It's okay until it isn't

The Changing

Newt's POV:

The best part of the day is seeing Minho after not being with him all day long.

That's what I think as I walk along the walls, making my way to the gate. Minho would be back soon, and all I wanted to do was spend time with him. I stood waiting for Minho by the door. I kept standing there as the other runners started filing into the glade. I stood there after everyone was in the dining hall. I stood there when Alby walked up to me.

"Newt, where's Minho? Did he already come in?"

I glared up at Alby

"No, he didn't come in already."

I look back at the doors

"He's still out there."

Alby looked at me, and put a hand on my shoulder

"Well, I'm sure he'll come back soon."

I look at Alby with a death stare. He must notice it, because he keeps going

"I'm sure that he'll run around that corner any second now."

And, Alby is right. But, he's not running. Minho was barely conscious, and was being dragged by the new greenie. To make matters worse, the walls start closing. I don't know what to do. I can't go to them, I can't stay here. I look to Alby. His face is a grim line, his jaw set. He looks like a leader, which, I guess he is. Alby turns and calls over his shoulder

"Clint! Get your med-jacks over here!"

I turn back to Minho. The walls were more than half way closed. They weren't going to make it. I look back at Alby. the med-jacks had appeared, and most of the other gladers were here, watching. Back at Minho. The walls were almost closed now. There was only about a foot left to see through. I started running. Or, trying to run. I didn't even think about what I was doing. I just went. I heard calls of what I guessed were protest, but I didn't care. I would have made it, or at least, I think I would have,

if I hadn't fallen.

I fell, my bed leg must have hit something. I saw the rush of grassy dirt come up to me, then felt the impact of it. The air was knocked out of me, but I didn't care. I spat out a clump of dirt, and bolted to my feet. I didn't see Minho. Or the greenie. Or even the inside of the maze walls. All I could see were the closed maze doors. I didn't process. Alby came and put an arm around me, squeezing.

"It'll be okay."

That was what Minho said to me, but I didn't care. Not right now. It wasn't until everyone had left except for Alby, did it click.

"Alby, he's in there, right?"

Alby nodded.

"No ones ever survived a night there right?"

Alby nodded.

"He was stung, wasn't he? That's why he was being dragged right?"

Alby nodded.

"He won't survive will h-"

I was cut off with a loud metallic noise from the glade. My hand flew to my mouth in shock, and that's when I knew. That's when everything hit me. Minho was trapped in the maze. I stayed in that spot, in that position. I didn't move. My hand stayed on my mouth, my eyes glued to the gates. Eventually I did move. Once everyone was in their hammocks, asleep. I walked up the path to the homestead. I walked up the stairs. I walked into the keeper of the runners room. Minho's room. I sat down in the hammock. I inhaled his smell. I let go of my mouth. I let my body relax. I let the tears run down my cheeks. I let them fall. The next morning I woke up in the hammock. I don't remember falling asleep.