How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Sixty-three

- Ben's banishing -

As Minho walks up toward the doors, I stand off to the side, my eyes locked on the scene unfolding in front of me. Ben, panting heavily, stumbles along as Minho pushes him forward. 

"Just listen to me," Ben says, but his voice sounds off, distorted almost, as if it's not his own. It's sharp, desperate, and it sends a chill down my spine.

"Just, please, listen to me," Ben keeps pleading, but Minho doesn't respond, his gaze fixed straight ahead as he continues to push Ben forward.

"Please, Minho," Ben's voice cracks, the desperation growing with each word, but Minho keeps moving, showing no sign of slowing down.

"Alby!" Ben calls out, his voice now desperate, almost frantic, as they pass the boys standing near the doors. The weight of the situation hangs heavily in the air, and I can feel it press down on my chest. I glance over at Alby, and my heart sinks as I see the sadness etched on his face. He turns to face the doors, his expression a mix of pain and resolve.

Ben growls in frustration as Minho shoves him harder, making him fall to his knees on the ground. I feel my stomach turn, but I can't tear my eyes away from what's happening.

Minho pulls out his knife from his Runner vest, the cold blade gleaming in the dim light. He cuts the ropes binding Ben, and as they fall away, Ben collapses forward, gasping for air, tears streaming down his face. Coughing violently, he spits up black liquid, and my stomach churns at the sight.

Minho, without hesitation, walks toward the doors of the maze. "No, no, please," Ben sobs, his voice broken, pleading as he reaches for Minho. "Please don't. Please don't do it."

Minho stops for a moment, his gaze briefly meeting Alby's before he tosses a small bag into the maze. The rumble of the maze fills the air, the sound of the doors beginning to close. The wind picks up, whipping through the Glade as if the maze itself is alive, angry.

"Poles!" Alby shouts, his voice cutting through the tension. The boys position themselves, poles raised, their expressions hard, determined.

"No. No. No!" Ben's voice cracks with fear as he tries to back away, but it's no use. The boys close in on him, their eyes set with grim determination. "Please! Just listen to me!" Ben continues to scream as they push him toward the doors.

"I can get better!" he screams desperately, but his words fall on deaf ears. Theo wraps his arms around me, pulling me close as I feel a lump form in my throat. "Please, no! Please don't do this! You don't understand—"

"Push him in!" Alby commands, his voice harsh and final.

I watch in horror as Ben struggles to push through the boys, but it's no use. They overpower him, forcing him forward until he's standing between the closing doors. His hands push against them, but the doors don't budge. The last thing I hear is Ben screaming, "I'll get better!" His voice fades as the doors shut with a heavy thud, and he's gone, swallowed by the maze.

A cold silence falls over us. Everyone stands motionless for a moment, the gravity of what just happened settling over us like a dark cloud. Alby turns to face us, his expression unreadable. He looks around at everyone's sad faces, and then he speaks, his voice low but resolute.

"He belongs to the maze now," Alby says, his words final. Then he walks off, the others following behind him, poles still raised against the doors. Minho stays behind, his body tense, his gaze focused on the ground.

I take a tentative step forward, my heart aching for him, and slowly walk up behind Minho. He doesn't move, doesn't acknowledge my presence at first. Then, his voice breaks the silence, low and pained. "He was my friend," Minho says, his words barely above a whisper. He still doesn't look up, but I can feel the weight of his grief, heavy and suffocating.

Without a second thought, I wrap my arms around him, my face pressing gently against his back. "I know," I reply softly, my voice thick with emotion. He finally turns around, his face drawn with sorrow, and pulls me into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around me as if he needs to hold on to something, anything.

"You gonna be alright?" I ask quietly, looking up at him, my voice filled with concern. Minho nods slowly, his face still clouded with pain, but I can tell that he's trying to hold himself together.

Together, we walk away from the doors, the tension slowly easing as we head toward Theo and Newt, knowing that the weight of what just happened will stay with us for a long time.