The First Gladers; Into the Scorch

Chapter 6: Aris

 "That must be where they took Y/n and Teresa." Minho observes, following Newt's and Thomas's gaze across the room.

Thoughts spin through Newt's mind as worry begins to creep up in his stomach. What if something happened to Y/n? The memory of her scream surfaces to his mind. That was at least 5 minutes ago, anything could've happened since then.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Newt says, making the first move toward the closed door. Yet, as he draws closer, something on the wall, just adjacent to the door catches his eye. A small plaque hangs, displaying the words, Teresa Agnes. His muscles immediately freeze up. Only one name. Could that mean...? No it can't, Y/n has to be in there.

Newt reaches out to open the door. Locked. He shakes his head, disappointed, yet not expecting anything different. Moments later, Thomas appears behind him with the fire extinguisher, ready to break down the door.

After several tries, the door busts open, revealing a blur of a nasty fight. Newt can hardly make out the two opponents. Yet one glimpse of a face tells him all he needs to know.

"Y/n." Newt mutters in relief.

Almost instantly both fighters relax, each looking with wide eyes toward the newly opened door. A smile creeps onto Newt's faces Y/n's eyes find his. She smiles up at him, a strange image as she's pinning her attacker, a strange boy, to the ground. Both are bleeding and bruised in several places.

Realizing Y/n is distracted, the boy takes his chance, flipping her over so he is on top of her. He then yanks her up by her shirt, demonstrating a greater amount of strength than his thin frame previously suggested he had. From there he shoves her backward, forcing her to crumble back over the nightstand.

A gasp of fear escapes Newt's mouth as he runs to her side. Behind him, Minho and the others are cornering the strange boy.

Y/n groans, trying to shift out of her awkward position, sandwiched in between the wall the nightstand, her body folded in half at the waste with her chest against her legs.

Newt bites his lip, trying his hardest not to laugh. But as Y/n looks up at him, eyes filled with pitiful embarrassment, he can't hold it in any longer. The slightest chuckle escapes his lips, just loud enough for Y/n to hear. Her eyes shift quickly from cute embarrassment to annoyance as she forces herself out from the crevice. She then looks at him straight in the eye, face inches away from his own and frowns.

"Thanks for the help." She says dryly, "You're my hero."

Just as Newt is beginning to think she might truly be upset, she smirks at him, planting a peck on his cheek. "It's good to see you."

With a gentle flick of her hair she turns to join the cluster of boys surrounding the strange boy, leaving Newt a flustered, blushing mess.

 You just kissed Newt on the cheek. You flick your hair gently before quickly turning away in the hopes that Newt won't have the chance to see your face turn crimson. Did you seriously just do that? After such a strange night you weren't sure you would ever see him again. But there he was standing there, his face mere inches away from yours. You wanted to kiss him the right way then and there, but the best you could do was a peck on the cheek.

You force yourself to take a deep breath as you re-join the group, trying your best to act like it never happened. Yet as you glance across the group of guys, you catch Minho wagging his eyebrows in your direction.

Suddenly Thomas is beside you, looking utterly distraught.

"Y/n... Where's Teresa?" He asks worriedly.

Your heart sinks as you suddenly lose the ability to look Thomas in the eye. The boys around you fall silent, waiting anxiously for your answer.

"She..." You pause, "She disappeared. I woke up this morning to find this Shank in Teresa's bed, while she was no where to be found. I asked what he did to her but he denied even knowing who I was talking about. That's actually how we got into that little scuffle you walked in on." You explain solemnly, slightly embarrassed.

"Little scuffle," Minho scoffs, "More like a full on brawl."

You glare at Minho before looking back at Thomas sorrowfully. "Thomas I'm sorry, there was nothing I could've done."

Thomas forces a smile, "I know, it's not your fault." He then shifts his gaze toward the new boy, "It's his fault. Now why don't you go ahead and tell us where she is. You're outnumbered so don't even think about trying to fight." Thomas adds aggressively.

The boy looks more angry than afraid as he looks around the circle of you and your friends. "I don't know anything I swear! I was rescued from the Maze yesterday and brought here. They put me in this room and I was alone until this morning when I woke up to find this crazy girl in the bunk above me!"

The room becomes deadly silent as you exchange a knowing glance with the other boys. This kid is like you. He came from a Maze too.

You're the first to break the silence. "Did you just say a Maze?" You ask.

The boy looks at you, perplexed, "Yeah, why?" Then, reading your face as you again glance at the other boys, something clicks in his mind. "You're like me..." He whispers in awe.

"Another Maze?" Fry asks astounded, "These Wicked dudes really messed us up didn't they?" He adds.

You roll your eyes, motioning for the Gladers to sit down as you do the same.

"What's your name kid?" You ask gently.

The boy hesitates, then answers, "Aris. My name is Aris." 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Ephesians 4:2