The Rogue Variable

"Well, come on," Newt said to Thomas, as he grabbed his arm. "No way I'm not going with ya."

"He also said me, Ya know?" I said, getting in newts face. He squinted, "I don't think so,"

"I'm going if you like it or not," I hissed, and strangely, unbearable anger was creeping up inside. It was a snowball effect just building, and getting ready to burst. "Oh, okay. No problem you're bloody right," he said immediately backing off. I eyed him suspiciously as he whispered something to Minho. I tensed, and kept my guard up.

The trek to Alby's room was foreboding. My anger had significantly lessened, and I felt guilty towards Newt. Ignoring the thoughts, we found a staircase. Newt gave chuck a cold glare, "you. Stay."

All chuck did was nod, and I felt like giving the kid a hug. Thomas must've sensed the behavior to. "Lighten up," Thomas said to Chuck as Newt headed up the staircase. "They just elected me a Runner, so you're buddies with a stud now."

I looked back at the kid once more, "Yeah, right," Chuck whispered, staring at the wooden steps in a daze."

Newt and I waited for Thomas at the top of the stairs. He turned to me, about to say something, when Thomas appeared. As much as I needed one, I was not in the mood for a heart to heart. Or maybe he was going to scold me. Who knows?

As soon as Thomas was with us, we went to the second door on the right. Newt rapped his knuckles against the crude door, and an agonizing moan sounded in reply. The haunting creak of the door sounded ominous, as Newt inched it open. He stepped into the room, gesturing for us to follow.

I imagined Alby as he was, when I saw him... Before. I pictured the sickly, writhing teenager, but now saw a tired, frail boy. Pity swelled inside of me, and more guilt at the notion that I had caused this. His eyes were shut, and he seemed peaceful. "Is he asleep?" Thomas whispered, a strange tone of his voice revealed his thoughts otherwise. I think you mean is he dead.

"I don't know," Newt said quietly. He walked over and sat in a wooden chair next to the bed. Thomas took a seat on the other side. I awkwardly stood, and snaked over to the edge of the bed. I half say in the corner, as if I were scared to "catch" the changing

"Alby," Newt whispered. Then more loudly: "Alby. Chuck said you wanted to talk to Tommy and Joanie,"

Alby's eyes fluttered open-bloodshot orbs that glistened in the light. He looked at Newt, then at me, and lastly, to Thomas across the room. He put his back against the headboard, painful groans escaping his lips. Cringing, he hoarsely mumbled a "yeah,"

"Chuck said you were thrashin' around, acting like a loonie." Newt leaned forward. "What's wrong? You still sick?"

Alby's next words came out in a wheeze, as if every one of them would take a week off his life. "Everything's ... gonna change.... The girl ... Thomas ... Joanie... I saw them ..." His eyelids flickered closed, then open again; he sank back to a flat position on the bed, stared at the ceiling. "Don't feel so good."

"What are you bloody getting at?" Newt asked. "I saw Adam, too," Alby wheezed.

"What do you mean, you saw-" Newt began."I wanted Thomas!" Alby yelled, "I wanted joannah!" His screams widened his eyes, like a strange mask of lunacy. "I didn't ask for you, Newt! Joannah And thomas ! I asked for freaking Thomas and joannah!"

Looking at Thomas with a raised eyebrow, and then at me, Newt sighed. "Fine, ya grouchy shuck," Newt said. "He's right here-talk to him."

"Leave," Alby said, his eyes closed, his breathing heavy.

"No way-I wanna hear."

"Newt." A pause. "Leave. Now."

The awkward pause began again. I fidgeted slightly, getting up. "But-" Newt protested.

"Out!" Alby sat up as he yelled, his voice cracking with the strain of it. He scooted himself back to lean against the headboard again. "Get out!"

Newt abruptly stood in his chair, and made for the door. I put a hand on his chest but he pushed me away. The door swung open, and he turned back. "Don't expect me to kiss your butt when you come sayin' sorry," he said, then stepped into the hallway. "Close the door!" Alby shouted, one final insult. Newt obeyed, slamming it shut.

After the chaotic ordeal, I say in newts chair. Thomas was shaking, and I remembered what he had seen with Ben. Several minutes had progressed, and I was anxiously waiting Alby's words. He sucked in a breath, and began to speak.

"I know who you are,"

Thomas mumbled, trying to form words. I almost shushed him, but Alby continued. "I know who you are, both of you," Alby repeated slowly. "Seen it. Seen everything. Where we came from, who you are. Who the girl is. I remember the Flare."

"I don't know what you're talking about. What did you see? I'd love to know who I am." Thomas said, his voice coming out as a forced struggle. "It ain't pretty," Alby answered, and for the first time since Newt had left, Alby looked up, straight at Thomas. Alby's head was turned away from me, but I knew what Thomas saw. sullen, dark eyes devoid of hope. I had seen it in Ben, just more crazed. I hoped Alby wouldn't succumb to such darkness. But like I was better.

"It's horrible, ya know. Why would those shucks want us to remember? Why can't we just live here and be happy?" Alby mumbled, a seemingly rant. As he spoke I figured out that his words got crazier by the second. His brain was a lock and somewhere, forgotten, was the key. "Alby..." I mumbled, trying to sum up the words. "The Changing," i pressed, "what happened? What came back? You're not making sense."

"You-" Alby started, then suddenly grabbed his own throat, making gurgly choking sounds. His legs kicked out and he rolled onto his side, thrashing back and forth as if someone else were trying to strangle him. His tongue stuck out of his mouth; he bit it over and over. Thomas shot up in his chair, and I fell backwards. Alby was rolling around, as if in a seizure.

He was turning purple, and with wide eyes Thomas called out Alby's name. I spun towards the door, and with all my might screamed: "NEWT!" I cupped my hands around my mouth, "NEWT, GET IN HERE!"

The door flung open while I still shouted. Newt ran to Alby and grabbed him by the shoulders, pushing with his whole body to pin the convulsing boy to the bed. "Grab his legs!"

Thomas and I battled against Alby, and I saw Thomas get kicked. In my distraction, a foot flew through the air, hammering my temple. I toppled to the ground in a heap, and lost consciousness.

"Hello?" The voice called, "can someone help me?"

Then it stopped as soon as it came.

As I regained control of what was happening, I heard snippets of conversation. I looked up to see what was happening. "Wasn't me, I swear," Alby murmured.

Newt threw his hands up. "What do you mean it wasn't you?" he asked.
"I don't know.... It ... it wasn't me." Alby looked just as confused as I felt.

But Newt seemed to think it wasn't worth trying to figure out. At least at the moment. He grabbed the blankets that had fallen off the bed in Alby's struggle and pulled them atop the sick boy. "Get your butt to sleep and we'll talk about it later." He patted him on the head, then added, "You're messed up, shank."

As Alby nodded off to sleep I mumbled newts name. He looked down at me with pity, and scooped me bridal style. "Oh Joanie,"

As soon as we were out the door, Alby called. "What?" Newt asked.
Alby opened his eyes for a brief moment, then repeated what he'd said, a little more loudly. "Be careful with the girl." Then his eyes slid shut. I saw Newt give Thomas a look before I closed my eyes as well.

"Let's go," Newt whispered.

"And Newt?" Alby called again from the bed. "Yeah?"

"Protect the Maps."