Newt

She opened her eyes and hit her forehead on the metal.

The familiar clanking, the hum of the lift, the stale air mixed with oil and old earth. And darkness.

Mia froze. Her heart skipped a beat, then another, and then began pounding somewhere in her throat.

No.

"Again?" she whispered, her voice muffled, as if in a vacuum.

The elevator jerked, slowed, and came to a stop with a metallic screech. Voices came from above—excited, sharp, familiar.

• Thomas! Thomas, come here! Newbie!

The elevator cover slid open with a screech. The blinding light from the Glade hit her eyes. Mia propped herself up on her elbow and saw Albie leaning over the grate. He was looking at her with the same alarm he had… how many times before? The first time? The second? She'd lost count.

“Alby…” she breathed out.

He frowned.

• How do you know my name?

Mia closed her eyes. The memories came flooding back—not hazy, like before, but clear, down to the last scratch on the concrete wall. The Labyrinth. The Grievers. The Brazier. Minho in Vice's arms. Theresa in white. The Virus. Newt's death. A red flash, and then—that damn elevator again.

She didn't go crazy. She remembered.

"I know everything, Alby," she said quietly, climbing out as the boys surrounded her. "I know what's behind that wall. I know how this will end. And I know that if we don't hurry, Vice will get Minho again, and Newt will die a second time."

Alby grabbed her shoulder.

"How do you know Minho? He's in the maze right now, like all the other runners."

"I know," Mia looked him straight in the eyes. "Because I've been here before. And I'll go through it all again if I have to."

As Mia stepped out of the elevator, she saw Newt. Alive Newt. Without a second thought, she rushed toward him and threw herself into his arms, clinging to him.

• Hey! Newbie, are you crazy?

"Just shut up, please. Just be quiet, Newt," Mia pressed herself closer to him, burying her nose in his neck.