Greenie Girl (ThomasxReaderxNewt)

DAY 9

As we exited the Maze at dawn, we didn't see any movement. But, we did see damage. So either the boys were really upset, or the grievers did come out into the Glade.

"Do you think they still want to kill me?" I asked tentatively. "After killing a griever?? Not likely." Minho answered. "And Gally?" I continued. "Won't have enough supporters anymore." Newt answered this time.

"Let's take the griever to the Runner's Hut. Then we'll try to find everyone." We continued dragging the griever. Minho opened the vault-like building by turning the wheel in different directions, then pulled it open. I guess no one else knew the combination, because there was no one hiding in here. We dragged the griever through the door and into the center of the room.

At the very center was a table with a map of the Maze. The walls were covered in papers with various notes and drawings on them. I looked around in wonder. Whoever had originally pieced the Maze together must have been a genius. Thomas had shown me some of the oldest runners on the wall where we carved our names, but they had all died.

"It's amazing. Isn't it?" Thomas said from behind me. I was a little startled. I turned around and gave him a small smile. "Yeah it is. Do you know how long it took them to figure it out?"

"Well, they had to get order set up in the Glade first, so it took about two years to get it fully pieced together. That's what Minho told me at least." I looked around for Minho and Newt, then I noticed the door was shut. The question must have shown on my face because Thomas said, "They went to check things out. You've definitely proven yourself, but we aren't going to let them near you unless they come in peace."

I nodded, a little relieved that I was safe from anyone who might still want to kill me. I walked over and sat on a stool by the map table. I was exhausted, and starving, and dehydrated. Hopefully, we could get out of here soon.

The thrill from killing the griever was wearing off, so I was just left with the exhaustion and worry. I knew that Thomas could read it on my face, but I was too tired to care anymore. "Hey, it'll be okay. We're not going to let anything happen to you." He stated.

"I know," I said giving him a weak smile.

"Should we take a look at this thing?" He asked, pointing to the griever. I didn't know how he still had enough energy to be upright, but I nodded. I was really curious about what we could learn from this thing.

We both crouched down next to it. He pulled his knife out of his bag and used it to prod the little bit of flesh that was left on the thing. I scooted around to examine it's stinger. I was holding on to another leg for balance, and it suddenly came out of its socket. I fell backwards, and Thomas lunged for me.

"I'm alright!" I examined the metal arm and the empty socket. On the hinge where it would have been attached to the socket there was a WICKD logo. I was leaned in close to the socket when I heard a faint beeping. It was coming from the griever somehow.

"Thomas. Thomas, something's beeping!" He rushed over, and then I noticed a blinking red light coming through the thing's flesh, right where the base of the stinger would be.

"Do you have a towel or something?" I asked urgently. He found an old canvas bag and tossed it to me. I wrapped it around my hands so I couldn't accidentally get stung, and I tugged on the arm of the stinger. After a few tugs it came free, and the blinking light was attached to it. It had the WICKED logo on it like the other leg, but it also had a digital screen with the number 8 on it. I showed it to Thomas.

"8. Section 8. That's where we were today. A different griever hole section opens every day. Look here at the map!" He said excitedly. I got up and went over to study the map that I hadn't really taken a detailed look at before. Each of the outer sections had a number on it from 1 to 9.

"So it starts with section 1 than 2 and so on?" I asked trying to understand better. "No, it doesn't go from 1-10. It starts with section 3, then 8... Here, Minho figured out the pattern and wrote it here," he pointed to the edge of the map. 3-8-5-2-9-1-7-4-6. That's weird, why would it not go from 1-10??

I was still trying to figure out what it could mean when there was a sharp knock on the door that broke our gaze. Thomas glanced at the door and then back at me. "Stay back." I nodded.

"Tommy! It's me, Newt!" I automatically relaxed. Thomas opened the door and Newt slipped in. "Hey, Newt, how is it out there? Is everyone okay?" I was so worried about Chuck and Fry and Alby.

"Yeah, um, there's a lot to tell." I noticed how upset he looked and was worried again. "Chuck and Alby and Fry are all okay. That's good at least. But, um, the grievers came last night. Everyone tried to fight them off, but about 4 guys were taken."

"Oh god," I said, covering my mouth. Thomas was just staring down at the ground, frozen, taking it all in. Newt continued, "Yeah, and that's not even the worst part. The water did stop flowing yesterday. We had already gathered some, but- but, the grievers destroyed the shed, where we had put the water. We still have some in the Homestead, but it will only last 2, 3 days, tops."

Shit. That gives us such little time to figure out how to get out of here. Yes, me and Thomas found something just now, but we still didn't know what it meant. "And am I still on the kill list?" I asked quietly.

"Not exactly. I told them you killed a griever. It made a lot of people switch sides. Gally still has some of his goons, but I think you'll be okay as long as we're with you at all times." I nodded, accepting it, then I told Newt what we found.

"So what does it mean?," he sounded excited. "We're not really sure. But, we think that this thing might have come from section 8."

"Well, that's a start" Newt questioned. "Yeah, we just hope 2 days is enough time to figure it out." Thomas replied.

"And are we just supposed to subject everyone to another night in here? To be picked off by grievers?" I asked.

"I don't know. But I do know that we all need food and water and rest. We'll talk to everyone later, see what they think." Newt concluded. We left the griever where it was and headed out into the Glade.

As we came upon the fire pit, there was a gathering of boys. When they saw us, they fell silent. One younger boy stepped forward, looked at me and asked, "Is it true you killed a griever?" I looked around at everyone, then answered him, "Yes. I got lucky, but I killed a griever."

The front row of boys slowly started chanting my name. Someone else starting playing the drums in rhythm. I felt their chant as it grew louder and synced up with the drums. It was the complete opposite feeling from yesterday, when they had wanted to kill me. Now they wanted to worship me.

I gave a clipped smile, but I couldn't flip a switch like them. I couldn't forgive them that easily, especially when I looked at the outer rim of boys and saw Gally giving me an icy stare.

I couldn't really blame him for blaming me. It did all seem connected. But, I wasn't the one doing this to us.

Thomas and Newt pulled me from the circle of boys, and we headed for the homestead. Most of the windows were broken, and the porch and walls had gaping holes.

The front door still worked though, and Chuck came barreling through it to hug me and Thomas. Alby and Fry came out too. I was just so glad they were okay.

"Hey guys!" I said.

"Let's go inside and make a plan." Newt said, motioning for everyone to head inside.

"I get to come??" Chuck asked.

"Yeah Chuck, you get to come," Newt gave  him a small smile. I guess there wasn't much more we could protect him from.

We all gathered around the dining room table. Just a week ago, Alby had attacked me from this table and I had been a fresh greenie. Now I felt like a veteran of the Maze, an equal.

"Time to get us out of here." Thomas sighed quietly, his hands resting on the table.