Thomas's POV:

After I suggested to go back, we started running. We followed the arrows without having a clue of what was about to happen. I guess we should have asked Chuck about them first, as it turned out that he wasn't the one who had made them.

Who did make the arrows?

That question shot through my head and I could tell that Minho and Chuck were thinking the same thing as the griever made its way towards us.

It looked horrible. Minho had told me about what they looked like during one of my first training sessions but I hadn't expected it to look this hideous.

It was a bulbous, dark creature, with many appendages such as spikes, shears and rods. It made whirring and clicking sounds when it moved and not until I thought about moving, did I realize, we had to run.

When I looked ahead of me, Minho was already running. Chuck stood frozen, just like I had, not more than a few seconds ago.

"Run, Chuck", I screamed.

And then we ran, like our lives depended on it, because they did.

The griever picked up pace and within a few seconds, it was right behind us.

It appeared to be following only me and Chuck. Minho took a sharp turn to the left but Chuck's and my momentum was too big. We couldn't turn, so we kept running in a straight line. The griever didn't hesitate a bit, it kept following us. At least Minho is safe, I thought by myself.

---

After a while, we finally got rid of the griever by outsmarting it. When I took in my surroundings, I noticed I'd never been in that part of the Maze before.

"What do we do now?", I asked Chuck.

"How am I supposed to know?", he responded.

"I don't know. Maybe you did... "

"Well, I don't and look, the sun's already setting. We're running out of time."

"I know."

I tried really hard not to panic but in case you didn't know: that's really hard when you're 98% sure you're gonna die.

So that's what I said: "We're gonna die Chuck."

"Don't be such a drama queen, Thomas. We've still got some time left."

I sighed.

"You're right buddy. Let's run!"

---

We ran as fast as we could, trying to reach the Doors before they closed. I didn't know which way we had to go but I had a feeling in my gut, that we were going the right way. Perhaps it was, because I wasn't done here yet. I still had to save Newt, make him happier, make him believe in himself. That's the thing about almost dying, you get all these deep thoughts and suddenly things make sense. I cared so much about Newt, I had to tell him that. Over and over again, until he would finally start believing me. So I ran faster and faster, until I felt like I couldn't take it anymore but I had to keep going, for Newt. Chuck was hardly able to keep up with me but he tried.

"Run faster! You can do it!", I screamed.

"I can't."'

"You can! Come on! I have a feeling, we're almost there."

And it turned out I was right. After a few more minutes, the Doors finally came in sight, though they were already starting to close.

---

Newt's POV:

After Minho told me what happened, he tried to reassure me.

"Your cute, little boyfriend is strong and smart. He'll find a way to outsmart that shucking griever."

"Are you sure?", I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"I am."

"Then why won't you go back?"

"That would be suicide..."

As soon as Minho said it, he face palmed himself. I hated how careful people were around me. I wished they'd just treat me like they used to do.

"It's okay, really. I just want my bloody friend and brother back."

"I know shank, but going in there would be way too dangerous. What if Thomas found a way to outsmart the griever and is now fully safe? It would be stupid to go out there in case I'd come across the griever again. It would only make things worse. I don't wanna waste any more lives."

"I get it, it's okay", I mumbled.

Minho got up and walked away. I walked towards the Doors. I'd wait for Thomas and Chuck until they finally got back, because they had to. They had to get back. I didn't know what I would do without them. If they didn't get back, three lives would be wasted.

---

The Doors were starting to close and Thomas and Chuck still weren't back. My worry was starting to increase even more. I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about what would happen if they didn't make it back in time.

"Newt! NEWT!", someone screamed.

I opened my eyes. Thomas was now in sight, Chuck not far behind him.

"Run faster!", I screamed.

They increased speed.

"We're not gonna make it", Tommy screamed.

"Yes, you will! C'mon! Don't you bloody dare to leave me alone."

That seemed to do the trick. They ran faster than I thought was humanly possible. Right before the Doors closed I managed to pull both Chuck and Thomas in.

Chuck stumbled and Thomas fell right on top of me. I looked him in the eye, relief washed through me, they had made it – and then I kissed him.

"I love you. I love you so much", I whispered.

"I love you too and I care so much about you", he whispered back, like it was our little secret.

"I don't know what it was doing out there, Newt. We were following the arrows and then it just popped up. It was following me and Chuck. Just us two. I don't know why", Tommy said. He was still shaking.

"It doesn't matter. You're safe now. You don't have to explain it to me."

---

"Just friends you said?"

Apparently, Minho had been watching us with a huge smirk on his face.

"You're enjoying this way more than you should", I replied.

"Just get a room already!"

But we didn't want to get a room. We went to the forest, to our standard hang out spot, where my dream had taken place. Now I knew what living in a dream felt like but this time it was real and oh, it felt good. If I had died that day, out there in the Maze, I would never have gotten to experience all this. For once, it felt good to be alive.

---

The End

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Author's note:

First of all, I wanna thank everyone who's read this story. I can't believe it's reached 1k reads. That's amazing, so thank you guys so much. Also, to all the people who actually left comments on this story, I love you all so much! Your comments usually made my day! A special thanks to bubblesvogue for helping me whenever I had writer's block and to lolurnotlucas for making the cover. I'll hopefully start writing a new story soon.

Love, Carter