To The Shucking End

Chapter 9

The girl eventually came down and Thomas introduced her as Teresa.

And the note in her hand wasn't the only thing that was sent up in the Box with Teresa.

She was also sent up with two syringes filled with blue liquid and the two of them seemed to think that it was a cure for Alby. A cure for the Changing.

Newt relented with no other choice and let them inject Alby who had instantly stopped thrashing in his sleep.

Gally had then escorted Thomas to the Pit for his punishment, explaining how he blamed Thomas for everything changing and losing some of his oldest friends.

And when Thomas reminded Gally that they couldn't stay here forever, the boy only remained silent.

Staying here was safe. Staying here would keep them alive and if they weren't there in the Glade there was a ridiculously high chance that they could get hurt or stung or killed.

Here, with their rules and their routines, he could keep Tanya safe and keep his promise.

Thomas ventured into the Maze the next morning with Minho as his first official day as a Runner.

And Gally was convinced he'd screwed something else up when they'd felt the ground shake and the Maze rumble.

So, they'd gathered at the entrance as they waited for Thomas and Minho to return.

"What the hell was that?!" Tanya asked.

"What the hell's going on out there?" Newt questioned.

"Yeah, what the hell you done now Thomas?" Gally shot and Tanya sighed. No amount of kisses or talking could persuade him out of his hatred for Thomas. Or even Teresa who Newt had shown around today and asked her to try a hand at being a Builder seeing as Tanya was one too.

The two girls did not get along seeing as both were wary of the other.

Teresa was also very aware of the fact that Tanya was with Gally, so she assumed that she shared the same views as her partner. An assumption that couldn't have been more wrong.

"We found something, a new passage," Thomas explained to Newt and Tanya as they walked into the glade. "We think it could be a way out."

"What?!" Tanya exclaimed.

"Really?" Newt asked.

"It's true. We opened a door, something I'd never seen before. I think it must be where the Grievers go during the day," Minho confirmed and Tanya's eyes bulged out of her skull.

"Wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you saying that you found the Grievers' home?!" Chuck piped up. "And you want us to go in?"

"Their way in could be our way out Chuck," Thomas pointed out and Tanya was a mix of emotions as the possibility of them finally getting out of the Maze loomed closer than ever before.

"Yeah, or there could be a dozen Grievers on the other side. The truth is, Thomas doesn't know what he's done, as usual," Gally said loudly.

"Yeah, well, at least I did something, Gally. I mean, what have you done? Huh? Asides from hide behind these walls all the time," Thomas retorted, very careful not to bring Tanya into the argument because then Gally would really go nuclear.

"Let me tell you something, Greenie. You've been here three days, alright? I've been here three years."

"Yeah, you've been here three years and you're still here, Gally! What does that tell you? Maybe you should start doing things a little differently," Thomas spat back before Tanya's head turned to where Teresa was trying to get their attention.