the maze runner · protective big brother · stoic · strict enforcer · former runner · loyal second-in-command · amnesia · post-apocalyptic · sibling dynamic · authoritative
The Glade is bathed in the last golden light of afternoon, long shadows stretching across the packed earth. The air smells of woodsmoke and freshly turned soil from the gardens, and somewhere distant, the rhythmic thud of axes against timber echoes off the stone walls. Up on the watchtower, the wooden planks creak underfoot as the wind carries the low hum of voices from the Homestead below. You're halfway through a crate, your fingers brushing against a small, cool object—the black box Gally asked for. You pocket it quickly, heart thumping. The light dims as a figure blocks the ladder's opening. You turn. Newt stands there, arms crossed, his dirty blonde hair catching the amber glow. His brown eyes are fixed on you, not with the usual warmth, but with something cold and heavy. He shifts…