INNOVATION -
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

⚘ BURNING RED ⚘

It took ten whole minutes for Kalisa to regain her regular breathing pattern. It took an additional five to pull herself to her feet. And when she finally moved away from the door, dinner had already been served.

Kalisa struggled over to the Homestead, the sounds of glass clanking and chatter drowning out the thundering of the Maze.

    She'd only made it halfway across the greenery before an accented voice called, "Kalisa?!"

    The girl turned, not surprised to see Newt speeding over to her. "What the hell happened? Are you out of your mind, runnin' into the Maze like that-" He paused to take a breath, furrowing his brows in worry. "You could've been killed."

    "I'm fine." Kalisa stated, resisting a shiver as she remembered the sight of the Griever atop Gally. "I found Thomas. And Gally."

    "Those shanks aren't important right now. You need to see the Med-Jacks." Newt stated, face only showing an ounce of surprise before converting back to his stern mask.

    "I'm fine." Kalisa repeated, growing aggitated.

    "I'm not asking." Newt said sternly.

    Kalisa knew arguing was pointless, Newt wouldn't rest until she agreed to medical treatment. Heaving a sigh Kalisa said, "Okay fine. Whatever."

Newt nodded in satisfaction, eyes darting from the cut on her face to a gash on her elbow she had somehow recieved. "I'll take you, come on." He grasped her arm gently and led her to the Homestead, ignoring all the other Gladers.

    They trudged up the stairs and down the hall until they reached the Med room, which was completely empty, save for the sleeping girl.

    I think the girl was talking to me.

    Thats what Thomas had said. Goosebumpes erupted over her pale arms as she stared intently at the unresponsive girl. There was something different about her, that was obvious. But Kalisa had a feeling it ran deeper than just her appearence.

    "Clint and Jeff are probably still at dinner, I can go grab them,"- Newt started but Kalisa cut him off, "No, it's fine. I can handle it, it's just a small scratch."

    Newt sighed, nodding like he expected that answer. He backed away from the door and pulled one of the many woven baskets down from the shelfs.

    "There should be bandages and rubbing alcohol in there," The blonde stated, passing her the basket.

    After digging around for a moment, Kalisa managed to find a roll of gauze, a few cotton balls, a clear bottle of some foggy liquid she hoped to be the rubbing alcohol, and a few bandages.

    "Do you know how to do it?" Newt questioned, crossing his arms while she set her materials down.

    Kalisa shrugged, "It can't be that hard."

    Newt didn't say anything, but gave a half smile as she continued setting up her medical supplies.

    Hoping for the best, she rolled up her sleeve and gazed down at her elbow, which had a trickle of blood running from a narrow gash.

    She picked up a cotton ball and wet it with some of the liquid, dabbing it gently on her cut. Kalisa winced as a sting of pain coarsed through her nerves. It felt good. Especially after what she'd seen in the Maze. The way the Griever engulfed Gally as it mauled him over. The sounds made as she left him behind.

    Kalisa let out a huff of air in annoyance as she struggled to tie the bandage around her arm. Newt placed his hands over her own, stopping her from trying again. "Let me help."

    Kalisa didn't protest as he took it from her and started re-tying the bandage.

    He worked in silence, only focusing on her injury. He seemed calm, but Kalisa felt like she was being eaten alive. She needed to forget about what she had seen. Everytime she closed her eyes, Gally was there. And the Griever.

    Why did I run?

    She thought miserably. She could have saved him. She could have brought him back to the Glade. Even though she had never been fond of the boy, Gally didn't deserve to die. Nobody did.

    "Newt," She said, voice cracking. "Gally's dead."

    He met her eyes slowly. "I tried to help him. But he wouldn't listen." Kalisa sniffed hating the fact she felt so guilty. So weak and sensitive. The girl wished she could just be a void of nothing, that way she wouldn't have to feel at all. It would be better that way.

Newt looked down at the floor, inhaling a shaky breath before glancing back up. "It's not your fault Kali."

"Gally knew the consiquences of the Maze. What he did was nobodys choice except his own. We need to remember that." Newt said.

Kalisa nodded, hating the fact he was right. She could mull in regret for the rest of her life and it wouldn't change a thing.

This was her life now- taking the trauma and moving onwards. There wasn't time for anything else.

"Hey wait. Where's Alby?" Kalisa questioned, forcing herself to sit straighter.

"He was released just a bit ago. Seems completely better, just... different." Newt said, tying off the bandage and handing her a clean cloth for her head.

    "Thats good." Kalisa stood from the med bed. "Thanks, I should be fine now."

    As she started for the door, Newt stopped her, "Kali,"

    She turned, waiting for him to continue. Newt struggled with his words for a moment before saying, "I'm glad you're safe."

    Despite everything she had seen that day, Kalisa smiled. A real one, the kind that seemed to only show itself around Newt.

    Then she left, hoping to find sleep quickly that night, all images of Gally deteriorized from her mind.

༻✧༺

    When the girl woke up, breakfast had already been served. All memories of the previous day came crashing down into her, causing Kalisa to close her eyes and sigh.

She didn't know how she was expected to just go on about her day and work. To act like nothing was wrong, when really, she had never felt more drained.

But she didn't have a choice. Not in the Glade at least.

So though every fiber of her being wanted to just close her eyes and drift away, Kalisa stood from her mattress and dressed herself. She brushed through her hair and laced up her boots. She tucked her knife into her belt and started down the stairs.

When Kalisa arrived at the Blood house, Winston was already there. Upon her entering he briefly looked up, shot her a harsh glare, then went back to cleaning his station.

Henry was there too, only he was distracted by his sword, not even noticing her arrival.

For the first hour of work, it was awkward. Henry only spoke to her a few times, confused about the heavy atmosphere, and Winston... well he was menacingly quiet, but his glances were loud enough.

Kalisa was angry. Why did Winston get to hold a grudge about the situation? He was the one who made her look suspiscious in front of the Keepers by saying they couldn't trust her.

    While she thought she poured the animals food in annoyance, spilling a bit of it as she did.

    Behind her she could hear Henry and Winston talking, the former sounding like he was commanding, and the later sounding begrudging.

    "Just go," Henry hissed.

    "Fine," Winston spat, walking out of the Blood house and joining the girl with the animals.

    "What?" Kalisa asked, not looking at the Keeper while she continued caring for the pigs.

    Winston sighed, as if what he was about to do physically pained him "I'm sorry for what I said at the Gathering, okay?"

    Kalisa froze and glanced at him sideways. "I didn't mean I don't trust you or that I think you're... bad, I was just trying to be realistic." Winston continued, shuffling his feet while he spoke.

    When he finished talking Kalisa studied him intently, before taking a massive breath and setting the bag of food down. "I know you were. I don't know what happened I just kinda- snapped. I shouldn't have said that about you in front of everyone."

"I'm sorry,"

"So... we good? No more fighting?" Winston raised a brow, lips turning upwards. "That goes for all of us," He said louder, targeting Henry who was listening from the door.

"No more fighting," Kalisa nodded with a smile.

"Aww, aren't we cute! Like one big Slicer family!" Henry flaunted sarcastically, joining the others outside.

"Let's kill a chicken, I'm craving a sandwich for tomorrow," Winston said, promptly ignoring Henry's statement.

"What a happy group we are," Kalisa grunted, rolling her eyes.

The rest of the day went by quickly. Kalisa was glad she and Winston had made up. While the boy was still intimidating to her, she didn't like fighting, especially since she had to see him everyday.

Now that they were on good terms, work wasn't as dreary as it had been. They slaughtered a chicken, cleaned it, and sent it to the Cooks, before cleaning the Blood house and setting off for the Homestead, the thought of Frypans chili fueling their stomachs.

Kalisa sat with Newt and Chuck, digging into the food before her tray hit the table.

"Long day?" Newt questioned, smiling from across the table.

"Yep." Kalisa paused while she swallowed the large bite she had taken. "What about you guys? Thomas cause anymore trouble?"

    "Nope, that shank was in the Slammer all day today." Newt said.

    "I visited him a few times, gave him some company. But then I had to clean the toilets! Some slinthead vomited all over in there, it was this nasty yellow color!" Chuck exclaimed, waving his hands animatedly while he spoke. "It was disgusting."

    "Sounds like it," Kalisa wrinkled her nose.

    "Especially since the yellow was like a dark-"

    "Ew Chuck, we don't need to know." Kalisa cut him off.

    "I like yellow." Newt said out of nowhere. "It's my favorite color."

    Chuck looked at him weirdly and Kalisa just smiled. "Really?"

    He nodded, completely serious. "It's nice and bright, reminds me of good things like bon fires and sunny days," Newt stopped, realizing he was rambling about a color.

    "Yellow is disgusting." Chuck stated while Newt met Kalisa eyes and smiled shyly. "Whats yours?" He asked her.

    Kalisa thought for a minute. What was her favorite color? Did she have one before the Glade? If she had she definately didn't remember it now.

    But what she used to like didn't matter. Newt asked what was her favorite color now.

    However before she could answer, Chuck did. "I like green! But I am kinda getting sick of it," The boy glanced around at the scenery around them.

    Newt chuckled before there was a loud crash, followed by some glass shattering. Kalisa looked over her shoulder to see one of the Gladers staring at a broken dish on the ground.

    Chuck groaned, "Welp, thats my que. Slopper duty calls,"

    Kalisa and Newt both stood to follow the kid. They cleaned the glass up in no time and went back to their dinner.

    Kalisa felt at eased for the rest of the night. Today had been good. Even though numerous threats still loomed over their heads, she somehow managed to find bright spots of hope sprinkled about this place.

    Newt, Chuck, Henry, Winston, Minho, even Thomas, though she didn't know him as well.

    They made the Glade bearable. And WCKD couldn't change that.

༻✧༺

    The next day Thomas and Minho had set off into the Maze bright and early. Even though the Runners went out everyday, Kalisa couldn't help but to think that this time felt different.

    Thomas was special. He wasn't like the rest of the Gladers. Maybe they would finally find something. Maybe, just maybe, home was a lot closer than they thought.

    Kalisa went through the motions of the day, just like she always did, eating breakfast with Chuck, slaughtering a turkey, chatting with Winston and Henry, eating lunch with Newt and Chuck, finishing her job, then turning back to the Homestead for dinner.

    It was a plain ordinary day. Maybe all the drama had ceased?

    But as she sat down across from Newt at their regular table, Kalisa noticed he looked on edge.

    "Hey, whats wrong?" Kalisa asked, not yet touching her burger.

    Newt sighed before saying, "It's the other girl. She's been moanin' and groanin' all day. She won't take her fluids and she keeps saying Tommy's name."

    Newt set his fork down and looked up at her, "Clint and Jeff think she's gonna wake really soon."

    "Well... thats good isn't it?" Kalisa tried.

    "I guess so. I don't know, theres something about her..." Newt trailed off.

    "It'll be okay. She's only a girl, you don't need to be shy, Just Newt," She teased causing the boy across from her to look offended.

    "I'm not shy! Why would I be shy?"

    "She is very pretty," Kalisa looked off to the Homestead, words sounding bitter in her own mouth.

    Newt paused before sighing tiredly, "She's alright."

    Kalisa felt jealousy despite all other things. She knew it was dumb, and she knew there were other more important things to worry about. But she had admitted it to herself days ago; she liked Newt. Really liked him.

    She liked the way his eyes lit up when he talked, she liked the way he rambled about his favorite things aimlessly, she liked the way he always knew what to say to comfort her, she liked the way he took care of her injuries, she liked the way he smiled when he looked at her. There wasn't a single flaw on the boy.

    "I've seen better," He added casually, going back to his meal, only looking up to give her a small innocent smirk.

    Kalisa blushed, forcing her mind away from his comment and the subject in general. "It's red, by the way." She said.

    "Mm?" Newt glanced up, confused.

    "My favorite color. It's red." Kalisa explained.

    Newt smiled, eyes lighting up at the comment. "You mean like a dark red? Like blood?"

    Kalisa scoffed, "No, more of a bright red. Like... fire. The color in the sunsets."

    "You do love sunsets, don't you?" Newt said fondly.

    "Yeah. I guess I do."

Wow this was so hard to write for no reason. Lets all ignore the fact that it was one big filler chapter- oops. My writers block is currently eating me alive, but hopefully I'll get another update out tomorrow! Guys I promise that this is the last time I'm changing my cover, I swear! But what do we think? I just wasn't satisfied with the old ones- they looked odd. I think its way better now. Thanks for all the comments and votes, happy reading!

1/20/24

2473 words