Bad Dreams | Newt x Reader

Chapter 94- Another Day, Another Near Death

Y/n's POV

Ten days ago

"There's really no way out of this god-forsaken place," I realised, sinking to my knees near the Homestead. 

Night had fallen, plunging the Glade into darkness and cutting short my productivity. 

A thud echoed off the walls, pulling me out of my spiral of self-pity. The Glade fell silent following it, as if the world was holding its breath.

"Élliot, what was—" I whispered but was cut off with the sound again.

A shriek cut through the quiet, making me flinch. I knew it was no Griever.

"Pack a bag," Élliot said, staring out into the dark. "Food, water, clothes and weapons. Bring Dog."

He didn't need to tell me twice, I was already terrified and running.

Dog was in her small box I'd built to house her at night. I left her cage by the door as I clambered up the stairs and into my room where my bag was waiting. I stuffed the few clothes I had and hurried out, trying to ignore the more persistence noises. The kitchen was my next stop and I shoved the containers of radish into the bag.

"Water, water, water," I whispered to myself, my hands trembling as I filled bottles and shoved them inside. I swore and ducked into an adjoining room where I kept weapons. I picked some knives and a longer blade Minho had used on Runner trips.

In the distance, I heard the wall finally give way. The monsters—summoned by the familiar looking boy—were inside. Footsteps pounded across the Glade, alerting me to how little time was left. I lifted Dog out of her cage, aware that I wouldn't make it carrying it.

Seconds later, something smashed into the building, forcing me to throw myself down to shield us from debris.

Alby floated through the wall. He reappeared a moment later, gesturing for me to come. I crept forward, keeping close to the floor in case one of the boy's monsters looked through the window. Alby led me out the back door.

"You should get to the maze," he said, floating in front of me as I snuck along the side of the house.

The monster was going to town on the building, crashing into it again and again. Every sound made my heart leap in fear, I knew I had seconds before I was discovered.

Élliot appeared from around the corner. He grimaced, looking at the gap in the wall the monster had created. "We're going to have to run. We need a distraction."

I scanned the ground near me, spotting a rock. I picked it up, aiming for a tree. I threw it hard, sending it into the tree with a loud thud. The monster shrieked, coming around the side and rushing for the source of the sound.

Élliot looked around the other side of the house, gesturing for me to come. I did, moving quicker now.

"Run!" Élliot ordered and I did.

We sprinted straight for the hole, ignoring the shrieks of the monster and the snapping of the tree as it attacked it. Dog made a disapproving clucking sound, uncomfortable with the way I was clutching her to my chest.

"Y/n Y/l/n!" the boy roared after us. It was the boy who had been there the day we fought the Phoenix.

I ignored him.

"You deserve to die!"

Almost there.

"You were her friend!"

I didn't care, the thudding of the monsters footsteps were growing louder behind me. 

"You got this!" Zart cheered, joining the growing chorus of the ghosts.

We darted through the hole in the doors and picked up the pace, finding it easier to run on the even stone.

"Which way?" I called, banking right down the only turn I remembered.

Alby floated up into the sky and started yelling directions. I followed them the best I could, trying to outrun the monster. As far as I knew, there was only one way out of the maze and I didn't have the key.

Finally, we reached section seven and sprinted through the Blades. The monster was hot on our tail, crashing into the metal sheets and slowing itself down.

"Keep going," Élliot called over the shrieking of the metal. "Almost there!"

We finally reached the part of the maze that Thomas and Minho had found ages ago. We didn't need a key after all, the wall was broken and the door torn open. We ran through it, running down the corridor to the exit sign. 

The monster crashed into the wall, howling in anger.

I shoved the broken door open, ignoring the mess of blood and people. We headed straight for the exit, blown open already. Seconds later we were out and running across the sand and towards the distant ruined skyscrapers.

Freedom.

"What do we do?" I yelled, hearing the monster roaring inside the maze still. It wouldn't be long until it got out.

"Keep running!" Élliot encouraged. "If you get far enough, the machine that is suppressing your abilities won't work."

"I hate running!" I snapped at him, already tired.

"Shut up and run!" Élliot snapped back, easily keeping pace with me.

The monster shrieked in the distance and the sound of the door being torn apart even further made me run faster. Already, I could feel the Wraith growing stronger, stretching out her influence. 

Alby floated down to join us as I struggled up a sand dune, awkwardly shifting the cranky chicken in my arms.

Finally, I felt the machine grow weak enough for me to teleport a little. The monster was right behind me, barely a dozen metres between us. I focused on getting to the city. I blindly reached for Élliot and teleported. The ground tilted and I opened my eyes.

"Finally," the Wraith muttered, appearing in an illusion next to me. "Took you forever."

I teleported again, feeling my abilities surge up to supply the strength. Once again the Wraith swelled in power.

Alby caught up a moment later.

"What now?" I asked, looking around at the decimated buildings. The monster and boy would catch up soon enough.

"The Right Arm," Élliot said as if it was obvious.

I groaned, kicking a loose rock in frustration. They were the last people I wanted to see. I would prefer Ratman over them, and that said a lot. Though I would prefer Ratman so I could kill him. "I was asking her, Élliot."

"No," the Wraith snapped, stepping between us. "You do not get to make decisions for us, especially when you've proven you can't be trusted."

Élliot only looked past her and briefly met my eyes before I looked away. "Come on, mon ange. You've surely thought about my motive behind keeping it from you."

"I would've died," I answered, petting Dog gently. "That doesn't make it okay. We're not going to find the Right Arm. Not yet at least."

Something wriggled in my bag, followed by a flash of red. My hand dove into the bag and obliterated the Beetle Blade before it had a chance to eavesdrop further.

"Seriously?" the Wraith exclaimed, reading my struggling thoughts.

I nodded. "We're going to Denver."

The statement carried far less weight than it should have. Alby didn't know much about my past, I suspected Élliot had known all along I would go back and the Wraith already knew. 

"But no more me versus you," I continued to the Wraith. "We work together. I want Wicked destroyed as much as you do."

The Wraith paused, considering her options. "Fine, but I want control for the next week."