FOREVER. newt

five. the banishment

"He's been stung...in the middle of the day?" Gally asked, his voice confused. Beneath him, Ben whimpered, continuing to beg and cry.

"Put him in the pit."

-

"Minho, come on ... I can help him. Minho, please."

That's the mindset I always had. I thought that I could help everyone. So far, Alby told me that I was doing a really good job keeping everyone on their feet but apparently, not this time. Even though Ben tried to kill me, it was obvious that it wasn't him; it was the changing.

Minho looked at me solemnly. "You can't help everyone, Nini."

"I can!" I say frantically, hoping to god that Alby would reconsider his decision of banishing Ben. "All I need is a little time and maybe I can find something to cure him. Please, Minho." I beg, although I know that a lot of people had already been banished and me, a newbie's verdict won't change their minds.

I feel and hand grab mine's, and I look up to Jisung, who has an expatriated look on his eyes.

"Nini, come on. It's okay. There's really nothing we can do."

I spared the begging boy a glance. "But Ben—"

"— belongs to the maze now." he finished for me, now looking into my eyes. "There's really nothing we can do, Nini. Ben is like a brother to me, but that isn't him anymore."

Taking one last glance at the runner who almost killed me, I sighed as I took his hand and walked over to the Homestead.

I sigh, shaking my head as I turn your sight away from Ben. I can't bare to look at the sight, as I already am full aware of what awaits Ben. And what's worse, is that Minho's the one that has to push Ben, who's bound, in the direction of said fate.

Tying to ignore the screams and begs of Ben, I cover my ears and jog over to the Med-jack hut.

—

A knock. Two knocks on the Med-jack hut, and I finally sigh as I hid the black liquid underneath the wooden table, hoping that whoever was outside wouldn't see what I was doing. "Come in."

The door opens, and Newt walks in with his hair feathered in different directions. He looked like how he did this morning, sleepy and clueless— so what was he doing here in the hut at the night? Wasn't Newt supposed to be sleeping?

"What are 'ya doing, awake at this time?" he asks, standing on the doorway with his arms crossed on his chest.

"I was studying."

He raises his eyebrows in confusion. "Studying?"

Normally, I would lie. Make up some bullshit about sleepwalking or that I forgot something in the hut, but this was Newt. Still, no matter what, I've alwats found myself most comfortable, most at ease, when by Newt's side. There's just something about him that I can wrap my head around on.

"While he was in the pit, I took some of his blood. His infected blood." I explained, reaching under the table to show him the goo of what had been Ben's blood.

Newt walked over to me as he stared at the black goo, confusion suddenly making it's way to his face.

"But Ben tried to hurt you. What happened while you were taking the blood?" he asks in concern, eyebrows creased as he talked.