Emptiness.

Suffocation.

That was what she felt. Over and over again it played in her head. The dreams of her drowning and the awakening. The dreams of getting chased down. The feeling of fear and terror scorching through her body. The way her knees buckled as she tried to run away. She was unsure about what she had ran from but it played over and over in her head.
The blurry face of the person in front of her as she repeatedly drowned in the water. The water entering her lungs but never leaving. She never saw their face but she knew they watched her. They always have.

They were the reason for the emptiness and suffocation she constantly felt.
She did not know why the dreams had started again. Was it because of the constant fear that one day she would never be able to leave this place?

This place. The place she called home. The place she vowed she would leave one day.

“Amelia.”

The girl glanced to the boy at her side. Minho had a frown on his face as he stared at her. She had zoned out again. The dreams had started again and she had been trying not to think of it but she had been afraid to fall asleep lately. The suffocation and terror was enough for her to never want to sleep again. She didn't want to dream.

“You okay? You zoned out.”

“Oh, I was just thinking that maybe we need more runners.”

Minho sighed. “No, we don't. We have more than enough, Lia.”

The girl stared at the map that had been laid out in front of them. This was the map they had used to map out the maze. Three years prior Amelia and Minho had decided it would be best to try and seek a way out of this confined space. They had tried every method to find a way out of this maze until they found thst the only way they could get out was through the giant doors. Most of the gladers feared going outside the walls. The screams of the grievers instilled fear in them.

Amelia was not quite fond of it but they finally did and that was when they started mapping out the maze, seeking a way out. They had lost a few runners along the way as they searched high and low until they could not anymore. Amelia and Minho knew the maze like the back of their hands now, there unfortunately wasn't anything to map out anymore. Everyday they go out for any new passages that might open but so far there had been none.

“What we do need is more supplies. I hope we'll be getting some new hands next week with more supplies. We have been running a bit low,” Minho told the girl, as her eyes stayex on the map.

“Every day at least two people goes into the maze. If we had another runner then maybe we would cover more ground,” Amelia said to her friend as she played with the necklace around her neck. The necklace was the only thing the girl had that the people who put them here actually let her keep. She didn't know what the necklace was but it was her most priced possession.

Minho shook his head.

“What would be the use of adding another runner? We already mapped out the whole maze. Where else is there to go?” Minho questioned. He knew it was hard for Amelia since she had started this. She had given the boys hope that they could find a way out of the maze.

Three years and still nothing. Amelia believed that there had to be something they had been missing.

Amelia was frustrated. She did not want the fallen runners' sacrifices to be for nothing. They had died trying to find an exit.
The people who put them here had to have had an exit placed somewhere. There had to be something.

“You, me and Ben will be going out tomorrow. Tell him to rest up, we're leaving early tomorrow,” Amelia said before she left the tent. The boy stared at her back, shaking his head. She was not only doing this for the others but for herself as well.
She had been longer in the maze than all of them. Amelia just wanted to leave this place.

Amelia exited the woods and made her way to her tent. They had send out two of the runners just half an hour ago which meant it was still very early morning and everyone was supposed to be waking up very soon. The girl was exhausted and as much as she wanted to close her eyes and drift off to sleep but she was too afraid. She knew the dream would engulf her as soon as she closed her eyes.

She stopped in front of her tent when she noticed the shoes outside. Amelia had a strict rule that shoes should be taken off when entering her tent. Everyone followed that rule but she always has to remind Alby.

She took her shoes off before entering. The girl saw Newt seated in front of her bed with a cup of hot brew in his hand.

“Newt, you're up early.”

“I could say the same about you. I almost thought you went with the other runners,” Newt said as he watched the girl take her jacket off to go lie down again. The brunette racked her hand through her hair to tied it above her head. “Not today.”

She moved over to the bed and took a seat. “What are you doing here, by the way? You're never here this early.”

Newt handed the brew to her which she happily accepted. “That is mainly because you're never here when I come,” Newt said, looking up at the girl from where he sat. That was true, she was usually the first one up and awake in the Glade.

Amelia took a sip of the hot brew and she hummed in satisfaction. Maybe she should've gotten herself a cup.

“I have a lot of stuff to do. I cannot be slacking off,” Amelia said with a small smile. Her smile did not quite reach her eyes like it usually does. The boy knew she had a lot on her mind recently. They had unfortunately lost one of the newer boys last week.

Newt reached over and took her hand in his. The two of them have known each other for almost three years now and he knew when she was stressed. She never tells him her worries but he always knew when something was wrong. He wished he could help her and tell her that everything would be okay but he knew he'd only be lying.

All he could do was give her comfort and that's what he did. He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

The same smile appeared on her lips but this time it had warmth.

“You know that you don't always have to carry so much weight on your shoulders. I am here for you,” Newt told her. Amelia appreciated him so much. The first year was rough on them but they made due with what they had.

“I know. If I have any worries I will make sure to tell you.” He knew she wouldn't but he didn't comment on it.

She heard the rustling outside and that made her smile grow even wider. “. . .and Gally,” Amelia said and her head turned to the entrance of her hut. She knew Gally was outside.

“You can come in Gally and do take off your shoes.”

The two heard a loud sigh before Gally entered barefoot. “How did you know I was outside?” Gally questioned as if he had not just been loud. Amelia always made sure there were leaves in front of her tent so it would be easy to hear when someone approched it.

“You were pretty loud,” Newt told the boy and he rolled his eyes. Amelia moved to the side to make space for Gally. “I was not.”

“Are you also here to make sure I am okay?” Amelia raised a eyebrow at the boy. He nodded and the girl rolled her eyes. “I am okay. You two do not need to worry about me.”

Gally sighed, “How can we not? These two weeks you've seemed more worried than ever.”

“That is because the box hasn't come up, yet. It's almost in the middle of the month and our supplies are almost up,” Amelia said, half lying. The box had not come up yet and she was worried since the box was never late.

“Is that all?” Newt asked.

“Yes.” Newt and Gally looked at each other. “Okay then,” Gally said dropping the subject and she was glad he did. She was not ready to tell them about her dreams, yet.

“Now will you two lovely gentlemen please leave my tent so I can get some rest. I do have a lot of work to do later today,” Amelia said in a soft voice and Newt groaned getting up.

“Okay then.” He dusted off his pants. He leaned forward to place a kiss on her cheek. “I will see you later then. Let's go Gally.”

Amelia looked at Gally who seemed reluctant to leave. “Or do you want to stay?” Newt asked with a raised brow. “No. I'll leave.”

Newt nodded and he left leaving the two alone. Gally stared into her eyes, trying to look for something. He did not know what he was looking for. Maybe reassurance that she was okay.
The girl smiled which he immediately returned. Gally leaned over and placed a kiss on her temple. “Get some rest.” He stood up with a small smile. He turned and left the tent.

Outside Newt stood waiting for him. “You sensed something is wrong as well, right?” Newt asked and Gally nodded. Newt sighed and added, “Let's wait until she tells us. It's better to not press her for it.”

When she was ready to tell them, then she will.