𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

TWENTY-ONE

It was a rough night with worry and fear eating at my nerves. I was sure that everyone didn't get much sleep from the way we shuffled like zombies to the closed doors of the West wall. Newt and Chuck were the first ones there and I wondered if they had spent the whole night there. I wouldn't put it past them.

We waited for the doors to open and when they did, we backed away and stared eagerly into the corridor, but it was empty. I felt the hope die in my chest and bit my lip, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

"I told you Chuck, they weren't coming back." Newt said, dejectedly and started walking away. I squeezed the boy's arm softly and turned away, but then he screamed in excitement. I turned back and saw Thomas and Minho walking through the doors, carrying Alby between them.

I immediately ran to Alby, checking him over. He had a cut on his forehead and a puncture wound in his side with veins reaching out. He had been stung. He was out cold, but breathing hard. The Gladers started to gather to see the boys who made it back. Clint crouched beside me and he was talking to Jeff, they had to get Alby to the Med-hut.

"Did you see a Griever?" Chuck's question cut out across the others and they quieted to hear the answer.

"Yeah, I saw one." Thomas's voice was rough, he had been running all night.

"He didn't just see it." Minho panted. "He killed it."

I had to check over Minho and Thomas as we made our way to the Council hut. They were exhausted and bruised but otherwise fine. I sent Chuck to get a glass of water for both of them and they were able to drink it before the Gathering started. The last time I had been in here was when I got my job and I never really noticed how hot and smelly it could get in here with fifty boys packed in it.

Thomas sat on a bench at the back of the hut while the Keepers stood the front. I had been elected to take over Clint's spot while he made sure to keep Alby alive. Newt took over the Gathering as he was second in command, but it was Gally who started the meeting.

"Things are changing, there's no denying that. First Ben gets stung in broad daylight and then Alby. Now, our Greenie here has taken it upon himself to go into the Maze and kill one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us."

"But he saved Alby's life."

"Did he?" Gally was frustrated and I couldn't understand why. I could get that Thomas going into the Maze was a big deal, but he killed a Griever. Something no one has ever done before. Along with surviving a night out there. "For three years, we have coexisted with these things–"

I scoffed, cutting him off. "Co-existed? You call being attacked and killed by them coexisting?" He was shocked to see that I spoke out against him, but didn't say anything. "You said yourself Ben and Alby were attacked. For no reason. And about the boys before them?"

Newt put his hand on my arm, noticing the rising anger in my voice. He spoke to Minho. "You were out there with him. What do you have to say about all this?"

The attention was turned to Minho and he breathed in. "I think, in all the time we've been here,  no one has ever killed a Griever before. When I turned tail and ran, this shank stayed behind to help Alby. I don't know if he's brave or stupid. Whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make him a Runner." He caused an uproar. Most of the boys disagreed with him and yelled to let him know. I heard Chuck chanting Thomas's name, but it died quickly when he realized no one else followed his lead.

"You wanna throw the Newbie a parade, go ahead. That's fine. But if there is one thing I know about the Maze, it is that you do not–"

He was cut off again, but this time by the alarm of the Box coming back up. We all looked around, surprised to hear it so early. The supplies weren't due until tomorrow. I ran out of the hut, following after Newt and Gally. They pulled the doors of the Box open and I saw Newt disappear into the Box.