Newt’s POV:

The whole rest of the day we were bombarded by questions about our house, if we were going to have one together, and if we were where it would be. Brenda, Thomas, Aris, and Frypan’s houses would all be done early in the morning. They also had beach houses.

We would be neighbors.

We all slept together in a circle again.

I only slept for a couple hours before I woke up. I had the dream again. The one with Alby, Chuck, the other gladers, and this time Teresa too. I couldn’t bear the silence, just laying there with my thoughts. I got up, and walked over to the supply boxes, more for something to do than anything. The day before Harreit had started sorting them into food, tools, clothes, and other items. I figured I would finish the job. I started, and soon my movements were automatic. Nothing new, just more clothes, food, and tools.

Until I felt the cool metal.

My hand withdrew on instinct.

I glanced down, and saw something that I thought I would never see.

A gun.

A image bursts through my other thoughts

A man falling his knees

A woman falling over

A young blond haired girl, no more than four, crying.

Who were they?

More memories followed. Each bursting through like a mini explosion.

Images of people.

Of guards.

Of a white room.

Each memory came faster and faster. I didn’t know what to think of them. I wanted the memories to stop. I didn’t want to see the life I could never live. White lights were flashing in front of my eyes. I felt unsteady. Loud, hollow, noise filled my ears. The cool air around me felt suffocating, and the ground felt like it had disappeared.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I crumpled into a ball, pressing my hands against my eyes, my ears, my face.

After what felt like forever the world stilled and quieted. I sat up slowly, and looked around. The sun was starting to peek over the horizon. The others would be up soon. I glanced at the gun, before picking it up. I walked a couple feet and buried it under the clothes pile, before heading back to the circle. I lay back down next to Minho. I closed my eyes, but never went to sleep. I don’t know if I ever would again.

Not after that.

Just add a few more people I might have known dead.

Minho’s POV:

I woke up as the birds started chirping.

Birds.

There were birds here.

I smiled as I remembered that was the last night we would have to sleep outside. I sat up, and realized Brenda wasn’t with us. As if that thought summoned her, I saw her running towards us. She shouted to us

“You guys!”

Aris, Frypan, Newt, and Thomas had still been asleep, and they all bolted up, looking around. Brenda rolled her eyes before continuing

“The exploration team found a building!”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I rubbed my eyes and muttered

“Exploration team?”

Brenda sighed

“You and Newt were at the builders when Harriet organized it. It's a group of people we sent out to explore the island.”

Newt sat up next to me.

“So? What the shuck is so special about a building?”

Brenda sat down

“It’s a kitchen!”

Frypan bolted to his feet, intrigued

“Really?”

Brenda nodded

“And, that’s not the best part. It already has food in it, along with cooking appliances!”

Frypan almost immediately ran off, calling over his shoulder

“I’ll see you guys later!”

Thomas yawned

“Classic Frypan.”

Aris nodded, then looked around

“So, what should we do? Until evening?”

I glanced between Aris, Thomas, and Brenda who were both nodding at Aris’s statement.

“Uh, what are we doing tonight?”

Thomas answered

“We are gonna come look at your guys new house.”

Newt gave a mischievous smile

“How do you know it's one house? It could be two houses. . .”

Aris groaned, and Brenda turned to Thomas

“Hey, Tom, I bet you a meal that they got one house.”

Thomas bristled at the name ‘Tom’. I think it was what Teresa had called him, but he recovered quickly.

“Deal! I still say they got two houses!”

Brenda held out her hand

“Shake on it!”

Right before they were about to, Newt started to talk

“Uh, Tommy-”

I cut him off

“No, let them make their bet!”

Thomas looked unsure

“You know, maybe-”

Brenda grabbed his hand and shook it.

“Too late!”

Thomas sighed as me and Aris started laughing. Newt was staring off at nothing. I touched his hand, and he flinched and turned to me. I smiled weakly

“Hey, you okay?”

Newt nodded

“Yeah, I’m. . .okay.”

We didn’t really do anything that day.

We just. . . existed

We talked. We laughed. We ignored the fact that almost everyone we ever knew has died. The girl, Marie I think it was, came over to us. It was just before the sun would start to set, and we were all restless

“Gally has sent me to tell you. . .your house is done!”

Me and Newt smiled at each other before thanking her. Brenda elbowed Thomas with that smug grin of hers

“She said house, not houses!”

Thomas groaned

“W-Well, maybe she just misspoke!”

Brenda rolled her eyes for what must have been the hundredth time

“Sure.”

We had just stood up, when Frypan rushed towards us.

“Hey, where are you guys going?”

Brenda laughed

“To Newt and Minho’s house.”

Thomas shoved her

“Or houses!”

They really were children.

Newt just sighed

“Guys, c’mon. Let’s go.”

I walked next to Newt, and sometime during the short walk, we intertwined our hands. Gally was waiting next to a cluster of houses, and when he saw us, he walked over. The sun had started to set now.

“Lemme guess, you're here for your house?”

We both nodded excitedly. Gally grinned

“It’s the one all the way down.”

Newt looked at me, then started running as fast as he could towards our house. I laughed and started running after him.

“Hey! No fair!”

We arrived at our house, Newt less than a foot in the lead, gasping for breath waiting for the others to get here. The house was relatively small, probably just one room. The boards were chestnut colored, and they stood out against the tan sand. There was a crudely made door, but it looked like it functioned. When the others finally made it, Brenda fist pumped the air, and Thomas slumped over, defeated. Brenda cheered excitedly

“I knew you got one house!”

I rolled my eyes

“Whatever.”

Newt had opened the door, but hadn’t stepped in yet. I moved next to him, and spoke to him in a slightly hushed voice

“Want me to carry you in?”

“No, we aren’t married.”

I shrugged and picked him up bridal style anyway, much to his protest.

“Hey! Put me down!”

“Nope.”

I carried him into our one room home, and dumped him onto the makeshift bed the builders had made. I leaned forward and kissed him. That moment was one of the few truly happy moments of my life. I heard applause and turned to see our friends, still standing there.

Why were they always around when we kissed?

I gave them a look and rolled my eyes

“Alright, you shanks. You can leave now.”

Frypan mock-gasped and put a hand to his chest, and left. The others left, still laughing at Frypan. I lay down next to Newt, still smiling.

“Goodnight Newt.”

“Goodnight Min.”

The sun was almost gone now, and the waves crashing outside started lulling me to sleep.