Remembrance (Newt X Reader)

Chapter 11~ Brace Yourself

It felt as if a thousand little bugs were scuttling through your skull; not painful, just uncomfortable, and loud. You tried to bring up a hand to push against your temple -- but found you couldn't. Your arms remained stiff at your sides, stubborn and unmoving. Same with your legs, and the rest of your limbs. The inky darkness that surrounded you pressed in, suffocating.

Stifling a sob, you wriggled and writhed -- well, tried to. No matter how hard you willed yourself to move, your body contradicted the order as if it had a mind of its own.

"(Y/N)!" A gravely voice echoed around your head, scaring you out of your wits. "Very soon now... very soon." Attempting a response was probably the dumbest thing you'd ever tried to do; your jaw stayed clenched, so you stayed silent.

"Yes," it hissed. "Very soon, best prepare yourself... and your friends." Then, it was gone.

You weren't exactly sure how you knew when whoever had spoken disappeared exactly... You just did. Like someone was hovering over you -- you could feel their body heat, and sense their presence -- and then they vanished.

"(Y/N), I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry," the scratchy voice choked out, but it was fading, molding into a new voice, one with a strange accent that it didn't use to have.

A curtain of light stretched behind your eyelids, illuminating them, turning a muddied orange color. You flinched, and relief flooded through you, seeming to give you strength. You could move again!

"Wait, I think I saw her move!" someone shouted. You wasted no time in opening your eyes, gladly welcoming the bright light that illuminated the room.

The first thing you felt was the soft mattress of the bed you lay on, and the rough hand that grasped yours. Newt's face appeared above you in an instant.

"(Y/N), bloody-" but he didn't even finish, just pulled you into his chest in a tight hug. "I thought, I thought," he stuttered, unable to continue. You squeezed his hand reassuringly, burying your face in the crook of his neck.

"I'm fine," you croaked. Tears welled up, blurring your vision, before spilling over and down your cheeks. Newt's neck and shirt grew wet quickly, but he didn't pull away, and neither did you.

"Oi, Newt, we need to talk to her!" a boy said, tapping his shoulder. Your friend reluctantly pulled away, shooting you an apologetic look as he did so.

"What did you-" he started but stopped as you let out a strained cry of pain. The pulsing, shuddering wave washed over you suddenly, and you crumpled to the floor, squirming in agony.

You swear you'd never been in so much pain.

"N-Newt," you sputtered, wincing at the effort it took to utter the single syllable. Black spots swam at the edges of your vision, though, through them, you could still make out Newt's terrified expression.

Another spasm sent your arms flying, and the older boy barely had time to jump aside before you smacked him in the face. You let out a pained gasp as your bony wrists made contact with the hard floor.

"Newt!" You screamed when he didn't reappear after you'd settled down again.

"I'm here," his voice sounded, choked with stifled sobs. "I'm here, focus on me, (Y/N), look at me." You smiled the slightest bit as you saw him lean over you again. He braced your neck with one hand, lifting your head delicately off the grass, and squeezed your hand reassuringly with the other.

Newt's face was tear-stained, smeared with dirt, and his hair was sticking up in all directions -- but to you, in that moment, he was the most beautiful person in the world.

He'd been your friend since day one. He'd supported you, and graciously forgiven you (for the most part), even after the whole Maze incident.

"Please don't be sad," you croaked. You hated seeing him like this -- where was the strong Newt; the calm one? He was the one who'd kept you sane through this entire ordeal.