Prologue

A/N: Hello, Everyone! I am super excited for this fanfiction! I have had this idea in my head for a long time, and just now decided to write it! I really hope you like it just as much as I do. I also have the first chapter writen and sent off to be proofread, so look forward to that. I am not sure right now how often I will update, but I really do hope it will be rather fast!

"Please, Tommy. Please."

Bang!

Newt gasped as he awoke, sluggishly looking around the pristine, white room. The bright lights blinded him slightly as he blinked, trying to figure out where he was. He had just died hadn't he? So, why was he sitting on a soft mattress and, well, alive?

He was about to get out of the bed, when a man walked in. He looked to be in his forties, lanky and balding. He looked up from his clipboard at Newt, his grey eyes cold.

"Ah, Newton's awake." He mumbled to himself, turning back to the clipboard and writing something down.

"Who are you? Where am I? Why am I not-" Newt stopped. He wondered briefly if it was all a dream. The Maze, The Scorch, all of it.

"Dead?" The man finished for him "It's quite simple really. It was all a simulation."

Newt's eyes widened. "What?"

"We sent you and the others into a simulation. Much easier and safer, don't you think?"

"You mean to say everything we went through-" He was cut off.

"Wasn't real. Any of it."

"So everyone's okay?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes, everyone is fine. Physically at least, the simulation has caused a lot of emotional trauma. Of course this was expected, with a few therapy sessions, you should all be back to your normal selves."

Newt snorted. "Yeah right. I can't see anyone being their selves ever again. Not after what happened."

The man walked closer to Newt. "You feel guilty." He stated.

Newt's eyes widened. "Now what are you bloody on about?"

"You feel guilty about all the lives lost while you were in charge. You think that if Alby didn't sacrifice himself, there wouldn't have been as many casualties."

Newt huffed and looked down at his clenched fists. "That's not even slightly true."

"Newton-"

"Don't call me that."

The man sighed. "Newt. You don't have to put on this tough guy act. It's over, everyone's safe."

"But not okay."

"What?"

Newt looked up. "That's what you said, wasn't it? No one is okay. They're all going to need therapy."

"Well, yes, but they are alive and physically unharmed."

"Leave, please." Newt said softly.

"Newt-"

"I want to be alone." He pleaded "Please."

The man held up both hands in surrender. "Okay. If you need anything, just ask the guard outside for Dr. Richardson."

With that he left, leaving Newt to his thoughts.

After a while, Newt sighed and got out of the bed. He opened the door and asked the guard if he could send for Dr. Richardson. He went back to the bed, sitting down and biting his nails in nervousness.

The doctor entered a few minutes later. "You called for me?" He asked.

"Yes." Newt cleared his throat. "I thought everything over, and I wanted to say, I'm sorry for how I acted."

Dr. Richardson nodded. "All is forgiven. Now, how about we meet up with the others and get you something to eat."

Newt cracked a small smile and nodded. "Yes please."

Dr. Richardson nodded and walked out the door with Newt following close behind. He frowned when he noticed that he was still limping, but chose not to bring it up just yet as he could hear the loud conversation of the other Gladers.

One of the guards opened a swinging door which led into the cafeteria. All conversation stopped as everyone turned to look at him, making him uncomfortable.

Chuck and Alby smiled sadly at him and motioned for Newt to join them. He turned to where the Doctor was standing, only to find him missing. He shrugged and walked over to the table.

"Hello Newt." Alby sighed.

"Hi." Newt mumbled, still shocked that all his friends were alive and sitting around him.

Alby turned to the other Gladders "Nothing to see here, get back to your meal." Everyone slowly dispersed.

"So, how did you die?" Chuck asked.

"Chuck!" Alby hissed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Chuck said sadly.

Newt smiled reassuringly at him, then let it fall into a small frown. "I would rather not talk about it." He mumbled.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alby frown, his eyebrows knitting together in both worry and suspicion, and he knew he would have to tell Alby everything eventually.

Chuck was about to speak when Dr. Richardson returned, carrying a tray of food. "Eat up. You deserve it." He said before turning and leaving the cafeteria.

"Looks like you got a nice doctor." Chuck said. "Mine never speaks."

"Lucky," mumbled Newt. "Mine never shuts his bloody trap."

Newt started eating, Alby and Chuck talking between themselves. Newt remained quiet, perfectly happy to just listen. His friends' voices began to calm the anxiety he was feeling.

Once he finished he glanced around at all the other Gladers. "Hey." He said, gaining the attention of the two sitting across from him. "Where are Thomas and Minho?" He asked.

"Still in the simulation. You wake up when you either die or complete it." Alby said.

Newt looked at them, worried. "How did you know I died?"

Alby chuckled. "Because I don't see Thomas or Minho sitting next to you." He stated.

"Do you know what's going on here?" Newt asked

"No. All I know is we were in a simulation for some reason."

"Did they say anything about the Flare, or Cranks, or a cure?"

Alby shook his head. "No. Never heard anything like that since I woke up. They won't even tell us why we were put in a simulation in the first place."

"If it wasn't for a cure, what the shuck did they put us through that for?" Newt mumbled to himself. "They're hiding something, I know it."

"Woah, calm down there, Sherlock." Newt raised an eyebrow at the strange saying, but Alby paid it no mind. "Right now, focus on the positive. We're all alive. If we start questioning their motives, who knows what will happen."

Newt nodded. "You're right."

A few minutes later, Dr. Richardson returned. "Newt, it's time to go."

Newt nodded and stood, saying goodbye to Alby and Chuck before following the doctor.

They made it back to Newt's room and he climbed in bed.

"Hey, Dr. Richardson?" He called.

"Yes?"

"Why do I still have a limp?"

"Well, it could be that because you had a limp for so long in the simulation, your brain began to believe you have one outside of it. You more than likely will have that limp for the rest of your life." He finished, closing the door behind him.

Newt blinked back tears and laid down. Honestly, he should have known.

A/N: I would like to thank AG2000 for proofreading this story, helping me out with a plotline, and making it even better than it would have been without her. She is truly amazing! Make sure to check her out and tell her how amazing she is!