How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Seventy-five

- RUN! -

"Hey, Winston, what's going on?" Thomas asks, his voice strained with urgency as we burst out of the med-hut, the sound of shouting and chaos filling the Glade.

"The doors! They aren't closing!" Winston shouts, his face pale with panic before he runs off toward the doors.

"Wait, what?!" I exclaim, my heart skipping a beat. The weight of his words sinks in as I glance around at the others. Without hesitation, we sprint after Winston, following Thomas toward the massive gates.

When we reach the doors, I feel a hand slip into mine. Startled, I glance down to see Newt gripping my hand, pulling me through the throng of panicked Gladers. He drags me forward until we're standing beside Thomas at the front of the group. Together, we stare up at the doors, motionless, as the ominous sound of the Maze walls rumbling fills the air. The noise is deafening, and I instinctively let go of Newt's hand to cover my ears.

"What the..." I start to say, but Theo, standing beside me, finishes the thought. "...hell."

The rumbling intensifies. My eyes widen as I see the other doors begin to open, one after the other, until every wall around us starts to shift. The final door slides open, exposing the Maze in its entirety.

"Okay, Chuck," Thomas says, turning to the youngest Glader with a newfound sense of authority. "I want you to go to the Council Hall and start barricading the doors."

Chuck nods quickly, his fear evident but his trust in Thomas unshaken.

"Winston, you go with him," Newt adds sharply, his gaze flicking between the gates and the others. Then he looks at me. "And take Y/n with you."

"What?! No way," I protest, shaking my head firmly. "Not gonna happen. I'm staying here to help."

Newt spins to face me, his expression hard. "No, Y/n, you're going with Winston and Chuck. That's an order."

I blink in disbelief at his tone. "...Are you serious right now?"

"Yes, I am. Now go!" Newt snaps.

Reluctantly, I huff out a frustrated breath and turn to follow Winston, jogging away from the growing chaos. Chuck runs to catch up with us, his small frame trembling with adrenaline.

But before we make it far, a blood-curdling roar erupts behind us. My stomach drops. "CHUCK! RUN!" I scream, grabbing his arm and yanking him forward. The three of us sprint toward the Council Hall, dodging the panicked boys scattering across the Glade. The sound of screaming fills the air as the Grievers tear through the camp, grabbing those who can't escape in time.

We make it to the Council Hall just as a group of boys rush in behind us. Together, we start barricading the doors and windows. Chuck shouts instructions, his voice surprisingly steady despite the chaos.

"Over here! Come on!" Chuck calls as more boys approach the Hall, Thomas among them.

"Winston, get Alby inside!" Thomas orders. "Chuck, get in!"

As the last few Gladers pile in, Thomas shouts, "Lock down the doors!" I rush forward to help him, pushing the heavy wood into place.

The sound of a Griever screeching above us freezes me in place. I back up instinctively, my trembling hand finding Newt's. He squeezes it reassuringly, though I can feel his tension radiating through his grip.

"Careful," Teresa whispers, her eyes scanning the roof.

But before anyone can react, a massive Griever claw punches through the ceiling, sending debris raining down on us. "OH, SHIT!" I yell, ducking with the others as the Griever slashes wildly, ripping down one of the supports and collapsing part of the roof.

"Is everyone all right?" Newt calls, his voice hoarse as Theo helps me to my feet.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Winston replies shakily.

A piercing scream from one of the boys draws everyone's attention. "Grab him!" Thomas yells, rushing to help, but the Griever pulls the boy through the opening before anyone can save him.

Another claw bursts through the wall, this time lunging for Chuck. "NO!" I scream, running forward just as the Griever snatches him.

"Chuck!" Minho yells, sprinting to help.

"Grab him! Pull him back!" Thomas shouts, his voice desperate as he and Minho latch onto Chuck. Teresa joins in, her hands gripping Chuck's arms.

"Chuck, don't let go!" Thomas pleads.

"No shit!" Chuck yells back, his voice trembling with fear but still managing to elicit a small laugh from me despite the terror.

The Griever's stinger emerges, poised to strike. "NO! CHUCK!" I scream, shoving past the others to help pull him back. Before the Griever can attack, Alby charges forward, wielding a broken pole like a weapon. He strikes the Griever, knocking its stinger aside and jabbing at its legs until it releases Chuck.

The Griever retreats, its chittering echoing as Alby screams after it in defiance. My chest heaves as I kneel beside Chuck. "Chuck, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he coughs, clutching the severed stinger. "Thanks, Alby," he says weakly, looking up at the older boy.

But the respite is short-lived. Another Griever bursts in, grabbing Alby before anyone can react.

"ALBY!" I scream as Thomas lunges to grab him, trying desperately to pull him back.

"Alby!" Newt yells, his voice cracking as the Griever drags Alby toward the opening.

"NO!" Chuck and I cry in unison as Alby's agonized screams pierce the air. I cover my mouth, my hands shaking uncontrollably as the Griever disappears into the Maze, taking Alby with it.

"Thomas, no! Don't go out there!" Teresa yells as Thomas sprints for the door, his face a mix of determination and despair.

"Thomas, wait!" Minho shouts after him, but Thomas doesn't stop. We all run after him, our fear swallowed by the overwhelming need to survive—and to fight.