The Deadliest Generation: The Maze Of Monsters

Thomas's Plan

Thomas swallowed and said, "River, do you mind if I explain my uh... escape plan?"

River got up and smiled warmly at Thomas, his shoulders relaxing instantly at the pressure being taken away from him, "Sure thing, Thomas."

River leaped up, and sat beside Chuck, Jack running behind him to catch up. 

They both took Thomas's space, as Newt had wisely moved to sit beside Teresa, offering her a small smile of comfort. 

Teresa was smirking, nodded at Newt, then leaned forward and raised her eyebrows at River, who smirked back. 

"Get on with it," One of the Gladers yelled.

"Nope," said Newt, nodding to Thomas, "Everyone apart from the Keepers and Tommy, leave."

There were groans of complaint, but everyone followed through with the clear order, Chuck offering Thomas an encouraging smile as he left.

"Alright," Newt muttered quietly, "everyone, please, just shut up and listen."

A few of the Gladers looked uncertain, but quite a few were staring rather pointedly at either River or Thomas, looking a bit disturbed. 

Thomas folded his arms. The next few minutes were going to be exceedingly crucial. 

Then Alby stood up again. 

The room, which had previously been full of whispering and muttering, fell a deadly silent

"I did it." He said, voice a terrifying calm. "I did it."

"Did what?" Newt asked, his voice slightly unsteady from the rush of information they'd already been given a few seconds ago. 

Alby met Newt's eyes, and said, "I burned the Maps. I did it. I slammed my head on the table so you'd think it was someone else - I lied, I burnt it all. It was me. I did it."

The Gladers exchanged looks, shock clear in their wide eyes and pale faces. For Thomas, though, it all made sense now. Alby didn't want to go back after seeing how awful life had been out there.

"I'm telling you," Alby's voice cracked with tears for the first time, breaking his mask of scary calm. "We can't go back to where we came from. I've seen it, remember awful, horrible things. Burnt land, a disease - something called the Flare. It was horrible - way worse than we have it here."

"But if we stay here, we die too!" Minho pointed out, speaking up after a long silence, "It's worse than that."

Alby stared at Minho a long time before answering. Thomas could only think of the words he'd just said. The Flare. Something about it was so familiar, right on the edge of his mind, veiled by his memory wipe. But he was certain he hadn't seen that when he'd gone through the Changing. 

"Yes," Alby finally said, "It's worse. Better to die, die at all than go back."

Minho sniggered and leaned back in his chair, "Wow, you're one lovely ray of sunshine, let me tell you that. I'm with Thomas, Alby. I'm with Thomas one hundred percent. We die, we're gonna die fighting. Let's go out fighting."

"Inside the Maze or out of it," Thomas added warily, thankful to have Minho on his side. He turned to Alby then and spoke gravely, "We're still living in the world you remembered."

Alby looked at Thomas with an expression that showed that he found him foolish, but also accepting defeat, "Do what you want. It doesn't matter. We'll die no matter what." And leaving on that final, dramatic note, he left the room.

Newt let out a deep sigh and shook his head miserably. "He's never been the same since he was stung, has he? It must've been a bugger of a memory. What in the world's the Flare? Riv never mentioned it, did you hear of it, Tommy? Or did Teresa mention it?"