INNOVATION - CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

⚘ HENRYS TRUTH ⚘

Once Kalisa dropped Thomas off at the Med Room, she instantly set off for fresh air. Clint and Jeff had lept up in alarm at the sight of them, and quickly whisked Thomas off for a check up. Jeff tried to get her to stay as well, but Kalisa felt as if she were going to burst.

She didn't want to be around anyone right now. So though her head ached, and breathing hurt, Kalisa ditched the Homestead, setting off for no particular place.

    While she walked she only thought of one thing.

    Ben was dead. He was dead and there was no changing that.

    Kalisa wished she had got to know him better. She wished she could have at least properly introduced herself. She wished they could have become friends, she wished he could have escaped this place, she wished the walls would crumble in on themselves, she wished the Creators would set them free, she wished this could be over. But most of all she wished Ben could have been given a happier ending. Not one to benefit the Creators and their secret ploy, but his own.

    Kalisa hadn't even realized she was in front of the Maze until she felt a moisture on her cheeks. She quickly wiped the tears away and blinked, noticing she stood in front of the wall of names. Last time she had properly examined this wall was when she had carved her name months ago.

    She noticed her messy carving immediately, still placed between Henry and Newt's. She recognized a lot more of the names now, pointing out Minho's, Frypan's, Winston's, Chuck's, Thomas's, Tyler's, and most importantly, Bens.

Kalisa ran her soft fingers over the name, feeling a pit in her stomach.

There were so many more names on the wall. Names Kalisa didn't know. Name's that belonged to people in this place. Boys who had gone through what she had, boys who were fighting and hoping for a way out, boys who could have tragic ends waiting for them. Like Ben, because who's to say he's the last to get stung and go batshit crazy? Anyone could be next.

A branch snapped from behind her causing her to whirl around in fear.

"Woah, it's alright." Newt said calmly, noticing her terror. "It's just me."

Kalisa had wanted to be alone originally, but this was Newt. Newt wasn't like the others. He could stay.

"Alby told me what happened." He murmured, coming closer and inspecting her face. "Are you okay Kali?"

She tried to nod, but her eyes betrayed her, allowing a few tears to begin falling. Kalisa sniffed and took a breath, "I just-" She didn't know what to say, no words could explain her emotions. "He didn't deserve to die like that."

To her surprise Newt wiped her cheek, clearing away the tears that fell. "I'm know. I'm so sorry love."

Kalisa hiccuped and melted into Newt's arms, burying her head in his shoulder while she shook with sadness. Newt's arms wrapped around her form in an instant, holding her tight and firm, with protection and security while she let herself feel.

    Newt rested his chin on the top of her head while she cried, remembering Ben and his lame jokes, his optimism even while they were in the most dangerous situations in the Maze, his highs and his lows, his bad days and his good ones. Ben was gone, but he would not be forgotten.

    When Kalisa finally pulled away the sun was just beginning to set, casting the Glade into a pink hue. The girl wiped her eyes once more and met Newt's caramel eyes. "You're injured," He stated obviously.

    "I don't want to go to the Med Room." Kalisa said firmly. Newt's lips twitched into a small grin, "Well I can't have you collapsing in the middle of the Glade." He thought for a minute before wrapping an arm around her shoulder and starting off for the Homestead.

    "Newt-" Kalisa was cut off by Newt saying, "Don't worry, I won't force you to go to the Med Room. Just trust me."

    Kalisa was surprised to find that she did. Fully. Newt was more than just a stranger. He was more than just a guide in this horrid place.

    Important.

    That was the best word Kalisa could come up with. Newt was very important to her.

    The blonde boy led her up the stairs, ignoring the boys grabbing their food from the kitchens. They reached his room and he brought her inside, kicking away a pair of socks and allowing her to sit on the edge of his bed. Kalisa shyly accepted and watched as Newt casually tried to clean his messy room.

"I'll be right back," He cleared his throat, ears turning red. Kalisa nodded and shifted on the bed, not exactly sure what to do with herself.

After a moment of waiting he still hadn't returned. Kalisa was nervously fidgeting with her necklace, running her eyes over his room. It was very much like her own, only it felt more lived in. He had a straw mattress which she now sat on, a small window that overlooked the picnic tables where boys now ate, and a trunk that probably held his clothes, though most were tossed about the room. The only difference in their rooms was that Newt had a small wooden desk with pieces of paper scattered over the surface.

Gaining curiosity Kalisa stood from the bed, momentarily turning dizzy but brushing it off as quick as it came. She moved closer to the desk, examining the papers.

Day 852,

Today we got another Greenie, he said his name was Rylan. Poor thing almost klunked himself, but it was a little funny when he tried to run and accidentally knocked into Gally instead.

The Runners still haven't found anything. I wish I could go back out there. But Alby keeps me on a short leash, it's bloody annoying. Anyways, yesterday was Winstons Gathering, and I almost clobbered him over the head. He didn't even seem sorry for what he did to Henry last month.

A few Keepers voted for Banishment, but most of us decided on the pit for a month. But if he does something like this again... Alby'll kill him himself.

The note ended after that, leaving Kalisa more confused. Why did Alby keep Newt on a short leash? What did Winston do to Henry? She wanted to pick up another entry and continue reading, but the sound of footsteps nearing the door made her hesitate.

There were other ways to get answers. Quickly, Kalisa set the note down where she found it and pretended to observe a vase of yellow tulips in a dirty glass vase that sat on the other side of his desk.

Not a second later Newt re-entered his room, holding an abundance of medical tools. Upon seeing her by his desk he raised an eyebrow in confusion before setting the supplies down and joining her.

"You like 'em? There's always a patch out in the Gardens, I take 'em to try and cover the smell of garlic from the kitchens." Newt explained, softly fixing the petals of one of the flowers.

"They're beautiful." Kalisa said honestly, though she felt slightly guilty about snooping through his things.

"Sit back down, I got some stuff to help you." He smiled, moving back to his pile. Kalisa felt flattered, "Oh, you didn't have to,"

"I want to." He said seriously, before pausing. "But if you don't want me to I won't"-

"No, no, I- Its okay,'' Kalisa stuttered. Newt smiled triumphantly and allowed her to sit back down on his bed.

"Alright, hold still, you've got a cut up here," He said in a low voice, running his fingers over her forehead, stopping at her hair line and moving the dark strands back. "Tell me if I hurt you." He said before picking up a cloth and gently holding in against the wound.

    Kalisa felt no pain. She felt no fear. Butterflies erupted in her stomach, and as Newt gazed at her injury, she couldn't look away from him. She hadn't ever noticed the small things about him, like the fact he had a few small freckles on his nose from the sun, or that his deep brown eyes actually had a few specks of green in them.

    Kalisa remembered when she had first saw Newt. She had admired his appearance but was mistrusting around him. In the haste of her arrival the last thing on her mind was boys. But now things were different. Now she really knew Newt.

    Her thoughts were shocking and new, especially considering the tragic situation they were in. Kalisa wasn't sure how she should process them.

"I think it stopped bleeding." Newt said awkwardly after a minute. He removed the cloth and pulled out a bottle of a foggy looking liquid. "This will clean it, but it might sting." He poured a bit on a clean towel and faced her.

Carefully, he raised the towel to the wound and pressed down so that it got cleaned. Kalisa winced at first, then relaxed when Newt murmured, "Sorry, sorry,"

"It's okay." She whispered, noticing how close their faces had become. It was as if time stopped. All Kalisa paid mind to was her slow breathing and Newts mesmerizing eyes that bore into her own.

She still sat on his bed, nervously wringing her fingers on the blanket. Newt was crouched in front of her, having to slightly look up to maintain their eye contact. There was a shift in the air and suddenly Kalisa found herself leaning forward. Newt followed her actions until his breaths mixed in with her own, their noses almost touching.

Just before they could move any further a sharp knock sounded at the door. "Newt, are you in there?"

Kalisa blinked and blushed, mentally cursing herself for what had almost happened. Newt looked annoyed and sighed, standing up from his spot. "The bloody hell do you want?"

Kalisa all of a sudden wanted to go to her own room. She could not believe she had almost kissed Newt. One of her best friends here, the first boy she met. It wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him- in fact she was surprised to find that she really did. But the thought of having that kind of relationship with anyone in this situation made her feel wrong. Especially now that she had seen death firsthand. Forming a close bond with Newt might not end well, and she didn't know if she could handle loosing him.

"Minho was looking for you. He said something about the Maps and help... I don't really know he seemed pissed." The Glader said from the other side of the door.

Newt sighed, "Alright, tell him I'll be right there." When he was sure the Glader was gone he faced back to the dark haired girl. "Sorry- I gotta go, will you be alright?"

Kalisa felt a wave of disappointment wash through her. What did she expect? She had thought it herself, relationships like that weren't a good thing here. Yet she still watched him longingly.

"Yeah I'm fine. Thanks for helping, you wouldn't make a bad Med-Jack." Kalisa smiled, standing from his bed and starting for the door.

When she reached the frame she looked back, Newt still stood where she had been, watching her as she left. Kalisa couldn't walk away like this, not after what they had almost done. "Newt," She called.

He met her eyes hopefully. Before Kalisa could speak a flash of yellow caught her eye from Newt's desk. The tulips were as bright and beautiful as ever, adding every bit of needed personality to his room. The sat still on his desk along with his papers- the letter.

Kalisa had nearly forgotten about what she had read.

When she met Newt's eyes again he was waiting patiently. "Er- never mind." Then to both their sorrow, she turned her back and left, deciding to seek Henry and finally get some answers.

༻✧༺

    When Kalisa found Henry, he was sitting at a picnic table, eating a bowl of broth and some vegetables. He sat alone, secluded from the other Gladers.

    Upon sitting down across from him, he glanced up. "There you are. Nobody's seen you since- the incident. There was a rumor going around that you got killed."

    "Well I can assure you I'm very much alive." Kalisa said, looking around for stray listeners before leaning in. "I need to ask you something important."

    Henry set his spoon down and leaned forward expectantly. "What did Winston do to you?" Henry went ghostly pale and his mouth dropped open. "Who- he didn't-"

    He took a breath, "Winston didn't do nothin' to me."

    Kalisa frowned, "Don't lie Henry. If you don't wanna tell me then fine, don't. But I know something happened when you first arrived. I know he had a Gathering. I just- I want to be aware."

    Henry went quiet for a moment before letting out a sigh of defeat. "This was a long time ago alright? He's changed since then. Well- mostly."

He fell silent, searching for the right words to say. "When I first arrived here... I was a troublemaker. I was always doin' something wrong, causing issues, starting fights mostly."

Henry sighed. "I was angry, and I took it out on the Gladers when I shouldn't have. Anyways when I was trying out the jobs I knew right off the bat I didn't want to be a Slicer. I told Winston some pretty shucked up things, I called him some names, insulted his workers, just because. I didn't even have a good reason,"

Kalisa blinked in thought, this didn't sound like the Henry she knew.

"Winston got really angry. Back then he had a short fuse, it was really easy to piss him off and I knew it." He sighed as if he were ashamed at what he was saying. "Winston- drew first blood though. It had happened so fast I didn't even have time to block it."

    Kalisa looked at Henry carefully. The way he refused to meet her eyes, the way he slouched down as if ashamed. "What did he do to you?" Kalisa's voice was barely above a whisper.

Henry faced her solemly, "He gave me this scar." He pointed to the long mark that marred his face.

    "And then he stabbed me."

Boooo, I have to go back to school, dance and work this week. That means I'm not gonna have as much freetime so ecpect about 3-4 updates a week instead of once a day. Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I do love a good sub-conflict! Let me know what you thought of this chapter and as always, happy reading!

1/8/24

2484 words