it?" Aris looks around almost worried that someone will hear him. "I have no idea. I'm going to ask." I start to walk faster to catch up to the guard. "Y/N." Aris pulls me back towards him. "What?" His eyes look wide as if I just completely exposed both of us. "You're really going to ask him?" He points towards the limping man. "Uh... yea? Why? What's it gunna hurt?" Aris doesn't answer. Either because he knows I'm right or knows that either way, I will win the argument. I catch up to the guard who is going as fast as he can with a limp. "Excuse me sir." I tap his shoulder. He turns his head, yet he continues walking on. "Yes Ms. Olivia?" He looks back forward. "What is your name?" I begin starting up a smooth conversation. "Most people just call me Rodger." He replies continuing on walking. "Okay Rodger." It feels better addressing him by his name, seeing as he's one of the nicest Wicked guards I've ever met. "This morning, I woke up to some kind of injection. What was that?" Once he hears the word 'injection', his head turns towards me instantly. He stops in his tracks, turns toward the three of us. "Did I not explain the injection yesterday?" Abby, Aris, and I glance at each other. "No sir." Abby admits. "I'm so sorry!" He kindly apologizes. "Every morning, you are required by the city to take an injection. It keeps you from getting sick." The guard, Rodger, briefly informs us. "Prevents sickness? As in... prevents the Flare?" Aris questions in amazement. "Yep." Rodger blandly replies. Aris and I stare at one another in disbelief. "So you found a cure?" I interrogate, unable to believe what I am hearing. They found a cure? That isn't me? Maybe this means I don't have to hide anymore. Maybe this means freedom. "Not exactly." Rodger admits, bringing my spirits down. "What do you mean 'Not exactly'?" I use finger quotations around his words. "It's a temporary solution. A supplement, if you will. Don't take it every day, you are vulnerable. To keep everyone healthy, the city mandated the injections." Rodger answers not exactly what I'm wondering. "Okay, but where do they get this supplement? Not to mention enough for a city this populated to have a daily injection per person. That's crazy." I completely let my guard down. He's got me invested. "Look, I don't know details. All I know is they're keeping me healthy, so why would I question it? Besides, this facility holds the most intelligent doctors in the world. Of course they found a temporary solution." The man replies to my dissatisfaction. "But it doesn't interest you where they get all of this supplement?" I drag on, trying to get more answers. "You ask too many questions. Just shut up so we can get to the facility. Jeez." Rodger snaps before whipping around back to walking. Abby instantly follows behind him. I feel stuck in time. Thinking. Does no one see how suspicious this is? They are distributing a fake cure to all of these people. How? Where did they get it? What exactly is going on with this place? "Y/N... come on." Aris snaps me out of my mind once again. "No Aris... I can't do this." I step back, panicking. "Do what Y/N?" he quiets down walking towards me. "This place is my death bed Aris. How could I be so stupid to come here?" Reality hits me at once. "Y/N." Aris whispers trying to grab my arm. "Aris. If they find out about me... I'm dead. How could I bring us here?" My head starts pounding. Arms trembling. "Then don't let them find out." Aris resolves. I look up at him, everything around me is a blur. Aris sticks out in my vision like a neon color in a black and white world. "We're here to get supplies. Once we do, we're out of here. So, let's get it done." He holds out his hand. Everything comes back. The streets, buildings, people. Aris stands there with his hand held out for me. I compose myself, nod, and I take his hand.
       Once we catch up to Rodger and Abby, we are standing outside a huge building with a grand staircase leading to the front doors. I am reminded back to the Last City's Wicked faculty... but this one is far more complex than I could ever imagine. Without a word, Rodger begins to lead us up the staircase. The sound of drilling and voices catches my attention. Once we reach the top of the stairs, I see shattered glass covering the concrete. One of the windows busted I'm assuming. But what happened? "Excuse me, Rodger." I start in a small voice. I don't want him to snap at me like he did moments before. "Yes Ms. Olivia?" He replies in a monotoned voice. I clear my throat. "What happened? I mean... why is the window broken?" I question. Part of me is just curious... while the other part of me is fearful. "One of our test subjects tried to escape from floor 50 a couple days ago. That's where we keep most of our subjects. Don't worry though! He didn't get very far before we got em back." Rodger smirks before he continues to lead us into the building. Why would they have to escape? If this is anything like Janson's sanctuary... then we are in trouble.
       For some reason, I can't stop thinking about the broken window. The way Rodger said 'don't worry'. It reminds me of when Thomas, Minho, Newt, and I jumped out of that window to escape Janson back at the other Wicked faculty. Back at the place that we destroyed. Is that just it? Are we destined to destroy everything we come across? Jorge's place. His base of operations. We led Janson straight there and forced Jorge to blow it up. Vince's camp... we led Wicked right to the Right Army. It went up in flames. Ava Paige's city was not meant to be destroyed. The plan was to be in and out, yet it turned into warfare. Is this place next? Or even Amanda's city? There could be good people in this city. I can't live with anymore blood on my hands.
       The lobby is huge. Bright lights and white everywhere. Other than that, there is nothing significant about this place. Until I see it. A set of double doors guarded by two heavily armed men in blue and red uniform. The doors are a gray metal color labeled 'Authorized Personnel Only.' This brings me back to Janson's sanctuary. When Aris, Thomas, and I used a key card to get into the room full of children on the wall. Except this door is guarded. I guess a key card isn't enough to insure people stay out. Before we leave here... I need to know what's behind those doors. It might not pertain to our mission, but my curiosity is getting the best of me.
       Suddenly, a tall man in a white lab coat begins walking toward us. "Rodger, my man." The young individual in the lab coat greets our tour guide. "Well if it isn't Dr. Rowan Young! How've ya been?" Rodger and Dr. Young shake hands, shortly after embracing in a manly hug. They turn in unison as Rodger clears his throat. "Who are these fine people?" Dr. Young claps his hands rubbing them together in a playful way. He locks eye contact with me, a smile on his face. I feel almost trapped in his hazel eyes. A second feels like a million. "This is Abby, Aris, and Olivia. New recruits from City 37." Rodger explains. The phrase 'City 37' catches me of guard as I glance at Rodger. How many cities are under Wicked control? As I look back at Rowan, his eyes are still locked on me. He takes a deep breath before turning towards the others. "I see. You all will love it here." The doctor smiles again looking at all three of us this time. "Well it was great to meet you all. Sorry to cut this short, but I have business to attend. Know you at least have one friend in the facility." The doctor then winks at me. He turns away as I try to pull myself together. He is a handsome man I will say. Auburn hair and a freckled face. He almost looked my age even though he has to be older considering he is a doctor. Something about him... his smile... his laugh. He is different than everyone I've met here. And it really shows. I watch as he enters an elevator. My heart skips a beat a little, glancing at him before the doors close completely. "Alright, let's carry on shall we?"