Hearts and Minds

Is This A Bi-Panic or Panic Attack?

Artemis stood against the wall, a glare stuck to her face. She had spent the last three hours in the med-hut because Minho and Thomas wouldn't let her leave until she rested. And as soon as she was able to leave she was dragged away and put in front of the entire Glade. It was like she and Thomas were being put on trial for saving not one but two lives! Thomas stood beside her, he hadn't had the chance to rest yet. He had gotten into many arguments with different gladers about the decisions they had made and even punched one in the face because he tried to bring Artemis into the argument. He refused to tell her that part though.

"Things are changing. That much is obvious, first Ben was stung in broad daylight and then Alby. Now..our greenie has taken it upon himself to run into the maze and endanger other's life. Which is a clear violation of our rules here." Gally claimed calmly, he knew that what Thomas did had been brave. Despite that Gally was scared of change. He couldn't stand the idea of something changing for the worst. Which is why if there was even a slight chance something could go wrong, he liked to shut it down.

"That's not fair! We saved Alby's life!" Artemis tried to protest. The boy across from her, Keeper of the  Baggers, sent her a glare. He pointed the knife he twirled around in his hand at her.

"You have no right to speak during this meeting. Keep your trap shut." The boy demanded, earning many looks of anger or disapproval. Yet the ones he was friends with nodded in agreement. Artemis huffed, kicking at the ground like a toddler that was told no. Gally sent the boy a stern glare causing the boy to raised his hands in the air like he was surrendering.

"Mason, that's enough out of you!" Gally snapped before he looked back towards the rest of the council. "While it's a clear violation of our rules, Artemis is right. He saved not only Minho's life but also Alby's and managed to keep his own. I believe a week in the pit is fit enough."

Yells of objection came from every which way, some people saying that was too much punishment. Others saying banishment was the only option. Artemis stepped closer to Thomas, ready to step out of line once again if she needed. That's when Mason decided it was his turn to speak up again.

"The pit?! Putting those two in the pit together would be heaven for them. At least for little Tommy here, he'd have the pretty lady all to himself. Banishment. Both of them." Mason said. Artemis felt her body go rigid at the second comment, the way his eyes trailed her up and down freaked her out. She moved impossibly closer to Thomas who had instinctively stepped in front of her slightly.

Gally's glare faltered for a moment before he quickly restored his facade. He scoffed as he looked at Mason with his arms crossed. "Mason, they survived the maze once banishment is useless even if it was deserved."

Mason mimicked Gally's scoff as he stepped closer to the Keeper of the Builders. Mason was tall, significantly taller than other gladers. Gally was barely taller, not even three inches. "Oh they'll be dead. If they aren't we'll kill them ourselves."

"Enough!" Newt shouted. He pointed at Mason with a strict glare on his face. "Sit your shank self down, we aren't killin' anyone! You are not the leader nor are you the second in command. You have no say in the final decision." Artemis grinned cheekily, knowing that at least Newt was on their side. Newt turned to look at Minho who stood near Thomas and Artemis. "Minho you were with them. What do you think?"

Minho looked at the two, his face revealing not a single emotion to Artemis. Her throat started to feel dry, wondering if he was going to agree with Mason. "I think that in all the time we've been here, nobody has ever killed a griever. Nobody has managed to escape a griever and save someone they didn't even know. I don't know if these two shanks or stupid or brave. But whatever they are, we need more like them." Minho stated, causing Artemis to once again smile and swallow normally. Minho was on their side.

"I say make them runners." Artemis and Thomas instantly whipped their heads to look at Minho and then back at each other. During one of their late night talks(which happened every night when neither of them could sleep) they had both talked about how they wanted to be a runner. How they wanted to actually contribute. And now it may happen. Artemis looked at the rest of the glade, watching as some people started to protest.

"She's a girl! She can barely even walk!"
"Runners?! No way!"
"Let's do it! No one else has the guts."
"They'll be dead in a day."
"I'll work your job for two weeks if they don't end up being the best runners we got."

Artemis was overwhelmed with all the noise when suddenly a siren went off. "Everybody shut up!"

Silence fell upon them but the siren sound followed. Everyone seemed to perk up, eyes wide and confusion written all over their faces. Artemis turned and looked at Newt with her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Newt? Newt what the shuck is that noise?"

"The box..it means it's coming up." With that everyone took off towards the door. Artemis was the first out the door and towards the box, Thomas and Newt on her tail. Newt surpassed her when she slowed to talk to him.

"I thought you said it came up once a month!" She said, wanting to cover her ears from the annoying shriek of the siren. Artemis had realized recently she had sensitive ears, especially when so much was going on at once. Newt looked back slightly, face full of worry.

"It's not supposed to be time yet." He said as the two skidded to a stop at the closed box. Artemis looked back at the other Gladers before looking at the box. Then she turned and faced Newt, running a hand through her hair. She went to open her mouth but Newt seemed to read her mind. "Go ahead, you open it."

Artemis bent down and opened the top of the box, looking down. She couldn't see anything yet. She leapt down, shaking slightly as she caught her balance. Her eyes widened and she instantly dropped to her knees. "Artemis? What is it?!" Newt shouted down, his voice carrying. Artemis couldn't answer for a moment, almost memorized by the sight in front of her. She reached out silently, gently messing with the white fabric to make sure it wasn't another dream.

"Temmie?! Are you okay? Answer us!" Thomas shouted down worriedly, bring Artemis back to Earth as she forced herself to look up from the sight below her.

"It's another girl.." Artemis said, looking down and only then noticing the folded up paper in her hand. Artemis tenderly slipped it from the girls hand and unfolded it. Her mind ceased to work once again, her eyes scanning over the words over and over to make sure she read it right. "And she's the last one.."

Artemis let out a gasp when the girl sat up, her eyes now wide open. The sun shone down on her as if this was a movie and it was hitting the beginning of the climax. Her blue eyes shot towards Artemis, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breathe. "Artemis! Missy..everything's going to change. We need to get Tommy, everything's going to change."

Artemis watched as the girl's eyes shut and she fell back towards the floor of the box. Artemis quickly grabbed the girl, pulling her closer to her. Artemis felt the heat of eyes focused on her, unable to force herself to face the rest of the gladers.

"Still think I'm overreacting?" Mason sneered from above. Artemis bit down on her tongue as she looked down at the girl, that feeling of familiarity stabbing her in the chest once again. She looked so familiar, her voice sounded like one she knew. Missy..the nickname felt so warm, like something that used to give her comfort. Who was this girl? How did she know her name? And more importantly...

What did she mean everything was going to change?