Newt

From their first day in the Glade, there were always sparks between Mia and Newt. It wasn't that they hated each other—more like they existed in parallel worlds, sometimes colliding like two magnets. Newt was the life of the party, joking and bossy. Yet when he was with Mia, he forgot all but the sharpest words. She responded in kind—with a mocking look and a sharp tone.

He ran to the Labyrinth every day, and she worked in the garden, mending the fence or carrying boxes. Their meetings were rare and usually took place over dinner, when someone would start arguing about the division of responsibilities, which was already becoming quite tiresome for Alby.

One day, while peeling potatoes by the fire, Mia heard a strange sound, like scraping metal. She froze, listening. Chuck, sitting next to her, waved it off, but curiosity pushed her toward the gate.

It was dark and damp inside the Labyrinth. Mia tried to memorize the turns, but the corridors seemed identical. The sound grew louder and then quieter. She turned several times, but soon realized she was lost.

Her heart pounding, she decided to turn back, but there were no traces left. Then she heard the scraping sound of a gate closing. Frightened, she pressed herself against the wall, trying to remain unnoticed. From the darkness came the shuffling sound of the Grievers on the hunt.

Suddenly, someone's hand grabbed her elbow. Mia opened her mouth to scream, but Newt appeared in front of her, looking frightened and angry.

"Are you an idiot?" he hissed.

Without waiting for an answer, he pressed her against the wall, and just as she expected the blow, he hugged her tightly. His palm was on her head, and she could hear his heart pounding.

“You fool…” he said quietly, “if I weren’t worried, I would have strangled you myself.”