How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Sixty-nine

- A Girl?! -

"Things are changing," Gally begins as the last of the group enters the Council Hall, and I glance up at him from where I'm leaning on one of the poles at the front. "There's no denying that," he adds, looking around at everyone, his gaze shifting to the group. "First Ben gets stung in broad daylight..." he continues, his voice growing more serious. "...and then Alby," he adds, and I instinctively look down, the weight of it all still hanging in the air. "And now our Greenie here has taken it upon himself to go into the Maze," Gally says, his eyes narrowing as he looks at Thomas, who's sitting behind him.

"Which is a clear violation of our rules here," Gally continues, his tone becoming sharper as he looks around the group.

"Yeah, but he saved Alby's life," Fry protests from across the room, and I glance over at him, surprised.

"Did he?" Gally retorts, turning back to face him. "For three years, we've coexisted with these things, and now you've killed one of them," Gally adds, pointing at Thomas. "Who knows what that could mean for us?"

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Newt asks from across the room, stepping forward. His arms are crossed, and he's leaning against a pole, his expression focused but calm.

"He has to be punished," Gally responds firmly, and I feel a wave of shock rush through me. I can't believe what I'm hearing.

"Whoa, whoa. Wait," Chuck protests, standing up in defense. "He killed a Griever!" The guy next to him nods in agreement.

Minho suddenly stands and looks at Gally, his face serious. "Minho. You were there with him," Newt says, his eyes on the younger boy. "What do you think?" he asks, and the whole room goes silent as everyone turns to Minho.

"I think..." Minho starts, looking at the others, his gaze settling on Thomas. "In all the time we've been here, no one's ever killed a Griever before," he says, his voice low but full of respect.

"When I turned tail and ran, this dumb shank stood behind to help Alby," Minho continues, his tone becoming more teasing. "Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid," he adds, a small grin appearing on his face. "But whatever it is, we need more of it," he finishes, glancing at the group. "I say we make him a Runner."

There's a collective gasp of surprise from the others, and I glance around, amazed at what Minho just suggested.

"A Runner? What?" Fry protests, his face scrunching in confusion. "Minho, let's not jump the gun here, all right?" I hear Chuck start to chant 'Thomas', but he quickly falls silent when everyone else starts talking over each other.

"If you want to throw the newbie a parade, that's fine," Gally starts again, his voice rising, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "Go ahead," he adds, his tone dripping with sarcasm. 

"But if there's one thing I know about the Maze, it is that you do not—" Gally is cut off suddenly by the blaring alarm.

"What the...?" I mutter under my breath as I quickly push off the pole and walk forward. The room erupts into chaos as everyone rushes out of the Council Hall and toward the Box.

"Okay, wait, wait, I know that sound," Thomas says, running after Minho as the rest of us follow suit.

"The Box, it's coming back up," Chuck explains, his voice tense as we all stop and stare at the Box.

"It shouldn't be," Minho says, running towards it, and I follow after him, with Thomas and Chuck close behind.

"Newt, what do you see? Do you see it?" one of the guys asks, and I catch up to Theo, who's leaning on the lid to the Box. I look down, and my heart skips a beat when I see Newt standing beside... a girl?!

"It's a girl," Newt says, his voice confused, but there's a hint of hope in it too. A smile tugs at my lips.

"Wait, really?" I ask, my excitement rising. Finally, a girl! I'm not the only one anymore. The guys glance at me for a second, then return their gaze to Newt, still unsure.

"What?" one of the boys asks, his voice full of disbelief.

"No. He's just seeing things," another one says, dismissing Newt's observation. I notice Thomas suddenly running up beside Gally, looking down at the girl in the Box with a serious expression.

"I think she's dead," Newt says, his voice quieter now, and I feel a surge of disappointment. "Oh, come on!" I exclaim, throwing my hands up in frustration. "The one time they send up another girl, and she's dead?" I complain, feeling a mix of irritation and disbelief as the guys look at me with confusion. Why was I focused on that? Why wasn't I more concerned about the fact that a new Greenie had arrived far too early?

"What's in her hand?" Gally asks suddenly, and we all look down to see that she's clutching a piece of paper in her hand. Newt slowly kneels down to take it from her, carefully opening the note.

"She's the last one... ever," Newt reads out loud, his voice filled with confusion. I look down at him, still processing what he just said.

"What the hell does that mean?" he mutters, frowning. But before any of us can react further, the girl suddenly gasps for air, waking up and startling us all. Theo instinctively steps forward, his arm protectively going around me as he pulls me back a little.

"Thomas..." the girl whispers weakly before her body goes limp again, and she falls unconscious once more.

We all stare at her in shock, and I can't help but voice the confusion that's on all of our minds. 

"What the hell?" I exclaim, my mind racing.

"You still think I'm overreacting?" Gally says, glancing over at me with a look of satisfaction.I turn my attention back to the girl, confused and anxious about what all of this means, before the others carefully lift her out of the Box and rush her to the Med-hut. I follow behind, my mind spinning with questions.