Huh?

  I was under the rug of our previous shelter.

  Newt was already up, sitting on the lip of the hole, watching the sun rise.

  “ Oh, Newt! You wouldn’t believe the dream I had!”

  My voice worked this time.

  “ It was were you were stabbed by a crank, and then taken,”

  I was walking towards Newt now.

  “ And I was so sad, ”

  I had put my hand on his shoulder.

  “ and your blood was blac-”

  Newt whipped around.

  Oh no.

  His face was covered in black veins

  his mouth slightly open, with black blood dripping out

  His eyes were wide with fear

  “Love? ”

  Did he really just call me that?

  His voice was weak and calm.

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  “ Yes, Newt?”

  “ Save me.”

  I could feel my heart crack

  “ I- I’m trying Newt, but I don’t know what to do!”

  His face contorted in rage

  He stood up

  I could feel his breath on my face

  “ You don't know what to do?!?”

  I took a step towards Newt, trying to calm him down

  “ New-”

  He was screaming now

  “ No! It’s already too late!”

  Newt advanced

  I took a step back

  “ Newt, I’m trying my best, an-”

  “ Your best?”

  He laughed

  Laughed

  Black spit flew from his mouth

  “ Your best?”

  He pointed behind me

  I looked

  The stairs were filled with cranks, crawling over each other to get up

  “ That's what I am now!”

  I tried to speak

  “ N-No, you still have time. I won’t let you turn int-”

  He looked at me with no emotion in his eyes

  “ You already did.”

  I stared at him

  I knew the hurt showed on my face

  A crank grabbed me by the leg and pulled me down.

  The last thing I saw was Newt’s bloody face

  The last thing I heard was Newt mutter

  “ Your best wasn't enough.”

  I woke up with tears streaming down my face.